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WMA · 2026-27
Big Lake Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Wildlife management area in Franklin Parish and 2 more parishes of 19,231 acres.
Photo: Ktkvtsh (CC BY 4.0)
Getting to Big Lake Wildlife Management Area
Big Lake WMA habitat and ownership
Going by the LDWF area page, there are 19,231 acres to hunt or scout at Big Lake WMA. By acreage it is number 19 of 52 wildlife management areas. Title and management: LDWF. Regulations owner line, word for word: LDWF (19,231 acres, Monroe Office). Year established on the LDWF layer: 1983.
From the LDWF area page: The eastern boundary of Big Lake WMA is contiguous with a portion of the western boundary of Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge. Together, these areas form one of the largest remaining tracts of the vast bottomland hardwood forest that historically composed the lower Mississippi River floodplain from lower Illinois to the Gulf of America. LDWF purchased the area through the Rockefeller Fund in three components between 1983 and 1985 (9,833 acres in 1983, 4,888 acres in 1984, and 4,510 acres in 1985).
Big Lake WMA is flat with some ridges and generally poorly drained; terrain varies from 55 to 65 feet above sea level. The area floods seasonally, depending on water levels of the Tensas River, and periodically after heavy rainfall.
Abandoned and active mineral exploration and production sites, roadways, pipelines, and open water lakes, sloughs, and bayous provide diversity throughout the area’s terrain. There are seven small lakes and six small bayous, making up approximately 200 acres and 25 miles of waterways, respectively.
Game on the area page: The most popular game species on Big Lake WMA are white-tailed deer, squirrels, rabbits, and turkey. There are youth-only deer and turkey seasons. There are also limited waterfowl and woodcock hunting opportunities.
You can pursue: White-tailed deer, Wild turkey, Small game, Ducks and geese, Raccoon, Squirrels, Rabbits, Woodcock.
From the area page, 2026-27 regulations (Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries); checked November 4, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Big Lake Wildlife Management Area
Louisiana zones that cover Big Lake WMA
Overlaying the boundary on the Deer Areas gives Deer Area 1. Waterfowl zone: East. Dove zone: North. The boundary touches the CWD Management Zone (Tensas), so carcass export and feeding rules apply; see the CWD zone page. LDWF maps it inside BMA 4 (TRB/Tensas) for bear management.
| Area | Daily | Season | Antlered | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Area 1 | 1 + 1 | 6 | 2 | 5 |
| Topic | Franklin Parish | Madison Parish | Tensas Parish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Area(s) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Turkey Area | C | A, C | A, C |
| Bear lottery area | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Duck zone | East | East | East |
| Dove zone | North | North | North |
| CWD zone | Partly | Partly | Partly |
| Gator zone | B | B | B |
| Field office | Monroe | Monroe | Monroe |
Chronic wasting disease detections on record: 52 in Tensas Parish.
Zones from the LDWF Outdoor Explorer layers (deer areas, waterfowl and dove zones, CWD and bear management) as recorded in lands.json; parish rules from the 2026-27 pamphlet deer area lists, turkey areas, bear areas, CWD rules and CWD detections; checked November 4, 2026.
Big Lake WMA seasons for 2026-27
Private-land Deer Area dates do not apply here; Big Lake WMA follows the 10 lines below. For archers the schedule begins: Deer Archery (either-sex), October 1 – January 31. For guns, the first entry is Deer Firearms (either-sex), November 27-28, mandatory deer check. November 29, self-clearing permit..
| Season | 2026-27 entry |
|---|---|
| Deer Archery (either-sex) | Oct. 1 – Jan. 31 |
| Deer Youth (either-sex) | Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 ONLY on that portion of the area South of Big Lake and Crystal Roads. See WMA map for details. |
| Deer Firearms (either-sex) | Nov. 27-28, mandatory deer check. Nov. 29, self-clearing permit. |
| Deer Firearms (bucks only) | Dec. 12-25 |
| Deer Primitive Firearms (either-sex) | Dec. 26 – Jan. 8 |
| Turkey | April 3-11 |
| Turkey Youth | March 26-28 |
| Small Game | Same as outside EXCEPT CLOSED Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 (ONLY that portion of the area South of Big Lake and Crystal Roads. See WMA map for details) and Nov. 27-29. Beagles allowed for rabbits and dogs allowed for squirrel hunting from Nov. 1 – Feb. 28, EXCEPT CLOSED during any gun deer season (modern or primitive firearms). Open to squirrel hunting during the spring season, May 1-9, with or without dogs. |
| Waterfowl | Same as outside EXCEPT CLOSED after 12 noon. and EXCEPT CLOSED Nov. 27-29. |
| Raccoon (nighttime) | Jan. 9 – Feb. 28 |
Schedule notes for the area: Self-Clearing Permit required for all activities. AREA CLOSED (portion): Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 to all hunters EXCEPT Youth
From the 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting and WMA Regulations, WMA and federal schedules; cover dated October 16, 2026; checked November 4, 2026.
Lottery hunts and dove fields on Big Lake WMA
If you draw the Bear Area 4 WMA permit, Big Lake WMA is one of the areas you may hunt. Big Lake WMA runs a youth turkey season on the WMA.
| Lottery hunt | Apply |
|---|---|
| turkey (youth and general) | early January-early February (WMA youth turkey applications due Feb. 8) |
| black bear | July 28-Aug. 28, 2026 ($50 fee; preference points capped at 5) |
LDWF lottery hunts, the 2026-27 WMA schedules (area source); checked November 4, 2026.
Big Lake WMA: permits, bait and orange
Big Lake WMA is LDWF ground, so the WMA Access Permit and daily self-clearing apply on every trip.
- Hunting over bait is illegal on WMAs.
- Hunter orange or blaze pink, 400 square inches with a cap, for nearly everyone during firearm deer dates.
- No duck shooting after 12 noon on this ground.
| Permit | Fee | Lasts | Required of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access Annual Permit | $20 | 1 year | Ages 18 and up |
| Access 5-Day Permit | $5 | 5 consecutive days | Ages 18 and up |
| Self-Clearing Permit | Free | Daily | Every visitor |
| Camping Permit | $7 per day | Per day | Campers |
WMA rules (pamphlet p. 47), permit fees (p. 6), hunter orange, baiting; checked November 4, 2026.
Other hunting ground near Big Lake WMA
The list starts with Buckhorn WMA, 10 miles away (southeast).
| Public land | Kind | Acres | Parish | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckhorn WMA | WMA | 11,121 | Tensas | 10 miles | southeast |
| Tensas River NWR | Refuge | 80,904 | Madison, Tensas | 11 miles | northeast |
| Boeuf WMA | WMA | 51,110 | Caldwell, Catahoula | 28 miles | west |
| Floy Ward McElroy WMA | WMA | 681 | Richland | 28 miles | northwest |
| J.C. "Sonny" Gilbert WMA | WMA | 7,524 | Catahoula | 29 miles | southwest |
| Russell Sage WMA | WMA | 38,208 | Caldwell, Morehouse | 35 miles | northwest |
Point: LDWF WMA/Refuge/Conservation Area boundary shapefile (09/26/2025) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside)). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
How the Big Lake WMA deer hunts went
The 2024-25 deer report lists 31 deer and 467 efforts for the Big Lake WMA managed hunts. LDWF's WMA managed hunts totalled 1,768 deer in 2024, against a ten-year mean of 1,770.
| Hunt as listed | Efforts | Deer | Bucks | Does | Efforts per deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Lake ** | 467 | 31 | 13 | 18 | 15.1 |
Annual Louisiana Deer Report 2024-25 (WMA managed either-sex hunts, 2024); checked November 4, 2026.
Franklin Parish private-land calendar near Big Lake WMA
Ducks follow East or West zone splits and doves the North or South zone, which is why one parish can show two sets of bird dates.
| Quarry | Season part | Zone | Begins | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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.
Fuel, ice and help near Big Lake WMA
For gas, ice and a meal, Gilbert is 14 miles off. Biggest nearby town: Winnsboro, 4,602 people. For enforcement questions in Franklin Parish, the regional office answers; captain Kurt Hatten.
| Nearest towns | Parish | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert | Franklin | 434 | 14 miles | southwest |
| Winnsboro | Franklin | 4,602 | 14 miles | west |
| Newellton | Tensas | 828 | 15 miles | southeast |
| Delhi | Richland | 2,534 | 19 miles | north |
| St. Joseph | Tensas | 778 | 22 miles | southeast |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); LDWF offices from the LDWF Contact Us page; businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 4, 2026.
Paper-punching stops on the way to Big Lake Wildlife Management Area
Winnsboro Gun Club, 15 miles away, is the closest range to Big Lake Wildlife Management Area; check its access rule first.
From the LDWF shooting ranges page, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 4, 2026.
Views and game near Big Lake WMA
Sunrise, sunset and legal hours in Big Lake WMA
The sun rises up to twenty minutes later on the Sabine than on the Pearl, so use the times worked out for Big Lake WMA.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer window | Duck window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Area 1 archery opens | 6:59 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Area 1 gun opens | 6:41 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Bear lottery hunt opens | 6:53 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Area 1 dog season | 6:58 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:03 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:06 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.
Big Lake WMA: the common questions
LDWF contact for Big Lake WMA?
Try LDWF Monroe Field Office at (318) 343-4044.
Is there a poaching hotline for Big Lake WMA?
LDWF enforcement agents take reports through Operation Game Thief, 1-800-442-2511.
What permit or pass does Big Lake WMA call for?
Yes. Hunters 18 and older need the WMA Access Permit ($20 a year or $5 for five days, included in the Sportsman's Paradise, Senior and lifetime licenses), and every visitor self-clears each day.
How wide an area does Big Lake WMA take in?
19,231 acres.
Which parishes does Big Lake WMA cover?
Parish lines put it in Franklin Parish, Madison Parish and Tensas Parish.
Which Deer Area number applies to Big Lake WMA?
Deer Area 1 (6 a season, 2 antlered max). Tags are validated within 72 hours.
What are the 2026-27 deer dates on Big Lake WMA?
Deer Archery (either-sex): October 1 – January 31. The full schedule is above.
What about turkeys on Big Lake WMA?
The schedule line reads "Turkey: April 3-11".
Duck hunting on Big Lake WMA?
Yes. Be done by noon: WMAs and public land close to waterfowl at 12.
Is there chronic wasting disease near Big Lake WMA?
Yes: Tensas. Feeding and baiting rules in the zone do not open WMAs to bait.
Is bait legal anywhere on Big Lake WMA?
No feeders and no bait.
What did hunters take on Big Lake WMA?
31 deer were reported from the 2024 managed hunts.
Shooting light on Big Lake WMA?
On November 28, 2026, deer hours in Franklin Parish run 6:17 a.m. to 5:33 p.m.; ducks and doves 6:17 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. (NOAA solar formula).
How far is Big Lake WMA from town?
Gilbert (Franklin Parish) is about 14 miles away in a straight line.
Other photos on this page: Ktkvtsh (CC BY 4.0); Ktkvtsh (CC BY 4.0); Timothy Holdiness (CC BY 4.0).