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Fort Polk North Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Wildlife management area in Natchitoches Parish and 2 more parishes (74,309 acres).
Photo: kida625 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Fort Polk North Wildlife Management Area
Fort Polk North WMA 2026-27 season schedule
The pamphlet gives Fort Polk North WMA 8 schedule lines; 4 cover deer hunting. The bow season line is Deer Archery (either-sex) (September 19 – January 15, either-sex when bucks only firearms is closed). The firearms line: Deer Firearms (bucks only), November 2-26 and December 12 – January 1.
| Hunt | LDWF schedule text |
|---|---|
| Deer Archery (either-sex) | Sept. 19 – Jan. 15, either-sex when bucks only firearms is closed |
| Deer Firearms (bucks only) | Nov. 2-26 and Dec. 12 – Jan. 1 |
| Deer Firearms (either-sex) | Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 and Nov. 29, self-clearing permit. Nov. 27-28, mandatory deer check. |
| Deer Primitive Firearms (either-sex) | Oct. 10-16, self-clearing permit. |
| Turkey | April 3 – May 2 |
| Turkey Youth Lottery | March 27. Hunting by pre-application lottery only. Visit www.wlf.la.gov/page/lottery-hunts to apply online. |
| Small Game and Waterfowl | Same as outside EXCEPT WATERFOWL CLOSED after 12 noon, and EXCEPT CLOSED Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 and Nov. 27-29, and EXCEPT CLOSED to squirrel hunting during the spring season. Squirrel hunting with dogs allowed Nov. 30 – Dec. 11 and Jan. 2 – Feb. 28. Hunter Orange or Blaze Pink must be worn when bucks only gun hunts for deer are in progress. |
| Feral Hogs | May be taken by properly licensed hunters from Sept. 19 – Jan. 1. In addition, hunters may hunt feral hogs with shotguns loaded with buckshot or slugs from Jan. 2 – Feb. 28. Hunters must display 400 square inches of Hunter Orange or Blaze Pink and wear a Hunter Orange or Blaze Pink cap during special shotgun season for feral hogs. |
Area rules printed with the schedule: Self-Clearing Permit required for all activities. All or portions of the area may be closed daily due to military activities. Information on open areas and special ATV regulations can be accessed at the following website: https://home.army.mil/polk/my-Fort-Polk/fort-Polk-hunting. Hunters are cautioned not to pick up any foreign material or objects while hunting on the WMA. Also, it is mandatory for hunters to check the open area maps, located at check stations, daily for sudden closures. Fishing: Magnet fishing is prohibited
From the 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting and WMA Regulations, WMA and federal schedules; cover dated October 16, 2026; checked November 4, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Fort Polk North Wildlife Management Area
The lie of the land on Fort Polk North WMA
The LDWF area page gives Fort Polk North WMA 74,309 acres. Size rank: 5th of 52 wildlife management areas in Louisiana. Ownership, as LDWF prints it: U.S. Army. In the regulations the owner line is "U.S. Army (74,309 acres, Lake Charles Office)". Established: 2013, per the LDWF shapefile.
The area page says: The terrain on Fort Polk North WMA consists of gentle to high rolling hills interspersed with creeks. Longleaf pine is dominant on some of the hills while a mixture of loblolly and longleaf pine and red, blackjack, and post oak is found on other ridges. Some portions of the area support mixed pine stands of longleaf, loblolly, and shortleaf. Groves of sandjack oak are also present. Large areas with little or no timber are common. The understory of these upland areas is very sparse and contains wax myrtle, yaupon, sweetgum, dogwood, huckleberry, sumac, and seedlings of the overstory. The overstory on the creek bottoms includes water oak, beech, magnolia, sweetgum, red maple, and ash. Understory species include dogwood, buttonbush, French mulberry, wild azalea, hazel alder, hawthorn, red and white bay, black gum, viburnum, and seedlings of the overstory.
Hunting section: Available game species include deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail, woodcock, dove, and turkey. There is also a youth turkey lottery hunt . Trapping is allowed for raccoon, fox, bobcat, skunk, opossum, mink, and coyote.
Listed game: White-tailed deer, Wild turkey, Ducks and geese, Small game, Feral hogs, Squirrels, Rabbits, Quail, Woodcock, Doves, Raccoon, Coyote, Furbearer trapping, Opossum.
From the area page, 2026-27 regulations (Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries); checked November 4, 2026.
Which zones apply on Fort Polk North WMA
GIS places Fort Polk North WMA in Deer Area 2 and Deer Area 3; area lines follow roads and rivers, so check the LDWF deer area map. For ducks, use the West zone splits. The North dove zone applies. Bear management area on the LDWF layer: BMA 6 (WGCP).
| Area | Per day | Per season | Bucks max | Does max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Area 2 | 1 + 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
| Deer Area 3 | 1 + 1 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
| Setting | Natchitoches Parish | Sabine Parish | Vernon Parish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Area(s) | 2 | 2 | 3*, 2* |
| Turkey Area | A | A | A |
| Bear lottery area | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Duck zone | West | West | West |
| Dove zone | North | North | North |
| CWD zone | No | No | No |
| Gator zone | C | C | C |
| Field office | Pineville | Pineville | Lake Charles |
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.
Rules of the ground at Fort Polk North WMA
Self-clearing is required on Fort Polk North WMA each day, plus the WMA Access Permit for hunters 18 and over.
- No bait, no hunting over bait and no bait in hand off the road on any WMA.
- Orange or pink on WMAs: 400 square inches and a cap in firearm deer season, except for waterfowl and dove hunters.
- Ducks and geese: shooting stops at noon on public land in 2026-27.
| Permit | Cost | Valid | Who |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Fort Polk North WMA deer harvest on record
LDWF recorded 1,667 hunter efforts and 202 deer on Fort Polk North WMA in its 2024 managed hunts. Statewide on WMAs the 2024 managed hunts took 1,768 deer at 7.7 efforts each. Rows read "Fort Johnson", the post where LDWF runs the Fort Polk WMAs.
| Listed as | Efforts | Total | Antlered | Does | Per deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Johnson-North (Oct.) | 513 | 66 | 34 | 32 | 7.8 |
| Fort Johnson-North | 1,154 | 136 | 56 | 80 | 8.5 |
Annual Louisiana Deer Report 2024-25 (WMA managed either-sex hunts, 2024); checked November 4, 2026.
Special hunts at Fort Polk North WMA
- Turkey Youth Lottery: March 27. Hunting by pre-application lottery only. Apply on LouisianaOutdoors.com.
- Available game species include deer, squirrel, rabbit, quail, woodcock, dove, and turkey. There is also a youth turkey lottery hunt . Trapping is allowed for raccoon, fox, bobcat, skunk, opossum, mink, and coyote. See LDWF's seasons and regulations for details.
| Lottery | Apply between |
|---|---|
| turkey (youth and general) | early January-early February (WMA youth turkey applications due Feb. 8) |
LDWF lottery hunts, the 2026-27 WMA schedules (area source); checked November 4, 2026.
Resupply stops around Fort Polk North WMA
Fort Polk North WMA is 9 miles from Anacoco. The 2024 estimate puts Leesville at 5,339 people. Natchitoches Parish falls under its LDWF enforcement office, captain John Volentine.
| Community | Parish | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anacoco | Vernon | 802 | 9 miles | southwest |
| Simpson | Vernon | 549 | 12 miles | east |
| Leesville | Vernon | 5,339 | 13 miles | south |
| New Llano | Vernon | 2,064 | 15 miles | south |
| Fort Polk North | Vernon | – | 15 miles | south |
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.
Fort Polk North WMA on the map
Walnut Hill WMA is the closest other public ground, 11 miles to the southeast.
| Place | Kind | Acres | Parish | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Hill WMA | WMA | 595 | Vernon | 11 miles | southeast |
| Kisatchie Ranger District | Ranger district | 102,489 | Natchitoches | 13 miles | northeast |
| Fort Polk-Vernon WMA | WMA | 105,545 | Vernon | 19 miles | southeast |
| Clear Creek WMA | WMA | 52,559 | Vernon | 26 miles | southwest |
| Red River NWR | Refuge | 18,440 | Natchitoches, Red River | 28 miles | northeast |
| Sabine WMA | WMA | 7,571 | Sabine | 30 miles | northwest |
Point: LDWF WMA/Refuge/Conservation Area boundary shapefile (09/26/2025) (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
When hunting light starts in Fort Polk North WMA
Whistling ducks in the October season may be taken only from sunrise to sunset in Fort Polk North WMA.
| Day | Marker | Sun up | Sun down | Big game | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Area 2 archery opens | 7:05 a.m. | 6:59 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. |
| Oct 31, 2026 | Area 2 gun opens | 7:27 a.m. | 6:25 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:25 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | West zone ducks open | 6:39 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Bear lottery hunt opens | 6:57 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Dec 10, 2026 | Area 2 dog season | 7:01 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:08 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. |
| Apr 3, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 7:00 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:32 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.
If you also hunt private land near Fort Polk North WMA
Louisiana sets deer dates by Deer Area, and Natchitoches Parish falls in Deer Area 2; each area has its own archery, primitive, still-hunt and dog segments. The 54 rows below come from the LDWF pamphlet.
| Game | Weapon or split | Area or zone | Opening | Closing | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 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 | |
| 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.
Louisiana scenes around Fort Polk North WMA
Events at and near Fort Polk North Wildlife Management Area
Kinds nearby: LDWF youth lottery. Count: 1 date still ahead. 1 of them is an LDWF lottery hunt, open only to hunters drawn through LouisianaOutdoors.com.
Still ahead
| Days | What | Distance | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 2027 | Fort Polk North WMA youth turkey lottery | Right here | Apply | Source |
Fort Polk North Wildlife Management Area hunters: public line plus clubs
The closest LDWF range to Fort Polk North Wildlife Management Area is Woodworth Shooting Range, roughly 45 miles off as the crow flies. After the state range come the nearest clubs within 30 miles.
From the LDWF shooting ranges page, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 4, 2026.
Fort Polk North WMA questions, answered from agency data
Are there lottery hunts on Fort Polk North WMA?
Yes: Turkey Youth Lottery: March 27. Hunting by pre-application lottery only. Apply on LouisianaOutdoors.com.
Does LDWF allow baiting on Fort Polk North WMA?
No, LDWF prohibits bait on every WMA.
Deer harvest on Fort Polk North WMA?
In 2024, managed hunts took 202 deer.
When does shooting start on Fort Polk North WMA?
Deer: 6:22 a.m. to 5:39 p.m.; waterfowl: 6:22 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. (November 28, 2026, Natchitoches Parish centre).
Where is the closest town to Fort Polk North WMA for supplies?
Anacoco: 9 miles by straight line.
Nearest Wildlife and Fisheries office to Fort Polk North WMA?
The LDWF Pineville Field Office ((318) 487-5885).
Who enforces the rules on Fort Polk North WMA?
Use the 24-hour Operation Game Thief line, 1-800-442-2511.
Which passes must I carry on Fort Polk North WMA?
You need the license for your game, the $20 annual or $5 five-day WMA Access Permit (18 and up) and a daily self-clearing check-in and check-out.
What does the acre count say about Fort Polk North WMA?
The record gives 74,309 acres.
In which parish is Fort Polk North WMA?
Natchitoches Parish, Sabine Parish and Vernon Parish, according to the agency record.
What Deer Area does the LDWF layer give for Fort Polk North WMA?
Deer Area 2 (6 a season, 3 antlered max) and Deer Area 3 (6 a season, 3 antlered max). The area schedule sets the days, not the private-land Deer Area dates.
Deer season dates for Fort Polk North WMA?
Archery first: September 19 – January 15, either-sex when bucks only firearms is closed (Deer Archery (either-sex)).
Does Fort Polk North WMA allow gobbler hunting?
The schedule line reads "Turkey: April 3 – May 2". The limit statewide is 2 gobblers.
What waterfowl rules apply on Fort Polk North WMA?
Yes, West zone splits. Noon closure applies.
Does Fort Polk North WMA touch the CWD zone?
Outside the zone, on the LDWF layer.
Last checks before Fort Polk North WMA
Use this page to plan, then reread the agency page for Fort Polk North WMA in the week before the trip.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4 · source 5 · source 6; seasons from the 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting and WMA Regulations. Checked November 4, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Melissa McMasters (CC BY 2.0); S&C Photography (Public Domain Mark 1.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0).