When is deer hunting season in, near Baton Rouge? Depends on where you are, your weapon.
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)—The length of deer hunting season in Louisiana can vary depending on the region. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has 10 designated Deer Areas for the 2024-25 season, and four of those are in the WVLA/WGMB coverage area.
In some areas, the hunting season can start as early as September, and some regions have limits on when you can hunt does, depending on the date and what weapon the hunter is using. There are also limitations on when hunters can use dogs for tracking.
Most of East Baton Rouge Parish falls into Deer Area 4, as does most of East Feliciana, St. Helena and northern Livingston.
Pick up a deer from the side of the road in Louisiana and you could face jail time, fine
Here’s when deer hunting is allowed in Area 4 (all dates are for either sex):
Archery: Oct. 1 to Jan. 31.
Primitive Firearms: Nov. 9-15 and Jan. 20-31.
Firearms (Still-Hunt Only): Nov. 16 to Dec. 6 and Jan. 6-19.
Firearms (With or Without Dogs): Dec. 7 to Jan. 5.
Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans: Oct. 26 to Nov. 1.
Far western Iberville is in Area 5. Those dates are:
Archery: Either sex (unless a bucks-only firearms season is in progress) Oct. 16 to Feb. 15 and bucks only Oct. 1-15.
Primitive Firearms: Either sex Nov. 9-15 and bucks only Jan. 20-31.
Firearms (Still-Hunt Only): Either sex Nov. 16-17 and Nov. 29 to Dec. 1; and bucks only Nov. 18-28 and Dec. 2-6.
Firearms (With or Without Dogs): Either sex Dec. 7-8 and Dec. 14-15; and bucks only Dec. 9-13 and Dec. 16 to Jan. 19.
Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans: Oct. 26 to Nov. 1.
Northern Iberville, West Baton Rouge, a sliver of East Baton Rouge, West Feliciana and Pointe Coupee are in Area 6. People can hunt there on the following dates:
Archery: Either sex (unless a bucks-only firearms season is in progress) Oct. 16 to Feb. 15 and bucks only Oct. 1-15.
Primitive Firearms: Either sex Nov. 9-15 and Jan. 20-31.
Firearms (Still-Hunt Only): Either sex Nov. 16 to Dec. 6.
Firearms (With or Without Dogs): Either sex Dec. 7 to Jan. 19.
Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans: Oct. 26 to Nov. 1.
Ascension, Assumption, southern Livingston and southeastern Iberville are in Area 9. Here are the dates for that region:
Archery: Either sex (unless a bucks-only firearms season is in progress) Oct. 16 to Feb. 15 and bucks only Oct. 1-15.
Primitive Firearms: Either sex Nov. 9-15 and Jan. 20-31.
Firearms (Still-Hunt Only): Either sex Nov. 16-17 and Nov. 29 to Dec. 1; and bucks only Nov. 18-23 and Dec. 2-6.
Firearms (With or Without Dogs): Either sex Dec. 7-8 and Dec. 14-15; and bucks only Dec. 9-13 and Dec. 16 to Jan. 19.
Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans: Oct. 26 to Nov. 1.
A hunter email survey found that the majority, 79%, used modern firearms to kill deer in 2023.
Anyone, residents and non-residents, age 18 and older must have a basic hunting license. A hunting license can be bought online, at LDWF headquarters at 2000 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge or at local retailers.
The state wildlife agency said hunting licenses expire one year from the purchase date.
New Louisiana law changes restrictions for hunters, dogs tracking shot deer
Louisiana hunters are required to get deer tags. According to LDWF information about tagging, deer must be tagged before moving it from where it was killed. Tagging includes recording the date and parish, recording information on the harvest report card section of the deer tag license and validating the kill by phone or online within 72 hours.
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