Louisiana hunters may look forward to an exciting deer hunting trip. Hunters await bag limits, dates, and restrictions from the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.
Louisiana Deer Season 2024
The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has 10 areas. Mid-September until mid-February is hunting season. It includes archery, primitive weapons, firearms (still-hunt), firearms (with or without dogs), and youth/veterans.
| Deer Area | Method | Start Dates | End Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Archery | Oct. 1 | Jan. 31 |
| Primitive Firearms | Nov. 9 | Nov. 15 | |
| Jan. 20 | Jan. 31 | ||
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Nov. 16 | Dec. 6 | |
| Jan. 6 | Jan. 19 | ||
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Dec. 7 | Jan. 5 | |
| Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans (Either-sex) | Oct. 26 | Nov. 1 | |
| 2 | Archery | Oct. 1 | Jan. 31 |
| Primitive Firearms | Oct. 19 | Oct. 25 | |
| Jan. 13 | Jan. 19 | ||
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Oct. 26 | Dec. 4 | |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Dec. 5 | Jan. 12 | |
| Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans (Either-sex) | Oct. 12 | Oct. 18 | |
| 3 | Archery | Sept. 21 | Jan. 15 |
| Primitive Firearms | Oct. 12 | Oct. 18 | |
| Jan. 6 | Jan. 12 | ||
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Oct. 19 | Dec. 1 | |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Dec. 2 | Jan. 5 | |
| Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans (Either-sex) | Sept. 21 | Sept. 27 | |
| 4 | Archery | Oct. 1 | Jan. 31 |
| Primitive Firearms | Nov. 9 | Nov. 15 | |
| Jan. 20 | Jan. 31 | ||
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Nov. 16 | Dec. 6 | |
| Jan. 6 | Jan. 19 | ||
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Dec. 7 | Jan. 5 | |
| Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans (Either-sex) | Oct. 26 | Nov. 1 | |
| 5 | Archery | Oct. 16 | Feb. 15 |
| Oct. 1 | Oct. 15 | ||
| Primitive Firearms | Nov. 9 | Nov. 15 | |
| Jan. 20 | Jan. 31 | ||
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Nov. 16 – 17, Nov. 29 – Dec. 6, Dec. 18 – 28 | Dec. 6, Jan. 19 | |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Dec. 7 – 8, Dec. 14 – 15, Dec. 9 – 13, Dec. 16 – Jan. 19 | Jan. 19 | |
| Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans (Either-sex) | Oct. 26 | Nov. 1 | |
| 6 | Archery | Oct. 16 | Feb. 15 |
| Oct. 1 | Oct. 15 | ||
| Primitive Firearms | Nov. 9 | Nov. 15 | |
| Jan. 20 | Jan. 31 | ||
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Nov. 16 | Dec. 6 | |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Dec. 7 | Jan. 19 | |
| Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans (Either-sex) | Oct. 26 | Nov. 1 | |
| 7 | Archery | Sept. 21 | Jan. 15 |
| Primitive Firearms | Oct. 12 | Oct. 18 | |
| Jan. 6 | Jan. 12 | ||
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Oct. 19 | Dec. 1 | |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Dec. 2 | Jan. 5 | |
| Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans (Either-sex) | Sept. 21 | Sept. 27 | |
| 8 | Archery | Sept. 21 | Jan. 15 |
| Primitive Firearms | Oct. 12 | Oct. 18 | |
| Jan. 6 | Jan. 12 | ||
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Oct. 19 | Dec. 1 | |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Dec. 2 | Jan. 5 | |
| Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans (Either-sex) | Sept. 21 | Sept. 27 | |
| 9 | Archery | Oct. 16 | Feb. 15 |
| Oct. 1 | Oct. 15 | ||
| Primitive Firearms | Nov. 9 | Nov. 15 | |
| Jan. 20 | Jan. 31 | ||
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Nov. 16 – 17, Nov. 29 – Dec. 6, Dec. 18 – 28 | Dec. 6, Jan. 19 | |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Dec. 7 – 8, Dec. 14 – 15, Dec. 9 – 13, Dec. 16 – Jan. 19 | Jan. 19 | |
| Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans (Either-sex) | Oct. 26 | Nov. 1 | |
| 10 | Archery | Sept. 21 | Jan. 15 |
| Primitive Firearms | Oct. 12 | Oct. 18 | |
| Jan. 6 | Jan. 12 | ||
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Oct. 19 | Jan. 5 | |
| Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans (Either-sex) | Sept. 21 | Sept. 27 |
Bag Limit
| Type of Limit | Antlered | Antlerless | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Limit | 1 per day | 1 per day | 2 per day |
| Season Limit | Not to exceed 3 | Not to exceed 4 | Not to exceed 6 |
| Deer Area 4 Limit | Not to exceed 2 | Not to exceed 2 | Not to exceed 3 |
| Deer Area 10 Limit | Not to exceed 2 | Not to exceed 2 | Not to exceed 3 |
Note: Different daily limitations may apply during the Bucks Only season and under certain Federal Lands laws. The season or daily bag limit does not apply to deer taken on DMAP-enrolled properties.
Hunting Licenses
| LA Deer Licenses | Resident, Military & Student | Nonresident | 10 Day Nonresident native | 5 Day Nonresident native |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic(required for all hunters; additional licenses are required to hunt deer) | $20.00 | $200.00 | $20.00 | $65.00 |
| Deer (includes archery and primitive; includes tags; required in addition to Basic Hunting) | $15.00 | $100.00 | $15.00 | $35.00 |
| Youth (ages 17 and under; required for deer, turkey, trapping and WMA youth lottery hunts; includes tags) | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| Lifetime Licenses | Resident | Nonresident | ||
| Lifetime H&F Combo (Till the age of 64; includes deer and turkey tags) | $500 | $4,000 | ||
| Lifetime Senior H&F Combo (Above 65 years; includes deer and turkey tags) | $100 | $4,000 |
Tagging & Reporting
All Louisiana deer hunters must have a carcass or electronic tag. Printable e-Licenses are available online. Activities need tags, and deer must be tagged before leaving. The harvest report card death date must include harvest date. The tag must include the kill date and parish. Deer must wear tags when traveling or camping. Text-to-tag, LDWF online portal, LA Wallet, toll-free phone (225-267-9998), or validation website may complete validation within 72 hours.
Hunting Regulations
- Louisiana residents 18 and older must have a Basic Hunting License, Deer License, and Tags. 17-year-olds need Youth Licenses and Tags. People turning 60 between June 1, 2000, and May 31, 2022, pay $5 for a hunting and fishing license. License Information lists exemptions. Compliance with state laws and ethics requires permits and tags.
- In case of tag loss, participants may buy a replacement online or in-store for $2. To verify tags, hunters must remove and discard duplicate tags after harvesting and using their original tags. Copy tag licenses must show confirmed wildlife. Remember that hunting-free regions are off-limits. Legal compliance requires knowledge of Louisiana’s defined regions and rules.
- Louisiana “Either-sex” wildlife has antlers or not. The term “still hunting” refers to hunting without hounds while moving silently or staying there. An “Antlered Animal” has a solid bone antler protruding through the skin.
- Wildlife activities are regulated in Louisiana. The use or ownership of smells or lures involving natural body fluids is restricted unless they come from CWD-tested producers. Hunting noticed young animals is illegal unless the hunter is disabled. Using guns under.22 caliber centerfire or rimfire, catching swimmers, or hunting from a motorized boat are also prohibited. It is also illegal to hunt from airplanes or moving vehicles, chase animals with dogs or vehicles, or train hounds in busy regions.
- Any part should have the harvester’s name, date, address, LDWF number, and sex on it. Any paper, cardboard, or material affixed to the component should display this information. Use Resident Game Possession Tags.
- Louisiana wildlife activities need clear sex identification, such as by the skull or reproductive organs. This identity should be kept in the field, throughout transit to the possessor’s home, or until the animal is tagged and authenticated with an electronic or physical tag affixed to the corpse. The animal must be turned into food before the positive sex identification is eliminated, whether at home or in a cold storage facility.
- Leashed dogs may locate and rescue injured or unrecovered deer but must wear their owners’ names, addresses, and phone numbers.
- Louisiana law requires those using certain guns or archaic weapons to wear at least 400 square inches of “Hunter Orange” or “Blaze Pink” on their head, chest, or back. Private property hunters may wear Hunter Orange or Blaze Pink caps or headgear. While high stands on private property are exempt from the 400 square inch restriction, hunters must nevertheless follow it while moving to and from them. This restriction does not apply to archery players if the landowner or lease forbids rifles. Hunters must consider those without Hunter Orange or Blaze Pink gear.
- Primitive Firearms Seasons need a Deer, Senior, or Youth License for those under 17. Dog tracking is banned at this time. Rifles or handguns with a minimum caliber of.44, shotguns 10 gauge or smaller, and black powder or authorized equivalents are allowed. Single-shot, breech-loading shotguns 10 gauge or smaller, rifles, and handguns.35 caliber or bigger, and buckshot or slugs are allowed. In any zone, 17-year-olds may fire with any allowed weapon. All localities accept either-sex animals, however Bucks Only seasons are limited.
- Wildlife participants must carry DMAP tags throughout transit. Depending on enrollment, animals on registered properties without antlers may not count against seasonal or daily limitations. DMAP members must follow their wildlife activity schedules. However, DMAP-tagged antlerless animals may be collected daily. Additional information is at wlf.la.gov.
FAQ
When is Louisiana's youth deer hunting season?
It spans from September 21 to November 1, with variations in dates across different areas. In Area 1, it runs from October 26 to November 1, while in Area 2, it extends from October 12 to October 18. Area 3 observes the season from September 21 to September 27, similar to Area 4. Areas 5, 6, and 9 follow the same dates, from October 26 to November 1. In Areas 7 and 8, the youth hunting season occurs from September 21 to September 27, while in Area 10, it runs from September 21 to September 27.
What adjustments will the Louisiana hunting licenses make in 2023?
The license is now valid 365 days from the purchase date rather than from June 1 to June 30. There have also been adjustments to senior hunt/fish licenses, lifetime licenses, and the large game license, which now comes in separate licenses for deer and turkey. Additionally, WMA access is necessary for all LDWF-owned and -managed lands.
James Ellis, the passionate creator of DeerSeason.Org, is dedicated to fostering a deep appreciation for wildlife. With over a decade of experience in exploring the world of deer, his writing reflects an extensive understanding of these magnificent creatures
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