WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS
2026-2027 WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (WMA) REGULATIONS
The following rules and regulations concerning the management,
protection and harvest of wildlife have been officially approved
and adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission
in accordance with the authority provided in Louisiana Revised
Statutes of 1950, Section 109 of Title 56. Failure to comply with
these regulations will subject the individual to citation and/or ex-
pulsion from the management area.
Persons using WMAs must possess a WMA Access Permit.
Users are cautioned that by entering a WMA managed by LDWF,
they may be subjecting themselves and/or their vehicles to game
and/or license checks, inspections and searches.
WMA seasons may be altered or closed anytime by LDWF’s Sec-
retary in emergency situations (floods, fire or other critical cir-
cumstances).
Hunters may enter the WMA no earlier than 4 a.m. unless other-
wise specified. Hunters must check out daily and exit the WMA
no later than two hours after sunset, or as otherwise specified.
Reference individual WMA listings for specific requirements.
All privately owned property which is completely surrounded by
a wildlife management area shall be subject to all state hunting
and fishing provisions, including those provisions regarding sea-
sons. Such private property shall not be subject to the special
hunting and fishing provisions which govern the wildlife manage-
ment area, except that deer may not be taken with the aid of dogs.
However, the owner or lessee of such property shall be required to
participate in the deer management assistance program provided
for in R.S. 56:110. In addition, the owner or lessee of such property
shall not be allowed to hunt, trap or take resident game by the aid
of baiting or placing bait intended to attract or entice the resident
game to the area where hunters are attempting to take them.
Dumping garbage or trash on WMAs is prohibited. Garbage and trash
may be properly disposed of in designated locations if provided.
Use of drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) on WMAs is
prohibited.
Disorderly conduct or hunting under the influence of alcoholic
beverages, chemicals and other similar substances is prohibited.
Damage to or removal of trees, shrubs and non-game wildlife
(including reptiles and amphibians) or any species of butterflies,
skippers or moths is prohibited without a permit from LDWF.
Burning of the marsh is prohibited. Hunting actively burning
marsh is prohibited.
Gathering and/or removal of soft fruits, nuts, mushrooms, ber-
ries, wild greens and American lotus seeds and pods shall be lim-
ited to five gallons per person per day.
Nature Trails: Trails shall be limited to pedestrians only. No vehi-
cles, ATVs/UTVs, horses, mules, bicycles, etc. allowed.
Deer seasons are for legal antlered deer unless otherwise specified.
Turkey seasons are closed unless otherwise specified.
Small game, when listed under the WMA regulations, may include
both resident game animals and game birds as well as migratory
birds.
Oysters may not be harvested from any WMA, EXCEPT that oys-
ters may be harvested from private oyster leases and State Seed
Grounds located within a WMA, when authorized by the Wildlife
and Fisheries Commission and upon approval by the Department
of Health.
Unauthorized entry or unauthorized hunting in restricted areas,
refuges or limited access areas, is prohibited unless otherwise
specified.
Operating, modifying, tampering with or altering water control
structures is prohibited.
For your safety ALL oil and gas production facilities (wells, pumping
stations and storage facilities) are restricted. Access is prohibited.
Horses and mules may be ridden on WMAs EXCEPT where prohibit-
ed and EXCEPT during firearms seasons for deer and turkey. Riding
is restricted to designated roads and trails depicted on WMA map.
Organized Trail Rides prohibited, EXCEPT allowed by permit only on
Camp Beauregard WMA (contact Pineville Field Office for details).
Trail cameras (also known as game cameras) are prohibited during
turkey season.
At the time of printing this doucment, a proposed rule prohib-
iting the use of hunting methods known as fanning or reaping
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.
Any person entering or utilizing a LDWF designated shooting
range must comply with posted range rules and Range Safety Of-
ficer (if present) commands.
All of Manchac and certain areas on Bayou Macon, Bodcau,
Boeuf, Buckhorn, Dewey W. Wills, Richard K. Yancey and Russell
Sage WMAs: Operation of internal combustion engine powered
vessels prohibited 12 noon - 4 a.m. from Nov. 1 - Jan 31. See WMA
map for locations.
PERMITS
WMA ACCESS PERMIT
A WMA Access Permit shall be required for use of LDWF- admin-
istered lands including wildlife refuges, wildlife management ar-
eas (WMAs) and wildlife conservation areas (WCAs). WMA access
permits are not required for persons only traveling through the
LDWF-administered lands provided that the most direct route is
taken and no activities or stops take place.
Persons 17 years of age and under are exempt from this require-
ment.
A WMA Access Permit is not required for motorists/boaters trav-
eling through the WMA provided that the most direct route is
taken and no activities or stops take place.
The WMA Access Permit is included in the Lifetime, Louisiana
Sportsman’s and Senior Hunt/Fish licenses.
SELF-CLEARING PERMITS
A Self-Clearing Permit is required for ALL ACTIVITIES on WMAs.
Please see page 52 for information about the Self-Clearing App.
The Self-Clearing Permit consists of two portions: Check In and
Check Out.
All persons must obtain a Self-Clearing Permit from a Self-Clearing
Permit Station or check in/out electronically through the LDWF
Self-Clearing Permit app/Internet Web portal. If checking in through
a Self-Clearing Permit Station check-in portion must be completed
and put in a permit box before each day’s activity on the day of the
activity. Users may check in one day in advance of use.
The check-out portion must be carried by each person while on
the WMA and must be completed and put in a permit box imme-
diately upon exiting the WMA
Self-Clearing Permits are not required of fishers and boaters who
enter a WMA via watercraft from outside the WMA, provided
they do not get out of the watercraft and onto WMA property.
Self-Clearing Permits are not required for motorists/boaters trav-
eling through the WMA provided that the most direct route is
taken and no activities or stops take place.
www.wlf.louisiana.gov
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