Posted: 1/24/2026 6:10:34 PM EDT
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Bit of background- I'm about to buy a very secluded 25ac property with a cabin in rural Alabama. I plan on living there fully time, and I like carrying/shooting guns. I know that in Alabama that open/concealed carry is legal on private land. I also know that in Alabama that landowners generally don't need a hunting license to hunt certain species on their own property provided they follow all other hunting laws. As of right now game wardens in Alabama can enter private property with no warrant or reasonable suspicion, although this is being litigated by IJ. Here's where my question begins. Say I'm walking the perimeter trail of my property with a loaded rifle when I encounter a game warden. Do I have any legal defense against being charged and convicted with a hunting related offense? I'm not interested in "that'll never happen here, we're all good ole boys" arguments, just hard facts. Also, before anyone asks, I'm from the south and have worked extensively in rural areas in every single southeastern state. |
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Originally Posted By biometrician: Bit of background- I'm about to buy a very secluded 25ac property with a cabin in rural Alabama. I plan on living there fully time, and I like carrying/shooting guns. I know that in Alabama that open/concealed carry is legal on private land. I also know that in Alabama that landowners generally don't need a hunting license to hunt certain species on their own property provided they follow all other hunting laws. As of right now game wardens in Alabama can enter private property with no warrant or reasonable suspicion, although this is being litigated by IJ. Here's where my question begins. Say I'm walking the perimeter trail of my property with a loaded rifle when I encounter a game warden. Do I have any legal defense against being charged and convicted with a hunting related offense? I'm not interested in "that'll never happen here, we're all good ole boys" arguments, just hard facts. Also, before anyone asks, I'm from the south and have worked extensively in rural areas in every single southeastern state. Since you're only interested in facts the answer is maybe.😂 I don't know about Alabama but in Michigan you can carry a concealed weapon, if you have a ccw. You can open carry without a ccw. However if you're carrying a rifle of a certain caliber or a shotgun with certain rounds (slugs or cut shells) and it's not deer season, or if it is deer season and you don't have a license then yes you can be charged. Could you get it dismissed with a lot of money and a good lawyer as just being on your property with a gun, maybe. |
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Depends. Totality of the circumstances would likely play into everything. Are you carrying a hunting type rifle or a rifle of a typical hunting caliber, dressed like a typical hunter, carrying other hunting items, acting in a manner consistent with hunting (stalking,tracking,checking sign) or are you in jeans and a neon hoodie playing a radio dragging around a shorty AR with a magazine capacity not typical of hunting in a caliber not suitable for most game? A warden seeking to charge you will do it but, the circumstances will change how it looks in court. |
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Originally Posted By Oldgold: Just tell them you’re hog hunting. Or coyote hunting. It’s legal here year round. Plus in the woods, I’m carrying. This. I open carry on my mower, tractor, walking to my gun range. Most farmers have a rifle in their tractor, combine. There are plenty of real poachers to keep the fish cops busy. |
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My only "hunting" rifle is more of a decoration- I haven't shot it in over five years. I'm into run n gun type matches, so if I'm hiking around my property it'll be for physical training for that style of match. So, M4 and pistol plus maybe armor or other kit. If I'm trying to do Mammoth or a similar style match I'll be doing laps with a sniper rifle in a ruck plus a bunch of other stuff. Good tip on hog/coyote hunting- it reads like I'd technically need a nighttime license if I've got my NVG's, thermal, or weapon mounted light handy. I know game wardens are supposed to be going after criminals, but my 10+ years experience as a forester is that they're extremely nosy and tend to go anywhere they want |
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In my state - i would just tell them that I was going to do some target shooting. Target shooting is perfectly legal on private land. If didn't give them reason to think you were hunting otherwise, it should be fine. The dnr has power that should they decide you're a target, it will jack up your life a bit. I can't say they couldn't claim you're poaching, but it would probably be on them to prove with more evidence than "you have a gun" |
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AZ, USA
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If you have no trespassing signs posted around your property per state law, game wardens can still trespass with no repercussions? At minimum they would need to prove an intent to be hunting. Just carrying a rifle is not enough, and why they typically use animal decoys for that proof. |
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Originally Posted By biometrician: I know game wardens are supposed to be going after criminals, but my 10+ years experience as a forester is that they're extremely nosy and tend to go anywhere they want True. Everyone is a criminal in their eyes. |
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
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Originally Posted By ubelongoutside:I don't know about Alabama but in Michigan you can carry a concealed weapon, if you have a ccw. You can open carry without a ccw. However if you're carrying a rifle of a certain caliber or a shotgun with certain rounds (slugs or cut shells) and it's not deer season, or if it is deer season and you don't have a license then yes you can be charged. Could you get it dismissed with a lot of money and a good lawyer as just being on your property with a gun, maybe. 
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Disclaimer: Before taking offense, please consider the possibility that I was attempting humor and simply wasn't as funny as I thought I was.
This post may contain traces of sarcasm, exaggeration, and attempted humor.
This post may contain traces of sarcasm, exaggeration, and attempted humor.
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Originally Posted By ITSARIDDLE: If you have no trespassing signs posted around your property per state law, game wardens can still trespass with no repercussions? At minimum they would need to prove an intent to be hunting. Just carrying a rifle is not enough, and why they typically use animal decoys for that proof. After I had a pair of prowlers drive the 1/8th mile feet down my driveway to park in front of my shop after 2AM in the morning I read the trespassing laws here.  They suck biggly as do the self defense laws. |
Disclaimer: Before taking offense, please consider the possibility that I was attempting humor and simply wasn't as funny as I thought I was.
This post may contain traces of sarcasm, exaggeration, and attempted humor.
This post may contain traces of sarcasm, exaggeration, and attempted humor.
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Originally Posted By ITSARIDDLE: If you have no trespassing signs posted around your property per state law, game wardens can still trespass with no repercussions? At minimum they would need to prove an intent to be hunting. Just carrying a rifle is not enough, and why they typically use animal decoys for that proof. short answer is yes. It's bizarre but the 4a doesn't apply to game wardens for some reason. |