Home › Louisiana › Parishes › Caldwell Parish
Deer Area 2
Caldwell Parish Hunting
From the first archery morning to spring gobblers, this Caldwell Parish guide gathers dates, deer limits, harvest tables, public tracts and the services closest to Columbia.
Photo: Billy Hathorn (CC BY 3.0)
Caldwell Parish: size, people and LDWF office
The Monroe field office handles LDWF wildlife work in Caldwell Parish, part of a district that spans the northeast: the Ouachita and Boeuf river bottoms, the Mississippi Delta farmland of the Tensas basin and the pine hills around Ruston. Census puts the 2024 population at 9,393, 2.6% down from the 2020 base of 9,647, and Columbia serves as the parish seat.
By the Census gazetteer it holds 530 square miles of land plus 11 of open water (2% of the total). On its landward and water edges sit Catahoula Parish, Franklin Parish, Jackson Parish, LaSalle Parish, Ouachita Parish, Richland Parish and Winn Parish.
Population from the Census Vintage 2024 estimates; area from the 2024 Census gazetteer; neighbours from Census adjacency; seat from the list of Louisiana parishes; LDWF offices from the LDWF Contact Us page. Checked November 4, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Caldwell Parish
Caldwell Parish deer area, dates and bag
No boundary splits Caldwell Parish: the whole parish is Deer Area 2. Public areas inside it keep separate dates, printed in each WMA or federal schedule.
| Area | In parish | Share | Season total | Bucks max | Does max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 2 | Whole parish | 100% | 6 | 3 | 4 |
Caldwell Parish deer segments by area
| Deer Area | Archery | Muzzleloader | Still-hunt firearms | Dog season | Youth and vets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 2 | Oct 1–Jan 31 | Oct 24–Oct 30 Jan 18–Jan 24 | Oct 31–Dec 9 | Dec 10–Jan 17 | Oct 10–Oct 16 |
Inside the CWD Management Zone portion of the parish, Deer Area 2 adds an early bucks-only bow segment, August 29 to September 6, 2026, velvet bucks included. A season limit of 6 deer applies here (3 antlered at most, 4 antlerless at most), with a daily limit of one of each. Antlered means one visible hardened antler, or under the new rule velvet antler at least three inches long. Attach the tag (or tag electronically) before moving the deer, then validate it inside 72 hours. Primitive segments are now open to any legal weapon for hunters 65 and older and qualifying disabled hunters, as well as youths 17 and under. Public-land deer still count against the season total for the area.
Areas and limits from the 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, deer and the LDWF Deer Area map; segment dates from the area schedules (Area 2); shares from the LDWF Deer Management Areas layer; tag and weapon rules from pamphlet p. 22 and p. 23. Checked November 4, 2026.
Caldwell Parish WMAs, refuges and nearby areas
Roughly 45,255 acres of Caldwell Parish are public land open to hunting by the LDWF and federal layers (13.3% of the parish), led by LDWF WMA ground. Treat these acre counts as map measurements rather than the agencies' official totals.
| Owner or kind | Mapped acres |
|---|---|
| LDWF WMA ground | 45,255 |
Caldwell Parish public ground by area
Boeuf WMA
Species: deer, waterfowl, small game, raccoon and squirrel. Boeuf WMA is bordered by the Bouef River for approximately 47 miles on its eastern side. 2024 managed hunts: 195 deer.
Russell Sage WMA
Species: waterfowl, deer, small game, raccoon and furbearer trapping. Russell Sage WMA forms one of the largest remaining tracts of the vast bottomland hardwood forests that historically composed the lower Mississippi River floodplain from lower Illinois to the Gulf of America. 2024 managed hunts: 73 deer.
Hunting areas close to Caldwell Parish
- J.C. "Sonny" Gilbert WMA28 miles, WMA, Catahoula Parish
A WMA Access Permit ($20 annual, $5 five-day) covers adults, and everyone fills out a Self-Clearing Permit each day. Waterfowl hunting on WMAs closes at noon, baiting is prohibited and entry begins at 4 a.m.
Acres from the LDWF WMA layer, USFS ownership, USFWS refuge layer and LDWF federal layers; areas from the LDWF WMA, refuge and conservation area list and each area page; permits from pamphlet p. 6 and WMA rules. Checked November 4, 2026.
What opens when around Caldwell Parish
Louisiana sets deer dates by Deer Area, and Caldwell Parish falls in Deer Area 2; each area has its own archery, primitive, still-hunt and dog segments. The 55 rows below come from the LDWF pamphlet.
| Game | Weapon or split | Area or zone | Opening | Closing | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | CWD zone archery | Area 2 | Aug 29, 2026 | Sep 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Area 2 | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth and veterans | Area 2 | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive Firearms | Area 2 | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Still-hunt firearms | Area 2 | Oct 31, 2026 | Dec 9, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, dogs allowed | Area 2 | Dec 10, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive Firearms | Area 2 | Jan 18, 2027 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Challenged hunters | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Lottery permit hunt | Bear Area 5 | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth and challenged | Turkey A, B, C | Mar 26, 2027 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | Turkey Area A | Apr 3, 2027 | May 2, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring | Turkey Area C | Apr 3, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | |
| Feral hogs | Night take, private land | Private land | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Feral hogs | Year-round, daylight | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Alligator | Recreational lottery | Zones A-H | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Youth (private lands only) | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Fall | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Spring | Statewide | May 1, 2027 | May 23, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Season | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Quail | Season | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Season | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Doves | Segment 1 | North zone | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 2 | North zone | Oct 10, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 3 | North zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Whistling ducks | Special season | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Youth and veteran day | East zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Split 1 | East zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Split 2 | East zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks and coots | Youth and veteran day | East zone | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Snow and blue geese | Regular season | East zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Snow and blue geese | Conservation Order | East zone | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 18, 2026 | |
| Snow and blue geese | Regular season | East zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Snow and blue geese | Conservation Order | East zone | Feb 8, 2027 | Mar 7, 2027 | |
| Specklebellies | Regular season | East zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Specklebellies | Regular season | East zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Canada geese | Regular season | East zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Canada geese | Regular season | East zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| King and clapper rails | Season | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| King and clapper rails | Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | |
| Sora and Virginia rails | Season | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Sora and Virginia rails | Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | |
| Gallinules | Season | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Gallinules | Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | |
| Snipe | Season | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Snipe | Season | Statewide | Jan 25, 2027 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Season | Statewide | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Crows | Season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Year-round, daylight | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Armadillo | Year-round, daylight | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Nutria | Recreational hunting | Private land | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Year-round hunting | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Year-round, day and night | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Year-round, day and night | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Foxes (chase) | Chase only (hunting) | Statewide | Jul 1, 2026 | Jun 30, 2027 |
From the LDWF seasons and regulations and the 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting and WMA Regulations (Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries), checked November 4, 2026.
Caldwell Parish deer and turkey harvest
Neither the 2022-23 nor the 2024-25 top-20 table includes Caldwell Parish; LDWF publishes no other parish harvest figure.
By deer per acre of forest, Caldwell Parish ranked 20th in 2022-23 (107 forested acres for each deer).
| Report | Harvest rank | Deer count | Acres per deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Not in top 20 | — | Not in top 20 |
| 2022-23 | Not in top 20 | — | #20 (107 ac) |
Louisiana as a whole reported 143,527 deer in 2024-25, and survey estimates put 2025-26 at about 276,200.
Raw 2025-26 survey answers for the parish's areas: Area 2: 7,207 days and 382 deer.
Caldwell Parish WMA hunt results
| Managed hunt | Efforts | Deer taken | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeuf | 759 | 195 | 119 | 76 |
| Russell Sage | 600 | 73 | 47 | 26 |
On the LDWF turkey harvest map for 2026 the label for Caldwell Parish reads 92 (statewide 4,024); treat it as read from a map.
Parish deer from the Annual Louisiana Deer Report 2024-25 and 2022-23 (top-20 tables only; the 2023-24 report link is dead); statewide and WMA figures from the 2024-25 report; survey from the 2025-26 harvest survey; turkey from the 2026 Wild Turkey Program report (Figure 5 map, read by eye); records from the Big Game Records page. Checked November 4, 2026.
Disease, bear and gator rules for Caldwell Parish
Caldwell Parish carcass and feeding rules
The CWD Management Zone (SCR 24, June 2, 2026) includes a portion of Caldwell Parish on the LDWF map. Inside the zone, baiting and supplemental feeding are legal from September 1 to March 31 for 2026-27 and banned from April 1 to August 31. Moving deer out of the zone is limited to deboned meat, quarters with no spine or head, antlers and cleaned parts. The import rule is statewide: no whole carcasses or heads from other states, only processed meat and cleaned parts. None of Louisiana's 55 CWD-positive deer came from Caldwell Parish.
Black bear lottery in Caldwell Parish
Bear hunting in Caldwell Parish (Bear Area 5) is by lottery permit only, December 5-20, 2026; permits: Area 5: 2 general permits. Applications ran July 28 to August 28, 2026 for a $50 fee, the resident Bear License costs $25, and winners must attend bear-hunter training. From November 1 bear permit holders may bait (no raw sweet potatoes or chocolate); no dogs, no cubs.
Caldwell Parish alligator lottery zone
For the new recreational alligator lottery, Caldwell Parish belongs to Zone B (1,250 opportunities), shared with Union, Lincoln, Jackson, Ouachita, Morehouse, Richland, Franklin, Tensas, Madison, East Carroll and West Carroll. October 1-31, 2026 is the recreational window: two tags per zone, reported within 72 hours. Commercial tags follow East and West zones and run to December 31.
CWD from the June 2, 2026 CWD map, pamphlet p. 12 and the LDWF CWD page; bear from the LDWF black bear lottery page and lottery hunts page; alligator from the LDWF recreational alligator page. Checked November 4, 2026.
Turkey and waterfowl rules for Caldwell Parish
Caldwell Parish Turkey Area
Turkey season reaches Caldwell Parish through Turkey Area A (part) and Turkey Area C (part), with dates Area A April 3 to May 2, 2027 and Area C April 3 to April 18, 2027. Turkey Area lines follow roads and rivers; parishes split between areas follow the boundary on the LDWF turkey map, and any part not inside an area is closed. Two gobblers per season, one per day; the youth hunt is March 26 to March 28, 2027. No turkey hunting within 200 yards of bait; ground counts as baited for 15 days after cleanup.
Caldwell Parish duck dates
The East Zone regular season comes in two splits, November 21 to December 6, 2026 and December 19, 2026 to January 31, 2027. Youths and veterans get November 14, 2026 and February 6, 2027. Teal hunters had September 19 to September 27, 2026; the new whistler season ran October 3 to October 11, 2026 under a free LDWF permit.
Caldwell Parish dove dates
The North Dove Zone has three segments: September 5 to September 27, 2026, October 10 to November 15, 2026 and December 19, 2026 to January 17, 2027, with a daily bag of 15.
Turkey from pamphlet pp. 30-31 and the LDWF turkey map; waterfowl from pamphlet p. 34 and p. 36; doves from p. 34; baiting from p. 12. Checked November 4, 2026.
Caldwell Parish agents, towns and processors
LDWF agents covering Caldwell Parish work out of Monroe in Region 2 under Captain Kurt Hatten. About 34 miles separate the parish centre from the nearest LDWF office, Monroe Field Office in Monroe.
Towns of Caldwell Parish
| Town | 2024 people | Areas near (10 mi) | Areas near (25 mi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 266 | 2 | 3 |
Caldwell Parish also includes:
- Clarks1,034
- Grayson431
- Banks Springs
Listed in Caldwell Parish: 2 deer processors and 1 gun or outdoor store. Not listed: taxidermists and guides and preserves. We built the list from LDWF layers, Hunters for the Hungry and directory listings; ring before you go.
Processors, Caldwell Parish area
Taxidermy, Caldwell Parish area
Gun shops and stores, Caldwell Parish area
Offices from the LDWF Contact Us page and LDWF local law enforcement page; towns and places from the 2024 Census gazetteer and Census population estimates; services from LDWF processor layers, Hunters for the Hungry, store locators and Yellow Pages listings. Checked November 4, 2026.
Caldwell Parish shooters: ranges and match dates
Shooters in Caldwell Parish cross a parish line to shoot; these three are nearest.
Rapides Parish has the LDWF range closest to Caldwell Parish: Woodworth Shooting Range, 69 miles off. Full page
Ranges from the LDWF shooting ranges page, ranges’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 4, 2026.
Caldwell Parish legal shooting light
LDWF prints no sunrise and sunset table, so these times for Caldwell Parish are worked out with the NOAA solar formula.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer window | Duck window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Area 2 archery opens | 7:01 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. |
| Oct 31, 2026 | Area 2 gun opens | 7:24 a.m. | 6:21 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:21 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | East zone ducks open | 6:42 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Bear lottery hunt opens | 6:54 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Dec 10, 2026 | Area 2 dog season | 6:58 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:05 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Apr 3, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:56 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting and WMA Regulations and La. R.S. 56:116.1; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Central Time); checked November 4, 2026. Legal hours for every parish.
Caldwell Parish rules in brief
What is the biggest public area in Caldwell Parish?
Boeuf WMA, 51,110 acres.
Who is the LDWF Enforcement captain for Caldwell Parish?
Kurt Hatten, Region 2 (Monroe).
Can a tracking dog trail a wounded deer in Caldwell Parish?
Yes on private land, one leashed or GPS-collared dog.
Has Caldwell Parish produced a record deer?
No top all-time entry lists it.
Which processor is nearest Caldwell Parish?
Varnell's Processing.
Is Caldwell Parish split between Deer Areas?
No. The whole parish is Deer Area 2.
What is the season deer limit in Caldwell Parish?
6 in Area 2, with no more than 3 antlered or 4 antlerless.
Can I hunt turkeys over bait in Caldwell Parish?
No; not within 200 yards of bait, and not for 15 days after it is removed.
Can bear hunters use dogs in Caldwell Parish?
No; still hunting only, with bait allowed from November 1.
Is Caldwell Parish in the East or West duck zone?
East.
Where is the dove line near Caldwell Parish?
LA 12, US 190, I-12 and I-10.
Answers from the 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, LDWF seasons and regulations, hunter orange rule, tagging rules, Sunday hunting, hunter education, the Annual Louisiana Deer Report and the sources above. Checked November 4, 2026.
Caldwell Parish reminders for 2026-27
Get permission before hunting private land in Caldwell Parish, and self-clear every time you enter a WMA.
Sources: 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, LDWF hunting, Census and the sources in each section. Checked November 4, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Seney Natural History Association (CC BY-SA 2.0); USFWS Mountain-Prairie (CC BY 2.0).