Louisiana is called Sportsman’s Paradise due to the abundance of wild game, including quality white-tailed deer. (Shutterstock)
October 12, 2024
By Darron McDougal
This whitetail hunting forecast for the state of Louisiana is part of Game & Fish’s “Great States" project identifying the best deer-hunting states in the country. Read more: America's Top Whitetail States Louisiana Hunters Should Be Happy This Season There are few places to immerse in Southern culture like Louisiana. Cuisine such as gumbo, Po’ boy, jambalaya and fresh seafood are a delight to travelers who visit here from all around the globe. You can experience live music on the streets or attend one of 400 free festivals that annually occur around the state. Less publicized are the Bayou State’s deer hunting opportunities.
Most notably, 54 percent (5-year average) of all Louisiana deer hunters harvest one or more deer each deer season. The deer population is estimated to be 600,000 (minimum), and public-land hunting opportunities abound on more than 2.4 million acres of public access.
DID YOU KNOW?
FOR THE RECORD While not quite close in size to bucks in the Midwest, the Boone and Crockett Club’s record whitetail for Louisiana scored 186 6/8.
“West Louisiana includes several large Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) open to the public, ranging in size from 50,000 acres to 105,000 acres,” Johnathan Bordelon, the deer program manager of Louisiana’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, noted. “The rut in western Louisiana overlaps with firearm segments of the season. The rut in Louisiana is wide-ranging depending on the region of the state you’re hunting. In general, October and November are the best times—depending on location—to hunt the rut in western Louisiana.
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“The abundant public acreage and healthy deer populations in west Louisiana offer great harvest potential,” he continued. “Habitat in western Louisiana includes historic longleaf forests and mixed pine/hardwood forests. Food sources include hard and soft mast as well as forest plants. Habitat is actively managed, which promotes the growth of desirable forest plants.”
Rut dates in parts of Louisiana occur slightly later than in areas with a traditional November rut. “WMAs near the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers offer better late-season opportunities with a rut that ranges from late December to mid-January, depending on location. These public areas are located in the state’s eastern half. They include bottomland hardwood forest habitat. Hard mast is an important food source in the region. Firearm seasons during the rut provide excellent opportunities to harvest bucks.”
WMAs near the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers offer better late-season opportunities with a rut that ranges from late December to mid-January. (Shutterstock) Bordelon mentioned a couple of regions where deer densities are likely the highest. “In northeast Louisiana, the parishes along the Mississippi River record the highest deer harvest per forested acre, and the highest harvest overall occurs in the mostly forested parishes of north and western Louisiana. Vernon and Union parishes head the list each year.”
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THAT'S A FACT
YEARLY HARVEST Louisiana hunters harvested a five-year average of more than 90,000 whitetails.
Nonresident hunters will spend $300 to obtain a basic hunting license and a deer license. “Statewide and deer area bag limits apply,” Bordelon said. “The nonresident deer license includes six deer tags. Three of them are for antlerless deer, two are for antlered deer, and one is for either sex. All deer must be tagged before movement. Electronic license and tagging options are available. All deer must be reported within 72 hours of harvest.”
While Louisiana hasn’t been subject to any significant disease-related deer mortality, Bordelon explained that Chronic Wasting Disease was detected in Louisiana in 2022 and that special rules pertain to the CWD Control Area in northeast Louisiana.
