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2026-27 parish guide
Allen Parish Hunting
What a hunter needs before driving to Allen Parish: which Deer Area applies, how many deer may be tagged, every dated season, mapped public land and the closest LDWF office to Oberlin.
Photo: Megan Romer (CC BY 2.0)
Where Allen Parish sits
Allen 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 22,501 people (1.1% down from the 2020 base of 22,752); government offices are in Oberlin.
Water accounts for 1% of the parish: 4 square miles, next to 762 square miles of land. All of its neighbours are Louisiana parishes, namely Beauregard Parish, Evangeline Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, Rapides Parish and Vernon 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 Allen Parish
Deer Areas covering Allen Parish
More than one deer calendar applies in Allen Parish, which falls in Deer Area 3 (part, about 67% by the LDWF layer) and Deer Area 2 (part, about 33% 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).
| Deer Area | Extent | Approx. share | Season bag | Antlered limit | Antlerless limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 3 | Part | 67% | 6 | 3 | 4 |
| Area 2 | Part | 33% | 6 | 3 | 4 |
Allen Parish deer calendar by Deer Area
| Area | Bow season | Primitive season | Still gun | Dogs allowed | Youth and veterans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 |
Hunters may take one antlered and one antlerless deer a day, and the season total in Deer Area 3 and Deer Area 2 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 3, 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 acres around Allen Parish
Public land here adds up to about 60,962 acres on the GIS layers (12.5% of the land area), mainly wildlife management areas. Polygon measures are approximate; official acreage is on each area page.
| Category | Acres in parish |
|---|---|
| Wildlife management areas | 60,962 |
Allen Parish public tracts
West Bay WMA
Open for: deer, turkey, waterfowl, small game and raccoon. West Bay WMA is bounded by Louisiana Highway 10 on the north, Louisiana Highway 26 on the south, Turner Road on the west, and River Road on the east. LDWF counted 102 deer from its 2024 managed hunts.
Flatwoods Savanna WMA
Open for: deer, waterfowl and small game. Flatwoods Savanna WMA includes mature longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris ) savanna and sections suitable for longleaf pine reforestation.
Hunting areas close to Allen Parish
- Marsh Bayou WMA19 miles, WMA, Evangeline 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.
Allen Parish openers and closers
These are private-land dates; wildlife management areas and refuges near Allen 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 | 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 | |
| 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 | 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.
Allen Parish in the LDWF harvest tables
No deer total is available for Allen 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 Allen Parish reported Area 3: 1,067 days and 66 deer and Area 2: 7,207 days and 382 deer; these are raw respondent totals, not estimates.
Deer from Allen Parish WMA hunts
| Hunt | Hunter days | Deer | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Bay (Oct.) | 629 | 70 | 46 | 24 |
| West Bay | 385 | 32 | 10 | 22 |
Spring 2026 tagging, as printed on the LDWF turkey map, credits Allen Parish with 44 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.
Allen Parish zone rules beyond deer
Chronic wasting disease rules in Allen Parish
No part of Allen 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 Allen Parish; all 55 Louisiana detections are from Tensas, Catahoula, Concordia and Ouachita.
Bear permits covering Allen Parish
For bears, Allen Parish falls in Bear Area 1 (part) and Bear Area 6 (part); the permit-only season is December 5-20, 2026 and the permits are Area 1: 8 permits (5 landowner, 3 general) and Area 6: 2 general permits. Read the written Bear Area boundary if your land is near the line. 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 Allen Parish
Allen Parish sits in alligator Zone E with Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Vermilion, Evangeline 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.
Allen Parish turkey, ducks and doves
Allen Parish gobbler season
Spring turkey dates for Allen 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.
Allen 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. Canada geese are closed in part of southwest Louisiana; the pamphlet describes it this way: 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. 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 Allen 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 Allen 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.
Allen Parish on the Louisiana calendar
Parish total as of November 3, 2026: 3 dates still ahead. Count 2 draw-only WMA hunts among them.
Still ahead
| Dates | Listing | Venue or WMA | Button | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6–7, 2026 | LDWF Hunter Education Course – Oakdale · hunter education course | Mount Hope Baptist Church Oakdale | Register | Source |
| Mar 26–27, 2027 | West Bay WMA youth turkey lottery | Apply | Source | |
| Apr 3–18, 2027 | West Bay WMA general turkey lottery | Apply | Source |
Allen Parish people and places to know
For wildlife law, Allen Parish falls under Region 5 (Lake Charles), where David Sanford is captain. The nearest LDWF office in a straight line is the Lake Charles Field Office in Lake Charles, about 35 miles from the parish centre.
Allen Parish towns with hunting guides
Other Census places in Allen Parish:
- Kinder2,092
- Reeves221
Our directory lists 1 taxidermist and 1 gun or outdoor store inside Allen Parish, and no deer processors 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, Allen Parish area
Taxidermists nearby, Allen Parish area
Guns, ammo and gear, Allen Parish area
Guides and preserves nearby, Allen 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.
Allen Parish: gun clubs, clay fields and LDWF lines
Allen Parish lists 1 range, all clubs, shops or private grounds.
Woodworth Shooting Range in Rapides Parish is the nearest state-run range, roughly 40 miles away. Hours
Ranges from the LDWF shooting ranges page, ranges’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 4, 2026.
When hunting light starts in Allen Parish
Big game light near Allen Parish begins 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset; migratory birds end at sunset.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Area 3 archery opens | 6:57 a.m. | 7:13 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:13 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Area 3 gun opens | 7:14 a.m. | 6:39 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 6:39 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | West zone ducks open | 6:36 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Area 3 dog season | 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 5, 2026 | Bear lottery hunt opens | 6:54 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:04 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. |
| Apr 3, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:59 a.m. | 7:31 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 8:01 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:31 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.
Allen Parish, answered
Is Allen Parish split between Deer Areas?
Yes: Deer Area 3 and Deer Area 2. Area lines follow roads and rivers.
Is there a Hunters for the Hungry processor near Allen Parish?
Check the tags on the processor cards above.
How many turkeys were tagged in Allen Parish in 2026?
44, read from the LDWF parish map.
What is the daily deer limit in Allen Parish?
One antlered and one antlerless deer when antlerless deer are legal.
Do youth and veterans get extra duck days in Allen Parish?
Yes, two days in each zone.
What does a bear permit cost for Allen Parish?
A $50 lottery application and a $25 Bear License, plus training.
Does Allen Parish have CWD archery?
No, that segment is only for zone parts of Areas 1, 2 and 6.
How many dove segments does Allen Parish get?
Three per zone.
What is the biggest public area in Allen Parish?
West Bay WMA, 59,189 acres.
When is recreational gator season in Allen Parish?
October 1 to 31, 2026, by lottery.
Can a tracking dog trail a wounded deer in Allen Parish?
Yes on private land, one leashed or GPS-collared dog.
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.
Allen 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: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0).