48
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS
PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED WHEELCHAIR CONFINED DEER AND WATERFOWL HUNTING AREAS
Special deer and waterfowl hunting areas, blinds and stands identified with LDWF logos, have been established for Physically Challenged
Hunter Permit (PCHP) wheelchair confined hunters on WMAs. Hunters must obtain PCHP permits and are required to make reservations to
use blinds and stands. PCHP wheelchair hunting areas are available on Alexander State Forest, Bayou Pierre, Big Colewa Bayou, Buckhorn,
Clear Creek, Fort Polk-Vernon (formerly Fort Johnson-Vernon), Sandy Hollow, Sherburne and West Bay WMAs. Check WMA hunting schedules
or call LDWF Field Offices for additional information.
SPECIAL SEASONS AND LOTTERY HUNTS
ONLINE LOTTERY APPLICATIONS
Lottery hunt applications will only be available online at
www.wlf.la.gov/page/lottery-hunts
YOUTH SEASONS AND YOUTH LOTTERY HUNTS
NOTE: Some of the below hunts may be by pre-application lottery.
For details, see individual WMA schedules, contact any Field Office,
or visit our website at www.wlf.louisiana.gov.
For open, non-lottery youth hunts, only youths 17 or younger may
hunt, EXCEPT on Sandy Hollow WMA Youth Dove Hunt (see specific
WMA Schedule for details). Youths must be accompanied by one
adult 18 years of age or older. Youths must possess a hunter safe-
ty certification or proof of successful completion of a hunter safety
course. If the accompanying adult has proof of successful completion
of a hunter education course or was born before Sept. 1, 1969 and
has a valid hunting license or who is 18 years of age or older and has
proof of successful completion of a firearm and hunter education
course approved by the department, this requirement is waived for
youths. Additionally, any youth participating in the hunt shall have in
their immediate possession a Youth License. Adults may not possess
a firearm. Youths may possess only one firearm while hunting. The
supervising adult shall maintain visual and voice contact with the
youth at all times. EXCEPT properly licensed youths 16-17 years old
and youths 12 years old or older who have successfully completed a
hunter safety course may hunt without a supervising adult.
Self-clearing permits are required on all youth hunts that are open,
non-lottery hunts.
DEER: Select WMAs only. Contact the appropriate field office for
details. Youth deer seasons are offered on the following WMAs
(reference individual WMA listings for dates): Atchafalaya Delta,
Attakapas, Bayou Macon, Big Lake, Bodcau, Boeuf, Buckhorn, Clear
Creek, Camp Beauregard, Dewey W. Wills, Grassy Lake, J.C. Sonny
Gilbert, Joyce, Maurepas Swamp, Pass-a-Loutre, Pearl River, Pomme
de Terre, Richard K. Yancey, Russell Sage, Sabine, Sabine Island, Sal-
vador/Timken, Sandy Hollow, Sherburne, Spring Bayou, Tangipahoa
Parish School Board, Thistlethwaite, Tunica Hills and West Bay.
Youth lottery hunts are offered on the following WMAs (reference
Individual WMA listing for dates): Alexander State Forest, Buckhorn,
Dewey W. Wills, Floy Ward McElroy, Pointe-Aux-Chenes, Richard K.
Yancey, and Sherburne WMAs. Online lottery applications must be re-
turned no later than Aug. 31 for all pre-application lottery deer hunts.
SQUIRREL: Select WMAs only. Contact the appropriate field office
for details. Youth squirrel seasons are offered on Bodcau, Boeuf,
Clear Creek, Grassy Lake, Little River, Maurepas Swamp, Pearl River,
Pomme de Terre, Russell Sage, Sandy Hollow, Sherburne, Spring Bay-
ou and West Bay WMAs on Sept. 26-27.
MOURNING DOVE: Sandy Hollow WMA will have a youth dove hunt
the first Saturday of the Mourning Dove Season. See Sandy Hollow
WMA regulations for details.
TURKEY: Select WMAs only. Contact the appropriate field office for
details. Youth turkey seasons are offered on the following WMAs
(reference individual WMA listings for dates): Big Lake, Bodcau,
Hutchison Creek, J.C. Sonny Gilbert, Lake Ramsey Savannah, Pearl
River, and Tangipahoa Parish School Board.
Youth lottery hunts will be offered on the following WMAs (refer-
ence individual WMA listings for dates and status of hunt as a lottery
or open, non-lottery hunt): Clear Creek, Fort Polk-Vernon (formerly
Fort Johnson-Vernon), Fort Polk North (formerly Fort Johnson-North),
Sandy Hollow, Tunica Hills, and West Bay. Online lottery applications
must be returned no later than Feb. 8 for all pre-application lottery
turkey hunts.
WMAs with youth lottery hunts are closed to all activities EXCEPT
turkey hunting by authorized youth hunt participants, shooting
range use, and fishing on the day(s) of the youth hunt. Only one
turkey is allowed to be taken during lottery hunts.
WATERFOWL: Select WMAs only. Contact the appropriate field of-
fice for details. Youth waterfowl seasons are offered the same week-
end as the state youth waterfowl hunts on all WMAs unless other-
wise noted (reference individual WMA listings for details).
Youth lottery hunts are offered on the following WMAs: Sherburne
WMA. Online lottery applications must be submitted no later than
Sept. 30 for all pre-application lottery waterfowl hunts.
PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED SEASONS AND PHYSICALLY
CHALLENGED LOTTERY HUNTS
NOTE: Some of the below hunts may be by pre-application lottery.
For details, see individual WMA schedules, contact any Field Of-
fice, or visit our website at www.wlf.louisiana.gov.
Only hunters possessing a Physically Challenged Hunters Permit
(PCHP) may hunt. Further restrictions may apply.
DEER: Select WMAs only. Contact the appropriate field office for de-
tails, permit application, or maps of hunting areas. Either-sex deer
may be taken on the following WMAs (reference individual WMA
listings for dates and status of hunt as a lottery, pre-application, or
open non-lottery hunt): Alexander State Forest, Big Colewa Bayou,
Buckhorn, Dewey W. Wills, Richard K. Yancey, Sandy Hollow, Sher-
burne and West Bay. Contact Field Offices for permit application and
map of specific hunting area.
GENERAL LOTTERY HUNTS
WATERFOWL: Select WMAs only. Contact the appropriate field of-
fice for details. General Waterfowl Lottery hunts are offered on the
following WMAs (reference individual WMA listings for dates): Sher-
burne WMA. Visit www.wlf.la.gov/page/lottery-hunts to apply online.
TURKEY: Select WMAs only. Contact the appropriate field office for
details. General Turkey Lottery hunts are offered on the following
WMAs (reference individual WMA listings for dates): Bogue Chitto,
Clear Creek, J.C. Sonny Gilbert, Pearl River, Sabine, Tunica Hills and
West Bay WMAs. Visit www.wlf.la.gov/page/lottery-hunts to apply
online. Only one turkey per hunter is allowed to be taken during
lottery hunts.
DOVE: Elbow Slough only (reference individual WMA listings for
dates). Hunting by pre-application lottery only. Visit www.wlf.la.gov/
page/lottery-hunts to apply online.
TRAPPING
Consult 2026-2027 Trapping Regulations for specific dates and regu-
lations. All traps must be run daily. Traps with teeth are illegal.
RACCOON HUNTING
A licensed hunter may take raccoon or opossum, two per person
per day, during daylight hours only, during the open hunting season
on WMAs.
Nighttime experimental raccoon hunting: All nighttime raccoon
hunting, where allowed, is with dogs only.
2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting Regulations