Furbearers
Beaver in Louisiana: 2026-27 trapping, hunting and limits
Seasons, limits, license prices and where to hunt beavers in 2026-27.
Photo: Kevin Crosby (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Beaver: the short version for 2026-27
The first beaver day this season is November 20, 2026, and the last dated row ends March 31, 2027 (1 row in all). On limits, the species summary reads "No limit".
- Dates and methods (beaver): Trapping Nov 20-Mar 31; nuisance beaver removable by landowners; nighttime take on private land.
- Bag rule (beaver): No limit.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana trapping regulations and 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 30, checked November 4, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Parishes and land for beavers
Statewide dates cover beavers; land ownership, not a zone, is what changes the rules.
Local closures are possible: a parish governing authority may, with the secretary's consent, close or curtail open seasons for up to one year by ordinance.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana trapping regulations and Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 56, checked November 4, 2026.
Beaver dates, 2026-27
Each beaver row with its zone, length in days and limit, as LDWF printed it.
| Season | Covers | Opening | Closing | Span | Today | Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Statewide | Nov 20, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 132 | No limit stated. |
Fine print for beavers
- Beaver note: WMA trapping seasons differ (see the WMA table in the trapping regulations).
From 2026-2027 Louisiana trapping regulations, checked November 4, 2026.
How many beavers are taken in Louisiana
LDWF publishes no harvest figure for beavers: the deer and turkey reports and the 2025-26 survey skip the beaver.
From LDWF Big and Small Game Harvest Survey 2025-26, checked November 4, 2026.
Daily and season limits for beavers
Limits for beavers: general rows first, then rows that print a different bag.
| Bag row | What it allows |
|---|---|
| Trapping | No limit stated. |
From 2026-2027 Louisiana trapping regulations, checked November 4, 2026.
Paying to hunt beavers in Louisiana
Licenses for beavers are sold at LouisianaOutdoors.com, LDWF headquarters and license vendors, and can be shown on LA Wallet.
| License | Who | Price | Valid | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Hunting | Resident | $20 | 365 days from purchase | – |
| Basic Hunting | Nonresident | $200 | 365 days from purchase | – |
| Basic Hunting | Native nonresident, 10 days | $20 | 10 consecutive days | – |
| Basic Hunting | Nonresident, 5 days | $65 | 5 days | – |
| Trapper | Resident | $40 (fee list: $25) | Through June 30 | – |
| Trapper | Nonresident | $160 (fee list: $200) | Through June 30 | – |
| Youth Hunt and Trap | Resident | $5 | Through June 30 | – |
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 8, LDWF hunting licenses page and LDWF fee list, checked November 4, 2026.
Public areas open to beavers
27 areas are open to beavers; each WMA follows its own schedule in the pamphlet.
| Place | Type | Parishes | Size (acres) | Lottery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kisatchie NF | Nat. forest | Grant, Natchitoches +5 | 607,483 | – |
| Kisatchie NF, Calcasieu District | Forest district | Rapides, Vernon | 183,020 | – |
| Kisatchie NF, Winn District | Forest district | Winn, Natchitoches +1 | 166,792 | – |
| Kisatchie NF, Catahoula District | Forest district | Grant, Rapides | 122,860 | – |
| Fort Polk-Vernon WMA | WMA | Vernon | 105,545 | Yes |
| Kisatchie NF, Kisatchie District | Forest district | Natchitoches | 102,489 | – |
| Tensas River NWR | Refuge | Madison, Tensas | 80,904 | Yes |
| Richard K. Yancey WMA | WMA | Concordia | 70,872 | Yes |
| Dewey W. Wills WMA | WMA | Catahoula, LaSalle +1 | 63,984 | Yes |
| Upper Ouachita NWR | Refuge | Morehouse, Union | 56,553 | – |
| Clear Creek WMA | WMA | Vernon | 52,559 | Yes |
| Pearl River WMA | WMA | St. Tammany | 35,619 | Yes |
| Kisatchie NF, Caney District | Forest district | Claiborne, Webster | 32,322 | – |
| Catahoula NWR | Refuge | Catahoula, LaSalle | 25,285 | – |
| Red River NWR | Refuge | Natchitoches, Red River +3 | 18,440 | – |
From this site’s public land records (LDWF area pages, the 2026-27 WMA schedules and federal rules), checked November 4, 2026.
Methods that apply to beaver hunting
| Season | Legal gear | Illegal gear |
|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Beaver: Traps and snares; nutria by rifle sunrise-sunset for licensed trappers; firearms to dispatch. | Not for beaver: traps with teeth (Title 56, section 121.1); traps set more than one day before the season or left after it. |
- Night-vision, laser and IR sights (beaver): Prohibited for game, except private-land nighttime take of outlaw quadrupeds, nutria and beaver and permitted visually impaired hunters.
- Feral hog traps and snares (beaver): Cage/corral traps need a Basic Hunting License and a 22×22 in. or 25 in. diameter top opening (bear escape); snares need a trapping license.
Statewide, no beaver may be shot from a public road or right-of-way, or across one.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana trapping regulations and 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 30, checked November 4, 2026.
After the hunt: beaver rules
- Tags and beavers: No tag, check station or call-in applies to beavers; WMA users fill in the free Self-Clearing Permit each day.
- Night take: Landowner, or lessee/agent with written permission and landowner contact information; one-half hour after official sunset to one-half hour before official sunrise; notify the parish sheriff within 24 hours before (or immediately after) the take; Not allowed for persons with a class 3+ wildlife conviction in the last 5 years.
- Beaver: hunter education: Anyone born on or after Sept 1, 1969 must complete an LDWF-approved hunter education course before hunting, unless under direct supervision (voice and sight) of a licensed hunter born before Sept 1, 1969 or an 18+ adult with proof of hunter education.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 26, 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 24 and 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 12, checked November 4, 2026.
Dense stand of cypress trunks in a duckweed swamp. Photo: Nick Shields (CC BY 2.0)
Fog in a quiet bottomland swamp with bare trees. Photo: Trey Matula (CC BY 2.0)
Long highway bridge crossing a calm swamp in golden evening light. Photo: Ray Devlin (CC BY 2.0)
Beaver FAQ for Louisiana
Does Louisiana restrict Sunday beaver hunting?
Yes, on statewide dates. Public land is the exception: some WMA and federal schedules for beavers name the days.
How long is the beaver trapping season?
Beaver traps may be set November 20, 2026 to March 31, 2027; Traps and snares only (no toothed traps; check daily; set no earlier than one day before opening); nutria also by rifle sunrise-sunset by licensed trappers.
Which license covers trapping beavers?
For beavers, a trapping license: $40 resident adult, $5 youth, $160 nonresident (trapping regulations); the fee list page differs at $25, $5 and $200.
What are the 2026-27 beaver dates in Louisiana?
From November 20, 2026 to March 31, 2027, split into 1 row. Coming next: November 20, 2026.
What permits go with beaver hunting?
Beaver hunters buy: Basic Hunting $20 resident, $200 nonresident; Trapper $40 (fee list: $25) (resident); Youth Hunt and Trap $5 (resident). Residents who hunt beavers can fold Basic Hunting into the $100 Sportsman’s Paradise license.
Which guns and bows may be used on beavers?
Trapping rules for beavers: Traps and snares; nutria by rifle sunrise-sunset for licensed trappers; firearms to dispatch.
Which WMAs and refuges have beavers?
Start with Kisatchie NF, Kisatchie NF, Calcasieu District and Kisatchie NF, Winn District, the largest of 27 public areas for beavers. Public land dates are often shorter.
Do I have to report beavers I take?
No tag, check station or call-in applies to beavers; WMA users fill in the free Self-Clearing Permit each day.
Other photos on this page: Nick Shields (CC BY 2.0); Trey Matula (CC BY 2.0); Ray Devlin (CC BY 2.0).