LITTLE RIVER CANYON NATIONAL PRESERVE
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
Hunting
 
Little River Canyon National Preserve in cooperation with
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Division of Game and Fish    (Cherokee & DeKalb Counties)

Hunting Regulations - September 2002 - September 2003

 
 
***A note to hunters:  You  will notice the roads in the Wildlife Management Area have been improved. Little River Canyon National Preserve has done this improvement in order to make the area more accessible to visitors. Please help us to keep these roads in good condition.***
PERMITS: Permits for each gun deer hunt and primitive weapons hunt will be issued during the dates of the hunts from the checking station located on Cherokee County Road 103, one-half mile from the intersection with Highway 35. The checking station will open no later than 5:00 a.m. Season permits for other listed seasons may be obtained at Rip's One-Stop, Hwy. 35, Blanche, AL; Day's Sporting Goods, Centre, AL; Roy's Country Store, Hwy. 35 between Blanche and Fort Payne; Terri's Time Saver, Fisher Crossroads; Abbot Marina, Hwy. 35, Fort Payne; Gun Shop, Gault Avenue, Fort Payne; Great Outdoor Store, Gault Avenue, Fort Payne, AL; or by writing Area Biologist Tracy Nelson, Rt. 2 Box 104A, Cedar Bluff, AL 35959 (phone: (256)435-5422); or Game & Fish Office, 4101 AL Hwy. 21 North, Jacksonville AL 36265. Send your current hunting license number along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Permits will be issued from the Game and Fish Office in Jacksonville between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Trapping permits may be obtained from the area biologist.
HUNTING DATES:
DEER
(Gun)
Stalk Hunting Antlered Bucks Only: Nov. 23; Nov. 29 - Dec. 3; Dec. 20-21-Jan. 17-18 (on Dec. 21 a predetermined percentage of permits issued will be either-sex permits).
(Archery)
Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice (except spotted fawns): Oct. 15 - Jan. 31.  (Except must obtain daily permit on gun deer and primitive weapons  deer dates.)
(Primitive Weapons)
Stalk Hunting Hunter's Choice (except spotted fawns - one deer per day): Jan. 3-4.
TURKEY
Mar. 15 - Apr. 30 (Daylight until 12:00 noon CST).
SQUIRREL
Oct. 1 - Feb. 28 (except on days of gun and primitive weapons deer hunts).
QUAIL
Nov. 16 - Feb. 28 (except on day s of gun and primitive weapons deer hunts).
RABBIT
Jan. 1 - Feb. 28 (except on days of gun and primitive weapons deer hunts).
DOVE
Sept. 7 - Oct. 20 (12:00 noon until sunset - Wednesdays and Saturdays only).
RACCOON
OPOSSUM
& FOX
Jan. 1 - Feb. 28 (Nighttime hours only - fox hunting - dogs only - no weapons).
TRAPPING
Nov. 16 - Feb. 20
BAG LIMITS:
 Deer - Bucks only with bare antlers visible above natural hairline - 1 a day; Hunter's Choice Archery Hunts - (either sex deer except spotted fawns) - 1 a day, Turkey (Gobblers only) - 1 a day; 5 per season; Squirrel - 8 a day; Quail - 12 a day; Rabbit - 8 a day; Raccoon - 5 per person per day; Opossum - No Limit; Fox - none.
PERMITTED FIREARMS & BOW AND ARROW

Deer:

 Stalk Hunts: Centerfire rifles that have been plugged or otherwise incapable of holding more than 10 cartridges and using mushrooming and/or expanding type ammunition or shotguns using slugs only or muzzle loading rifles .40 caliber or larger, or centerfire handguns with a minimum 4 inch barrel length using mushrooming and/or type ammunition. All applicable laws regarding possessing and carrying handguns must be followed.
Primitive Weapons: Using only muzzle loading rifles, muzzle loading shotguns, or bow and arrow (except cross bow). Rifles and shotguns to have fixed open metallic sights only - no scopes. Rifles to be .40 caliber or larger; shotguns to use pumpkin balls only. Firearms must be incapable of holding more than one charge per barrel.
Turkey: Shotguns using No. 2 shot or smaller.
Squirrel & Rabbit: Shotguns using No. 4 shot or smaller, standard .22 caliber rimfire firearms, and muzzle loading rifles .40 caliber or smaller, or rifles operated by air.
Quail: Shotguns using No. 4 shot or smaller.
Raccoon & Opossum: Shotguns using No. 4 shot or smaller & standard .22 caliber rimfire firearms only.

Fox:

 No weapons allowed.
On all scheduled hunts except fox hunting, bow & arrow (except cross bow) will be legal. Broadhead points will be legal only during scheduled deer and turkey hunts. Bows & arrows must conform with State Regulations on specification. WHEN BOW AND ARROW HUNTING, IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO CARRY OR POSSESS ANY FIREARMS.
Trapping: Standard .22 caliber rimfire firearms only during daylight hours only. All trappers must conform with all state laws and regulations pertaining to trapping.
IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL:
To hunt, trap, use dogs, possess firearms, ammunition, traps or bow and arrow without a valid permit. A permit is valid only during scheduled management and refuge area seasons during legal hunting hours and only with weapons and ammunition permitted for hunting the wildlife listed on permit.
To use dogs for stalk hunting of deer or for turkey hunting.
To use dogs for hunting, training or any purpose from March 1 to the opening of the following fall gun season.
For any person under 16 years of age to hunt on the management area unless accompanied by a licensed hunter at all times.
For any person to carry firearms in or on vehicle with ammunition in the magazine, breech or clip attached to firearms, or black powder weapons with primer, cap or flash powder in place.
To camp in the management area except in designated sites. Individuals or groups may camp on the management area for a period not to exceed fourteen (14) days. Campfires must be extinguished before departing. No warming fires shall be permitted away from camping area.
To kill or willfully molest any species of wildlife except those designated for hunting. However, this regulation shall not apply to bobcat, coyote or feral swine which may be killed during all scheduled management area hunts that occur during the dates of the gun deer and turkey seasons for the county or counties in which the management area is located, when possessing a valid permit and using weapons and ammunition that are legal for such designated hunts.
To discharge fireworks at any time.
To discharge firearms for target practice.
To hunt or discharge firearms within 100 yards of any camping area, dwelling, dam or timber operation, or within 100 yards of any public road, highway or within a posted safety zone, or within on-half mile of a church on Sunday.
To use fire to smoke out game.
To transport deer killed during the gun and primitive weapons hunts from the management area before being examined at the checking station for scientific data.
For any person except authorized personnel to operate any motor-driven vehicle behind, under or around any locked gate, barricaded road or sign which prohibits vehicular traffic.
For any unauthorized person at any time to operate a motor scooter, motorcycle, trail bike, or any motor-driven vehicle on the management area except on regularly used roads open for public use by four wheel vehicle traffic.
For any person to hunt deer on days of scheduled gun, flintlock or primitive weapons hunts without wearing a vest containing a minimum 144 square inches of hunter orange color, or either a full size hunter orange hat or cap. The hunter orange must be of solid color, except for a small logo on the front of the cap, and visible from any angle.
For any person except authorized personnel to block or otherwise stop traffic on any road by parking a vehicle in such a way that passage around the vehicle is impossible.
To deposit, distribute or scatter grain, salt, litter or any other materials on management area prior to receiving approval from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
For any person to damage or remove any trees, crops or other plants, dirt, gravel or sod from management area without legal authorization.
To erect or use a permanent tree stand or scaffold on management area without written permission from the landowners.
To hunt from an elevated stand or platform without attaching themselves to the tree or platform with a safety harness, rope or strap capable of supporting their weight.
NOTE: Administrators of the hunt shall have the right to distribute the hunters and to inspect all vehicles or other equipment while on the areas. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and landowners who are making the hunting possible, hereby put each hunter on notice that he hunts at his own risk and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and such landowners shall not be responsible for any accidents or injuries that may occur.
A hunting license, a management area permit and management area license (when hunting deer or turkey) are required when hunting on management area.

URL: http://www.nps.gov/liri/Rules/Hunting/
Last Updated: March 24, 2004
This page created and maintained by Little River Canyon National Preserve.