SOA Frequently Asked Questions

You can register for as many as desired. If you are selected as a hunter or alternate, you may only accept one hunt. This includes both the hunter and alternate status. If you were selected as a hunter and selected as an alternate for a different hunt, you should accept the hunter first. Once you have accepted a hunter or alternate status, all other hunts you were selected for are automatically declined. If you were only selected as an alternate, you must accept this to be placed on the alternate list for that hunt. If you were selected as an alternate for more than one hunt, accept the hunt that would be your first choice. This will add you to the alternate list for that hunt.

Hunter = you have been selected for a limited quota permit. You must accept your hunter status to receive your limited quota permit.

Alternate = you have been placed as an alternate for a limited quota permit. You will be notified by email if your alternate status changes to the hunter, should selected hunters decline their permit selection. 

Not Selected = you have not been selected as a hunter or alternate.

You are only allowed to accept 1 limited quota permit “hunter” or “alternate” status. Once you accept a hunter or alternate status, all other selections are automatically declined/grayed out. Unfortunately, the selection cannot be changed once you accept a status, as this is a computer-generated process for allocation and selections.

Each hunt has a separate alternate list. The hunt for which alternate status was accepted is the only hunt you will potentially move into the hunter status on. When a hunter unregisters from a hunt, the first alternate will move into the hunter position and will be notified via email.

For the random draw hunt registrations, you will receive an email after the draw date indicating your status if you were selected as a hunter or alternate. If you have not received an email, please log onto the registration page and click “Sign into my hunts registration” at the top of the page. If we do not have your email and phone number you will be prompted to click on an “Action Required” link to enter that missing information.

Hunters drawing a permit are notified via email and have either 48 or 72 hours, depending on hunt type, to accept the permit. Following the acceptance period, you should get an email with some general information. As the random hunt unit assignments are made, you will receive an email with maps, SOA guidelines/rules and other hunt details. If you have not received an email throughout this registration process, we do not have an email on file for you. If this is the case for you, visit the registration page click on the "Sign in to My Hunts Registration" link at the top of the page. If we do not have both your email and phone number you will be prompted to follow an "Action Required" link and enter this information.

Each consecutive year that an applicant registers for a preference point draw hunt, they earn one (1) preference point. Applicants with the most accumulated points receive priority for selection of their registered hunts. During the selection process, applicants with the same number of points are grouped together, and selections within each point tier are made at random until all spots are filled. Once an applicant is selected, accepts their hunter status, and attends the hunt, their point balance resets to zero (0). Applicants will also lose their points if they fail to register for one year or cancel their hunt without providing at least seven (7) days’ notice.

Applicants maintain a separate preference point balance for each species. Being selected for and accepting a hunt for one species will not affect their point balance for another species.

No. Applicants who accept alternate hunter status will retain their preference point balance if they are not promoted to hunter status. They will also retain their points if they are promoted to hunter status but decline it.

Preference point hunts prioritize applicants based on their accumulated preference point balance. Applicants with higher point balances receive higher priority during the selection process.

Random draw hunts select applicants entirely at random, giving each applicant an equal chance of receiving hunter status. This method is primarily used for antlerless deer hunts, youth hunts, dog deer hunts, dove hunts, and sandhill crane hunts.

If you are selected as a hunter but choose not to accept your hunter status, you will retain your preference point balance.

Your preference point balance will reset to zero (0) only if you:

• Accept hunter status and attend a hunt
• Fail to register for a year
• Accept hunter status and fail to attend or cancel a hunt without providing at least seven (7) days’ notice

If you accept hunter status but are unable to attend the hunt, you may cancel by notifying the hunt manager at least seven (7) days before the scheduled hunt date. Your hunter status will then be offered to the next alternate hunter in line, and you will retain your preference point balance.

If you cancel less than seven (7) days before the hunt, your preference point balance will be forfeited.

Preference points do not expire, and there is no maximum number of points an applicant may accumulate.

An applicant’s preference point balance will reset to zero (0) only if they:

• Accept hunter status and attend a hunt
• Fail to register for a year
• Accept hunter status and fail to attend or cancel a hunt without providing at least seven (7) days’ notice

No. Applicants may earn a maximum of one (1) preference point per year for each species they register for. Preference points are tracked separately for each species.

No. Applicants with more accumulated preference points receive priority for their registered hunts, which increases their likelihood of selection but does not guarantee it.

During the selection process, applicants are grouped by preference point balance. Applicants within the same point tier are selected at random until all available spots are filled.

Preference points are awarded at the time of registration. Applicants will see one (1) additional point added to their balance after registering.

Final preference point balances are calculated following the hunting season and will be adjusted based on the applicant’s final selection and participation status.

Applicants can view their current preference point balance by logging into the Alabama Public Hunts website and selecting the “Your Preference Points” tab.

The “Your Preference Points” tab displays preference point history for the past five (5) license years. Although earlier years are not displayed individually, the balance shown for the current license year reflects the applicant’s total accumulated preference points from all years.