Alabama: Bankhead NF/Black Warrior WMA
 

I hunted in the Black Warrior WMA in 1994 and 1997. We heard lots of birds in 94. But, due to lousy weather in 97, we heard very few birds.

Has anyone hunted this area of AL more recently? I may be able to swing a last minute out of state hunt. So, I have to make it over the counter and fairly close to Southern IL. I have dates that the hunt is limited to and since I am somewhat familiar with the area I may make a run for AL this year.

RE: Alabama: Bankhead NF/Black Warrior WMA
 

not to familiar with that area, need to try barbour county

RE: Alabama: Bankhead NF/Black Warrior WMA
 

I have never hunted Black Warrior WMA. But I do live a short piece south of there. I am not to sure of this past springs hatch it appears spotty in some areas but we had a good hatch in the two previous years so there should be some two and three year olds wandering around. If you are willing to drive about 45 minutes further south the Mulberry Fork WMA has some good hunting and a good number of birds. I hunt there from time to time. 30 minutes east of that is West Jefferson public hunting area and is also a another good area though the terrain is extremely rugged.

RE: Alabama: Bankhead NF/Black Warrior WMA
 

I'm headin' there myself this April... I hope it will be worth the trip. My huntin' buddy & I have wanted to hunt Ala for 25 years...

I have turkey hunted bankhead for the past two seasons every chance I could get.I have seen three hens out of around 20 days hunting.Never heard one gobble found bout three turkey tracks.These are big woods better have comfortable snake boots.

Compared to the rest of the state, north Alabama turkey hunting is horrible. I hunt in south central Alabama but live in north Alabama right now, and believe me these guys up here don't know the first thing about turkey hunting, only because there's no turkeys to hunt. All they do is duck and hog hunt. Plus Bankhead is having a pretty bad hog problem and they're about to open it for a big hog hunt that may extend through turkey season. Even if the hog season doesn't go through turkey season, you probably won't see or hear a single bird bc of the hogs. If you come down to hunt Alabama you oughta drive on down to the Talladega NF or Choccolocco Management Area, WAY more turkeys in that area, longer season, and it's not really that crowded compared to places like Lowndes and Barbour counties. If you've never turkey hunted Alabama, please don't hunt north Alabama, you'll get the wrong impression of how great our turkey hunting is in the majority of the state. Barbour county has great hunting, but you'll see a hunter every 50 yards, and most of em are about as considerate as a fart in church. Talladega and Choccolocco are your best bet. I'll guide you for $500......haha

I'll kinda second that. Bankhead used to be THE place to hunt. I have hunted it for all of about 17 years. The last several (following the spread of feral hogs) have not been so good in some of my old spots. My father-in-law has hunted BNF for many more years. He consistently limited out and never hunted anywhere else. He now hunts elsewhere.

The hogs have spread so bad and the turkey numbers have plummeted. There are still some very good areas but I don't want to waste the few days I have when I'm not sure if turkeys are there or not. Lauderdale, Freedom Hills, and Skyline all have good populations. Skyline has probably one of the highest densities in the state, so I wouldn't say that NAl hunting is horrible.

Choccolocco and Oakmulgee are good WMA's, as is Cahaba River. There are plenty of good places. Unless you get some real good info on where the birds are I would skip Bankhead. I'm gonna try to go hog hunting and scouting the next few weeks so maybe I'll know a bit more.

I gave wrong info about Bankhead and a hog hunt. It's a national forest so hogs should be open all season there. I always get Bankhead mixed up with Wheeler Wildlife Refuge for some reason. Wheeler is the place I heard somebody say they were gonna have a big hog hunt. Either way, hogs are everywhere up here and they're running off the turkeys.

I hunt in Lauderdale 3 or 4 times a year and its full of birds. i've had very good luck there, it's just a shorter season than here in the lower parts of the state. I'm not sure about Bankhead but I now people who hunt the Talladega National Forrest and do really well. Hope you find a place to go, were full of birds here in Bama!

You can ride anywhere you want. But ONLY if it is marked by trail and/or marked with the atv symbol. I have your same situation.