The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has created 10 separate zones around the state (LDWF). Important dates and rules are outlined in this page. We’ll talk about where to go hunting and the many species of wildlife in Louisiana.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a novice or if you’ve been doing it for years, the information provided here will add value to your outdoor expedition this year.
Louisiana Hunting Seasons
Our team has compiled the following schedule for your convenience.
Big Games
Deer season Louisiana
| Area | Archery | Primitive Firearms | Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans |
| 1 | Oct. 1 – Jan. 31 | Nov. 9 – 15 | Nov. 16 – Dec. 6 | Dec. 7 – Jan. 5 | Oct. 26 – Nov. 1 |
| 2 | Oct. 1 – Jan. 31 | Oct. 19 – 25 | Oct. 26 – Dec. 4 | Dec. 5 – Jan. 12 | Oct. 12 – 18 |
| 3 | Sept. 21 – Jan. 15 | Oct. 12 – 18 | Oct. 19 – Dec. 1 | Dec. 2 – Jan. 5 | Sept. 21 – 27 |
| 4 | Oct. 1 – Jan. 31 | Nov. 9 – 15 | Nov. 16 – Dec. 6 | Dec. 7 – Jan. 5 | Oct. 26 – Nov. 1 |
| 5 | Oct. 16 – Feb. 15 (Either-sex), Oct. 1-15 (Bucks Only) | Nov. 9 – 15 | Nov. 16-17, Nov. 29 – Dec. 1, Nov. 18-28, Dec. 2-6 | Dec. 7-8, Dec. 14-15, Dec. 9-13, Dec. 16 – Jan. 19 | Oct. 26 – Nov. 1 |
| 6 | Oct. 16 – Feb. 15 (Either-sex), Oct. 1-15 (Bucks Only) | Nov. 9 – 15 | Nov. 16 – Dec. 6 | Dec. 7 – Jan. 19 | Oct. 26 – Nov. 1 |
| 7 | Sept. 21 – Jan. 15 | Oct. 12 – 18 | Oct. 19 – Dec. 1 | Dec. 2 – Jan. 5 | Sept. 21 – 27 |
| 8 | Sept. 21 – Jan. 15 | Oct. 12 – 18 | Oct. 19 – Dec. 1 | Dec. 2 – Jan. 5 | Sept. 21 – 27 |
| 9 | Oct. 16 – Feb. 15 (Either-sex), Oct. 1-15 (Bucks Only) | Nov. 9 – 15 | Nov. 16-17, Nov. 29 – Dec. 1, Nov. 18-28, Dec. 2-6 | Dec. 7-8, Dec. 14-15, Dec. 9-13, Dec. 16 – Jan. 19 | Oct. 26 – Nov. 1 |
| 10 | Sept. 21 – Jan. 15 | Oct. 12 – 18 | Oct. 19 – Jan. 5 | – | Sept. 21 – 27 |
Turkey Season
| Turkey Area | Dates |
| Youth and Physically Challenged | March 29 – March 30 |
| A | April 5 – May 4 |
| B | April 5 – April 27 |
| C | April 5 – April 20 |
Small Games
Rabbit
- Oct 5 – Feb 28
Squirrels
| Louisiana Squirrels Season | Hunting Start Date | Hunting End Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squirrels | Saturday, October 07, 2023 | Thursday, February 01, 2029 | Statewide, private lands only |
| Squirrels | Saturday, May 04, 2024 | Sunday, May 26, 2024 | Statewide, private lands only |
Alligator
| Louisiana Alligator Season | Hunting Season Start Date | Hunting Season End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Alligator (East Zone) | 31-Aug | 30-Oct |
| Alligator (West Zone) | 7-Sep | 6-Nov |
Regulations
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Schedule | Last Wednesday of August for East Zone, First Wednesday of September for West Zone, and continuing 60 days for each zone |
| Resident Guidelines | Need a Resident Alligator Hunter License, authorization to hunt on public lands via a lottery or bidding process, and a Helper License. |
| Non-Resident Guidelines | Specific tags for both private and public areas are necessary for alligator hunting, and those without private property may purchase an alligator sport hunter license. |
| Private Lands | Tags for appropriate wetland habitats are given by LDWF. |
| Public Lands | Tags distributed by auction or lottery based on certain requirements and application procedures |
| Bidding Guidelines | Minimum standards, bid specifications, guidelines to follow, and required hunting education |
| Lottery Guidelines | Open to inhabitants of Louisiana; application criteria; issuing of tags and licenses for alligator hunting |
| Rules | regulations governing the use of weapons, hook-and-line fishing, bows and arrows, and size restrictions when hunting |
| Tag Requirements | Alligators must be promptly tagged, and missing tags must be reported within 15 days after the end of the season. |
| Important Exceptions | Regulations on farm alligators, research on alligators with special markings, alligator egg harvesting guidelines, and hunters for nuisance control |
Furbearers
Raccoon and Opossum
| Jan 1 – 31 Dec | Two for both |
Bobcat
| Jan 1 – 31 Dec | One only /year |
Upland Birds
Quail
- Nov. 16 – Feb. 28
Pheasant
- Nov. 16 – Feb. 28
Crows, Blackbirds, Cowbirds, and Grackles
- Sep 1 – Jan 1
Louisiana Migratory Birds
Woodcock
- Dec 18 – Jan. 31
Snipe
| East & West Zones | Nov. 2 – Dec. 8 |
| Dec. 21 – Feb. 28 |
Dove
| Bird Species | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Mourning and White Winged Doves | South | Sept. 7 – Sept. 21 |
| Oct. 19 – Nov. 30 | ||
| Dec. 14 – Jan. 14 | ||
| North | Sept. 7 – Sept. 28 | |
| Oct. 5 – Nov. 9 | ||
| Dec. 21 – Jan. 21 | ||
| Fully-Dressed Eurasian and Collared Doves | South | Sept. 7 – Sept. 21 |
| Oct. 19 – Nov. 30 | ||
| Dec. 14 – Jan. 14 | ||
| North | Sept. 7 – Sept. 28 | |
| Oct. 5 – Nov. 9 | ||
| Dec. 21 – Jan. 21 |
Regulations
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Shot Restrictions | Only non-toxic shot size 6 or smaller is allowed on these fields. |
| HIP Certification | Required for all migratory gamebird hunters, available for free on the LDWF website. |
| Dove Hunting Info | Additional information on dove hunting can be found on the LDWF website. |
| Lease Fields | LDWF will have lease fields available in DeRidder and Colfax for opening day. |
| Permits | Permits for lease field hunts can be accessed through the LDWF website for a fee. |
| Registration Fee | $10 for adults; free for youths aged 17 and younger. |
| Shot Type | Only non-toxic shot size 6 and smaller may be used; no lead shot is allowed. |
| Rules for Dogs and ATVs | Dogs are allowed; ATVs may be restricted to field roads in wet conditions. |
| DeRidder Field Details | Two fields located on Highway 190, totaling approximately 150 acres of milo and 375 acres of corn. |
| DeRidder Field Hours | Fields open to the public at 5 a.m. |
| DeRidder Contacts | Contact the Lake Charles Field Office at 337-491-2575 for more information. |
| Colfax Field Details | Located on the north side of Highway 492 with 175 acres of shredded and burned corn. |
| Colfax Field Hours | Field opens to the public at 5 a.m. |
| Colfax Contacts | Contact the Pineville Field Office at 318-487-5885 for more information. |
| WMAs Offering Dove Fields | Several LDWF Wildlife Management Areas offer dove hunting opportunities. |
| Dove Season Start Date | Opens in Louisiana's north and south zones on Saturday, September 2nd. |
| Additional Resources | More information about dove hunting in Louisiana and WMA dove fields can be found on the LDWF website. |
| Vernon Unit Dove Hunting | Contact the Calcasieu Ranger District Office at 318-793-9427 for more information. |
| Contact Information | For more information, contact Dr. Jeff Duguay at [email protected] or 225-765-2353. |
Waterfowls
Goose
| Type | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Light Geese | East | Nov. 2 – Dec. 8 |
| Dec. 21 – Jan. 26 | ||
| Conservation Order: | ||
| Dec. 9 – Dec. 20 | ||
| Jan. 27 – Mar. 2 | ||
| Light Geese | West | Nov. 2 – Dec. 8 |
| Dec. 21 – Jan. 5 | ||
| Jan. 13 – Feb. 2 | ||
| Conservation Order: | ||
| Dec. 9 – Dec. 20 | ||
| Jan. 6 – Jan. 12 | ||
| Feb. 3 – Mar. 2 | ||
| Canada Geese | East | Nov. 2 – Dec. 8 |
| Dec. 21 – Jan. 26 | ||
| Conservation Order: | ||
| Dec. 9 – Dec. 20 | ||
| Jan. 27 – Mar. 2 | ||
| Canada Geese | West | Nov. 2 – Dec. 8 |
| Dec. 21 – Jan. 5 | ||
| Jan. 13 – Feb. 2 | ||
| Conservation Order: | ||
| Dec. 9 – Dec. 20 | ||
| Jan. 6 – Jan. 12 | ||
| Feb. 3 – Mar. 2 |
Note: Hunting Canada geese is forbidden in several parts of Vermilion and Cameron parishes. Only photography of Ross’, blue, and snow geese is permitted under the Geese/Conservation Order; there are no daily or possession restrictions. Hunters are allowed to use shotguns with a magazine capacity more than three rounds and electronic calls.
Rails/Gallinules
| Bird Species | Dates |
|---|---|
| King and Clapper Rails | Sept. 14 – 29 |
| Nov. 9 – Jan. 1 | |
| Sora and Virginia Rails | Sept. 14 – 29 |
| Nov. 9 – Jan. 1 | |
| Gallinules | Sept. 14 – 29 |
| Nov. 9 – Jan. 1 |
Teal
- September 14-29
Note: Blue-Winged, Green-Winged, and Cinnamon
Ducks Coots and Mergansers Season
| Zones | Dates | Note |
| West | Nov. 2 – Nov. 3 | (Youth and Veterans Only) |
| Nov. 9 – Dec. 8 | ||
| Dec. 21 – Jan. 5 | ||
| Jan. 13 – Jan. 26 | ||
| East | Nov. 9 | (Youth and Veterans Only) |
| Nov. 16 – Dec. 8 | ||
| Dec. 21 – Jan. 26 | ||
| Feb. 1 | (Youth and Veterans Only) |
Hunting Location
Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries maintains over 1.6 million acres. There are also large tracts of government maintained pursuing territory in the state.
Forests and parks: Kisatchie National Forest & Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve limit hunting. These sites may have restrictions and need permissions.
Wildlife camps: The USFWS maintains 23 national wildlife refuges in Louisiana. Many of these areas allow hunting, with certain constraints. Louisiana’s wildlife refuges cover 550,000 acres.
Wildlife-protected areas: These areas are carefully conserved because of their relevance to ecosystems and animal species.
State wildlife preserves: The state has 8 wildlife refuges. Some of these areas allow hunting, although the techniques and sorts of wildlife differ.
Protected Natural Areas: Louisiana’s Nature Reserves include White Lake and Ben Lilly. Only White Lake is allowed, although it has good waterfowl opportunities. White Lake permits are lottery-based.
Hunting License & Fees
| License Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| WMA Access Annual Permit | $20.00/year |
| WMA Access 5-Day Permit | $5.00 |
| WMA Camping Permit | $7.00/day |
| Resident Lifetime Hunt/Fish (all ages) | $500 |
| Non-Resident Lifetime Hunt/Fish | $4,000 |
| Lifetime Resident Senior Hunt/Fish (65 or older) | $100 |
| License Type | Fee | Additional Tags (if any) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Hunting | $20.00 | Varies based on the type of hunting |
| Deer | $15.00 | $35.00 |
| Waterfowl | $12.00 | $35.00 |
| Turkey | $12.00 | $35.00 |
| Youth Hunting | $5.00 | Included |
| Federal Electronic Duck Stamp | $27.72 | Not applicable |
| Harvest Information Program (HIP) | Free | Not applicable |
| Hunting Preserve | $15.00 | Not applicable |
| WMA Access Annual Permit | $20.00 | Not applicable |
| WMA Access 5-Day Permit | $5.00 | Not applicable |
| WMA Camping Permit | $7.00/day | Not applicable |
| Sportsman’s Paradise (Combination License) | $100.00 | $120.00 |
| Senior Hunt/Fish (born before June 1, 1940) | Free | Not applicable |
| Senior Hunt/Fish (born between June 1, 1940 and May 31, 1962) | $5.00 | Not applicable |
| Senior Hunt/Fish (65+ on or after June 1, 2027) | $20.00 | Not applicable |
| Resident or Native-Born Retired Military | $20.00 | Not applicable |
| Disabled | $4.00 | Not applicable |
| Disabled Veteran | $4.00 | Not applicable |
| Lifetime Hunting/Fishing Combo License (from birth to age 64) | $500.00 | $4,000.00 |
| Senior Lifetime Hunting/Fishing Combo License (65 and older) | $100.00 | $4,000.00 |
FAQ
Does Louisiana require a hunting license?
Those born on or after September 1, 1969 who wish to hunt in Louisiana must undergo an approved hunter education course. Certification needs a 10-year-old.
John Lewis, the passionate founder of HuntingSeasons.org, is committed to promoting responsible hunting and a profound love for the wilderness. With years of expertise, his platform serves as a reliable guide for hunting enthusiasts, advocating ethical practices and nature preservation.
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