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Parish hunting guide, 2026-27
Richland Parish Hunting
Richland Parish for 2026-27: Deer Area 1, the parish season table, 2 public hunting areas, LDWF harvest figures where the parish is listed, and the LDWF staff and businesses around Rayville.
Photo: Matthew Dillon (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Where Richland Parish sits
In LDWF terms Richland Parish sits in the Monroe field office area, which reaches across the northeast: the Ouachita and Boeuf river bottoms, the Mississippi Delta farmland of the Tensas basin and the pine hills around Ruston. About 19,643 people lived here in 2024 by the Census estimate (2.0% down from the 2020 base of 20,043); the seat is Rayville.
Of its total area, 556 square miles are land and 9 are water, roughly 2% wet. Every border of Richland Parish touches another Louisiana parish: Caldwell Parish, East Carroll Parish, Franklin Parish, Madison Parish, Morehouse Parish, Ouachita Parish and West Carroll 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 Richland Parish
Deer Areas covering Richland Parish
The pamphlet places all of Richland Parish in Deer Area 1, so one set of private-land deer dates applies across the parish. That calendar covers private land only; any WMA or refuge in the parish has its own.
| Area page | Whole or part | Layer share | Deer per season | Antlered cap | Antlerless cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 1 | Whole parish | 100% | 6 | 2 | 5 |
Richland Parish deer windows, 2026-27
| Area | Bowhunting | Primitive | Firearms, still | Firearms, dogs | Youth, veterans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Plan on 6 deer for the whole season, split no more than 2 antlered and 5 antlerless, and one of each kind per day. Area 1 now caps antlered deer at two while allowing five antlerless, a change for 2026-27. The 2026-27 definition adds velvet antler three inches or longer to the usual visible hard antler. Hunters have 72 hours to validate a deer tag, which must be attached before the carcass is moved. Seniors 65+ and qualifying disabled hunters join youths in being allowed any legal weapon during primitive dates this season. Any WMA deer is charged to 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 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 Richland Parish
Mapped public ground totals near 3,504 acres, about 1.0% of the parish, with WMAs (LDWF) the biggest piece. These are GIS measures of map polygons, not official acreages; each area page gives the LDWF or federal figure.
| Land type | Acres |
|---|---|
| WMAs (LDWF) | 3,504 |
Richland Parish public tracts
Russell Sage WMA
Hunted here: 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. Managed hunts took 73 deer in 2024.
Floy Ward McElroy WMA
Hunted here: deer. Floy Ward McElroy donated this property to LDWF in 1990 to establish a wildlife refuge and management area.
Richland Parish neighbours with public ground
- Black Bayou Lake NWR21 miles, national wildlife refuge, Ouachita Parish
- Big Colewa Bayou WMA22 miles, WMA, Morehouse Parish
- Big Lake WMA23 miles, WMA, Franklin Parish
- Boeuf WMA28 miles, WMA, Caldwell Parish
- Tensas River NWR28 miles, national wildlife refuge, Madison Parish
WMA hunting means two permits: the WMA Access Permit for anyone 18 and up ($20 or $5) and the free Self-Clearing Permit. On WMAs, bait is illegal, entry waits until 4 a.m., and duck hunting quits 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.
Richland Parish season dates for 2026-27
29 species and 56 dated windows cover Richland Parish this season; the last column compares each one with today.
| Species | Window | Coverage | From | Until | 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 | Challenged hunters | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Lottery permit hunt | Bear Area 4 | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 20, 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 C | Apr 3, 2027 | Apr 18, 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.
Richland Parish in the LDWF harvest tables
LDWF prints parish deer harvest only as top-20 tables (2022-23 and 2024-25), and Richland Parish is in neither, so no parish deer total is published for it.
A second LDWF table, forested acres per deer, lists Richland Parish 1st in 2024-25 at 33 acres.
| Season | Harvest rank | Deer reported | Acres per deer rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Not in top 20 | — | #1 (33 ac) |
| 2022-23 | Not in top 20 | — | #1 (40 ac) |
Statewide context: 143,527 reported deer (2024-25) and an estimated 276,200 (2025-26 survey).
The 2025-26 harvest survey gives respondent totals by area (Area 1: 1,438 days and 127 deer); they show relative effort only.
2024 WMA deer in Richland Parish
| Hunt | Hunter days | Deer | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Sage | 600 | 73 | 47 | 26 |
LDWF's 2026 turkey map shows 37 at a spot shared by Richland or Franklin, so the parish figure is left out.
Top all-time entries from Richland Parish: crossbow, non-typical antlers (275 5/8, 2020).
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.
Richland Parish special rules: CWD, bear, alligator
CWD in Richland Parish
Former Control Area parish Richland Parish falls outside the Management Zone on the June 2, 2026 map. Carcass imports from outside Louisiana are restricted to meat, clean quarters, antlers, cleaned skulls, capes and mounts. CWD has not been detected in Richland Parish; detections so far (55) are in four northeast and central parishes.
Richland Parish bear hunting rules
The black bear lottery hunt runs December 5 to 20, 2026 in Bear Area 4 (part) and Bear Area 5 (part), which takes in Richland Parish; Area 4: 19 permits (14 landowner, 4 general, 1 WMA) and Area 5: 2 general permits. Part of the parish sits in a different Bear Area; LDWF describes the line by roads and rivers. Winners need the $25 Bear License and the mandatory training session; the 2026 application window (July 28-August 28) cost $50. No dogs, no cubs, no females with cubs: bear hunters still-hunt, with bait allowed from November 1.
Alligator hunting in Richland Parish
Zone B of the recreational alligator season includes Richland Parish and Union, Lincoln, Jackson, Caldwell, Ouachita, Morehouse, Franklin, Tensas, Madison, East Carroll and West Carroll; LDWF set 1,250 opportunities there. Each drawn resident may take two alligators in the zone during October 1 to 31, 2026, reporting within 72 hours. The commercial alligator season (East and West zones) is a different program, closing 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.
Richland Parish gobblers, ducks and doves
Richland Parish gobbler season
Private land in Richland Parish is open for spring turkey in Turkey Area C (part): April 3 to April 18, 2027. The turkey area boundary through the parish runs along roads or waterways; check the LDWF turkey map. A youth and physically challenged hunt on private land comes first, March 26 to March 28, 2027, and the season limit is two gobblers. Keep 200 yards from any bait when turkey hunting, and wait 15 days after bait is removed.
Waterfowl in Richland Parish
Duck hunters in the East Zone get November 21 to December 6, 2026 and December 19, 2026 to January 31, 2027. Youth and veteran dates: November 14, 2026 and February 6, 2027. Statewide, teal open September 19 to September 27, 2026, and the new black-bellied whistling duck season ran October 3 to October 11, 2026 with a free permit and a daily limit of four.
Mourning doves in Richland Parish
North Zone dove dates are September 5 to September 27, 2026, October 10 to November 15, 2026 and December 19, 2026 to January 17, 2027; limit 15 a day.

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.
Richland Parish on the Louisiana calendar
On November 3, 2026 the Parish showed 2 dates still ahead, covering LDWF BOW lottery and LDWF youth lottery. Only lottery winners may hunt the 2 WMA lottery hunts shown.
Next up
| Dates | Listing | Venue or WMA | Button | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5–6, 2026 | Floy Ward McElroy WMA BOW deer lottery | Lottery page | Source | |
| Dec 12–Jan 10, 2026-27 | Floy Ward McElroy WMA youth deer lottery | Event details | Source |
Richland Parish people and places to know
Enforcement agents in Richland Parish answer to Region 2, run from Monroe by Captain Kurt Hatten. The closest LDWF door is Monroe Field Office in Monroe, near 22 straight-line miles away.
Richland Parish towns with hunting guides
Smaller places in Richland Parish:
- Mangham607
- Start
The services list shows 1 deer processor in Richland Parish, with no taxidermists, gun and outdoor stores and guides and preserves. The directory mixes LDWF processor data with store locators and Yellow Pages, so check hours by phone.
Deer processing, Richland Parish area
Mount makers, Richland Parish area
Gear stores, Richland Parish area
Guides and preserves, Richland 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.
Richland Parish: gun clubs, clay fields and LDWF lines
Richland Parish lists 1 range, all clubs, shops or private grounds.
Woodworth Shooting Range in Rapides Parish is the nearest state-run range, roughly 97 miles away. Range page
Ranges from the LDWF shooting ranges page, ranges’ own sites and directory listings, checked November 4, 2026.
When hunting light starts in Richland Parish
On wildlife management areas and other public land, waterfowl hunting ends at noon this season (Atchafalaya Delta and Pass-a-Loutre excepted).
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 6:42 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Bear lottery hunt opens | 6:54 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Area 1 dog season | 6:59 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:04 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Apr 3, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:54 a.m. | 7:27 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:57 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:27 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.


Richland Parish hunters ask
What is the daily deer limit in Richland Parish?
One antlered and one antlerless deer when antlerless deer are legal.
What deer schedule applies in Richland Parish?
The Deer Area 1 schedule, on private land.
What does a bear permit cost for Richland Parish?
A $50 lottery application and a $25 Bear License, plus training.
How many turkeys were tagged in Richland Parish in 2026?
No single-parish figure is readable on the LDWF map.
How many dove segments does Richland Parish get?
Three per zone.
Do youth and veterans get extra duck days in Richland Parish?
Yes, two days in each zone.
When is recreational gator season in Richland Parish?
October 1 to 31, 2026, by lottery.
Where do I check CWD rules for Richland Parish?
The LDWF CWD page and the June 2, 2026 zone map.
Which LDWF field office covers Richland Parish?
The Monroe field office, (318) 343-4044.
How many public hunting areas are in Richland Parish?
2 areas on our list.
Is Richland Parish a top deer parish?
It is not in the 2024-25 top 20.
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.
Richland Parish closing notes
LDWF and the Commission can change dates after the pamphlet prints, so recheck the LDWF season page before a Richland Parish hunt.
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: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0).