Home › Louisiana › Parishes › Vermilion Parish
Lake Charles area parish
Vermilion Parish Hunting
Vermilion Parish hunting in one page: Deer Area 10, Turkey season closed, West duck zone, South dove zone, public acres, processors and contacts.
Photo: Richard Byrd (CC BY 2.0)
Where Vermilion Parish sits
For wildlife staff, Vermilion Parish belongs to the Lake Charles field office of LDWF, a district covering the southwest: coastal marsh and chenier ridges, rice and crawfish prairie, and the longleaf pine flats of Beauregard and Allen. Parish government sits in Abbeville. Census counted an estimated 57,641 people in 2024, 1.1% up from the 2020 base of 57,001.
The parish covers 1,172 square miles of land and 360 square miles of water, so water makes up 23% of its total area. Drive out of Vermilion Parish in any direction and you reach Acadia Parish, Cameron Parish, Iberia Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish and Lafayette 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.
Vermilion Parish deer dates by area
LDWF lists Vermilion Parish among the whole parishes of Deer Area 10, so there is a single deer schedule here. Expect different dates on public tracts, which LDWF schedules one by one.
| Area | Parish coverage | Share | Season cap | Max antlered | Max antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 10 | Whole parish | 100% | 3 | 2 | 2 |
When each deer segment opens in Vermilion Parish
| Area | Archery | Primitive | Still-hunt gun | Gun, dogs allowed | Youth and veterans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 10 | Sep 19–Jan 15 | Oct 10–Oct 16 Jan 4–Jan 10 | Oct 17–Jan 3 | None | Sep 26–Oct 2 |
The daily limit is one antlered plus one antlerless deer; across the season the cap is 3 deer, with at most 2 antlered and 2 antlerless. Velvet bucks are new this season: velvet antlers of three inches or more now make a deer legal as antlered. Carcass tags go on before the deer is moved, and validation is due within 72 hours through text, web, LA Wallet or a phone call. Any legal weapon may be used in primitive segments by youths, seniors 65 and up and qualifying disabled hunters. WMA deer are not extra: they come off the same season limit.
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 10); shares from the LDWF Deer Management Areas layer; tag and weapon rules from pamphlet p. 22 and p. 23. Checked November 4, 2026.
Public acres around Vermilion Parish
The GIS layers find zero public hunting acres in Vermilion Parish, which makes leases, clubs and nearby WMAs the usual options. Acres marked with a star are not in the total; they cover state refuges, conservation areas, parks or military land. Map-measured acres differ from the acres an agency publishes, so use the area pages for official numbers.
| Kind | Acres mapped |
|---|---|
| State wildlife refuges* | 33,227 |
| Conservation areas* | 70,092 |
| State parks* | 1,277 |
Vermilion Parish WMAs, refuges and forest land
White Lake WCA
Species listed: waterfowl. Located in southwestern Louisiana, White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area was owned and managed by various oil companies until BP donated the property to the state of Louisiana in 2002.
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.
Every dated season in Vermilion Parish
Ducks follow East or West zone splits and doves the North or South zone, which is why one parish can show two sets of bird dates.
| Quarry | Season part | Zone | Begins | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Area 10 | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth and veterans | Area 10 | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive Firearms | Area 10 | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Still-hunt firearms | Area 10 | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive Firearms | Area 10 | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Challenged hunters | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Lottery permit hunt | Bear Area 1 | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | West zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Specklebellies | Regular season | West 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.
Vermilion Parish in the LDWF harvest tables
The deer reports name just 20 parishes a year, and Vermilion Parish misses both published lists, so this page shows no parish harvest.
| Year | Deer rank | Total deer | Forest acres per deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Not in top 20 | — | Not in top 20 |
| 2022-23 | Not in top 20 | — | Not in top 20 |
Across the state, reported deer reached 143,527 in 2024-25, while survey estimates for 2025-26 run to 276,200 deer.
Survey respondents broke their effort down by Deer Area for 2025-26: Area 10: 464 days and 18 deer. LDWF does not expand these raw figures.
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.
Bear, alligator and CWD in Vermilion Parish
Vermilion Parish and the CWD Management Zone
Vermilion Parish lies beyond the CWD Management Zone, which sits in northeast and central Louisiana. Anywhere in Louisiana, out-of-state deer must arrive as deboned meat, quarters without spine or head, antlers or cleaned parts. Vermilion Parish has no CWD detection on record; the 55 Louisiana cases come from four other parishes.
Vermilion Parish black bear season
Only lottery permit holders may take a bear in Bear Area 1, which covers Vermilion Parish, between December 5 and 20, 2026 (Area 1: 8 permits (5 landowner, 3 general)). Expect a $50 lottery application, a $25 Bear License and required training if drawn. Bait is legal for permit holders from November 1; dogs are not, and cubs or females with cubs are protected.
Vermilion Parish alligator rules
The parish falls in Recreational Zone E (400 opportunities), alongside Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Allen, Jefferson Davis, Evangeline and Acadia. The recreational season runs October 1 to 31, 2026; each winner gets two hide tags per zone, and tags must be reported within 72 hours. Licensed commercial hunters work East or West zones through 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.
Birds in Vermilion Parish: turkey, waterfowl, doves
Vermilion Parish gobbler season
Vermilion Parish has no open turkey season; LDWF lists it among the closed parishes.
Vermilion Parish waterfowl zone
The West Zone regular season comes in two splits, November 14 to December 6, 2026 and December 19, 2026 to January 24, 2027. Youth and veteran days: November 7, 2026 and January 30, 2027. West Zone hunters should know the Canada goose closed area. Closed in part of southwest Louisiana (Hwy 82/Calcasieu Ship Channel/Intracoastal Canal/Parish Road 3147/Freshwater Bayou area) and on open waters of Lake Arthur and the Mermentau River south of the Hwy 14 bridge. The early teal season is September 19 to September 27, 2026; whistling ducks had their first season October 3 to October 11, 2026, by free permit.
Vermilion Parish dove zone
Doves in the South Zone: September 5 to September 20, 2026, October 17 to November 29, 2026 and December 12, 2026 to January 10, 2027 (15 daily, 45 in possession).
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.
Vermilion Parish on the Louisiana calendar
Held within the Parish: 3 dates still ahead, namely DU banquet and LDWF youth lottery. 1 of them is an LDWF lottery hunt, open only to hunters drawn through LouisianaOutdoors.com.
On the way
| Scheduled | Event | Where held | Link | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7–Jan 30, 2026-27 | White Lake WCA youth waterfowl lottery | Event details | Source | |
| Nov 13, 2026 | Pecan Island Banquet · DU banquet | Pecan Island School House | Buy tickets | Source |
| Dec 3, 2026 | Gueydan Banquet · DU banquet | Gueydan Civic Center | Buy tickets | Source |
Vermilion Parish people and places to know
Captain David Sanford heads Region 5 in Lake Charles, which covers Vermilion Parish. Measured from the centre of the parish, the closest LDWF office is Lafayette Field Office, Lafayette, roughly 33 miles away.
Vermilion Parish towns with hunting guides
| Town | Population | Land within 10 mi | Land within 25 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbeville | 10,902 | 0 | 1 |
More communities in Vermilion Parish:
- Kaplan4,164
- Maurice3,071
- Erath1,956
- Delcambre1,773
- Gueydan1,124
- Perry
Inside the parish we found 3 deer processors and 7 gun and outdoor stores but no taxidermists and guides and preserves. Sources are LDWF processor maps, Hunters for the Hungry, chain store locators and Yellow Pages, so phone first.
Deer cut and wrap, Vermilion Parish area
Mounts, Vermilion Parish area
Sporting goods, Vermilion Parish area
Guide services, Vermilion 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.
Vermilion Parish shooters: ranges and match dates
Vermilion Parish lists 3 ranges, all clubs, shops or private grounds.
Sherburne WMA Shooting Range in Pointe Coupee Parish is the nearest state-run range, roughly 61 miles away. See the range
Ranges from the LDWF shooting ranges page, ranges’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 4, 2026.
When hunting light starts in Vermilion Parish
Whistling ducks in the October season may be taken only from sunrise to sunset in Vermilion Parish.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Area 10 archery opens | 6:55 a.m. | 7:11 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:41 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Area 10 gun opens | 7:11 a.m. | 6:38 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 6:38 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | West zone ducks open | 6:33 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Bear lottery hunt opens | 6:50 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:00 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:14 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.
Vermilion Parish FAQ
Is turkey season open in Vermilion Parish?
No. It is one of 16 closed parishes.
How many bear permits cover Vermilion Parish?
Area 1: 8 permits (5 landowner, 3 general).
Is there a coastal duck zone for Vermilion Parish?
No; Louisiana uses East and West only, and Vermilion Parish is West.
Is Vermilion Parish North or South for doves?
South.
Where do I check CWD rules for Vermilion Parish?
The LDWF CWD page and the June 2, 2026 zone map.
When is recreational gator season in Vermilion Parish?
October 1 to 31, 2026, by lottery.
How many public acres does Vermilion Parish have?
None mapped.
Which LDWF field office covers Vermilion Parish?
The Lake Charles field office, (337) 491-2575.
How much hunter orange is required in Vermilion Parish?
400 square inches of orange or blaze pink in firearm deer seasons; a cap is enough on private land.
Has Vermilion Parish produced a record deer?
No top all-time entry lists it.
Which processor is nearest Vermilion Parish?
Hebert's.
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.
Vermilion Parish season reminders
Validate every deer and turkey tag within 72 hours, and keep proof of sex with the carcass until it is tagged.
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/Southeast (Public domain).