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Hunting from Ouachita Parish
Public land and parish rules near Monroe, Louisiana
Public hunting land measured from Monroe, the Deer Area and other Ouachita Parish rules, the nearest LDWF wildlife management area up close, legal light and the processors around town.
Photo: Public ground 4.2 mi from Monroe: Black Bayou Lake NWR. Timothy Holdiness (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Two things put Monroe on this list: the Ouachita Parish courthouse and a population above 25,000. Monroe logged 46,622 residents in the 2024 Census population series. 3 listed areas come within 10 miles of Monroe, covering some 33,115 public acres. Measured as a straight line, Monroe lies nearest to Russell Sage WMA, whose edge lies 2.4 miles off. Twenty-five miles from Monroe takes in 6 listed areas, near 76,314 public acres once overlaps are removed. LDWF, federal and Corps polygons cover about 43,340 acres of Ouachita Parish, with 31,708 acres of LDWF WMA land and 11,632 acres of national wildlife refuge among them.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from the Census Vintage 2024 estimates; public acreage and boundary miles within 10 and 25 miles are a GIS measure over the LDWF WMA layer and USFS, USFWS, Corps and NPS boundaries (places.json; area counts are within 25 miles). LDWF field office from the LDWF Contact Us page. Checked November 4, 2026.
Public ground around Monroe, ranked
Rows run by nearest boundary, then by miles to the mapped centre; each land page carries the schedule, contacts and zones.
| Name | How far | Land type | Manager | What it takes | Size (ac) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Sage WMA | 2.4 mi SE | WMA | LDWF | WMA permits | 38,208 | Parish lists differ |
| Black Bayou Lake NWR | 4.2 mi NE | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | Refuge hunt areas | 3,681 | – |
| D'Arbonne NWR | 6.5 mi NW | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | Refuge hunt areas | 17,881 | – |
| Upper Ouachita NWR | 16 mi N | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | Refuge hunt areas | 56,553 | – |
| Floy Ward McElroy WMA | 19 mi E | WMA | LDWF | WMA permits | 681 | Lottery hunts |
| Boeuf WMA | 24 mi S | WMA | LDWF | WMA permits | 51,110 | Dove fields |
| Big Colewa Bayou WMA | 30 mi NE | WMA | LDWF | WMA permits | 1,798 | Acreage varies |
| Big Lake WMA | 42 mi SE | WMA | LDWF | WMA permits | 19,231 | – |
| Tensas River NWR | 49 mi E | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | Refuge hunt areas | 80,904 | Lottery hunts |
| Bayou Macon WMA | 50 mi NE | WMA | LDWF | WMA permits | 6,919 | – |
| J.C. "Sonny" Gilbert WMA | 51 mi S | WMA | LDWF | WMA permits | 7,524 | Lottery hunts |
| Buckhorn WMA | 52 mi SE | WMA | LDWF | WMA permits | 11,121 | Lottery hunts |
| Kisatchie Winn Ranger District | 59 mi SW | Ranger district | USFS | Forest-wide | 166,792 | – |
For elbow room, Upper Ouachita NWR stands out near Monroe with 56,553 acres. Counted by manager: 3 LDWF-managed areas and 3 federal areas. Russell Sage WMA is LDWF ground: check in and out on the Self-Clearing Permit, by app or at the station, and carry a WMA Access Permit if you are 18 or older. Black Bayou Lake NWR opens only its designated hunt areas, under Louisiana seasons plus its own conditions in 50 CFR 32.37.
Nearest Monroe public areas, briefly
- Russell Sage WMA: 38,208 acres; in Caldwell, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland; open for waterfowl, deer, squirrel, rabbit, woodcock; managed-hunt deer 2024: 73 (printable map)
- Black Bayou Lake NWR: 3,681 acres; located in Ouachita; seasons for waterfowl, woodcock, squirrel, rabbit, quail
- D'Arbonne NWR: 17,881 acres; in Union, Ouachita; open for waterfowl, dove, snipe, woodcock, rail
- Upper Ouachita NWR: 56,553 acres; spans Morehouse, Union; seasons for waterfowl, dove, snipe, woodcock, rail
- Floy Ward McElroy WMA: 681 acres; in Richland; hunted for deer
- Boeuf WMA: 51,110 acres; spans Caldwell, Catahoula; seasons for deer, waterfowl, squirrel, rabbit, woodcock; 2024 managed hunts took 195 (WMA map)
Lands from LDWF area pages and the 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting and WMA Regulations, 50 CFR 32.37, USFS, NPS and Corps records (lands.json; each land page cites its own source); 2024 managed-hunt deer from the LDWF deer report 2024-25. Boundary miles from places.json, other miles to each mapped centre. WMA permits from the LDWF license list and WMA rules. Checked November 4, 2026.
Monroe hunters and Russell Sage WMA
For Monroe, the nearest wildlife management area with a printed schedule is Russell Sage WMA, about 2.4 miles away. LDWF sums it up: "Russell Sage WMA forms one of the largest remaining tracts of the vast bottomland hardwood forests that historically composed the lower Mississippi River floodplain from lower Illinois to the Gulf of America." For game, the page says "The most popular game species on Russell Sage WMA are white-tailed deer, waterfowl, squirrel, and rabbit." The 2024 managed-hunt tally for Russell Sage WMA reads 73 deer from 600 hunter efforts. Dove fields on Russell Sage WMA for 2026: Shop Road Field –10 acres, brown-top millet. Drawn hunts on Russell Sage WMA need a LouisianaOutdoors.com application. Rule worth reading first: "Transporting trash or garbage on WMA roads prohibited."
| Season | What LDWF prints |
|---|---|
| Waterfowl Refuge | North of LA Hwy 15 closed to all hunting, fishing, trapping, and ATV use during duck seasons including teal season, EXCEPT hunting … |
| Deer Archery (either-sex) | Oct 1-Jan 31 |
| Deer Youth and Physically Challenged (either-sex) | Oct 31-Nov 1, south of I-20 only. |
| 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) | Nov 14-20 |
| Small Game and Waterfowl | Same as outside EXCEPT WATERFOWL CLOSED after 12 noon, and EXCEPT CLOSED Nov 27-29, EXCEPT Wham Brake Area, South Bosco Tract and … |
| Raccoon (nighttime) | Sept 5-20 and Dec 26-Feb 28 |
From the LDWF area page and the 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting and WMA Regulations; managed-hunt deer from the LDWF deer report 2024-25. Checked November 4, 2026.
Zones that apply to Monroe hunters
Private-land seasons in Louisiana follow Deer Areas, Turkey Areas, Bear Areas and bird zones; WMAs and federal land print their own schedules.
| Parish | Deer Area(s) | Deer cap | Turkey area | Bear | Duck zone | Dove zone | CWD | Gator zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ouachita Parish this parish | 2,1 | 6 (3/4); 6 (2/5) | Area A | 5 | East | North | In part | B |
| Caldwell Parish | 2 | 6 (3/4) | Area A,C | 5 | East | North | In part | B |
| Morehouse Parish | 1,2 | 6 (2/5); 6 (3/4) | Area A | 5 | East | North | – | B |
| Richland Parish | 1 | 6 (2/5) | Area C | 4,5 | East | North | – | B |
| Union Parish | 2 | 6 (3/4) | Area A | 5 | East | North | In part | B |
The LDWF map divides Ouachita Parish among Deer Areas (Area 2 about 73%, Area 1 about 27%); check which side of the line your lease or WMA lies on. (Deer Area 2, Deer Area 1; deer map.) Gun deer season in Deer Area 2 begins October 31, 2026 and archery closes January 31, 2027. Youths and honorably discharged veterans hunt private land in Deer Area 2 from October 10 to October 16. The area sets the season count: Area 2: 6 deer, no more than 3 antlered or 4 antlerless; Area 1: 6 deer, no more than 2 antlered or 5 antlerless. An early archery window (August 29 to September 6) applies to private land in the CWD zone part of Deer Area 2. Ouachita Parish sits in Turkey Area A (part) for spring gobblers (Area A April 3 to May 2). The new lottery bear season covers Ouachita Parish through Bear Area 5, December 5 to 20. (Bear Area 5) Duck season near Monroe uses the East zone calendar (East zone November 21 to December 6 and December 19 to January 31). Dove segments for Ouachita Parish: North: September 5-27, October 10-November 15, December 19-January 17. Hunters in the CWD Management Zone part of Ouachita Parish may bait and feed only from September 1 to March 31. (CWD Management Zone) The new recreational alligator lottery placed Ouachita Parish in Zone B (1,250 opportunities).
Deer Areas, limits and dates from the 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting and WMA Regulations (LDWF map); GIS shares from the LDWF DeerManagementAreas layer; turkey from LDWF, bear from LDWF, ducks and doves from LDWF, CWD from LDWF, alligator zones from LDWF. Checked November 4, 2026.
Ouachita Parish deer and turkey records
Reported deer harvest put Ouachita Parish at number 14 in 2024-25 (3,468 deer). It was 19th in 2022-23 (2,613). The 2026 turkey report map credits Ouachita Parish with 46 gobblers, read from the figure. Ouachita Parish has 1 CWD-positive deer on record through 2025-26.
Deer from the LDWF deer report 2024-25 and 2022-23; turkey from the LDWF 2026 turkey report (map figure); CWD from LDWF. Checked November 4, 2026.
Seasons open near Monroe
Bear permits, turkey areas, duck zones and dove zones each cover only part of Louisiana, so read the area column to see which rows apply in Ouachita Parish.
| Game | Segment | Area | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 5 | 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 | 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.
Enforcement agents and LDWF staff near Monroe
LDWF keeps its closest office to Monroe in Monroe (368 Century Link Drive). LDWF serves Ouachita Parish from Monroe, at 368 Century Link Drive. Enforcement Region 2 (Monroe) covers Ouachita Parish under Captain Kurt Hatten.
LDWF Monroe Field Office
LDWF in Minden
Offices and field office parish lists from the LDWF Contact Us page, enforcement regions and captains from LDWF local law enforcement contacts (counties.json, services.json). Checked November 4, 2026.
Monroe deer processors, taxidermists and shops
These are the businesses Monroe hunters lean on each season, by trade and then by distance. Donated deer from Monroe can go to Whetstone's Deer Processing (11 mi), on the Hunters for the Hungry list. The taxidermist listing nearest Monroe is Vidrine Taxidermy and Guide Services, based in Monroe. The handiest gun or outdoor store is TP Outdoors, in Monroe. Our itself 35-mile search from Monroe turns up 14 processors.
| Kind | 15 mi | 35 mi | Closest listing | Distance | In |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venison cutting | 4 | 14 | Ashley Deer Processing | 11 mi NE | Collinston |
| Taxidermists | 3 | 4 | Vidrine Taxidermy and Guide Services | 2.6 mi W | Monroe |
| Hunting retailers | 12 | 18 | TP Outdoors | in town | Monroe |
| Guides | 0 | 1 | North Louisiana Shooting Complex, LLC; DBA Wild Wings | 21 mi NW | Downsville |
Venison cutting
Taxidermists
Hunting retailers
Guides
Processors from the LDWF deer processor and Hunters for the Hungry map layers, the Hunters for the Hungry list and Yellow Pages; preserves from the LDWF preserve list and Yellow Pages; taxidermists and shops from Yellow Pages and store locators (services.json). Listings without coordinates are placed at their town. Checked November 4, 2026; hours were not checked.
Events around Monroe
Counted inside about 30 miles on November 3, 2026: 5 dates still ahead, namely LDWF BOW lottery, LDWF youth lottery, NWTF banquet, hunter education course and hunter education field day. 2 of them are LDWF lottery hunts, open only to hunters drawn through LouisianaOutdoors.com.
Coming soon
| Dates | Listing | How far | Venue or WMA | Button | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 23, 2026 | LDWF Hunter Education Field Day – Monroe · hunter education field day | 0 | LDWF Monroe Office | Register | Source |
| Dec 5–6, 2026 | Floy Ward McElroy WMA BOW deer lottery | 20 | Lottery page | Source | |
| Dec 12–Jan 10, 2026-27 | Floy Ward McElroy WMA youth deer lottery | 20 | Event details | Source | |
| Dec 15–16, 2026 | LDWF Hunter Education Course – Monroe · hunter education course | 0 | LDWF Monroe Office | Register | Source |
| Mar 25, 2027 | River City Longbeards Banquet · NWTF banquet, West Monroe | 4 | West Monroe | Buy tickets | Source |
Monroe shooters: the three nearest ranges
Nearest to Monroe is Tyner-Petrus CO. (3 miles), followed by two others.
With the WMA Access Permit, Monroe shooters can use Bodcau Shooting Range, 85 miles away. Hours
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 4, 2026.
Monroe legal shooting light
On wildlife management areas and other public land, waterfowl hunting ends at noon this season (Atchafalaya Delta and Pass-a-Loutre excepted).
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer window | Duck window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Area 2 archery opens | 7:01 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 6:31 a.m.–7:25 p.m. | 6:31 a.m.–6:55 p.m. |
| Oct 31, 2026 | Area 2 gun opens | 7:24 a.m. | 6:20 p.m. | 6:54 a.m.–6:50 p.m. | 6:54 a.m.–6:20 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | East zone ducks open | 6:43 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–5:36 p.m. | 6:13 a.m.–5:06 p.m. |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Bear lottery hunt opens | 6:55 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:25 a.m.–5:33 p.m. | 6:25 a.m.–5:03 p.m. |
| Dec 10, 2026 | Area 2 dog season | 6:59 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:29 a.m.–5:34 p.m. | 6:29 a.m.–5:04 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:06 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:36 a.m.–5:37 p.m. | 6:36 a.m.–5:07 p.m. |
| Apr 3, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:56 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:26 a.m.–7:59 p.m. | 6:26 a.m.–7:29 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.
Asked about Monroe
What enforcement region is Ouachita Parish in?
Region 2, run from Monroe.
Where is the early CWD-zone archery segment held?
Private land in the zone within Deer Areas 1, 2, 6.
Are there other base towns a short drive from Monroe?
Yes: West Monroe, Bawcomville, Swartz and Claiborne.
What public land can Monroe hunters reach fastest?
Going by straight-line miles, Russell Sage WMA, whose edge lies 2.4 miles off. Next comes Black Bayou Lake NWR, whose edge lies 4.2 miles off.
How many hunting areas are in the 10-mile ring of Monroe?
3 areas, together about 33,115 acres.
Is Ouachita Parish split between Deer Areas?
Yes, the pamphlet lists it in Deer Area 2 and Deer Area 1.
When is the rifle opener for deer near Monroe?
October 31, 2026, in Deer Area 2, on private land.
Is there a daily sign-in on WMAs near Monroe?
Yes. The free Self-Clearing Permit is filled out before and after each visit, at the station or in the LDWF WMA app.
Can I hunt turkeys over corn near Monroe?
No. Hunting within 200 yards of bait is illegal, and the spot counts as baited for 15 days after the bait is gone.
Can I hunt ducks after noon on a WMA near Monroe?
No. This season, WMAs and public lands close to waterfowl at noon, apart from Atchafalaya Delta and Pass-a-Loutre.
How many bear permits cover Ouachita Parish?
Area 5: 2 general permits.
Do bowhunters on WMAs near Monroe wear orange in gun season?
Yes. On WMAs archers and small game hunters also show 400 square inches and an orange or pink cap during firearm deer dates.
How is a deer from Monroe reported to LDWF?
Tag it before moving it, then validate within 72 hours by text, on LouisianaOutdoors.com or by phone.
Can I find a deer processor near Monroe?
Yes: Ashley Deer Processing (Collinston), roughly 11 mi.
Answers from places.json, lands.json, counties.json, services.json and the 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting and WMA Regulations; tagging from LDWF, hunter orange from LDWF, baiting from LDWF, WMA permits from the LDWF license list, CWD from LDWF. Checked November 4, 2026.
Monroe trip checklist
Before leaving Monroe, confirm the parish and Deer Area of the land you picked and whether it needs a WMA permit, a refuge permit or a Corps permit.
Other photos on this page: Kevin Crosby (CC BY-SA 2.0); Timothy Holdiness (CC BY-SA 4.0); NatalieMaynor (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CC BY 2.0); jc.winkler (CC BY 2.0); Nick Shields (CC BY 2.0); Justin Meissen (CC BY-SA 2.0); Nick Shields (CC BY 2.0).