Filled with coastal marshes and river valleys, Louisiana provides a unique and thrilling hunting experience. Famous for hunting White-tailed deer, you can rest assured that you will get your money’s worth as you tackle the wild in Louisiana. Before leaving, ensure you have purchased the correct licenses and permits. Also, check that your weapons meet the minimum specifications for hunting deer in Louisiana.
The article will give you a breakdown of everything you need to know before you hunt in Louisiana. Let’s dive in.
Season Dates
Deer hunting seasons in Louisiana are split between weapon categories and areas. There are ten areas in total that all have their deer seasons. To check which areas correspond with the numbers, you can refer to the e-regulations document. Here’s a list of the deer hunting season for 2023-2024 from areas 1 to 10.
| Area | Archery | Primitive Firearms | Firearms (still hunt) | Firearms (with/without dogs) | Youth and discharged veterans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct. 1 – Jan. 31 | Nov. 11 – 17 Jan. 22 – 31 | Nov. 18 – Dec. 8 Jan. 8 – Jan. 21 | Dec. 9 – Jan. 7 | Oct. 28 – Nov. 3 |
| 2 | Oct. 1 – Jan. 31 | Oct. 21 – 27 Jan. 15 – 21 | Oct. 28 – Dec. 5 | Dec. 6 – Jan. 14 | Oct. 14 – 20 |
| 3 | Sept. 16 – Jan. 15 | Oct. 14 – 20 Jan. 1 – 7 | Oct. 21 – Nov. 26 | Nov. 27 – Dec. 31 | Sept. 23 – Sept. 29 |
| 4 | Oct. 1 – Jan. 31 | Nov. 11 – 17 Jan. 22 – 31 | Nov. 18 – Dec. 8 Jan. 8 – 21 | Dec. 9 – Jan. 7 | Oct. 28 – Nov. 3 |
| 5 | Oct. 16 – Feb. 15 | Oct. 1-15 | Jan. 22 – 31 | Nov. 20 – 23 Nov. 27 – Dec. 8 | Oct. 28 – Nov. 3 |
| 6 | Oct. 16 – Feb. 15 Oct. 1-15 | Nov. 11 – 17 Jan. 22 – 31 | Nov. 18 – Dec. 8 | Dec. 9 – Jan. 21 | Oct. 29 – Nov. 4 |
| 7 | Sept. 16 – Jan. 15 | Oct. 14 – 20 Jan. 1 – 7 | Oct. 21 – Nov. 26 | Nov. 27 – Dec. 31 | Sept. 23 – Sept. 29 |
| 8 | Sept. 16 – Jan. 15 | Oct. 14 – 20 Jan. 1 – 7 | Oct. 21 – Nov. 26 | Nov. 27 – Dec. 31 | Sept. 23 – Sept. 29 |
| 9 | Oct. 16 – Feb. 15 | Oct. 1-15 | Nov. 11 – 17 Jan. 22 – 31 | Nov. 18 – 19 Nov. 24 – 26 Nov. 20 – 23 Nov. 27 – Dec. 8 | Dec. 9 – 10 Dec. 16 – 17 Dec. 11 – 15 Dec. 18 – Jan. 21 |
| 10 | Sept. 16 – Jan. 15 | Oct. 14 – 20 Jan. 1 – 7 | Oct. 21 – Dec. 31 | Sept. 23 – Sept. 29 |
Licensing & Draw License Fees
You also need to purchase the correct license to hunt legally in Louisiana. Here’s a list of all the licenses you might want to consider for hunting deer in Louisiana;
| License | Resident | Non-Resident | Non-resident 10 day | Non-resident 5 day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting | $20 | $200 | $20 | $65 |
| Deer | 415 | $100 | $15 | $35 |
| Sportsman paradise | $100 | $400 | $100 | $120 |
| Senior hunt/fish | Free | |||
| Resident/native-born retired military | $20 | |||
| Disabled | $4 | |||
| Disabled Veteran | $4 | |||
| Youth Hunting | $5 | |||
What Weapons can you Hunt Deer Within Lousiana?
Setting up your weapons so that it meets the minimum requirements to hunt for deer in Louisiana is also vital. Below are the basic requirements which you weapons need to meet. For more information, take a look at the Louisiana e-regulations page.
Firearms:
| Weapon | Details |
|---|---|
| Shotguns | Must be a minimum of 10 gauge. Loaded with single slugs. Barrel must be a minimum of 18 inches long. The minimum overall length must be 26 inches. |
| Centerfire rifle | 0.44 Caliber and up with a magnum load or centerfire cartridge. |
| Handguns | .44 caliber and down with a barrel no longer than four and a half inches. |
Bow and Arrow:
| Weapon | Details |
|---|---|
| Arrows | Arrows must be 24 inches in length. |
| Broadheads | Can be fixed with two blades and must be ⅞ inches wide at their widest point. |
| Bow characteristics | Longbow, recurve, and compound bow. Draw weight must exceed 30lb |
Crossbow:
| Weapon | Details |
|---|---|
| Crossbow draw weight | Crossbows have a minimum draw weight of 125 lbs and must be mechanically safe. Draw length must be a minimum of 14 inches. |
| Arrows/ bolts | The arrow/ bolt must be at least 16 inches, excluding the broad head. |
| Broadheads | It must be ⅞ inches at the widest point. |
Muzzleloading Rifle:
| Weapon | Details |
|---|---|
| Powder | black powder or black powder substitute only. |
| Caliber | A single barrel of .35 caliber or greater. |
| Legal projectile | Muzzleloaders can be smoothbore or rifled. Must be a single barrel that fires a single round ball or conical projectile. |
| Ignition | Matchlock, flintlock ignition system, percussion ignition system with a primer or percussion cap, or a wheel-lock. |
What Types of Deer Are Popular in Louisiana?
Like other states, the White-tailed deer is generally the most common to hunt. However, hunters can also target the Mule deer in Louisiana. The White-tailed and Mule deer bear some resemblance, but they have some distinct features that make them distinguishable. Here’s how you can identify them.
The Mule deer is easy to identify by their large prominent ears. This, and their tails are a lot shorter than the tails of the White-tailed deer. Their coats are a reddish brown to grey. Mule deer are generally found in the western regions of Louisiana.
The White-tailed deer is probably the most popular deer to hunt in the US because of its population. A distinct feature of the White-tailed deer is its white tail which stands alert when they are alarmed. They are medium-sized bucks with a similar coloration to the Mule deer. They adapt quickly to different habitats and can be found throughout Louisiana.
What Else is Popular to Hunt in Lousiana?
Louisiana is home to many animals, each providing hunters a unique experience. Remember, you must purchase the corresponding license and tag to hunt different animals in Louisiana. Your weapons must also meet the specifications for hunting your animal of choice.
Here’s a formatted list of animals that you can hunt legally in Louisiana, categorized by game type:
Big Game:
- White-tailed Deer
- Mule Deer
- Eastern Wild Turkey
- Black Bear (limited areas and specific regulations)
Upland Birds:
- Bobwhite Quail
- Ring-necked Pheasant (limited areas and specific dates)
- Wild Turkey
- Mourning Dove
- Snipe
- Woodcock
Waterfowl:
- Mallard
- Gadwall
- Teal (Blue-winged and Green-winged)
- Pintail
- Wigeon
- Canvasback
- Redhead
- Wood Duck
- Mottled Duck
- Black Duck
- Northern Shoveler
- Northern Pintail
- Blue-winged Teal
- Green-winged Teal
- Scaup (Greater and Lesser)
- Ring-necked Duck
- Goldeneye (Common and Barrow’s)
- Bufflehead
- Ruddy Duck
- Canada Goose
- Snow Goose
Small Game:
- Gray Squirrel
- Fox Squirrel
- Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
- Swamp Rabbit
- Raccoon
- Opossum
- Coyote
- Bobcat (with specific regulations)
- Fox (Red and Gray)
- Striped Skunk
- Mink
- Muskrat
- Nutria
- Beaver
- Feral Hog (with specific regulations)
Furbearers:
- Raccoon
- Muskrat
- Mink
- Nutria
- Beaver
- Coyote
- Bobcat (with specific regulations)
- Red Fox
- Gray Fox
- River Otter (with specific regulations)