Title 9 — Title 9

No person shall willfully and knowingly prevent, obstruct, impede, disturb, or interfere with, or attempt to prevent, obstruct, impede, disturb, or interfere with any person in legally hunting or fishing pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Department of Conservation and …

Activities prohibited by this article shall include, but not be limited to the following: (a) Creating a visual, aural, olfactory, or physical stimulus intended to affect the natural behavior of the wild animal being hunted or fish for the purpose of fishing. (b) Affecting the co…

No person shall fail to obey the order of a peace officer to desist from conduct which violates this article. History: (Acts 1994, No. 94-321, p. 561, §3.)

This article applies only to activities on lands or waters upon which hunting or fishing may legally occur. This article does not apply to acts of a peace officer, owner of the lands or waters, or the tenant or other person acting under authority of the owner of the lands or wate…

Any person violating this article is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. History: (Acts 1994, No. 94-321, p. 561, §5.)

This article is supplemental to all laws relating to hunting and fishing and shall be construed in pari materia with Chapter 15 of Title 35. History: (Acts 1994, No. 94-321, p. 561, §7; Acts 1996, No. 96-668, p. 1131, §1.)

Alabama and of Bordering States. The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources with approval of the governor shall have authority to enter into agreements of reciprocity with conservation commissioners or directors or other proper officials of states bordering Alabama wh…

Between Alabama and Adjoining States or Partly in Alabama and Partly in Adjoining States. The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources with approval of the Governor is hereby authorized and empowered to make and enter into agreements from time to time with the proper au…

Each Agreeing Bordering State; Hunting Privileges Limited to Waterfowl. The purpose of this article is to authorize the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources upon approval of the Governor to enter into such agreements with all states bordering on the State of Ala…

Alabama Laws, Etc. The waterfowl hunting rights and privileges which may be granted by or through such reciprocal agreements shall be exercised by all nonresidents of the State of Alabama in accordance with the laws of Alabama and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Comm…

The title to any land acquired by gift or otherwise shall first be approved by the Attorney General, and such title shall vest in the state. The deed to any such lands shall be recorded in the county where such land lies and shall be deposited with the Commissioner of Conservatio…

or Transferring Any Cervid Due to Disease. (a) For the purposes of this section, Section 9-11-31, and Section 9-11-31.1, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) CERVID. Any member of the family Cervidae possessed by a licensed game breeder pursuant to this section, S…

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, through the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources, is hereby authorized and directed to establish by proclamation such wildlife management areas as may be in the public interest and to enter into agreements with t…

for Management and Protection of Areas. The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources is authorized to fix such boundaries and promulgate such special rules and regulations for the management and protection of wildlife management areas as may be necessary or desirable. W…

The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources is authorized to close to all hunting and fishing any land or water within the boundary of a wildlife management area which is not under a cooperative wildlife management agreement with the Department of Conservation and Natu…

The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources and his designated agents or employees are authorized to search without warrant any automobile, wagon, truck or other vehicle or any hunting sack or hunting coat within any wildlife management area and to confiscate any prote…

The carrying or possession of firearms within any wildlife management area, except while in possession of a valid permit allowing this privilege, is prohibited; provided, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to any authorized law enforcement officer nor to any offi…

Areas. No dog shall be permitted except on leash within any wildlife management area except in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources, and whoever shall be the owner of any dog at large within any wildlife m…

Repealed by Act 2015-70 effective April 21, 2015. History: (Acts 1939, No. 668, p. 1061, §7; Code 1940, T. 8, §110(7).)

Any person violating this article or any rule adopted by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources under the authority of this article shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor, punishable as provided by law, except that the minimum fine shall not be…

Breeder Option. (a) Any person, firm, corporation, or association holding a game breeder’s license as provided in Section 9-11-30 may sell live protected game animals and game birds, or the eggs, embryos, or semen of the birds and animals for propagating purposes to any person wi…

(a) Any person, firm, corporation, or association who knowingly violates Section 9- 11-30 or 9-11-31, or any rules promulgated pursuant to Section 9-11-30 or 9-11-31, including, but not limited to, willfully failing to obtain a license or falsifying records, shall be guilty of a …

(a) Unless specifically provided otherwise by law, all annual wildlife heritage, hunting, and fishing licenses issued pursuant to this chapter shall be dated when issued and shall authorize the individual named on the license to participate in the licensed activities from Septemb…

For the purpose of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings, respectively, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) WILDLIFE. Any wild mammal, wild bird, reptile or amphibian; and (2) PERSON. Such term includes an individual, firm, corporatio…

No person shall possess any wildlife in captivity for public exhibition purposes, except as provided in this article or any rule or regulation promulgated by the commissioner. History: (Acts 1971, No. 2246, p. 3602, §2.)

Care and Treatment of Captive Wildlife. The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources shall appoint a committee, not to exceed five in number, of recognized experts in the exhibition, conservation, preservation and humane care of public wildlife to study and recommend to…

Treatment of Captive Wildlife. The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources shall give due consideration to the recommendations of the committee appointed under Section 9- 11-322 and shall issue regulations prescribing reasonable standards for the care and treatment of …

Applications for Permits. (a) The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources, upon application of any person qualified by education or experience in the care and treatment of wildlife, may issue an annual permit to such person at a cost of $25.00, under such terms and con…

Violations. Each permit issued under this article shall include a condition authorizing anyone designated by the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources to enforce this article to enter upon and inspect the facilities where the wildlife covered by such permit is held i…

Anyone authorized by the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources to enforce this article may, with or without a warrant, arrest any person who violates such provisions or standards in his presence or view and may execute any warrant or other process issued by any offic…

Anyone who knowingly violates any provision of this article or the standards adopted thereunder or the provisions of any permit shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $500.00 or imprisoned for not more than three months, or both. History: (Acts 1971, No. 2246, p. 3602, §6…

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), this article shall not apply to a municipal, county, state, or other publicly owned zoo or wildlife exhibit or a privately owned traveling zoo, circus, or pet shop. (b) A municipal, county, state, or other publicly owned zoo or wildlife e…

Numbering; Delivery of Blank Licenses to Issuing Authorities; Return of Unused Licenses and Stubs. REPEALED BY ACT 2025-397, EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2025. History: (Acts 1935, No. 240, p. 632, §28; Code 1940, T. 8, §29; Act 2025-397, §2.)

Repealed by Act 99-661, 2nd Sp. Sess., § 1, effective February 1, 2000. History: (Acts 1935, No. 240, p. 632; Code 1940, T. 8, § 44.)

A pen-raised quail is a quail which has been hatched from an egg laid by a quail confined in a pen or coop and has itself been wholly raised in a pen or coop by a duly licensed quail breeder holding a permit as provided by this article from the state Department of Conservation an…

Raised Quail. Any person, firm or corporation may engage in the business of propagating pen- raised quail, commonly known as bobwhite quail, for restocking, propagation and other commercial purposes by complying with the provisions of this article and may thereafter sell either l…

A commercial quail breeder’s license must first be obtained from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources or its agents upon payment of $25.00 for each such license. Said license shall be valid from October 1 to September 30 next following. Such license must bea…

Before any sale may be made of the carcass of any bobwhite quail, the holder of a commercial quail breeder’s license shall obtain a proper marker or marking device as prescribed by a regulation promulgated by the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources. History: (Acts …

Than by Shooting. (a) Before the carcass of a dead pen-raised quail shall be sold, the holder of the commercial quail breeder’s license shall plainly mark each such carcass sold with an authorized mark or marker. Any person selling or purchasing the carcass of a pen-raised quail …

Such pen-raised quail, when dressed and marked as provided in this article, when delivered into the hands and possession of the purchaser, his agent or common carrier or into the hands of a donee and prior to leaving the place of the licensed breeder by whatever method employed, …

When any such package containing a shipment of quail carcasses for which an invoice is required is to be shipped by rail, express or other carrier, public or private, the invoice shall be securely attached thereto or to the package containing the same in plain sight, and the same…

Storage. If such package or shipment of quail carcasses is kept in storage in any hotel, restaurant, cafe or boardinghouse or elsewhere, such invoice shall be kept attached thereto as aforesaid until the same shall have been prepared for consumption. History: (Acts 1959, No. 408,…

In case of the resale or disposition of such quail or any part thereof by any person other than a retail vendor, he shall at such time make an exact copy of such original invoice and endorse thereon the date of his sale, the number of quail carcasses so disposed of and the name o…

Licensees. Each person, firm or corporation holding a commercial quail breeder’s license shall keep permanent records in a suitable, permanently bound book of all bird carcasses sold, to whom sold, the date of the sale, the address of the vendee or consignee and the number of car…

During War. No person serving as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States of America shall be required to procure a hunting license or a fishing license to hunt or fish within the State of Alabama during any period of time in which the United States of America is engaged…

A resident of this state on active military duty, who is in this state on leave and who has proof of that status in his or her possession, may hunt and fish without a license required by Sections 9-11-44, 9-11-53, or 9-11-53.1. History: (Act 2004-449, p. 794, §3.)

Any person, firm or corporation shipping quail into this state shall be subject to the provisions of this article. History: (Acts 1959, No. 408, p. 1040, §10.)

Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as provided by law. History: (Acts 1959, No. 408, p. 1040, §11.)

The judge of probate, the license commissioner or such person or persons not residing at the county seat in which the county courthouse is located and duly appointed by the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources and so authorized by him shall have authority to issue a…

(a) There shall be a $1.00 issuance fee for all licenses sold by the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which shall be in addition to the prescribed cost of such licenses. In counties where the probate judge or i…