Home › Louisiana › Parishes › Morehouse Parish
Seat: Bastrop
Morehouse Parish Hunting
Hunting Morehouse Parish, Louisiana: the 2026-27 season table, Deer Area limits, CWD and bear rules, alligator lottery zone, public land and LDWF contacts near Bastrop.
Photo: Brandonrush (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Morehouse Parish basics for hunters
LDWF serves Morehouse Parish from its Monroe field office; that office looks after the northeast: the Ouachita and Boeuf river bottoms, the Mississippi Delta farmland of the Tensas basin and the pine hills around Ruston. With Bastrop as its seat, the parish had an estimated 23,787 residents in 2024 by Census figures, 7.2% down from the 2020 base of 25,630.
Land runs to 795 square miles and water to 11, a 1% water share by Census measure. It borders Ouachita Parish, Richland Parish, Union Parish and West Carroll Parish, and across the state line it touches Ashley (AR), Chicot (AR) and Union (AR).
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 Morehouse Parish
Deer Areas covering Morehouse Parish
Two or more Deer Areas share Morehouse Parish: Deer Area 1 (part, about 55% by the LDWF layer) and Deer Area 2 (part, about 45% by the LDWF layer). Because the edges run along roads and rivers, the shares above are a guide only; the written boundaries and the LDWF map decide where one area ends. The percentages are GIS overlays of an LDWF layer last edited in November 2021, so use them for scale and trust the printed lists.
Morehouse Parish private-land deer dates
| Area | Bow | Primitive firearms | Gun, still only | Gun with dogs | Youth/veteran |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 1 | Oct 1–Jan 31 | Nov 14–Nov 20 Jan 25–Jan 31 | Nov 21–Dec 11 Jan 4–Jan 24 | Dec 12–Jan 3 | Oct 31–Nov 6 |
| 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 |
Season totals depend on the area: Area 1: 6 deer (2 antlered, 5 antlerless) and Area 2: 6 deer (3 antlered, 4 antlerless). The daily limit stays one of each. Two antlered and five antlerless deer is the new Area 1 split for 2026-27. LDWF now counts velvet-covered antlers of three inches or longer as legal antlered deer, alongside hardened antler. Validation is required within 72 hours of the kill; text-to-tag, the web portal, LA Wallet and the phone line all work. New for 2026-27, hunters 65 and older and qualifying disabled hunters may use any legal weapon during primitive firearms segments, as youths already could. Deer from a WMA hunt count toward the area limit just like private-land deer.
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 1, 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.
Public land in and near Morehouse Parish
GIS layers map about 31,331 acres of public hunting ground in Morehouse Parish, close to 6.2% of its land area, and usfws refuges make up the largest share. The public total skips starred kinds (state refuges, conservation areas, parks and military land). The acre figures are measured from GIS polygons with large water bodies removed.
| Kind of land | Acres (GIS) |
|---|---|
| State WMAs | 3,110 |
| USFWS refuges | 28,221 |
| Conservation areas* | 275 |
| State parks* | 886 |
Morehouse Parish public tracts
Upper Ouachita NWR
Game listed: waterfowl, dove, snipe, woodcock and rail.
Russell Sage WMA
Game listed: 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. 73 deer on its 2024 managed hunts.
Big Colewa Bayou WMA
Game listed: deer, waterfowl, small game, squirrel and rabbit. Received as a donation through federal bankruptcy proceedings in 1994 and 1998, Big Colewa Bayou WMA consists of six separate units:.
Public tracts around Morehouse Parish
- Black Bayou Lake NWR19 miles, national wildlife refuge, Ouachita Parish
- Floy Ward McElroy WMA22 miles, WMA, Richland Parish
- D'Arbonne NWR28 miles, national wildlife refuge, Union Parish
- Bayou Macon WMA29 miles, WMA, East Carroll Parish
On WMAs, check in and out with a Self-Clearing Permit (free) and, if 18 or older, hold a WMA Access Permit at $20 a year or $5 for five days. Remember three WMA rules: no bait, no entry before 4 a.m., and ducks only until noon.
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.
Morehouse Parish private-land calendar
For Morehouse Parish the table lists 62 seasons for 2026-27: deer, turkey, small game, waterfowl, doves and the year-round quadrupeds.
| Animal | Kind of hunt | Applies in | Start | Finish | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | CWD zone archery | Area 1 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Area 1 | Oct 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth and veterans | Area 1 | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive Firearms | Area 1 | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Still-hunt firearms | Area 1 | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, dogs allowed | Area 1 | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Still-hunt firearms | Area 1 | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive Firearms | Area 1 | Jan 25, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Morehouse Parish harvest record
Because LDWF publishes no full 64-parish deer table and Morehouse Parish is outside both top-20 lists, its harvest is not shown here.
Its 2024-25 figure of 60 forested acres per deer was 8th lowest among parishes.
| Season | Rank of 64 | Deer | Density rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Not in top 20 | — | #8 (60 ac) |
| 2022-23 | Not in top 20 | — | #10 (75 ac) |
The 2024-25 statewide reported harvest was 143,527; the 2025-26 email survey estimates 276,200, a larger figure because not every deer is reported.
By Deer Area, the 2025-26 survey respondents logged Area 1: 1,438 days and 127 deer and Area 2: 7,207 days and 382 deer, counts of answers rather than statewide estimates.
Managed-hunt deer on Morehouse Parish WMAs, 2024
| Hunt | Hunter days | Deer | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Sage | 600 | 73 | 47 | 26 |
Morehouse Parish accounts for 81 of the 4,024 turkeys validated in spring 2026, a value taken from the LDWF map.
Among the all-time leaders, Morehouse Parish claims handgun, typical antlers (145 7/8, 2013).
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.
Morehouse Parish CWD, bear and alligator rules
Chronic wasting disease rules in Morehouse Parish
SCR 24 dropped the Control Area that covered Morehouse Parish, and the new Management Zone map excludes it. Bringing deer in from another state is limited to boned meat, clean quarters and cleaned parts, whatever the parish. LDWF lists no CWD detection in Morehouse Parish. The 55 confirmed cases are in Tensas, Catahoula, Concordia and Ouachita.
Morehouse Parish Bear Area and lottery permits
Morehouse Parish lies in Bear Area 5, where black bears may be hunted only with a lottery permit from December 5 to 20, 2026 (Area 5: 2 general permits). The 2026 draw closed August 28; drawn hunters pay $25 for the Bear License and attend training. Bear hunting is still-hunt only, bait is allowed from November 1, and cubs and sows with cubs are off-limits.
Alligator zone covering Morehouse Parish
Morehouse Parish is in Recreational Alligator Zone B, one of eight zones in the new resident lottery, with 1,250 hunter opportunities; the zone also covers Union, Lincoln, Jackson, Caldwell, Ouachita, Richland, Franklin, Tensas, Madison, East Carroll and West Carroll. Winners hunt from October 1 to 31, 2026 with two hide tags for their zone and report each alligator within 72 hours. Commercial alligator hunting is separate, with East and West zones and seasons that close 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.
Morehouse Parish spring and fall bird seasons
Morehouse Parish turkey rules
The 2027 spring season in Morehouse Parish, which lies in Turkey Area A (part), is April 3 to May 2, 2027. Turkey area edges here are roads and rivers on the LDWF map. Season limit: two gobblers. Youth and physically challenged hunters go first, March 26 to March 28, 2027. Turkeys may not be hunted with bait or within 200 yards of a baited area, and an area stays baited for 15 days after the bait is gone.
Duck hunting in Morehouse Parish
Ducks, coots and mergansers in the East Zone are open November 21 to December 6, 2026 and December 19, 2026 to January 31, 2027. Special youth and veteran days are November 14, 2026 and February 6, 2027. Teal dates are September 19 to September 27, 2026, and the first black-bellied whistling duck season was October 3 to October 11, 2026 with four birds a day.
Dove hunting in Morehouse Parish
Mourning doves (North Zone) are open September 5 to September 27, 2026, October 10 to November 15, 2026 and December 19, 2026 to January 17, 2027.
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.
Morehouse Parish offices, towns and shops
The Monroe office of Region 2 handles enforcement in Morehouse Parish; Captain Kurt Hatten leads it. Monroe has the nearest LDWF office (Monroe Field Office), about 22 miles off as the crow flies.
Morehouse Parish base towns
| Town guide | Residents | Areas, 10 mi | Areas, 25 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bastrop | 8,922 | 2 | 6 |
| Collinston | 254 | 2 | 6 |
Further places in Morehouse Parish:
- Mer Rouge454
- Bonita160
- Oak Ridge112
Morehouse Parish has 3 deer processors, 2 gun and outdoor stores and 1 guide or preserve in the directory; there are no taxidermists listed. Processor rows come from LDWF maps and Hunters for the Hungry, shops from store locators and Yellow Pages; confirm before driving.
Deer processors, Morehouse Parish area
Taxidermists, Morehouse Parish area
Outdoor shops, Morehouse Parish area
Outfitters and preserves, Morehouse 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.
Morehouse Parish: gun clubs, clay fields and LDWF lines
Morehouse Parish has no listed range; the nearest three are below, with miles.
Bodcau Shooting Range is the LDWF range nearest Morehouse Parish, 100 miles away, open to WMA permit holders. Open it
Ranges from the LDWF shooting ranges page, ranges’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 4, 2026.
Sunrise, sunset and legal hours in Morehouse Parish
Deer, bear, turkey, squirrels, rabbits and other quadrupeds may be hunted from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks, geese and doves stop at sunset.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer and turkey | Ducks and doves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Area 1 archery opens | 7:00 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Area 1 gun opens | 6:43 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Bear lottery hunt opens | 6:55 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Area 1 dog season | 7:00 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:05 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Apr 3, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:54 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:28 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.
Morehouse Parish common questions
Can I take a whole deer carcass out of Morehouse Parish?
Yes, within Louisiana; the zone export rules do not apply here.
How many dove segments does Morehouse Parish get?
Three per zone.
How many public hunting areas are in Morehouse Parish?
3 areas on our list.
Who can enter the alligator lottery for Morehouse Parish?
Louisiana residents 16 and older with hunter education.
Can drones be used to recover deer in Morehouse Parish?
Yes on private land under the new rules; never on WMAs.
How do I reach LDWF agents in Morehouse Parish?
Region 2 office in Monroe, (318) 343-2417.
Is there a Hunters for the Hungry processor near Morehouse Parish?
Check the tags on the processor cards above.
Is Morehouse Parish a top deer parish?
It is not in the 2024-25 top 20.
Do WMA deer count toward the Morehouse Parish limit?
Yes, WMA deer count toward the Deer Area season limit.
What deer schedules apply in Morehouse Parish?
Those of Deer Area 1 and Deer Area 2, depending on which side of the area line you hunt.
What does a bear permit cost for Morehouse Parish?
A $50 lottery application and a $25 Bear License, plus training.
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.
Morehouse Parish last checks before the truck is loaded
Near a Deer Area road or river line in Morehouse Parish, the LDWF map and boundary text decide which dates apply.
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); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).