ARCHERY SEASON
CWD MANAGEMENT ZONE
Special archery seasons in Deer Areas 1, 2, and 6 are limited to
private lands located within the CWD Management Zones.
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
A Deer License or Senior License, whichever is appropriate, is
required of all persons hunting deer with archery gear during
Archery Seasons. Persons 17 and under must possess a Youth Li-
cense. See page 8 for exceptions and exemptions.
PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES
Possession or use of any poisoned or drugged arrow or arrows
with explosive tips.
Hunting deer with a bow having a draw weight less than 30 lbs.
DEER HUNTING
Hunting with a bow or crossbow fitted with an infrared, laser
sight, or any sighting device which projects a beam of light to the
target or otherwise electronically illuminates the target (does
NOT include non-projecting red dot sights; RS 56:116.1.(b)(4)).
Hunting with dogs (All Archery Seasons are still hunt only).
LEGAL GEAR
Legal Gear for Archery Season includes:
Traditional bow, compound bow, crossbow, or any bow drawn,
held or released by mechanical means.
Either-sex deer may be taken in all areas open for deer hunting EX-
CEPT when a Bucks Only season is in progress. In such cases, archers
must conform to the bucks only regulations.
USE OF DOGS FOR TRAILING AND RETRIEVAL OF DEER
A dog may be used to trail and retrieve mortally wounded deer. On private lands only, a licensed hunter or tracker may pursue a deer that
was legally shot and mortally wounded during legal hunting hours, after legal hunting hours, and to dispatch the deer if the deer is found alive.
The licensed hunter or tracker pursing the mortally wounded deer may utilize lights and a blood-trailing or tracking dog. No more than one
dog may be used per tracking party in pursuit of the wounded deer. A second dog may be utilized for the purpose of deer retrieval training.
Tracking dogs shall be on a handheld leash or utilize a GPS tracking collar. Any mortally wounded deer, discovered alive, may be dispatched by
the licensed hunter or tracker using a centerfire handgun with a barrel no longer than 6 inches, caliber no larger than .45 or smaller than .25.
USE OF DRONES FOR THE RECOVERY OF WOUNDED DEER OR BEAR
An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drone) may be used for the recovery
of a deer or bear, reasonably believed to be mortally wounded by
a licensed hunter utilizing legal hunting methods, in the following
circumstances: When it can be reasonably concluded that a deer or
bear has been mortally wounded and cannot be located after tra-
ditional and historical tracking attempts. When the drone pilot and
hunter are not in possession of a firearm or weapon that could be
used for hunting deer or bear. A drone may only be used for deer
or bear recovery outside of legal hunting hours. In no event may a
drone be used during legal hunting hours. Drones may only be used
to recover deer or bear over private property in which the hunter
and drone pilot have permission to be upon.
Drone Requirements and Limitations. A drone must be registered
with the FAA to be used for deer or bear recovery. A drone used
for the recovery of deer or bear must be capable of using thermal
imaging and be equipped with a light source powerful enough to
visibly see if a deer or bear is alive, mortally wounded, or dead. A
light source may only be used to verify the status of the animal. A
drone shall not have any mechanism equipped to make animal calls
or noise that could be used to scare or lure deer or bear. A drone
may not have any type of mounted weapon system or onboard net-
ting system when used for deer or bear recovery.
Responsibilities of Drone Pilots. A drone pilot shall have Remote Pi-
lot (Part 107) Certificate issued by the FAA. In no event may a drone
be used to hunt, harass, chase, drive, flush, attract, pursue, worry,
or follow after deer, bear, or other wildlife while undertaking a re-
covery as contemplated by this Rule. When a deer or bear is locat-
ed, and it is not immediately apparent that the animal is mortally
wounded, the drone pilot may not provide location assistance to the
hunter, and the recovery session must be immediately terminated.
Providing assistance with a drone to locate a deer that is alive or
not reasonably believed to be mortally wounded constitutes hunt-
ing and is illegal. If a deer or bear is found dead or mortally wound-
ed, the location and/or coordinates of the deer may be given to the
hunter. A drone pilot shall be responsible for their compliance with
all matters related to legal property ownership and access. A drone
pilot shall be responsible for their compliance with federal and state
law, regulations, or guidelines relating to drone flight. Nothing con-
tained in this rule confers any license or authority to a drone pilot to
take any action beyond the aforementioned matters detailed herein.
At all times, this Rule is subservient and supplemental to federal and
state law.
SEX IDENTIFICATION
Positive evidence of sex identification, including the head or sex organs, shall remain on any deer taken in Louisiana, so long as such deer is
kept in camp or field, or is in route to the domicile of its possessor, or until a deer has been appropriately tagged and validated, and the proof
of electronic or physical tag remains with the carcass, or until such deer has been stored at the domicile of its possessor or divided at a cold
storage facility and has thus become identifiable as food rather than as wild game.
POSSESSION TAGS
Any part of a deer divided shall have affixed thereto the name, date, address and LDWF number of the person who harvested the deer and the
sex of that animal. This information shall be legibly written in pen or pencil on any piece of paper or cardboard or any material which is attached
or secured to or enclosing the part or parts. (Resident Game Possession Tags are provided on page 76 and may be used for such purposes).
www.wlf.louisiana.gov
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