National Wildlife Refuge · Alabama · FWS Region 4

Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge lies in Calhoun County, Alabama, with about 9,014 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 3,348 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
3.3Khuntable acres
9KFWS-owned acres
6game categories

Mountain Longleaf NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Mountain Longleaf NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Located on Choccolocco Mountain, one of the highest ridges in Alabama, Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge offers breathtaking views of the surrounding region and many opportunities for white-tailed deer hunters. Deer are common in this setting.

Youth hunting

Yes, in accordance with state seasons.

All refuges with youth hunts →
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Alabama regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 3,348 (37%)Closed: 5,666 (63%)3.3Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations3,348 ac 37%
  • Closed5,666 ac 63%
Units by size (acres)
Closed Area
5,666 ac
Main Hunt Area
2,679 ac
Archery Unit
669 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Archery Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 669 Required
Other		 All species open to hunting on the station
🧒 Yes, in accordance with state seasons
Main Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,679 Required
Other		 All species open to hunting on the station
🧒 Yes, in accordance with state seasons
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 5,666 Required
Other		 All species open to hunting on the station
🧒 Yes, in accordance with state seasons

Mountain Longleaf NWR by the numbers

With about 3,348 huntable acres, Mountain Longleaf NWR ranks #5 of 7 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Alabama and #292 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 37% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Main Hunt Area (2,679 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Archery Unit, covers 669 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 5,666 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Mountain Longleaf NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Alabama sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All species open to hunting on the station

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)
  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

You'll also need

  • A valid Alabama hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Mountain Longleaf NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Mountain Longleaf NWR.

How to get to Mountain Longleaf NWR

Navigate

Destination: Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.70211, -85.74819
DMS
33°42′07.6″N 85°44′53.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Birmingham, AL62 mi E of town
  • Atlanta, GA78 mi W of town
  • Huntsville, AL86 mi SE of town
  • Decatur, AL94 mi SE of town

Closest airports

  • BHM Birmingham–Shuttlesworth58 mi
  • ATL Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta76 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Mountain Longleaf NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20265:46 AM6:16 AM7:10 PM12h 54m
Tue, Sep 15, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM6:51 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM6:28 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM6:10 PM11h 24m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:31 AM6:01 AM4:51 PM10h 51m
Sun, Nov 15, 20265:44 AM6:14 AM4:41 PM10h 27m
Tue, Dec 1, 20265:59 AM6:29 AM4:35 PM10h 06m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM4:36 PM9h 56m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:17 AM6:47 AM4:44 PM9h 57m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:17 AM6:47 AM4:55 PM10h 08m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:09 AM6:39 AM5:12 PM10h 32m

Computed for 33.702, -85.748 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Guides for hunting Mountain Longleaf NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose and…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

Mountain Longleaf NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Mountain Longleaf NWR?

Yes. Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (3,348 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Mountain Longleaf NWR?

Yes — Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained kiosk, online (e.g. recreation.gov), or other. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Mountain Longleaf NWR located?

Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge is in Calhoun County, Alabama, about 62 miles E of Birmingham, AL (straight-line). GPS: 33.70211, -85.74819.

What are legal shooting hours at Mountain Longleaf NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Sauta Cave NWR

Jackson County, AL · 67 mi N

1 special
🐦🐇

266 huntable acres

Watercress Darter NWR

Jefferson County, AL · 73 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Fern Cave NWR

Jackson County, AL · 75 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Warm Springs NFH

Meriwether County, GA · 84 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Cahaba River NWR

Bibb County, AL · 88 mi SW

1 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🐗🎣

4.7K huntable acres

Wheeler NWR

Limestone County, AL · 90 mi NW

3 special2 closed
🦌🐦🐇🐗🎣

27.6K huntable acres

All refuges in Alabama →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.