Louisiana · Deer · 2026–27 Edition
Louisiana Deer Season 2026–27: Dates, Zones & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons by method
| Method | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Archery - Either-Sex | Area 1 | Oct 1 – Jan 31 |
| Archery - Bucks Only (with or without velvet) - CWD Management Zone | Area 1 - CWD Management Zone | Sep 12 – Sep 20 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 1 | Nov 14 – Nov 20 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 1 | Jan 25 – Jan 31 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Area 1 | Nov 21 – Dec 11 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Area 1 | Jan 4 – Jan 24 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Area 1 | Dec 12 – Jan 3 |
| Youth & Honorably Discharged Veterans | Area 1 | Oct 31 – Nov 6 |
| Archery - Either-Sex | Area 2 | Oct 1 – Jan 31 |
| Archery - Bucks Only - CWD Management Zone | Area 2 - CWD Management Zone | Aug 29 – Sep 6 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 2 | Oct 24 – Oct 30 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 2 | Jan 18 – Jan 24 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Area 2 | Oct 31 – Dec 9 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Area 2 | Dec 10 – Jan 17 |
| Youth & Honorably Discharged Veterans | Area 2 | Oct 10 – Oct 16 |
| Archery - Either-Sex | Area 3 | Sep 19 – Jan 15 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 3 | Oct 10 – Oct 16 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 3 | Jan 4 – Jan 10 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Area 3 | Oct 17 – Nov 29 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Area 3 | Nov 30 – Jan 3 |
| Youth & Honorably Discharged Veterans | Area 3 | Sep 26 – Oct 2 |
| Archery - Either-Sex | Area 4 | Oct 1 – Jan 31 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 4 | Nov 14 – Nov 20 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 4 | Jan 25 – Jan 31 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Area 4 | Nov 21 – Dec 11 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Area 4 | Jan 4 – Jan 24 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Area 4 | Dec 12 – Jan 3 |
| Youth & Honorably Discharged Veterans | Area 4 | Oct 31 – Nov 6 |
| Archery - Either-Sex | Area 5 | Oct 16 – Feb 15 |
| Archery - Bucks Only | Area 5 | Oct 1 – Oct 15 |
| Primitive Firearms - Either-Sex | Area 5 | Nov 14 – Nov 20 |
| Primitive Firearms - Bucks Only | Area 5 | Jan 25 – Jan 31 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) - Either-Sex | Area 5 | Nov 21 – Nov 22 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) - Either-Sex | Area 5 | Nov 27 – Nov 29 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) - Bucks Only | Area 5 | Nov 23 – Nov 26 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) - Bucks Only | Area 5 | Nov 30 – Dec 11 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) - Either-Sex | Area 5 | Dec 12 – Dec 13 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) - Either-Sex | Area 5 | Dec 19 – Dec 20 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) - Bucks Only | Area 5 | Dec 14 – Dec 18 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) - Bucks Only | Area 5 | Dec 21 – Jan 24 |
| Youth & Honorably Discharged Veterans | Area 5 | Oct 31 – Nov 6 |
| Archery - Either-Sex | Area 6 | Oct 16 – Feb 15 |
| Archery - Bucks Only | Area 6 | Oct 1 – Oct 15 |
| Archery - Bucks Only (with or without velvet) - CWD Management Zone | Area 6 - CWD Management Zone | Sep 12 – Sep 20 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 6 | Nov 14 – Nov 20 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 6 | Jan 25 – Jan 31 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Area 6 | Nov 21 – Dec 11 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Area 6 | Dec 12 – Jan 24 |
| Youth & Honorably Discharged Veterans | Area 6 | Oct 31 – Nov 6 |
| Archery - Either-Sex | Area 7 | Sep 19 – Jan 15 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 7 | Oct 10 – Oct 16 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 7 | Jan 4 – Jan 10 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Area 7 | Oct 17 – Nov 29 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Area 7 | Nov 30 – Jan 3 |
| Youth & Honorably Discharged Veterans | Area 7 | Sep 26 – Oct 2 |
| Archery - Either-Sex | Area 8 | Sep 19 – Jan 15 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 8 | Oct 10 – Oct 16 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 8 | Jan 4 – Jan 10 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Area 8 | Oct 17 – Nov 29 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) | Area 8 | Nov 30 – Jan 3 |
| Youth & Honorably Discharged Veterans | Area 8 | Sep 26 – Oct 2 |
| Archery - Either-Sex | Area 9 | Oct 16 – Feb 15 |
| Archery - Bucks Only | Area 9 | Oct 1 – Oct 15 |
| Primitive Firearms - Either-Sex | Area 9 | Nov 14 – Nov 20 |
| Primitive Firearms - Bucks Only | Area 9 | Jan 25 – Jan 31 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) - Either-Sex | Area 9 | Nov 21 – Nov 22 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) - Either-Sex | Area 9 | Nov 27 – Nov 29 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) - Bucks Only | Area 9 | Nov 23 – Nov 26 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) - Bucks Only | Area 9 | Nov 30 – Dec 11 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) - Either-Sex | Area 9 | Dec 12 – Dec 13 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) - Either-Sex | Area 9 | Dec 19 – Dec 20 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) - Bucks Only | Area 9 | Dec 14 – Dec 18 |
| Firearms (With or Without Dogs) - Bucks Only | Area 9 | Dec 21 – Jan 24 |
| Youth & Honorably Discharged Veterans | Area 9 | Oct 31 – Nov 6 |
| Archery - Either-Sex | Area 10 | Sep 19 – Jan 15 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 10 | Oct 10 – Oct 16 |
| Primitive Firearms | Area 10 | Jan 4 – Jan 10 |
| Firearms (Still-Hunt Only) | Area 10 | Oct 17 – Jan 3 |
| Youth & Honorably Discharged Veterans | Area 10 | Sep 26 – Oct 2 |
02 — Bag limits
| Daily | 1 antlered and 1 antlerless (when legal) |
|---|---|
| Season / possession | 6 per season, not to exceed 3 antlered or 4 antlerless, EXCEPT Area 1 (6 per season, not to exceed 2 antlered or 5 antlerless), Area 4 (4 per season, not to exceed 2 antlered or 2 antlerless), and Area 10 (3 per season, not to exceed 2 antlered or 2 antlerless) |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (August 29, 2026) 06:13 — 20:04
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset for deer (per LDWF) — the state's general big-game rule, with an evening extension migratory birds do not get. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Louisiana sun times for any other date.
04 — License
A Louisiana hunting license and deer permit are required. Costs, age rules and where to buy are on our license page below.
Louisiana hunting license cost & deer permits →
Where to hunt public land in Louisiana — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — Scouting gear
Scouting a property before Louisiana's opener usually means glassing terrain and running a trail camera through the summer and early fall.
- Hunting binoculars on Amazon →
- Trail cameras on Amazon →
- Trail camera SD cards — class, capacity & format explained →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These are category links, not a single named pick — we run no product tests of our own.
06 — FAQ
When does deer season start in Louisiana?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is August 29, 2026 — Archery - Bucks Only - CWD Management Zone, limited to Area 2 - CWD Management Zone. Other weapons and zones start later — see the table above.
When does deer season end in Louisiana?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is February 15, 2027. Individual methods and zones close on their own dates.
When does bow season start for deer in Louisiana?
Archery - Bucks Only - CWD Management Zone opens August 29, 2026 (Area 2 - CWD Management Zone). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
When does rifle season start for deer in Louisiana?
Primitive Firearms opens October 10, 2026 (Area 3). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
How many deer can you shoot in Louisiana?
2026–27 bag limits: Daily — 1 antlered and 1 antlerless (when legal). Season / possession — 6 per season, not to exceed 3 antlered or 4 antlerless, EXCEPT Area 1 (6 per season, not to exceed 2 antlered or 5 antlerless), Area 4 (4 per season, not to exceed 2 antlered or 2 antlerless), and Area 10 (3 per season, not to exceed 2 antlered or 2 antlerless). Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting deer in Louisiana?
On opening day (August 29, 2026) legal light runs 06:13 to 20:04. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset for deer (per LDWF) — the state's general big-game rule, with an evening extension migratory birds do not get. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Louisiana sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt deer on my own land in Louisiana without a license?
No — Louisiana's own agency lists only two hunting-license exemptions (hunters 17 and under, and residents born before June 1, 1940), and landowners aren't among them.
Verified · Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. Dates read directly from the schedule tables in the official 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting Regulations (LDWF blocks automated readers on its own domain, so this file was built from the regulations PDF fetched directly). Louisiana runs TEN deer areas, not the handful most neighboring states use, and each area sets its own archery/primitive-firearms/firearms windows independently — there is no single statewide date. Full sub-parish boundary descriptions (e.g. 'east of LA 8 southwesterly to parish line') are on LDWF's own area maps and are not reproduced here; the zones column names the area number only. Areas 5 and 9 alternate either-sex and bucks-only days within the same firearms season — verified against the printed table (not the linearized PDF text, which interleaves the two columns unreadably) by rendering the regulations page as an image and reading the table visually. Areas 1, 2 and 6 add an early bucks-only archery season inside their CWD Management Zones. Areas 7, 8 and 10 have no bucks-only split at all. Deer Area 10 has no 'with or without dogs' firearms segment — its still-hunt-only window covers the entire late season instead. IN AREAS 5 AND 9 THE PRIMITIVE-FIREARMS SEASON IS SPLIT BY SEX: the November window is either-sex, the January window is bucks-only. The table above now names both, because the two sit in different columns of LDWF's schedule and reading the row as one uniform season would put an antlerless deer in the January segment where it is illegal. HIGH-WATER CLOSURES: two areas close on river stage, not on a calendar date. In Area 1 (Madison Parish east of US-65 and north of Port Elevator Road, plus all land east of US-65 in East Carroll Parish) hunting drops to archery-only once the Mississippi at Vicksburg reaches 43.0 ft MSL, reopening below 41.0 ft. In Area 5 the Atchafalaya Basin closes entirely at 18 ft MSL at Butte LaRose north of Alligator Bayou/Bayou Sorrel (reopening at 17 ft) and at 15 ft south of it (reopening at 14 ft). Check the gauge before travelling — these override the printed dates.