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LDWF Lake Charles field office area
Acadia Parish Hunting
Plan a Acadia Parish hunt in the LDWF Lake Charles field office area: Deer Area dates and limits, turkey and bear rules, duck and dove zones, public ground in and near the parish and who to call.
Photo: Roy Luck (CC BY 2.0)
Acadia Parish: size, people and LDWF office
Biologists from the LDWF Lake Charles field office cover Acadia Parish along with the rest of the southwest: coastal marsh and chenier ridges, rice and crawfish prairie, and the longleaf pine flats of Beauregard and Allen. Crowley is the parish seat, and the Census Bureau estimated 56,604 residents in 2024, 1.7% down from the 2020 base of 57,571.
Census measures 655 square miles of dry land here against 2 square miles of water (0%). Hunters crossing the parish line land in Evangeline Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, Lafayette Parish, St. Landry Parish and Vermilion 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.
Acadia Parish deer dates by area
Acadia Parish is split for deer: Deer Area 3 (part, about 66% by the LDWF layer) and Deer Area 10 (part, about 34% by the LDWF layer). Those area lines follow named roads, rivers and bayous rather than parish lines, so a hunter near one should read the boundary text and the LDWF Deer Area map before choosing which dates apply. The share figures are approximate overlays; the 2026-27 pamphlet lists are authoritative.
Bow, primitive and gun dates in Acadia Parish
| Area | Archery dates | Primitive dates | Still-hunt dates | Dog dates | Youth dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 3 | Sep 19–Jan 15 | Oct 10–Oct 16 Jan 4–Jan 10 | Oct 17–Nov 29 | Nov 30–Jan 3 | Sep 26–Oct 2 |
| Area 10 | Sep 19–Jan 15 | Oct 10–Oct 16 Jan 4–Jan 10 | Oct 17–Jan 3 | None | Sep 26–Oct 2 |
Which side of the line you hunt changes the season cap: Area 3: 6 deer (3 antlered, 4 antlerless) and Area 10: 3 deer (2 antlered, 2 antlerless). One antlered and one antlerless deer a day in each. Bucks still in velvet are legal this season once an antler reaches three inches. Before the deer leaves the spot, tag it; within 72 hours, validate the tag by text, web, LA Wallet or phone. During primitive firearms dates, hunters aged 65 or more may now carry any legal deer weapon, a change for 2026-27. Daily limits apply on WMAs too, and deer taken on a WMA count toward the area 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 3, 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.
Acadia Parish WMAs, refuges and nearby areas
None of the WMA, national forest, refuge, Corps or Park Service layers draws public hunting land inside Acadia Parish, so hunters here rely on private land or travel to the areas listed below. Acreages come from overlaying map polygons and will not match official area figures exactly.
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.
Hunts that reach Acadia Parish
Bear permits, turkey areas, duck zones and dove zones each cover only part of Louisiana, so read the area column to see which rows apply in Acadia Parish.
| Game | Segment | Area | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Archery | Area 3 | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth and veterans | Area 3 | Sep 26, 2026 | Oct 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive Firearms | Area 3 | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Still-hunt firearms | Area 3 | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, dogs allowed | Area 3 | Nov 30, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive Firearms | Area 3 | 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 | 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 | 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.
Acadia Parish deer and turkey harvest
Acadia Parish does not appear in either LDWF top-20 parish table, the only parish deer figures the department publishes; its total is unknown.
| Report year | Rank | Deer | Forested acres per deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Not in top 20 | — | Not in top 20 |
| 2022-23 | Not in top 20 | — | Not in top 20 |
Statewide, LDWF counted 143,527 reported deer in 2024-25, and the 2025-26 hunter survey estimates 276,200 deer taken by about 226,200 hunters.
Survey takers reported Area 3: 1,067 days and 66 deer and Area 10: 464 days and 18 deer in 2025-26, unexpanded respondent sums.
The 2026 turkey harvest map has a label of 1 placed between parishes ("Jefferson Davis or Acadia"), so no turkey count can be given for Acadia Parish alone.
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.
CWD zone, bear lottery and alligators in Acadia Parish
Acadia Parish CWD zone check
The CWD Management Zone does not reach Acadia Parish; zone carcass and feeding rules apply elsewhere. Hunters returning from other states must bring only boned meat, clean quarters and cleaned parts into Louisiana. The detection list (55 deer) does not include Acadia Parish.
Acadia Parish Bear Area
Acadia Parish is part of Bear Area 1. Lottery winners hunt bears there from December 5 to 20, 2026 (Area 1: 8 permits (5 landowner, 3 general)). The lottery cost $50 to enter this year (July 28 to August 28, 2026); a successful hunter also buys a $25 Bear License and completes training. Rules for the hunt: still hunting only, bait from November 1, and cubs (75 pounds or less) protected.
Acadia Parish recreational gator zone
Recreational gator hunters drawn for Zone E may hunt Acadia Parish, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Allen, Jefferson Davis, Vermilion and Evangeline; the zone has 400 spots. Two hide tags per zone, an October 1-31 season and a 72-hour reporting rule frame the new recreational hunt. Commercial harvest uses East and West alligator zones and ends 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.
Acadia Parish bird hunting zones
Acadia Parish Turkey Area
No spring turkey hunting is allowed in Acadia Parish, one of 16 closed parishes.
Acadia Parish duck zone and splits
West Zone duck splits: November 14 to December 6, 2026 and December 19, 2026 to January 24, 2027. Youths and veterans get November 7, 2026 and January 30, 2027. The regulations close Canada geese in one southwest 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. September teal (September 19 to September 27, 2026) and the new whistling duck season (October 3 to October 11, 2026, free permit, four a day) apply here too.
Acadia Parish dove segments
Doves in the North Zone: September 5 to September 27, 2026, October 10 to November 15, 2026 and December 19, 2026 to January 17, 2027 (15 daily, 45 in possession). The South Dove Zone has three segments: September 5 to September 20, 2026, October 17 to November 29, 2026 and December 12, 2026 to January 10, 2027, with a daily bag of 15. The LA 12, US 190, I-12 and I-10 line splits Acadia Parish between dove zones.
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.
Events in Acadia Parish
This Parish lists 3 dates still ahead; the kinds are DU banquet, NWTF banquet and hunter education course.
Upcoming
| Scheduled | Event | Where held | Link | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 12, 2026 | Cajun Banquet – Crowley · DU banquet | Rice Festival Building Crowley | Buy tickets | Source |
| Dec 4–5, 2026 | LDWF Hunter Education Course – Crowley · hunter education course | LSU Ag Center – Crowley | Join waitlist | Source |
| May 1, 2027 | Acadia Strutters Banquet · NWTF banquet, Church Point | Church Point | Buy tickets | Source |
Acadia Parish agents, towns and processors
Acadia Parish is in LDWF Enforcement Region 5; the regional captain is David Sanford, based in Lake Charles. For a walk-in visit, Lafayette Field Office (Lafayette) is the nearest LDWF office at about 22 miles.
Towns of Acadia Parish
| Town | Census 2024 | Close areas | Wider areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crowley | 11,216 | 0 | 1 |
Other towns and CDPs in Acadia Parish:
- Rayne6,983
- Church Point4,032
- Iota1,257
- Estherwood679
- Morse598
- Mermentau496
- Branch
- Egan
- Midland
Within Acadia Parish the directory holds 4 taxidermists, 3 gun and outdoor stores and 2 guides and preserves and lacks deer processors. LDWF and Hunters for the Hungry supply the processors; stores come from locators and Yellow Pages. Call first.
Meat processors, Acadia Parish area
Taxidermy shops, Acadia Parish area
Gun and outdoor stores, Acadia Parish area
Hunting guides, Acadia 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.
Acadia Parish shooters: ranges and match dates
1 range in Acadia Parish is on file.
Pointe Coupee Parish has the LDWF range closest to Acadia Parish: Sherburne WMA Shooting Range, 44 miles off. Details
Shoots in the parish
| When and what | Kind | Go |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 8, 2026 | Skeet class | Book a seat |
| Dec 13, 2026 | Skeet class | Book a seat |
Ranges from the LDWF shooting ranges page, ranges’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 4, 2026.
Acadia Parish legal shooting light
The sun rises up to twenty minutes later on the Sabine than on the Pearl, so use the times worked out for Acadia Parish.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer window | Duck window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Area 3 archery opens | 6:55 a.m. | 7:12 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Area 3 gun opens | 7:12 a.m. | 6:38 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 6:38 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | West zone ducks open | 6:34 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Area 3 dog season | 6:48 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Bear lottery hunt opens | 6:52 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:02 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:13 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.
Acadia Parish quick answers
Has Acadia Parish produced a record deer?
No top all-time entry lists it.
Is there a Hunters for the Hungry processor near Acadia Parish?
Check the tags on the processor cards above.
Which LDWF deer areas include Acadia Parish?
Deer Area 3 and Deer Area 10, split by roads and rivers.
What is the season deer limit in Acadia Parish?
6 in Area 3, with no more than 3 antlered or 4 antlerless.
Does Acadia Parish have a spring turkey season?
No.
How many bear permits cover Acadia Parish?
Area 1: 8 permits (5 landowner, 3 general).
Is there a coastal duck zone for Acadia Parish?
No; Louisiana uses East and West only, and Acadia Parish is West.
Is Acadia Parish North or South for doves?
North and South.
Can I take a whole deer carcass out of Acadia Parish?
Yes, within Louisiana; the zone export rules do not apply here.
How soon must a Acadia Parish alligator be reported?
Within 72 hours.
How many public acres does Acadia Parish have?
None mapped.
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.
Acadia Parish trip reminders
This page covers the 2026-27 season only; where it and the LDWF regulations differ, the regulations govern.
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: Acorns Resort (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).