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2026-27 parish guide
Evangeline Parish Hunting
What a hunter needs before driving to Evangeline Parish: which Deer Area applies, how many deer may be tagged, every dated season, mapped public land and the closest LDWF office to Ville Platte.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CC BY 2.0)
Evangeline Parish in brief
Evangeline Parish is worked by the LDWF Lake Charles field office, whose area takes in the southwest: coastal marsh and chenier ridges, rice and crawfish prairie, and the longleaf pine flats of Beauregard and Allen. The 2024 Census estimate for the parish is 31,745 people (1.8% down from the 2020 base of 32,343); government offices are in Ville Platte.
Water accounts for 3% of the parish: 17 square miles, next to 662 square miles of land. All of its neighbours are Louisiana parishes, namely Acadia Parish, Allen Parish, Avoyelles Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, Rapides Parish and St. Landry 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 Evangeline Parish
Evangeline Parish Deer Areas and limits
More than one deer calendar applies in Evangeline Parish, which falls in Deer Area 2 (part, about 96% by the LDWF layer) and Deer Area 6 (part, about 4% by the LDWF layer). LDWF draws the lines along highways and waterways, which means the legal edge is the road or river named in the pamphlet; check the LDWF map when your stand is close to one. Treat the percentages as rough measures from the LDWF map layer (edited November 2021).
Evangeline Parish deer calendar by Deer Area
| Area | Bow season | Primitive season | Still gun | Dogs allowed | Youth and veterans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Area 6 | Oct 1–Feb 15 | Nov 14–Nov 20 Jan 25–Jan 31 | Nov 21–Dec 11 | Dec 12–Jan 24 | Oct 31–Nov 6 |
Hunters may take one antlered and one antlerless deer a day, and the season total in Deer Area 2 and Deer Area 6 is 6, of which no more than 3 may be antlered or 4 antlerless. A legal antlered deer has at least one visible hard antler, and for 2026-27 velvet antlers three inches or longer also qualify. Tag the deer before moving it and validate the tag within 72 hours by text, the LouisianaOutdoors.com portal, LA Wallet or phone. The primitive-season weapon rule now exempts hunters 65 and older and qualifying disabled hunters, in addition to youths. A deer killed on a wildlife management area counts against the same Deer Area season total.
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, Area 6); shares from the LDWF Deer Management Areas layer; tag and weapon rules from pamphlet p. 22 and p. 23. Checked November 4, 2026.
Evangeline Parish public hunting land
Public land here adds up to about 988 acres on the GIS layers (0.2% of the land area), mainly wildlife management areas. Starred lines are context only: those acres are refuges, parks or military land, not open public hunting ground. Polygon measures are approximate; official acreage is on each area page.
| Category | Acres in parish |
|---|---|
| Wildlife management areas | 988 |
| State parks* | 4,769 |
Public hunting areas in Evangeline Parish
Acadiana Conservation Corridor WMA
Open for: deer. Spanning about 26 miles, Acadiana Conservation Corridor WMA is a scenic easement located between the I-49 right-of-way and the Bayou Boeuf-Cocodrie Diversion Canal.
Marsh Bayou WMA
Open for: deer, small game, raccoon, rabbit and woodcock. Acquired from the Farmers Home Administration, Marsh Bayou WMA was primarily used as an agricultural rice farm for many years and is now being converted back to forestland.
Hunting areas close to Evangeline Parish
- West Bay WMA24 miles, WMA, Allen Parish
- Thistlethwaite WMA24 miles, WMA, St. Landry Parish
- Alexander State Forest WMA28 miles, WMA, Rapides Parish
Hunters 18 and older need a WMA Access Permit ($20 a year or $5 for five days) on any WMA, plus the free Self-Clearing Permit each day, filled in at the station or in the LDWF app. No bait is allowed on WMAs, hunters may enter from 4 a.m., and public-land duck hunting stops at noon this season.
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.
Evangeline Parish openers and closers
These are private-land dates; wildlife management areas and refuges near Evangeline Parish run their own shorter schedules.
| Species | Hunt | Where | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | CWD zone archery | Area 6 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Area 6 | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Area 6 | Oct 16, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth and veterans | Area 6 | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive Firearms | Area 6 | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Still-hunt firearms | Area 6 | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, dogs allowed | Area 6 | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive Firearms | Area 6 | Jan 25, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Challenged hunters | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Lottery permit hunt | Bear Area 6 | 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Doves | Segment 1 | South zone | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 2 | South zone | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Doves | Segment 3 | South zone | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 10, 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 | |
| Ducks and coots | Youth and veteran day | West zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 7, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Split 1 | West zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Split 2 | West zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| Ducks and coots | Youth and veteran day | West zone | Jan 30, 2027 | Jan 30, 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 | |
| Snow and blue geese | Regular season | West zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Snow and blue geese | Conservation Order | West zone | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 18, 2026 | |
| Snow and blue geese | Regular season | West zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Snow and blue geese | Conservation Order | West 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 | |
| Specklebellies | Regular season | West zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Specklebellies | Regular season | West 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 | |
| Canada geese | Regular season | West zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Canada geese | Regular season | West 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.
Deer and turkey numbers for Evangeline Parish
No deer total is available for Evangeline Parish: the annual deer reports list only the top 20 parishes, and it is not among them in 2022-23 or 2024-25.
| Season | Parish rank | Reported deer | Acres/deer rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Not in top 20 | — | Not in top 20 |
| 2022-23 | Not in top 20 | — | Not in top 20 |
For scale, Louisiana hunters reported 143,527 deer in 2024-25; the newer 2025-26 survey puts the harvest near 276,200.
In the 2025-26 survey, respondents who hunted the areas covering Evangeline Parish reported Area 2: 7,207 days and 382 deer and Area 6: 2,392 days and 102 deer; these are raw respondent totals, not estimates.
Spring 2026 tagging, as printed on the LDWF turkey map, credits Evangeline Parish with 23 birds; LDWF published no table, so this is map-read.
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.
Evangeline Parish zone rules beyond deer
Evangeline Parish carcass and feeding rules
No part of Evangeline Parish is in the CWD Management Zone shown on the June 2, 2026 map. Statewide, deer carcasses from other states may enter Louisiana only as boned or cut meat, clean quarters, antlers, cleaned skulls, capes, hides, mounts or teeth. No CWD-positive deer has been reported from Evangeline Parish; all 55 Louisiana detections are from Tensas, Catahoula, Concordia and Ouachita.
Bear permits covering Evangeline Parish
For bears, Evangeline Parish falls in Bear Area 6; the permit-only season is December 5-20, 2026 and the permits are Area 6: 2 general permits. Bear permits need a $50 application, a $25 license and a training class before the hunt. Permit holders may hunt over bait from November 1, must still-hunt without dogs, and may not take cubs of 75 pounds or less or females with cubs.
Gator season for Evangeline Parish
Evangeline Parish sits in alligator Zone E with Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Allen, Jefferson Davis, Vermilion and Acadia, a zone allotted 400 lottery opportunities. The new season is October 1 to 31, 2026, with two alligators per winner per zone and a 72-hour report. Separate commercial seasons in the East and West zones last until 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.
Evangeline Parish turkey, ducks and doves
Evangeline Parish spring turkey
Spring turkey dates for Evangeline Parish, in Turkey Area A (part), are April 3 to May 2, 2027. Because the parish is split, read the turkey area description or map before hunting near the edge. Before the opener, private land hosts a youth and physically challenged hunt (March 26 to March 28, 2027); two gobblers is the season cap. Bait within 200 yards makes turkey hunting illegal, for 15 days after the bait is gone.
Evangeline Parish ducks and geese
Ducks, coots and mergansers in the West Zone are open November 14 to December 6, 2026 and December 19, 2026 to January 24, 2027. Youth and veteran dates: November 7, 2026 and January 30, 2027. In the East Zone, regular duck season runs November 21 to December 6, 2026 and December 19, 2026 to January 31, 2027. Its youth and veteran days fall on November 14, 2026 and February 6, 2027. Check the route: the East-West duck line runs through Evangeline Parish on LA 79, LA 9, LA 147, US 167 and US 90. Two early seasons reach every parish: teal September 19 to September 27, 2026 and black-bellied whistling ducks October 3 to October 11, 2026 (free permit, four daily).
Doves around Evangeline Parish
In the North Zone, dove hunters get September 5 to September 27, 2026, October 10 to November 15, 2026 and December 19, 2026 to January 17, 2027. South Zone dove dates are September 5 to September 20, 2026, October 17 to November 29, 2026 and December 12, 2026 to January 10, 2027; limit 15 a day. Part of Evangeline Parish is North Dove Zone and part South, divided by LA 12, US 190, I-12 and I-10.
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.
Evangeline Parish hunting events
Parish total as of November 3, 2026: 1 date still ahead.
Still ahead
| Date | Title | Location | Sign-up or details | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 21–22, 2026 | LDWF Hunter Education Course – Mamou · hunter education course | The Hideaway Lodge Mamou | Join waitlist | Source |
Contacts and services for Evangeline Parish
For wildlife law, Evangeline Parish falls under Region 5 (Lake Charles), where David Sanford is captain. The nearest LDWF office in a straight line is the Lafayette Field Office in Lafayette, about 40 miles from the parish centre.
Evangeline Parish towns and nearby land
| Town | People (2024) | Areas within 10 mi | Within 25 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ville Platte | 6,148 | 1 | 3 |
Other Census places in Evangeline Parish:
- Mamou2,817
- Pine Prairie1,559
- Basile1,186
- Turkey Creek398
- Chataignier259
- Reddell
Our directory lists 2 deer processors inside Evangeline Parish, and no taxidermists, gun and outdoor stores and guides and preserves; neighbouring parishes fill the gaps below. Listings come from LDWF processor layers, the Hunters for the Hungry list, store locators and Yellow Pages; call ahead, because hours change in season.
Where to process deer, Evangeline Parish area
Taxidermists nearby, Evangeline Parish area
Guns, ammo and gear, Evangeline Parish area
Guides and preserves nearby, Evangeline 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.
Evangeline Parish: gun clubs, clay fields and LDWF lines
Woodworth Shooting Range is the closest listed range to Evangeline Parish, 30 miles from its centre.
For a public line, Evangeline Parish shooters can drive 30 miles to Woodworth Shooting Range in Rapides Parish. Hours
Ranges from the LDWF shooting ranges page, ranges’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 4, 2026.
Shooting hours for Evangeline Parish
Big game light near Evangeline Parish begins 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset; migratory birds end at sunset.
| Day | Marker | Sun up | Sun down | Big game | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Area 2 archery opens | 7:02 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. |
| Oct 31, 2026 | Area 2 gun opens | 7:23 a.m. | 6:24 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:54 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | West zone ducks open | 6:35 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Bear lottery hunt opens | 6:52 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Dec 10, 2026 | Area 2 dog season | 6:56 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:03 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. |
| Apr 3, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:58 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | 6:28 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.
Evangeline Parish, answered
Which dove zone is Evangeline Parish in?
North and South (the line crosses the parish).
What time does public-land duck hunting end near Evangeline Parish?
Noon on WMAs and public lands.
How many alligator opportunities are in Evangeline Parish's zone?
400 in Zone E.
Does Evangeline Parish have CWD archery?
No, that segment is only for zone parts of Areas 1, 2 and 6.
Who is the LDWF Enforcement captain for Evangeline Parish?
David Sanford, Region 5 (Lake Charles).
What is the biggest public area in Evangeline Parish?
Acadiana Conservation Corridor WMA, 2,285 acres.
Is Evangeline Parish a top deer parish?
It is not in the 2024-25 top 20.
Can a tracking dog trail a wounded deer in Evangeline Parish?
Yes on private land, one leashed or GPS-collared dog.
Do Deer Area lines cross Evangeline Parish?
Yes. The parish is in Deer Area 2 and Deer Area 6.
Is there a Hunters for the Hungry processor near Evangeline Parish?
Check the tags on the processor cards above.
Is turkey season open in Evangeline Parish?
Yes, in Area A on private land.
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.
Evangeline Parish before opening day
Dates here are for 2026-27; LDWF publishes a new pamphlet every year.
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: Sank63 (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain).