Hunting Seasons in Louisiana 2025–26: Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide
Plan your 2025–26 LA hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from whitetail deer to wild turkey to waterfowl. Whether you’re slipping through cypress swamps for early‑season ducks, glassing hardwood ridges for rutting bucks, or setting decoys for snow geese on flooded fields, Louisiana’s bayous, bottomlands, and pine forests deliver year‑round hunting under clear state regulations.
What Is There to Hunt in Louisiana?
Louisiana’s diverse habitats support:
Big Game: Whitetail deer, wild turkey, black bear (limited draw), feral hogs (no closed season)
Small Game & Upland Birds: Cottontail rabbit, squirrel, bobwhite quail
Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, teal, mottled), geese, coots, rails, snipe
Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, raccoon, nutria (open season), bobcat
From flooded rice fields to upland pine stands, Louisiana offers premier opportunities for big game, small game, and waterfowl hunters alike.
Year‑Round Huntable Species
On private lands with landowner permission, you may pursue feral hogs, coyote, nutria, and raccoon year‑round, aiding nuisance control and providing off‑season sport. Public‑land WMAs require you follow posted seasons and weapon restrictions.
Louisiana Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26
Whitetail Deer
Archery (Zone A & B): Sept 19 – Nov 8; Dec 15 – Jan 15, 2026
General Firearms: Nov 9 – Dec 14, 2025
Muzzleloader: Oct 17 – Oct 24, 2025
Youth Hunt: Sept 12 – 14, 2025
Seasons vary by zone; bow hunters enjoy two separate windows, while rifle hunters follow a continuous firearm period. Bag limit: 2 deer per season (no more than 1 antlered).
Wild Turkey (Spring)
Season: Mar 28 – May 3, 2026
Youth Hunt: Mar 21 – 27, 2026
Shooting Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset
Spring turkey regulations allow both shotgun and archery; permits are free but required, and harvest reporting is mandatory.
Louisiana Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26
Small Game & Upland Birds
Rabbit & Squirrel: Oct 29 – Feb 28, 2026
Bobwhite Quail: Oct 29 – Feb 28, 2026 (WMAs only)
Walk levees and piney woods for fast‑paced rabbit and squirrel hunts, or call quail covert openings with bird dogs and 12‑gauge shotguns.
Waterfowl & Migratory Birds
Regular Duck Season: Nov 7 – Jan 24, 2026 (zones split)
Early Teal: Sept 5 – 27, 2025
Goose Season: Nov 21 – Jan 10, 2026
Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Oct 14, 2025
Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; non‑toxic shot required
Louisiana’s coastal marshes and rice fields draw ducks, geese, and rails. Hunters need a Federal Duck Stamp, HIP registration, and state waterfowl permit.
Bag Limits by Species
Whitetail Deer: 2 per season (max 1 buck)
Wild Turkey: 2 birds per spring season
Ducks: 6 per day; sub‑limits on teal and mottled ducks
Geese: 3 per day
Rails & Snipe: 15 rails; 8 snipe per day
Rabbit & Squirrel: 8 per day each
Feral Hogs, Coyote, Nutria: No bag limits; WMA rules apply
Bag limits protect game populations and support sustainable big game and small game harvests.
License & Tags Information for Louisiana Hunters (2025–26)
All hunters must carry a valid Louisiana hunting license and required permits:
Resident License: $27.50; Nonresident: $207.50
Deer Tags: $11 (antlered); $4 (antlerless)
Turkey Permit: Free, online application
Waterfowl Permit: $11; Federal Duck Stamp & HIP required
Trapping License: Required for furbearers
Licenses fund wildlife management and habitat conservation; applications open in early August for migratory‑bird permits.
Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader
Louisiana allows:
Bows: Compound and crossbow (archery season only)
Firearms: Rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) during general seasons
Muzzleloaders: Primitive firearms during designated week
Dogs & Bait: Permitted for feral hog and raccoon; check WMA guidelines
Follow weapon and caliber restrictions to maintain legal, ethical hunts.
Regulations & Resources
Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries regulations cover:
Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset (waterfowl strict sunrise rule)
Hunting Zones & Maps: Detailed by parish and WMA; consult online map viewer
Harvest Reporting: Deer and turkey must be reported within 48 hrs
Special Areas: Waterfowl refuges, WMAs with controlled access
Always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements via the official 2025–26 Hunting Dates PDF before heading afield.
Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt.
This guide was created based on information from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF): https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations
With clear seasons, manageable bag limits, and accessible license structures, Louisiana offers rewarding hunting across coastal wetlands, hardwood bottoms, and pine ridges. Prepare your bow or rifle, secure the proper tags, and embrace the state’s rich wildlife heritage on your 2025–26 hunt.
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