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LDWF Monroe field office area
Ouachita Parish Hunting
Plan a Ouachita Parish hunt in the LDWF Monroe 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: Timothy Holdiness (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Where Ouachita Parish sits
Biologists from the LDWF Monroe field office cover Ouachita Parish along with the rest of the northeast: the Ouachita and Boeuf river bottoms, the Mississippi Delta farmland of the Tensas basin and the pine hills around Ruston. Monroe is the parish seat, and the Census Bureau estimated 157,874 residents in 2024, 1.6% down from the 2020 base of 160,366.
Census measures 610 square miles of dry land here against 21 square miles of water (3%). Hunters crossing the parish line land in Caldwell Parish, Jackson Parish, Lincoln Parish, Morehouse Parish, Richland Parish and Union 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.
Ouachita Parish deer dates by area
Ouachita Parish is split for deer: Deer Area 2 (part, about 73% by the LDWF layer) and Deer Area 1 (part, about 27% 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 Ouachita Parish
| Area | Archery dates | Primitive dates | Still-hunt dates | Dog dates | Youth dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 |
A bucks-only CWD-zone archery season, August 29 to September 6, 2026, applies on private ground inside the Management Zone here. Which side of the line you hunt changes the season cap: Area 2: 6 deer (3 antlered, 4 antlerless) and Area 1: 6 deer (2 antlered, 5 antlerless). One antlered and one antlerless deer a day in each. The Area 1 split of two antlered and five antlerless is new in the 2026-27 pamphlet. 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 2, Area 1); 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 Ouachita Parish
The overlay counts about 43,340 public acres in Ouachita Parish, or 11.1% of its land; the largest kind is LDWF WMAs. The starred acreage is left out of the public figure because refuges, parks and military ground are not general public hunting land. Acreages come from overlaying map polygons and will not match official area figures exactly.
| Public land | GIS acres |
|---|---|
| LDWF WMAs | 31,708 |
| NWR land | 11,632 |
| State parks* | 180 |
Ouachita Parish WMAs, refuges and forest land
Russell Sage WMA
Game: 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 checked on 2024 managed hunts.
D'Arbonne NWR
Game: waterfowl, dove, snipe, woodcock and rail.
Black Bayou Lake NWR
Game: waterfowl, woodcock, squirrel, rabbit and quail.
Public tracts around Ouachita Parish
- Floy Ward McElroy WMA24 miles, WMA, Richland Parish
Before hunting a WMA, adults buy the WMA Access Permit ($20 for a year, $5 for five days) and everyone self-clears for the day. Baiting is banned on every WMA, entry starts no earlier than 4 a.m., and waterfowl shooting on WMAs and other public land ends at 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.
Hunts that reach Ouachita 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 Ouachita Parish.
| Game | Segment | Area | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Ouachita Parish in the LDWF harvest tables
Ouachita Parish reported 3,468 deer in 2024-25, placing it 14th of the 64 parishes. In 2022-23 the parish reported 2,613 deer (19th). The change from 2022-23 to 2024-25 works out to +33%.
In 2024-25 hunters took one deer per 72 acres of forest here, 14th in that LDWF ranking.
| Report year | Rank | Deer | Forested acres per deer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | #14 | 3,468 | #14 (72 ac) |
| 2022-23 | #19 | 2,613 | #16 (96 ac) |
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 2: 7,207 days and 382 deer and Area 1: 1,438 days and 127 deer in 2025-26, unexpanded respondent sums.
Ouachita Parish managed hunts, deer checked
| Area hunt | Efforts | Harvest | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Sage | 600 | 73 | 47 | 26 |
Reading the parish labels on the 2026 Wild Turkey Program map gives 46 gobblers for Ouachita Parish (4,024 tagged statewide).
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 Ouachita Parish
Chronic wasting disease rules in Ouachita Parish
The single CWD Management Zone set up on June 2, 2026 reaches into Ouachita Parish, judging from the official map. For 2026-27 the zone allows bait and feed from September 1 to March 31 only. Whole carcasses may not leave the zone; deboned meat, quarters without the spine or head, antlers, cleaned skull plates, capes and finished mounts may, with a possession tag. Hunters returning from other states must bring only boned meat, clean quarters and cleaned parts into Louisiana. Of the 55 CWD-positive deer in Louisiana, 1 came from Ouachita Parish (1 in 2025-26).
Ouachita Parish Bear Area
Ouachita Parish is part of Bear Area 5. Lottery winners hunt bears there from December 5 to 20, 2026 (Area 5: 2 general permits). 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.
Ouachita Parish recreational gator zone
Recreational gator hunters drawn for Zone B may hunt Ouachita Parish, Union, Lincoln, Jackson, Caldwell, Morehouse, Richland, Franklin, Tensas, Madison, East Carroll and West Carroll; the zone has 1,250 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.
Ouachita Parish bird hunting zones
Ouachita Parish gobbler season
Ouachita Parish falls in Turkey Area A (part), so the spring gobbler season on private land runs April 3 to May 2, 2027. Only the part of the parish inside a listed Turkey Area is open; the LDWF map shows the line. Youths and wheelchair-confined hunters get March 26 to March 28, 2027 on private land; the limit is one gobbler a day and two a season. Baiting rules for turkeys are strict: 200 yards from bait, and 15 days after it is removed.
Ouachita Parish duck zone and splits
For the East Zone the duck dates are November 21 to December 6, 2026 and December 19, 2026 to January 31, 2027. Youth and veteran days: November 14, 2026 and February 6, 2027. 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.
Ouachita 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).
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.
Ouachita Parish on the Louisiana calendar
This Parish lists 3 dates still ahead; the kinds are NWTF banquet, hunter education course and hunter education field day.
Upcoming
| Scheduled | Event | Where held | Link | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 23, 2026 | LDWF Hunter Education Field Day – Monroe · hunter education field day | LDWF Monroe Office | Register | Source |
| Dec 15–16, 2026 | LDWF Hunter Education Course – Monroe · hunter education course | LDWF Monroe Office | Register | Source |
| Mar 25, 2027 | River City Longbeards Banquet · NWTF banquet, West Monroe | West Monroe | Buy tickets | Source |
Ouachita Parish people and places to know
Ouachita Parish is in LDWF Enforcement Region 2; the regional captain is Kurt Hatten, based in Monroe. For a walk-in visit, Monroe Field Office (Monroe) is the nearest LDWF office at about 9 miles.
Ouachita Parish towns with hunting guides
| Town | Census 2024 | Close areas | Wider areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe | 46,622 | 3 | 6 |
| West Monroe | 12,476 | 3 | 6 |
| Sterlington | 2,557 | 4 | 6 |
| Bawcomville | CDP | 2 | 6 |
| Claiborne | CDP | 3 | 4 |
| Swartz | CDP | 2 | 6 |
Other towns and CDPs in Ouachita Parish:
- Richwood3,809
- Brownsville
- Calhoun
- Lakeshore
Within Ouachita Parish the directory holds 4 deer processors, 3 taxidermists and 15 gun and outdoor stores and lacks guides and preserves. LDWF and Hunters for the Hungry supply the processors; stores come from locators and Yellow Pages. Call first.
Meat processors, Ouachita Parish area
Taxidermy shops, Ouachita Parish area
Gun and outdoor stores, Ouachita Parish area
Hunting guides, Ouachita 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.
Ouachita Parish shooters: ranges and match dates
This guide finds 3 ranges inside Ouachita Parish, from club benches to indoor lanes.
Bodcau Shooting Range in Bossier Parish is the nearest state-run range, roughly 81 miles away. Details
Shoots in the parish
| When and what | Kind | Go |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | ATA trap | Host page |
| Dec 12, 2026 | ATA trap | Host page |
| Jan 9, 2027 | ATA trap | Host page |
| Jan 23, 2027 | ATA trap | Host page |
| Feb 13, 2027 | ATA trap | Host page |
| Feb 27, 2027 | ATA trap | Host page |
Ranges from the LDWF shooting ranges page, ranges’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 4, 2026.
When hunting light starts in Ouachita Parish
The sun rises up to twenty minutes later on the Sabine than on the Pearl, so use the times worked out for Ouachita Parish.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Area 2 archery opens | 7:01 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. |
| Oct 31, 2026 | Area 2 gun opens | 7:24 a.m. | 6:20 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | East zone ducks open | 6:43 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Bear lottery hunt opens | 6:55 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Dec 10, 2026 | Area 2 dog season | 6:59 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:06 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Apr 3, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:56 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | 6:26 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.
Ouachita Parish quick answers
Do I need a permit for WMAs near Ouachita Parish?
Yes: a WMA Access Permit if 18 or older, and the free Self-Clearing Permit.
How do I reach LDWF agents in Ouachita Parish?
Region 2 office in Monroe, (318) 343-2417.
Can drones be used to recover deer in Ouachita Parish?
Yes on private land under the new rules; never on WMAs.
Has Ouachita Parish produced a record deer?
No top all-time entry lists it.
Which processor is nearest Ouachita Parish?
Backwoods Deer Processing.
Is Ouachita Parish split between Deer Areas?
Yes: Deer Area 2 and Deer Area 1. Area lines follow roads and rivers.
What is the daily deer limit in Ouachita Parish?
One antlered and one antlerless deer when antlerless deer are legal.
What is the turkey limit in Ouachita Parish?
Two gobblers a season, one a day.
How many bear permits cover Ouachita Parish?
Area 5: 2 general permits.
Is there a coastal duck zone for Ouachita Parish?
No; Louisiana uses East and West only, and Ouachita Parish is East.
Is Ouachita Parish North or South for doves?
North.
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.
Ouachita 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: NPS Natural Resources (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Yellowstone National Park (Public domain).