COLUMBUS, Ga. - Fort Benning has opened more than 155,000 acres in Georgia and Alabama for the 2026-27 deer hunting season, and the Alabama firearms season begins Saturday, Nov. 7. The post announced the season on Sept. 14, and hunters must follow the regulations and season dates of each state. Access is limited to people with installation access, and every hunter must clear a short online checklist before going into the field.

Season dates

The two states run different calendars. In Georgia, archery season opened Sept. 12, and firearms season runs from Oct. 17 through Jan. 10. In Alabama, archery season opened Oct. 1, and firearms season runs from Nov. 7 through Jan. 15.

Who can hunt

Fort Benning limits hunting to authorized people. They include active-duty and retired service members, National Guard and Reserve members on active status, and veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or higher. Medal of Honor recipients, eligible federal civilian employees and certain retirees, and surviving spouses with a valid dependent ID card also qualify.

Foreign military personnel assigned to Fort Benning and the primary dependents of sponsors may hunt as well. Guests can hunt under Fort Benning Regulation 200-1. Hunters who are unsure whether they qualify should check the post's iSportsman regulations page.

Five steps to hunt

1. Get a state license. Georgia offers resident pricing to active-duty personnel stationed at Fort Benning and a free one-time Veteran's License that requires a DD-214. Active-duty members on orders can hunt the Alabama portion without an Alabama license but must set up a Game Check H.E.L.P. account.
2. Create an iSportsman account at benning.isportsman.net.
3. Sign the digital liability waiver in the account.
4. Complete the Fort Benning Specific Hunting Safety Brief under the "My Safety Brief" tab.
5. Buy a post permit under "Available Permits."

What it costs

Every account holder pays a mandatory $15 iSportsman Access Permit fee, including holders of honorary permits. The installation hunting permit and state license costs are separate. The post did not list those prices in its announcement, so hunters should check the iSportsman site and the Georgia and Alabama wildlife agencies for current fees.

Fort Benning natural resources manager James Parker urged hunters to double-check their state licenses and confirm their iSportsman registration before heading out. The post links to Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources hunting pages for state rules. It also links to an iSportsman instruction sheet covering vehicle passes and permit details, and a regulations page with zone maps and bag limits.

Source note: Reviewed by The Columbus Times from the U.S. Army's Fort Benning article dated Sept. 14, 2026. Check benning.isportsman.net for current zones and limits.