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Bear Areas
Louisiana Bear Area 1
Permits, parishes, gear and bait rules for Bear Area 1, December 2026.
Photo: Louisiana Sea Grant College Program Louisiana State University (CC BY 2.0)
The short version for Bear Area 1
Bear Area 1 has 8 permits (5 landowner, 3 general) in the 2026-27 lottery and covers 9 whole parishes plus parts of 13 more. There is no WMA permit in Bear Area 1; WMA bear permits exist only in Areas 3 and 4. Before the hunt, Bear Area 1 winners need the $25 Bear License and a training session (Oct 16, 17, 22 or 23).
From the LDWF black bear lottery page and the Title 76 bear rule, checked November 4, 2026.
Bear Area 1: parish list
Whole-parish members of Bear Area 1: Acadia, Assumption, Cameron, Iberia, Lafayette, Lafourche, St. Mary, Terrebonne and Vermilion. Split parishes (Allen, Ascension, Calcasieu, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin and West Baton Rouge) follow the boundary text of the bear rule.
| Parish | Inside | Other area | Deer | Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia Parish | Whole | – | Area 3, Area 10 | Closed |
| Assumption Parish | Whole | – | Area 9 | Closed |
| Cameron Parish | Whole | – | Area 10 | Closed |
| Iberia Parish | Whole | – | Area 7, Area 9, Area 5, Area 10 | C |
| Lafayette Parish | Whole | – | Area 10, Area 3, Area 6, Area 9 | Closed |
| Lafourche Parish | Whole | – | Area 9 | Closed |
| St. Mary Parish | Whole | – | Area 7, Area 9, Area 5 | Closed |
| Terrebonne Parish | Whole | – | Area 9 | Closed |
| Vermilion Parish | Whole | – | Area 10 | Closed |
| Allen Parish | Part | Area 6 | Area 3, Area 2 | A |
| Ascension Parish | Part | Area 7 | Area 9 | C |
| Calcasieu Parish | Part | Area 6 | Area 10, Area 8, Area 3 | A |
| Iberville Parish | Part | Area 2, Area 7 | Area 9, Area 6, Area 5 | C |
| Jefferson Parish | Part | Area 7 | Area 9 | Closed |
| Jefferson Davis Parish | Part | Area 6 | Area 3, Area 10, Area 2 | A |
| Orleans Parish | Part | Area 7 | Area 9 | Closed |
| Plaquemines Parish | Part | Area 7 | Area 9 | Closed |
| St. Charles Parish | Part | Area 7 | Area 9 | Closed |
| St. James Parish | Part | Area 7 | Area 9 | Closed |
| St. John the Baptist Parish | Part | Area 7 | Area 9 | Closed |
| St. Martin Parish | Part | Area 2 | Area 5, Area 9, Area 6 | C |
| West Baton Rouge Parish | Part | Area 2 | Area 6 | C |
From the LDWF black bear lottery page and the 2026-2027 pamphlet, checked November 4, 2026.
Overlapping deer seasons, Bear Area 1
Deer firearm rows that run alongside the Bear Area 1 bear hunt.
| Deer Area | Segment | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Area 2 | Still-hunt firearms | Oct 31–Dec 9 |
| Area 2 | Firearms, dogs allowed | Dec 10–Jan 17 |
| Area 3 | Firearms, dogs allowed | Nov 30–Jan 3 |
| Area 5 | Still-hunt firearms | Nov 30–Dec 11 |
| Area 5 | Firearms, dogs allowed | Dec 12–Dec 13 |
| Area 5 | Firearms, dogs allowed | Dec 19–Dec 20 |
| Area 5 | Firearms, dogs allowed | Dec 14–Dec 18 |
| Area 6 | Still-hunt firearms | Nov 21–Dec 11 |
| Area 6 | Firearms, dogs allowed | Dec 12–Jan 24 |
| Area 7 | Firearms, dogs allowed | Nov 30–Jan 3 |
| Area 8 | Firearms, dogs allowed | Nov 30–Jan 3 |
| Area 9 | Still-hunt firearms | Nov 30–Dec 11 |
| Area 9 | Firearms, dogs allowed | Dec 12–Dec 13 |
| Area 9 | Firearms, dogs allowed | Dec 19–Dec 20 |
| Area 9 | Firearms, dogs allowed | Dec 14–Dec 18 |
| Area 10 | Still-hunt firearms | Oct 17–Jan 3 |
From the 2026-2027 Deer Area schedules, checked November 4, 2026.
Rules for Bear Area 1 permit holders
- Weapons: Centerfire .25 cal+, rimfire .30 cal+, breech-loading shotguns 10 ga or smaller with slugs; muzzleloaders .44 cal+; pre-charged pneumatic .30 cal+; archery 30 lb+.
- Not legal: Dogs; all other methods.
- Bait rule: Bear permit holders may hunt over raw or processed bait and scent lures Nov 1 to season close; no raw sweet potatoes or chocolate.
- Orange: Bear hunters: 400 sq. in. (cap or hat on private land; same stand/archery exceptions).
- Check-in: Tag immediately before moving the bear; call the designated biologist at once to report and schedule data collection.
From LDWF black bear lottery page, 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 14, 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 26 and 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 24, checked November 4, 2026.
Public land in Bear Area 1 parishes
Public land in Bear Area 1 parishes for deer, small game and waterfowl; no WMA bear permit applies.
| Area | Type | Parishes | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atchafalaya Delta WMA | WMA | St. Mary | 137,695 |
| Sabine NWR | Refuge | Cameron | 123,103 |
| White Lake WCA | Conservation area | Vermilion | 71,905 |
| Pointe-aux-Chenes WMA | WMA | Lafourche, Terrebonne | 33,488 |
| Lacassine NWR | Refuge | Cameron | 32,822 |
| Attakapas Island WMA | WMA | Iberia, St. Martin +1 | 27,962 |
| Cameron Prairie NWR | Refuge | Cameron | 24,039 |
| Bayou Teche NWR | Refuge | St. Mary | 11,682 |
| Mandalay NWR | Refuge | Terrebonne | 4,333 |
| Elm Hall WMA | WMA | Assumption | 2,839 |
From this site’s public land records, checked November 4, 2026.
Cameron Parish hours on key season dates
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2026 | Area 10 archery opens | 6:59 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Area 10 gun opens | 7:15 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | West zone ducks open | 6:36 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Bear lottery hunt opens | 6:54 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:04 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:17 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.
Tall rice elevators above a grassy field in Rayne, sepia toned, Acadia Parish. Photo: Roy Luck (CC BY 2.0)
Louisiana Highway 70 running past sugarcane fields under big clouds in Assumption Parish. Photo: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Black bear sow leading her cubs through a green field. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CC BY 2.0)
Louisiana Bear Area 1 FAQ
When are Bear Area 1 applications due?
July 28-Aug 28, 2026 ($50 fee; preference points capped at 5), online at LouisianaOutdoors.com.
Can Bear Area 1 permits be used on public land?
There is no WMA permit in Bear Area 1; WMA bear permits exist only in Areas 3 and 4.
Can I bait bears in Bear Area 1?
For Bear Area 1: Bear permit holders may hunt over raw or processed bait and scent lures Nov 1 to season close; no raw sweet potatoes or chocolate.
Can I use a bow in Bear Area 1?
Allowed in Bear Area 1: Centerfire .25 cal+, rimfire .30 cal+, breech-loading shotguns 10 ga or smaller with slugs; muzzleloaders .44 cal+; pre-charged pneumatic .30 cal+; archery 30 lb+.
How many hunters can draw Bear Area 1?
8 permits (5 landowner, 3 general). 41 lottery permits in 2026 (Areas 1-7) plus one auctioned Secretary’s Permit.
Are cubs protected in Bear Area 1?
Not in Bear Area 1. Bears may be taken only by lottery harvest-permit holders in the December season; cubs (75 lb or less) and females with cubs are protected.
Which parishes are in Bear Area 1?
Whole: Acadia, Assumption, Cameron, Iberia, Lafayette, Lafourche, St. Mary, Terrebonne and Vermilion. Part: Allen, Ascension, Calcasieu, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin and West Baton Rouge.
Is Bear Area 1 open in December?
Sixteen days, December 5 to 20, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Roy Luck (CC BY 2.0); Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CC BY 2.0).