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Permits and programs
Louisiana public land permits and programs
WMA Access and Self-Clearing permits, the lottery system, 2026 public dove fields, DMAP and the youth, veteran and physically challenged hunts.
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region (Public domain)
WMA Access and Self-Clearing permits
LDWF lands carry two permits. The WMA Access Permit is bought once a year or for five days by users 18 and older and comes bundled with the Sportsman's Paradise, Senior and lifetime licenses. The Self-Clearing Permit is free and filled in every day, in and out, at a station or in the LDWF app.
| Permit | Price | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMA Access Annual Permit | $20 | 1 year | Included in Sportsman's Paradise, Senior and lifetime licenses; not required for 17 and under or through-travelers. |
| WMA Access 5-Day Permit | $5 | 5 consecutive days | Users 18+ of LDWF lands |
| WMA Self-Clearing Permit | Free | Daily | Check in/out at a station or by the LDWF Self-Clearing Permit app. |
| WMA Camping Permit | $7 per day | Per day | Youths 17 and under exempt. |
pamphlet license pages, WMA rules. Checked November 4, 2026.
The LDWF lottery system
Online lottery applications at LouisianaOutdoors.com; preference: new applicants entered twice, each unsuccessful application adds an entry (no cap), reset to one after success; group draws use the highest balance. Minimum lottery age 10; youths need a Youth License.
| Lottery | Application window |
|---|---|
| turkey (youth and general) | early January-early February (WMA youth turkey applications due Feb. 8) |
| recreational alligator | early August-late August |
| commercial alligator WMA/public lakes | early May-mid June |
| Elbow Slough dove | mid June-late July |
| black bear | July 28-Aug. 28, 2026 ($50 fee; preference points capped at 5) |
| deer (youth) | mid July-late August (due Aug. 31) |
| waterfowl (youth and Sherburne general) | mid July-late August (due Sept. 30 per pamphlet) |
| White Lake WCA | mid June-late September |
Youth deer lotteries: Alexander State Forest, Buckhorn, Dewey W. Wills, Floy Ward McElroy, Pointe-aux-Chenes, Richard K. Yancey, Sherburne. General turkey lotteries: Bogue Chitto, Clear Creek, J.C. Sonny Gilbert, Pearl River, Sabine, Tunica Hills, West Bay (one turkey per hunter). Waterfowl youth and general lotteries: Sherburne. Dove: Elbow Slough.
LDWF lottery hunts. Checked November 4, 2026.
2026 public dove fields
The LDWF 2026 public dove field list covers 13 areas. Elbow Slough is drawn by lottery for its first two Saturdays; the rest follow their own WMA schedules.
| Area | Field notes |
|---|---|
| Bodcau WMA | 8 acres brown-top millet located by the shooting range. |
| Boeuf WMA | Elliott field – North tract 40 acres, brown-top millet and sesame seed |
| Camp Beauregard WMA | 20-acre field of brown-top millet. (ATV/UTV access from Mayhaw Road) |
| Clear Creek WMA | Various clear cuts have a good goat weed (croton) response, expect good dove jump shooting |
| Elbow Slough WMA | 50-acre field of millet. Hunting by lottery draw only for the first two Saturdays of the season (September 5 and 12). |
| John Franks WMA | 20 acres of sunflower and brown-top millet near the LA 3049 parking area for the southern ATV/UTV trail |
| Pointe-aux-Chenes WMA | 60 acres (Point Farm Unit) – 50 acres of planted browntop/Japanese millet and 10 acres of manipulated native vegetation. Fields will be prepped before the first split. Non-toxic shot only |
| Richard K. Yancey WMA | 80 acres planted in brown top millet. The dove fields will be prepped before the first split. |
| Russell Sage WMA | Shop Road Field –10 acres, brown-top millet |
| Sabine WMA | Various clear cuts have a good goat weed (croton) response, expect good dove shooting in these areas |
| Sandy Hollow WMA | Sept. 5th and 12th through the end of the first split. CLOSED – September 6-11 of first split, second and third splits are the same as outside, EXCEPT for the youth hunt on the North Tract during the … |
| West Bay WMA | Various clear cuts have a good goat weed (croton) response; expect good dove jump shooting |
| Calcasieu Ranger District | 20 acres planted in brown-top millet on LA Highway 399 one-half mile north of Fullerton Lake (Vernon Unit) |
LDWF 2026 Public WMA Dove Fields, as recorded per area in lands.json. Checked November 4, 2026.
DMAP, youth, veteran and challenged hunter programs
Deer Management Assistance Program: LDWF technical assistance and DMAP tags for clubs/landowners (2024-25: 459 Tier 1-2 clubs, 1.23 million acres; 345 Tier 3-4 clubs). Free Tier 1 in CWD 5-mile zones (40+ acres).
Physically Challenged Hunter Permit deer season Oct. 3-4, 2026 on private land; PCHP areas, blinds and lotteries on WMAs.
Camp Beauregard WMA holds a disabled veterans lottery deer hunt as well as a youth-only deer season. Youth & physically challenged (wheelchair-confined) turkey Mar. 26-28, 2027 on private land; WMA youth turkey on Big Lake, Bodcau, Hutchison Creek, J.C. Sonny Gilbert, Lake Ramsey Savannah, Pearl River and Tangipahoa Parish School Board (new: Hutchison Creek, Lake Ramsey, TPSB).
LDWF DMAP, youth and veteran rules, Camp Beauregard area page. Checked November 4, 2026.
Louisiana Public Land Permits and Programs in pictures
Program questions
Who needs a WMA Access Permit?
Users 18 and older on LDWF lands, unless it is included in their Sportsman's Paradise, Senior or lifetime license.
How does lottery preference work?
New applicants get two entries, each unsuccessful application adds one, and success resets the count.
Where are the public dove fields?
Bodcau WMA, Boeuf WMA, Camp Beauregard WMA, Clear Creek WMA, Elbow Slough WMA, John Franks WMA, Pointe-aux-Chenes WMA, Richard K. Yancey WMA, Russell Sage WMA, Sabine WMA, Sandy Hollow WMA, West Bay WMA and Calcasieu Ranger District.
What is DMAP?
The Deer Management Assistance Program: LDWF technical help and DMAP tags for clubs and landowners.
Can veterans hunt special seasons?
Honorably discharged veterans share the youth deer season on private land, and Camp Beauregard WMA holds a disabled veterans lottery deer hunt.
Other photos on this page: Intermountain Region US Forest Service (Public domain); Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 (Public domain); Robert Taylor (CC BY 2.0).