*The dates and rules have been updated for the latest 2025-2026 season!
Louisiana, another state in the southwest region of the US, offers a unique hunting experience with its diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife. Here’s a glimpse of the Louisiana hunting season for various game animals, birds, and license requirements.
Be sure to check out the specific information first before you go on the hunting trip.
Louisiana Deer Season 2025
| Area | Archery | Primitive Firearms | Firearms (Still-Hunt only) | Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans |
| 1 | October 1 – January 31 | November 8 – 14 and January 19 – 31 | November 15 – December 5 and January 5-18 | December 6 – January 4 | October 25 – October 31 |
| 2 | October 1 – January 31 | October 18 – 24 and January 12 – 18 | October 25 – December 2 | December 3- January 11 | October 11 – 17 |
| 3 | September 20 – January 15 | October 11 – 17 and January 5 – 11 | October 18 – November 30 | December 1 – January 4 | September 27 – October 3 |
| 4 | October 1 – January 31 | November 8 – 14 and January 19 – 31 | November 15 – December 5 and January 5 – 18 | December 6 – January 4 | October 25 – October 31 |
| 5 | October 16 – February 15
Bucks Only: October 1-15 |
November 8 – 14
Bucks Only: January 19-31 |
November 15 – 16
November 28 – 30 Bucks Only: |
December 6-7 December 13-14Bucks Only: December 8-12 December 15 – January 18 |
October 25 – October 31 |
| 6 | October 16 – February 15
Bucks Only: |
November 8 – 14 and January 19 – 31 | November 15 – December 5 | December 6 – January 18 | October 25 – October 31 |
| 7 | September 20 – January 15 | October 11 – 17 and January 5 – 11 | October 18 – November 30 | December 1 – January 4 | September 27 – October 3 |
| 8 | September 20- January 15 | October 11 – 17 January 5 – 11 |
October 18 – November 30 | December 1 – January 4 | September 27 – October 3 |
| 9 | October 16 – February 15
Bucks Only: |
November 8 – 14
Bucks Only: October 19 – 31 |
November 15-16 November 28 – November 30Bucks Only: November 17 – 27 December 1 – 5 |
December 6-7 December 13-14Bucks Only: December 8-12 December 15 – January 18 |
October 25 – October 31 |
| 10 | September 20 – January 15 | October 11 – 17 January 5 – 11 |
October 18 – January 4 | October 18 – January 4 | September 27 – October 3 |
Daily Bag Limits: Every hunter can harvest one antlered deer and one antlerless deer (if allowed).
Season Possession Limits: Throughout the season, hunters can have a total of 6 deer, and up to 3 antlered deer or 4 antlerless deer.
Specific Area Limits:
- Deer Area 4: Maximum of 4 deer per season (up to 2 antlered or 2 antlerless).
- Deer Area 10: Maximum of 3 deer per season (up to 2 antlered or 2 antlerless).
Louisiana Turkey Season
The turkey seasons in areas A, B and C are open on private lands only. Each year, the hunting seasons change a bit. Here are the new updates:
2026 Turkey Season Schedules:
- Youth & Physically Challenged Hunt: March 28 – 29
- Area A: April 3 – May 3, 2026
- Area B: April 3 – 26, 2026
- Area C: April 3 – 19, 2026
During turkey season, the shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to minutes after sunset.
Also, there are some important things to note: it is prohibited to hunt hens and juvenile turkeys; use dogs, baiting, or electronic calling devices, and live decoys.
Migratory Birds Hunting Seasons
| Species | Season Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit | |
| Mourning and White-winged Doves and fully- dressed Eurasian Collared and Ringed Turtle Doves |
North Zone: Sept.6 – 28 Oct.11 – Nov.16 Dec.20 – Jan.18 |
South Zone: Sept.6 – 21 Oct.18 – Nov.30 Dec.13 – Jan.11 |
15 | 45 |
| Woodcock | Dec.18 – Jan.31 | 3 | 9 | |
| Teal (Blue-winged, Green-winged and Cinnamon) | Sept.20 – 28 | 6 | 18 | |
| King and Clapper Rails | Sept. 20 – 28 Nov.8 – Jan.7 |
15 | 45 | |
| Sora and Virginia Rails | Sept.20 – 28 Nov.8 – Jan.7 |
25 | 75 | |
| Gallinules | Sept. 20 – 28 Nov.8 – Jan.7 |
15 | 45 | |
| Snipe | Nov.2 – Dec.7 Dec.20 – Feb.28 |
8 | 24 | |
| Canada Geese* | East Zone: Nov.15 – Dec.8 Dec.20 – Feb.7 |
West Zone: Nov.8 – Dec.7 Dec.20- Feb.1 |
1 | 3 |
| Light Geese (Snow, Blue and Ross’) | 20 | None | ||
| White-fronted Geese | 3 | 9 | ||
| Conservation Order for Light Geese (Snow,Blue and Ross’) | East Zone: Dec.9 – 19 Feb.8 – March 15 |
West Zone: Dec.8 – 19 Feb.2 -March 15 |
No bag or possession limit | |
| Falconry for Ducks | Nov. 1 – Jan. 31 | 3 | 9 | |
| Falconry for Rails and allinules | Nov. 1 – Jan. 31 | 3 | 9 | |
| Falconry for Woodcock | Nov. 1 – Jan. 31 | 3 | 9 | |
| Extended Falconry for Mourning Doves | Sept. 13 – 28 | 3 | 9 | |
| Ducks, Coots and Mergansers | East Zone: Nov. 15 – 16 (Youth and Veterans only ) Nov. 22 – Dec. 8 Dec. 20 – Jan. 31 |
West Zone: Nov. 8 – 9 (Youth only) Nov. 15 – Dec. 7 Dec. 20 – Jan. 25 Jan. 31 – Feb. 1 (Veterans only) |
Duck: 6 Coots: 15 Mergansers: 5 |
Duck: 18 Coots: 45 Mergansers: 15 |
Louisiana Small Game Hunting Seasons
Quail Season:
- Date: November 15 – February 28, 2026
- Bag limit: 10 each day and 30 in total
Louisiana Rabbit Season:
- Date: October 4 – February 28, 2026
- Bag limit: 8 each day and 24 in total
Squirrel Season:
- Spring Season: May 4-26, 2025
- Fall Season: October 4 – February 28, 2026
- Bag limit: 8 each day and 24 in total for the spring season, while the limit for the Fall season is 3 each day and 9 in total.
*Spring squirrel season is CLOSED on the Kisatchie National Forest, some national wildlife refuges, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property, and some state WMAs.
Raccoon Season:
- You can hunt raccoons all year round in Louisiana.
- Daily Limit: Two raccoons
Crows Season:
- Date: September 1 – January 1
- Limit: No limits.
Louisiana Hunting License Requirements
Note that various hunting licenses are required for specific hunting activities in Louisiana. These licenses are in addition to the Basic Season License and may include privileges such as deer tags, archery, and primitive hunting rights.
Additionally, there is a Youth License available for individuals under 18, covering activities like deer and turkey hunting, trapping, and youth lottery hunts. Notably, proof of ID or residency is not needed for the youth license.
It’s important to note that all hunting licenses are valid for one year, starting from July 1 of the current calendar year and ending on June 30 of the subsequent calendar year.
How Much Does a Hunting License Cost?
| License/Permit Type | Resident, Military, Student Fee | Nonresident Fee | Nonresident Native 10-Day3 | Nonresident 5-Day |
| Basic Hunting | $20 | $200 | $20 | $65 |
| Dee | $15 | $100 | $15 | $35 |
| Waterfowl | $12 | $50 | $12 | $35 |
| Federal Duck Stam | $30 | — | — | — |
| HIP Certification | Free | — | — | — |
| Turkey | $12 | $50 | $12 | $35 |
| Bear | $25 | — | — | — |
| Youth Hunting | $5 | $5 | — | — |
| WMA Access Annual Permit | $20 | $20 | — | — |
| WMA Access 5-Day Permit | $5 | $5 | — | — |
| Senior Hunting | $5 | — | — | — |
| Game Breeder’s License for Falconry | $50 plus one-time $100 facility inspection fee | — | — | — |
Conclusion
For more detailed information, you can refer to the Louisiana Hunting Dates and Regulations 2025-2026 PDF.
We will keep you updated with any new changes in dates and regulations for the Louisiana hunting season each year. Follow us to prepare early for the hunting adventure in your state!
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