6
Daily duck limit
5
Daily goose limit
6
Teal limit (early)
$16.75
Waterfowl license (res.)
Season Information
Season DatesTeal: Sept 1–30; Main Season: Nov 22 – Jan 31 (split); Canada Goose: Nov 22 – Jan 31; Light Goose Conservation Order: Feb 1 – Mar 10
FlywayMississippi Flyway
Zone InformationAlabama is divided into North Zone and South Zone with different season frameworks. The Tennessee River Valley and Guntersville Lake in the north attract large numbers of diving ducks. The Mobile-Tensaw Delta in the south is one of the most productive duck hunting areas in the Southeast, with nearly 50,000 acres of flooded bottomland, tupelo swamps, and coastal marshes.
Species NotesDucks: 6/day total; mallard 4 (2 hens); mottled duck 1; pintail 1; canvasback 2; redhead 3; scaup 2; wood duck 3. Canada geese: 5/day. White geese: 20/day during Conservation Order with no plug required.
License & Permit Requirements
State Hunting License
✅ Required
Federal Duck Stamp
✅ Required
HIP Registration
✅ Required
HIP Registration Info
All waterfowl hunters must complete annual HIP registration with the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Register at no cost online at dcnr.alabama.gov or at any license dealer. HIP certification must be obtained before hunting migratory birds. Annual re-registration is required.
How to Get Licensed for Waterfowl Hunting
1
Purchase a Alabama hunting license ($22.40 resident) from Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries.
2
Complete HIP Registration (free) — available when purchasing your hunting license or through the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries website.
3
Purchase the Federal Duck Stamp ($25) — required for all waterfowl hunters age 16+. Available at USPS offices or online.
Additional Notes: Alabama sits at the crossroads of the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways, giving the state excellent waterfowl diversity. The Mobile-Tensaw Delta — the second-largest river delta in North America — hosts one of the finest public duck hunting areas in the Gulf South, with the state-managed WMAs offering thousands of acres of flooded timber, beaver ponds, and agricultural impoundments. The Tennessee River system in the north draws significant numbers of diving ducks, including scaup, canvasback, and ring-necked ducks, from late October through January. Wood duck production is strong throughout the coastal plain, and mottled ducks are resident in the southern tier. Alabama does not require a state waterfowl stamp, making it one of the more affordable Gulf states for hunters.
Buy AL License — Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries