Louisiana Game Calendar 2026-2027: Deer Seasons & Harvest
If you’re planning a Bayou State outing this year, this guide pulls the important stuff into one place: verified 2026-2027 dates, top species, license basics, deer areas, turkey zones, waterfowl splits, and where public-land maps fit into your prep. Louisiana can be a little sneaky for beginners because dates shift by area, weapon type, and even by duck zone, so having one easy-read state hunting calendar helps a lot.
Overview of Louisiana Hunting Season 2026-2027
The 2026-2027 calendar is a pretty interesting one. Deer openers still vary widely across the state’s 10 deer areas, turkey remains divided into Areas A, B, and C, and waterfowl continues under the East/West zone setup that LDWF adopted for the 2026-30 cycle. One of the biggest newer wrinkles is the special black-bellied whistling duck opportunity in early October, which requires its own permit. Also worth knowing: a separate resident recreational alligator hunt was proposed for October 2026, but that rule was still moving through the process at the time this article was prepared, so treat it as a special-case opportunity rather than a routine statewide opener.
Quick Summary Table: Key Species, Dates & Methods
| Species | 2026-2027 Dates | Main Methods / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deer 🦌 | Sept. 20, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027 depending on area and method | Archery, primitive firearms, still-hunt firearms, dog/no-dog firearms, youth/veteran days |
| Turkey 🦃 | Mar. 26-May 2, 2027 depending on area and hunt type | Spring private-land dates by Area A/B/C; youth & physically challenged hunt Mar. 26-28 |
| Quail | Nov. 21, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027 | Upland bird, often with dogs |
| Rabbit 🐇 | Oct. 3, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027 | Small game |
| Squirrel | Oct. 3, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027 | Fall run |
| Spring Squirrel | May 2-24, 2027 | Where open only |
| Dove | North and South zone splits begin Sept. 5, 2026 | Shotgun; zone-specific segments |
| Teal | Sept. 19-27, 2026 | Early migratory bird window |
| Ducks/Coots/Mergansers 🦆 | Nov. 14, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027 depending on East/West zone | Regular dates plus youth/veteran days |
| Geese | Nov. 14, 2026-Feb. 7, 2027 | East/West zone splits |
| Raccoon & Opossum | Year-round | Two of each daily |
| Crow | Sept. 1, 2026-Jan. 1, 2027 | No daily limit |
| Black-bellied Whistling Duck | Oct. 3-11, 2026 | Special permit required |
| Black Bear | Experimental year-round listing | Special program, not a general statewide over-the-counter opportunity |
🦌 All Big Games: Archery & Rifle
Deer by Area and Weapon
| Deer Area | Archery | Primitive Firearms | Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Youth / Honorably Discharged Veterans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct. 1-Jan. 31 | Nov. 8-14; Jan. 19-31 | Nov. 15-Dec. 5; Jan. 5-18 | Dec. 6-Jan. 4 | Oct. 25-31 |
| 2 | Oct. 1-Jan. 31 | Oct. 18-24; Jan. 12-18 | Oct. 25-Dec. 2 | Dec. 3-Jan. 11 | Oct. 11-17 |
| 3 | Sept. 20-Jan. 15 | Oct. 11-17; Jan. 5-11 | Oct. 18-Nov. 30 | Dec. 1-Jan. 4 | Sept. 27-Oct. 3 |
| 4 | Oct. 1-Jan. 31 | Nov. 8-14; Jan. 19-31 | Nov. 15-Dec. 5; Jan. 5-18 | Dec. 6-Jan. 4 | Oct. 25-31 |
| 5 | Bucks only Oct. 1-15; either-sex Oct. 16-Feb. 15 unless bucks-only gun run is active | Nov. 8-14; Bucks only Jan. 19-31 | Nov. 15-16, Nov. 28-30; Bucks only Nov. 17-27 and Dec. 1-5 | Dec. 6-7, Dec. 13-14; Bucks only Dec. 8-12 and Dec. 15-Jan. 18 | Oct. 25-31 |
| 6 | Bucks only Oct. 1-15; either-sex Oct. 16-Feb. 15 unless bucks-only gun run is active | Nov. 8-14; Jan. 19-31 | Nov. 15-Dec. 5 | Dec. 6-Jan. 18 | Oct. 25-31 |
| 7 | Sept. 20-Jan. 15 | Oct. 11-17; Jan. 5-11 | Oct. 18-Nov. 30 | Dec. 1-Jan. 4 | Sept. 27-Oct. 3 |
| 8 | Sept. 20-Jan. 15 | Oct. 11-17; Jan. 5-11 | Oct. 18-Nov. 30 | Dec. 1-Jan. 4 | Sept. 27-Oct. 3 |
| 9 | Bucks only Oct. 1-15; either-sex Oct. 16-Feb. 15 unless bucks-only gun run is active | Nov. 8-14; Bucks only Jan. 19-31 | Nov. 15-16, Nov. 28-30; Bucks only Nov. 17-27 and Dec. 1-5 | Dec. 6-7, Dec. 13-14; Bucks only Dec. 8-12 and Dec. 15-Jan. 18 | Oct. 25-31 |
| 10 | Sept. 20-Jan. 15 | Oct. 11-17; Jan. 5-11 | Oct. 18-Jan. 4 | No general dog segment listed | Sept. 27-Oct. 3 |
Deer tag and bag basics
- Daily limit: 1 antlered and 1 antlerless when legal
- Possession limit: 6 total, not more than 3 antlered or 4 antlerless
- Special exceptions:
- Area 4: 4 deer total, not more than 2 antlered or 2 antlerless
- Area 10: 3 deer total, not more than 2 antlered or 2 antlerless
- Deer hunters need a Basic Hunting License plus a Deer License
- Deer must be tagged immediately after harvest and validated within 72 hours
Other big-game notes
- Black bear: LDWF’s quick-reference page currently lists an experimental year-round opportunity with a one-per-calendar-year harvest cap. This is not a casual, broad statewide opener, so confirm program-specific rules before making plans.
- Elk: No statewide elk framework is listed.
🦃 Turkey Season: Spring, Fall, Youth
- Spring private-land dates
- Area A: Apr. 3-May 2, 2027
- Area B: Apr. 3-25, 2027
- Area C: Apr. 3-18, 2027
- Youth & physically challenged private-land hunt
- Mar. 26-28, 2027
- Fall turkey
- No general statewide fall turkey opener is listed in the 2026-2027 quick-reference calendar.
- Beginner note
- Those area dates are for private land only. WMAs, refuges, and federal tracts can run on separate schedules.
- Tag rules
- Hunters need a Basic Hunting License plus a Turkey License
- Youth actively taking gobblers need the Youth Hunting License
- Birds must be tagged immediately and validated within 72 hours
🦝 Furbearers Season
- General trapping run: Nov. 20-Mar. 31
- LDWF classifies beaver, bobcat, coyote, fox, mink, muskrat, nutria, opossum, river otter, raccoon, skunk, and similar species under the furbearer framework.
- Properly licensed sportsmen may take some species such as bobcat, raccoon, opossum, and nutria outside the trapping window under current rules.
- Raccoon & opossum: open year-round, daily limit 2 raccoons and 2 opossums
🐦 Upland Birds Season
| Species | Dates | Daily / Possession | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quail | Nov. 21, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027 | 10 / 30 | Classic covey-bird run |
| Pheasant | During quail dates | Follow site-specific rules | Allowed during quail dates |
If you’re new to upland outings here, quail is the cleaner place to start. It’s straightforward, and on the right property it’s a fun way to ease into dog work or walk-up shooting without having to decipher marsh-zone splits.
🐇 Upland Animals Season
| Species | Dates | Daily / Possession | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabbit | Oct. 3, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027 | 8 / 24 | Long, beginner-friendly run |
| Squirrel (Fall) | Oct. 3, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027 | 8 / 24 | Broad statewide opportunity |
| Squirrel (Spring, where open) | May 2-24, 2027 | 3 / 9 | Closed on Kisatchie NF, some NWRs, some USACE lands, and some WMAs |
📋 Other Small Games Season
| Game | Dates | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dove – North Zone | Sept. 5-27; Oct. 10-Nov. 15; Dec. 19-Jan. 17 | 15 daily / 45 possession | Mourning, white-winged, fully dressed Eurasian, collared |
| Dove – South Zone | Sept. 5-20; Oct. 17-Nov. 29; Dec. 12-Jan. 10 | 15 daily / 45 possession | Check zone line carefully |
| Quail | Nov. 21-Feb. 28 | 10 / 30 | Also upland bird option |
| Rabbit | Oct. 3-Feb. 28 | 8 / 24 | Great for beginners |
| Squirrel | Oct. 3-Feb. 28 | 8 / 24 | Spring add-on where open |
| Crow | Sept. 1-Jan. 1 | No limit | Useful “extra” date to remember |
🌾 Migratory Birds Season
| Species | Dates | Daily / Possession | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rails & Gallinules | Sept. 19-27; Nov. 7-Jan. 6 | King/Clapper 15; Sora/Virginia 25; Gallinules 15 | Possession varies by species |
| Rails & Gallinules – Extended Falconry | Oct. 31-Nov. 6; Jan. 7-31 | Falconry aggregate limits apply | Special falconry window |
| Snipe | Oct. 31-Jan. 10; Jan. 25-Feb. 28 | 8 / 24 | Split late-winter run |
| Woodcock | Dec. 18-Jan. 31 | 3 / 9 | Popular timber-edge bird |
| Woodcock – Extended Falconry | Nov. 1-Dec. 17 | Falconry rules | Extra falconry dates |
| Teal | Sept. 19-27 | 6 / 18 | Early favorite |
| Black-bellied Whistling Duck | Oct. 3-11 | 4 / 12 | Special permit required |
🦆 Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers, Geese Season
Ducks, coots, and mergansers
| Zone | Regular Dates | Youth / Veterans | Extended Falconry |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Zone | Nov. 21-Dec. 6 and Dec. 19-Jan. 31 | Nov. 14 and Feb. 6 | Nov. 5-20 and Dec. 7-18 |
| West Zone | Nov. 14-Dec. 6 and Dec. 19-Jan. 24 | Nov. 7 and Jan. 30 | Nov. 5-13, Dec. 7-18, Jan. 25-31 |
Geese
| Species Group | Zone | Dates | Daily / Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Geese, White-fronted, Canada | East | Nov. 14-Dec. 6 and Dec. 19-Feb. 7 | Light geese 20 / none; White-fronted 3 / 9; Canada 1 / 3 |
| Light Geese, White-fronted, Canada | West | Nov. 14-Dec. 6 and Dec. 19-Feb. 7 | Same as East |
Duck bag details worth remembering
- Duck daily bag: 6
- Included species limits:
- Mallards: 4, no more than 2 hens
- Wood ducks: 3
- Canvasbacks: 2
- Redheads: 2
- Black duck: 1
- Pintails: 3, no more than 1 hen
- Scaup: 1 per day for the first 15 days, then 2 per day after that
- Mottled ducks: none for the first 15 days, then 1 per day after that
- Coots: 15 daily
- Mergansers: 5 daily, only 2 hooded
💧 Other Waterfowls Season
- Conservation Order for light geese
- East Zone: Dec. 7-18, 2026 and Feb. 8-Mar. 7, 2027
- West Zone: Dec. 7-18, 2026 and Feb. 8-Mar. 7, 2027
- Electronic calls and unplugged shotguns are allowed during the Conservation Order.
- All waterfowlers age 16 and older need a Federal Duck Stamp
- Anyone pursuing migratory birds needs HIP certification
- Non-toxic shot is mandatory; don’t toss a box of lead into the blind bag by habit and forget about it
🎯 More Games Season
- Crow: Sept. 1, 2026-Jan. 1, 2027, no daily limit
- Black bear: experimental year-round listing, one per calendar year, tightly controlled
- Falconry: extended windows exist for some migratory species
- Pheasant: legal during quail dates
- Recreational alligator opportunity: official May 2026 rulemaking proposed Oct. 1-31, 2026, resident lottery-based, with two tags per selected participant. Since that item was moving through a separate approval track, double-check final status before assuming it’s live
🔗 Game Units & Public Access
Louisiana breaks its deer calendar into 10 deer areas, spring gobbler rules into Areas A, B, and C, doves into North and South zones, and ducks/geese into East and West zones. That’s the big reason newcomers should never rely on “my buddy said it opens Saturday.” The right answer depends on where you’re standing.
For public access, LDWF manages more than 1.6 million acres across WMAs, refuges, and conservation areas. That’s a huge plus, but individual tracts can carry their own rules, youth days, weapon restrictions, and closures. For deer-area maps, turkey-zone maps, dove boundaries, waterfowl zones, and the official annual calendar, use LDWF Seasons and Regulations.
🎟️ License Details
| License / Permit | Resident | Nonresident | Short-Term / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Hunting | $20 | $200 | Nonresident 5-day: $65 |
| Deer | $15 | $100 | 5-day: $35 |
| Turkey | $12 | $50 | 5-day: $35 |
| Waterfowl | $12 | $50 | 5-day: $35 |
| Youth Hunting | $5 | $5 | Required for deer/turkey harvest by youth |
| WMA Access Annual Permit | $20 | $20 | Needed for LDWF public lands unless covered by another package |
| WMA Access 5-Day Permit | $5 | $5 | Good short trip option |
| Federal Duck Stamp | $29.79 | $29.79 | Required for waterfowlers 16+ |
| HIP Certification | Free | Free | Required for migratory birds |
A few easy-to-miss points: licenses are valid for 365 days from purchase, not just through the old June cutoff style many hunters still assume. Youth under 18 generally don’t need a regular basic license for many activities, but they do need the youth license when actively taking deer or turkey. And adults headed to WMAs often get tripped up by forgetting the WMA access permit, not the species tag. Buy or verify your package through LDWF Hunting Licenses, Permits, and Tags.
❓Short FAQ
Do I need tags for deer and turkey?
Yes. Both require tagging immediately after harvest and validation within 72 hours.
Can I use public land?
Absolutely, but many WMAs have tract-specific rules, and adults usually need a WMA access permit unless covered by a bundle or lifetime option.
Is night hunting allowed?
For raccoon and opossum, current regulations allow night take under specific gear rules. For everything else, don’t assume the answer is yes.
Do I need HIP for dove and ducks?
Yes. If you’re after migratory birds, HIP is part of the checklist.
Is there a fall turkey opener?
Not in the statewide 2026-2027 quick-reference calendar. Private-land spring dates are the main statewide turkey framework.
What’s the easiest mistake for new waterfowlers?
Mixing up East vs. West split dates, or forgetting the Federal Duck Stamp on top of the state paperwork.
What’s the difference between primitive firearms and modern firearms seasons?
Primitive firearms season allows only specific muzzleloaders and other traditional weapons as defined in the LDWF regulations.
How many deer can I harvest in Louisiana?
In most Deer Areas (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) in Louisiana during the 2026-2027 season, you can harvest a total of 6 deer per season: no more than 3 antlered and no more than 4 antlerless. The daily limit is 1 deer. Deer Area 4 has different, stricter limits, so you must check area-specific regulations. All deer hunting is still-hunting only (no dogs), and every deer must be tagged before leaving the field.
Prepare for Your Louisiana Hunt
Here’s the state-specific advice I’d actually give a friend. If you’re bowhunting deer in Areas 3, 7, 8, or 10, your opener hits on Sept. 20, well ahead of many other areas, so heat, bugs, and swamp access will feel more like early teal weather than “fall.” In Areas 5, 6, and 9, watch that bucks-only archery stretch from Oct. 1-15 before the broader either-sex window starts. Waterfowlers should lock in the correct East or West zone before booking lodging or scouting blinds, because those opening Saturdays are not the same. Small-game folks thinking about spring squirrel should check the tract-specific rules carefully, especially around Kisatchie, some refuges, and select WMAs where that late window stays closed. And if black-bellied whistling ducks are on your wish list, remember that early October hunt needs the special permit, not just the usual migratory bird paperwork.
Also, Louisiana is one of those places where a “quick glance” at dates can get you into trouble. What works in a piney upland deer area may be totally off for a marsh duck camp a few hours south. That’s why checking the exact area, zone, and method matters here more than it does in many states.
