Sweet Home Alabama....

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UniversalFrost

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So like the song goes, Alabama (huntsville to be specific) is where I am moving in a couple of weeks (for the last few months I had planned on WV, but the DOJ's hiring freeze put the stop to that and the Dept of the Army has been so kind as to offer me a position in Huntsville...


So all that are in the Huntsville and surrounding area please sound off and let me know where to go shooting, which gun shops to frequent (and which to avoid) and also any good hunting areas (I really want to go hog hunting again, since it has been years since i was hogging with dogs down in mississippi and florida).

Also, any good archery ranges or shops in the area?

I will be in Huntsville in 2-3 weeks....

Also, CCW and other gun laws are helpful.... Castle doctorine over there? is it a shall issue state (AZ is very gun friendly and even though they don't require a CCW anymore , I still have mine). Also, info on if they are friendly to class 3 toys (I have some cans and a reising and a few registered reising receivers and an registered mp44 receiver).
 
Can't say anything about Huntsville in general but in Alabama your at home in regards to firearms. I am in Walker County which is about 60-70 miles from Huntsville and here unless you go out and do something really dumb LEO are much more supportive of gun owners than most other parts of the country. Here is a link that gives a lot of information about CCW in Alabama. http://www.alabamaopencarry.com/
 
Check out Skyline Management Area for hunting in Jackson County near Stevenson. There is also a state run shooting range there. Until recently Alabama wasn't very NFA friendly but that has changed somewhat.
 
JellyJar linked you to one of the biggest selections of guns in Huntsville - Larry's Pistol and Pawn. Larry is typically a fairly good guy to deal with and there are some decent deals to be had during certain parts of the year.

The indoor range is real nice. Last I checked it was $10 per hour.

We have a few good archery shops around town. I don't know much about bows myself, but there are a few mom and pop shops around that will probably be able to fill your needs. We also have a Gander Mountain which has an archery shop in it.

I expect you'll like the Huntsville area. Aside from a lot of construction in every direction, I love the place. Lived here the majority of my life.

Hit me up when you get in town. I live up towards the state line (about 20 miles north of Huntsville) and have my own range.

Congrats on the new job. Good luck with your move.
 
If you ever make it down to the Birmingham area, check out Simmons Sporting Goods in Bessemer, AL. Right near the courthouse.

AL is "may issue" but there are people at AOC working to change that. Check my sig and join the forum there! Lots of helpful info.
 
One note on hunting. ALL land,public or private, is posted by state law in Alabama. You must have a written permit in your possession or be accompanied by the landowner or his agent. A "no trespassing" sign is not needed to get a trespassing citation.
 
Go to the Civilian marksmanship store in Anniston

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For shooting, there's the Swan Creek SWA range just north of Decatur. It has 25, 50, 75 and 100 yard backstops. You just need to get either a hunting license or a heritage license ($10 a year, IIRC). It's a nice facility.

If you want to shoot further, there's a 200 yard range about 40 miles or so east of Huntsville in Skyline. It's another SWA range. Also a nice place, but the wind always picks up in the late morning.

For longer distance, there's the Maple Ridge shooting range outside Cullman, about 45 minutes from Huntsville. They have 100, 200, 300 and 500 yard backstops. You shoot from inside a wooden building, through holes in the wall and through ~15 foot tunnels made from tires to keep rounds from going astray. It's $15 for all day. Nice place.
 
UniversalFrost said:
So like the song goes, Alabama (huntsville to be specific) is where I am moving in a couple of weeks (for the last few months I had planned on WV, but the DOJ's hiring freeze put the stop to that and the Dept of the Army has been so kind as to offer me a position in Huntsville...


So all that are in the Huntsville and surrounding area please sound off and let me know where to go shooting, which gun shops to frequent (and which to avoid) and also any good hunting areas (I really want to go hog hunting again, since it has been years since i was hogging with dogs down in mississippi and florida).

Also, any good archery ranges or shops in the area?

I will be in Huntsville in 2-3 weeks....

Also, CCW and other gun laws are helpful.... Castle doctorine over there? is it a shall issue state (AZ is very gun friendly and even though they don't require a CCW anymore , I still have mine). Also, info on if they are friendly to class 3 toys (I have some cans and a reising and a few registered reising receivers and an registered mp44 receiver).
Click to expand...

There is a web forum for north Alabama shooters at http://www.shootability.net

When you sign up, tell Jim you heard about us from THR, and welcome to the neighborhood!
 
I am just north of Huntsville myself. It is a pretty good place to live. At least that is what a bunch of people keep saying.... I escaped South Florida for North Alabama and could not be happier. Lots of good info in this post. There is something shooting related going on every weekend depending on your tastes. Good luck on the move and welcome to the neighborhood. Check us out over on shootability as well. Good group of guys.
 
Until a few years ago, I had never been in Alabama. I like the country. Hope you enjoy yourself in Huntsville. A lot of Huntsville folks drive up to TN to fish for trout on the Elk River near Winchester TN if that is an interest.

I just made a run over to Cullman yesterday. Curious what the Ava Maria Grotto is? I enjoy the country and cut through Huntsville often now. In fact I have a job coming up just north of Huntsville.
 
just arrived in huntsville last week.

really like the area so far, just need to get a chance to explore the gun shops and also the redstone arsenal for archery and shotgun/slug deer hunting.

also already had some invites to go bowhunting for hogs nearby (some folks over on AT do regular hunts).
 
Welcome to all the new guys - I've been around Huntsville since the early 60s. Know my way around pretty well. Glad you like it. If you want to do some back water kayaking or canoeing I have extra boats and am always looking for an excuse to go.
 
Lots of us from HSV here on the forum! THR range time might be in order.

Welcome to the area BTW. You've gotten the advice from everyone else, but add me to your shooting buddy list. I never have much luck getting my friends out to the range as most are casual shooters at best.
 


There is a short distance range (75yds) about 10 miles south of the Tennessee River called the Arab Practical Shooting Club. I'm the XO. Its a quarry and pretty minimal but is a close place to shoot handguns. I shoot everything though. Its currently being expanded and still needs leveling but still in use. If interested http://www.apsc1.us/
 
You asked what gun shops to avoid, here's two:

- JC's Guns in Huntsville. 100% negative reputation from everyone I've talked to about them going back almost 20 years.

- Madison Guns, either in Hsv. or in Madison, might be going or gone out of business, don't know, don't care. Low inventory, high prices and closed on Saturdays. Three strikes, you're out!


All state run ranges (one south of Wren in the Bankhead NF), Swan Creek and Skyline, etc. require either a hunting license, WMA license or a Wildlife Heritage License. Most are open year round, but Swan Creek is closed for about a month in Jan. for duck season.

For local shooting ranges and clubs, here's a good site: http://s334465775.onlinehome.us/forums

Hunting sucks in this state, deer season is only 72 days +/-, with a three deer bag limit. :) Hog hunting is year round.

As someone posted above, all land is posted for hunting. You either need written permission from the landowner or join a hunting club or hunt public lands like Bankhead, which is about an hour away or Skyline, a hour the other way.

Open season on the WMA areas are limited to only 5-7 days per year; NF season follows the state season.

The best public schools in north Alabama are Madison City Schools.

Good luck.
 
Hunting sucks in this state, deer season is only 72 days +/-, with a three deer bag limit
Click to expand...
There is a three buck limit, but you can kill two does a day everyday of the season if you want to. And with bow season you have some where around 100 days. There is also talk of extending the season into February, which I hope that they don't do.
 
three deer bag limit
Click to expand...
That's 3 BUCKS,one of which must have at least 4 points on one side. All bucks (and wild turkey)must be logged on your hunting license BEFORE field dressing the deer(it is a $200 fine otherwise).
 
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