Wild Hog Hunting in Alabama: Season, Rules & Night License (2026)
Alabama took a notable step in recent years by creating a dedicated nighttime feral swine and coyote hunting license — a direct response to how much more effective after-dark hunting is against hogs, which quickly shift to nocturnal patterns wherever they face hunting pressure. Combined with a year-round, no-limit private-land season, Alabama is one of the more straightforward Southeastern states to hunt hogs seriously.
Alabama Wild Hog Hunting Rules
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Private land season | No closed season and no bag limit — hogs are classified as a game animal with unrestricted daytime harvest year-round. |
| Daytime license | A Resident All Game Hunting License or a Small Game Hunting License covers daytime feral hog hunting. |
| Night hunting | Requires a separate nighttime feral swine and coyote hunting license (roughly $15 resident / $51 nonresident). The special nighttime season on private land runs from the day after the last day of gun deer season through 30 minutes before sunrise on the opening day of archery deer season in that zone. |
| Public land / WMAs | Night hunting for feral swine and coyotes is not allowed on WMAs or other public land, including national forests — the nighttime license only applies to privately owned or leased land. |
Source: Outdoor Alabama / Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Regulations current as of mid-2026 — confirm the current nighttime season window for your specific deer zone before hunting after dark.
Where to Hunt
Alabama’s Black Belt region and the southern half of the state, particularly along the Alabama and Tombigbee River systems, hold the state’s densest hog populations. Longleaf pine plantations throughout south Alabama also attract hogs for the mast and cover they provide, and many timber companies and private landowners in this region actively welcome hog hunters.
Methods That Work
The nighttime feral swine license is Alabama’s biggest advantage over states without a similar system — it creates a clear, legal window for thermal or night-vision hunting over bait on private land once deer gun season closes for the year, right when hogs are typically most active and least pressured. During the regular daytime season, still-hunting near known rooting sign or field edges at dawn and dusk is the standard approach.
See our caliber and rifle guide for setup recommendations suited to both daytime and licensed nighttime hunts.
