Hi! So, I am coming to Montgomery for military training in October for almost two months. I have researched the digest and have covered the basics. I do have a couple of questions, though.

I will be hunting WMAs, for obvious reasons. Lowndes looks like a good place. Is south of 40 all hogs? I prefer deer, but have never taken a hog...so just having something cross my path will be sufficient. Any opinions on Yates Lake for deer? Last question on WMAs...can you hunt them on Sundays?

Next topic: Are there any harvest donation programs I can support while in Alabama? Since I am staying in a dorm, I have nowhere to keep the meat. Lastly, Any recommendations on processors in the Montgomery area?

Thanks for your time!

The map (which is also called a permit) of Lowndes WMA will have all the rules on it. As far as donation programs, the processors are usually donation sites. Contact some in the area that you're gonna be hunting/living in and see if they take part. Good luck. Thanks for your service.

Holler if you want to drive 2hrs south for a sit. Could possibly put you on a doe.
Thanks for your service and hope you enjoy your time in AL.

N2TRKYS - Thank you. I read the fine print on the permits. No mention of Sunday being an issue at Lowndes or Yates. My hesitation with Sunday hunting is because I grew up in PA (NO Sun hunting) and now live in NC (Sun hunting on private land only).

alhawk - Thank you for the offer. Good chance I will take you up on it. Hunting alone gets boring.

Another question...do I need snake boots in Alabama? I hunt in mid-height hikers everywhere else; but they aren't full-on swamps like I expect at Lowndes.

p.s. Thank you both for your support of the military!

I personally wear snake boots, until it gets cold. My dad and I killed a copperhead in our swamp today. I don't think there's a problem hunting on Sundays at Lowndes.

The problem is I knew the answer about the boots; I'm just cheap.

Found the link to the Harvest Share program. Hunters Helping the Hungry Gotta love the internet.

I hunt Lowndes quite a bit. It's not far from my club. When the pressure at the club gets heavy I hit the WMA with my bow. Just about guaranteed a shot.

Good luck during your stay. I am also around two hours away and your more than welcome to come hunt my farm one weekend. I too appreciate your service.

Sharpshooter69 - Good to hear! That must be some great public land there.

NortonZ7 - I appreciate the support. I checked your FB page linked in your sig. Muscle Shoals might be a bit too far, is the farm closer to Montgomery by chance? I hope I get to take you up on the offer. Thanks!

First, Thanks for your service to this country. Second, as I tell everyone who posts on here about hunting Lowndes, pay attention to where you are and the property lines. Our club is adjacent to the WMA and we get poachers/lost hunters every year. It is VERY easy to get turned around. It is very thick palmettos, at least the piece from highway 80 north.

Lowndes is open every day for bow hunters. Scheduled gun hunts are on the permits. There is some good hunting if you want to put the time in and wear out some boot leather. When you think you have gone deep enough, go another 30 minutes. Most hunters don't walk more than 200-300 yards from the roads. Get back in that thick nasty stuff and you could very well come out with a trophy. Good luck and thanks for your service.

Dr. B

I just transferred from Maxwell and would go to Lowndes for a change of scenery when I got sick of my club. I would park on the end of the South Road and start walking. There is an easy trail to follow but it is sometimes covered in water. My favorite spot was to follow the trail, staying to the right all the way to the end. There is a creek that runs through and I have seen just as many deer as hogs. Be careful of the property lines though. You can also park off of Hwy 80 and head north, there is a fire break that has a ton of critters running through it. Very rarely did I ever run itno anyone during archery only days.

Yeah, it is. I moved from Muscle Shoals back to my hometown last January. Its right off I20 on the Georgia line.

Thanks for your service also, and I'm less than 2 hours from Montgomery to the south and probably could find a doe if interested one weekend.

moose24 - Thanks! I saw your advice in the other threads as I was researching Lowndes. The map they give out is pretty bad. Do you happen to know of any better ones? I use GPS to get me unlost, but if I could purchase a topo map somewhere, that would be ideal.

bamaeyedoc - Thanks! I don't mind walking, although I need to go get some snake boots and break them in quickly.

xrcrtr1 - Good to know. I'll look for those places on Google Earth today.

NortonZ7 - Great. I'll hit you up in PM once I get to AL and get a feel for the course load/weekend availability.

skintback - Thanks for your support and offer! I'll get back with you in PM in October.

Just wanted to bring this thread back up to the top to thank all of you for the offers to hunt your land and for the advice I received on hunting Lowndes WMA. Alabama was beautiful and I ended up taking a 180lb (or so) hog on Lowndes, in the Hunter's Loop area. BBQing a roast from it as we speak. I wasn't able to take a deer because I ended up getting busted by does at the most inopportune moments while crossbow hunting. Still, I enjoyed my time in the outdoors in AL. Thanks again for the tremendous support!