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TURKEY
Baited Area: Any area where corn (shelled, shucked or un-
shucked), wheat or other grain, salt or other feed capable of lur-
ing, attracting or enticing turkeys is directly or indirectly placed,
exposed, deposited, distributed or scattered. Such areas remain
baited areas for 15 days following complete removal of all such
corn, wheat or other grain, salt or other feed. Wildlife agents are
authorized to close such baited areas and to place signs in the im-
mediate vicinity designating closed zones and dates of closures.
PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES
Take of hens (including bearded hens).
Take of juvenile turkeys (except youth may take one juvenile male
turkey (jake) per season)
Use of dogs, baiting, electronic calling devices and live decoys.
Use of motorized decoys.
Take of turkey from a moving or stationary vehicle.
Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells.
Hunting, trapping or taking of turkey by the aid of baiting or on or
over a baited area (See above definition of baiting).
Hunting turkey within 200 yards of a baited area (See above defi-
nition of baited area).
Take of live wild turkeys or their eggs from the wild.
Possession of captive live wild turkeys or their eggs, regardless of
origin, without a valid game breeder license.
At the time of printing this document, a proposed rule prohib-
iting the use of hunting methods known as fanning or reaping
TURKEY TAGGING INFORMATION
Prior to hunting turkey, all turkey hunters, regardless of age or li-
cense status, must obtain either carcass or electronic turkey tags for
the current season. Tags must be in possession when hunting turkey.
Turkey tags may only be used by the hunter to whom the tag was
issued. Hunters who allow their turkey tags to be used by another
person, or who use tags issued to another person, are in violation of
this Rule and are subject to fines and other administrative penalties,
including, but not limited to, the automatic forfeiture of any remain-
ing turkey tags for the season for which they are issued.
PROCESS FOR TAGGING TURKEY
1. Immediately upon harvesting a turkey, the hunter must tag the
turkey with the appropriate carcass or electronic tag before it is
moved from the kill site.
2. The hunter must record the date of kill on the corresponding
tag number on the harvest report card portion of the turkey tag
license or report this information electronically.
3. The hunter must record the date and parish of kill on the carcass
tag or report this information electronically.
4. The tag must remain attached to the turkey while kept at camp,
or while it is transported to the domicile of the hunter or to a
cold storage facility. Hunters who keep the carcass or meat at
camp must also comply with the resident game possession tag
regulations (see Possession Tags on page 72).
for turkey hunting on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and
other public lands is under consideration and may be in effect
for the 2027 turkey season. Hunters should check the Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) hunting regulations
webpage for the most current information and updates:
www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations.
LEGAL GEAR
Shotguns, including muzzleloading shotguns, using shot not larg-
er than #2 lead, #2 non-toxic, or BB steel shot, and being no larger
than 10 gauge.
Traditional bow, compound bow, and crossbow, or any bow
drawn, held or released by mechanical means.
YOUTH SEASON
Restricted to youths 17 or younger. Youths must possess a hunter
safety certification or proof of successful completion of a hunter
safety course. Youths must possess a valid, original Youth License.
Youths must be accompanied by one adult 18 years of age or older.
If the accompanying adult is in possession of hunter safety certifica-
tion, a valid hunting license or proof of successful completion of a
hunter safety course, this requirement is waived for youths younger
than 16 years of age. Adults may not possess a firearm. Youths may
possess only one legal firearm while hunting. The supervising adult
shall maintain visual and voice contact with the youth at all times,
EXCEPT youths 12 years old or older who have successfully com-
pleted a hunter safety course may hunt without a supervising adult.
5. Within 72 hours the hunter must validate the harvest. Hunters
may validate turkey by utilizing text-to-tag, tagging through
the LDWF web portal or by calling the validation toll free
number, 225-267-9998 or using the validation website: www.
LouisianaOutdoors.com.
TURKEY TAGGING PROCEDURE FOR LICENSES PURCHASED
VIA INTERNET/MOBILE DEVICE
Hunters purchasing licenses online at www.wlf.la.gov/page/hunt-
ing-licenses-permits-tags can print an E-License using a personal
printer for immediate use, and/or have the option to email or save
the licenses purchased to an electronic device which is kept in pos-
session while hunting. Turkey tags will need to be electronic or
printed and in possession while hunting turkey.
REPLACEMENT OF LOST TAGS
Duplicate tags are available to replace lost tags. Tags can be reprint-
ed online at www.wlf.la.gov/page/hunting-licenses-permits-tags at
no cost. Hunters that have harvested a turkey tag prior to losing
their remaining tags, must remove and discard the duplicate tags
to account for the original tags that have been used and validated.
Hunters must record these validated tags on the duplicate turkey
tag license.
POSSESSION TAGS
Any part of a wild turkey that is divided shall have affixed thereto the name, date, address and LDWF number of the person who harvested
the turkey. 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 72 and may be used for such purposes).
SEX IDENTIFICATION
Positive evidence of sex identification, including the head or intact leg shall remain on any turkey taken, so long as such turkey is kept in camp
or field, or is in route to the domicile of its possessor, or until such turkey 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.
2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting Regulations