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Bienville Parish hunting base
Public land and parish rules near Saline, Louisiana
Saline as a hunting base: land by distance and what it takes to get on, Bienville Parish Deer Area dates and limits, turkey, bear and duck zones, and local services.
Photo: Kisatchie National Forest, 1.3 mi from Saline, standing in for the town. Justin Meissen (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Inside Bienville Parish, Saline works as a small base for the northwest corner: Caddo Lake, the Red River valley, the Kisatchie hills of Claiborne and Webster and the pine and hardwood country around Shreveport. Kisatchie National Forest earned Saline its page; the boundary lies 1.3 miles off. Roughly 257 people lived in Saline by the 2024 Census estimate. A 10-mile circle around Saline catches 1 listed area and about 39,787 acres of public ground. Leading the distance table for Saline is Kisatchie National Forest, reached 1.3 miles from Saline at the boundary. Over the 25-mile ring the GIS sum climbs to about 104,053 acres in 2 areas. Across Bienville Parish as a whole, the GIS layers measure about 47 public acres, including 35 acres of LDWF WMA land and 12 acres of Kisatchie National Forest.
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.
Parish rules around Saline
Season caps show antlered and antlerless in brackets; Turkey says Closed where LDWF lists no Turkey Area.
| Parish | Deer Areas | Limit | Spring turkey | Bear Area | Duck | Dove | CWD | Gator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bienville Parish town | 2 | 6 (3/4) | Area A | 6 | West and East | North | – | A |
| Grant Parish | 2,1 | 6 (3/4); 6 (2/5) | Area A | 6 | West and East | North | – | C |
| Natchitoches Parish | 2 | 6 (3/4) | Area A | 6 | West | North | – | C |
| Winn Parish | 2 | 6 (3/4) | Area A | 6 | West and East | North | – | C |
| Rapides Parish | 2,1,6,3 | 6 (3/4); 6 (2/5) | Area A | 6 | West and East | North | – | C |
Deer Area 2 covers Bienville Parish on the LDWF deer map. (Deer Area 2; LDWF Deer Area map.) Deer Area 2 opens to still-hunt gun hunters on October 31, 2026, after a bow season that began October 1, 2026. The youth and veteran deer segment in Deer Area 2 is October 10 to October 16. Season limits by area: Area 2: 6 deer, no more than 3 antlered or 4 antlerless; the daily limit is one antlered and one antlerless deer. Deer Area 2 opens a CWD Management Zone archery hunt from August 29 to September 6. Gobbler hunting in Bienville Parish: Turkey Area A, Area A April 3 to May 2, and no hunting within 200 yards of bait. Bienville Parish belongs to Bear Area 6, with Area 6: 2 general permits. (Bear Area 6) The West and East duck zone covers Bienville Parish in part; split dates are West zone November 14 to December 6 and December 19 to January 24; East zone November 21 to December 6 and December 19 to January 31. For mourning doves, Bienville Parish uses the North zone (North: September 5-27, October 10-November 15, December 19-January 17). For the gator lottery, Bienville Parish counts as Recreational Zone A.
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.
Saline WMAs, refuges and forest land
Land whose boundary comes within 25 miles of Saline heads the table, nearest edge first; anything farther follows by miles to its mapped centre.
| Area | Reach | Category | Agency | Entry rule | Acres | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kisatchie National Forest base | 1.3 mi SE | National forest | USFS | Forest-wide | 607,483 | – |
| Kisatchie Winn Ranger District | 21 mi SE | Ranger district | USFS | Forest-wide | 166,792 | – |
| Loggy Bayou WMA | 28 mi W | WMA | LDWF | WMA permits | 6,558 | Parish lists differ |
| Bayou Pierre WMA | 35 mi W | WMA | LDWF | WMA permits | 2,799 | – |
| Kisatchie Caney Ranger District | 41 mi NW | Ranger district | USFS | Forest-wide | 32,322 | – |
| Red River NWR | 44 mi S | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | Refuge hunt areas | 18,440 | – |
| Wallace Lake (Corps) | 44 mi W | Corps land | Corps | Dam-site area only | 108 | Point on lake |
| Kisatchie Kisatchie Ranger District | 48 mi S | Ranger district | USFS | Forest-wide | 102,489 | – |
| Little River WMA | 50 mi SE | WMA | LDWF | WMA permits | 6,045 | Parish lists differ |
| Kisatchie Catahoula Ranger District | 50 mi SE | Ranger district | USFS | Forest-wide | 122,860 | – |
| D'Arbonne NWR | 54 mi NE | Wildlife refuge | USFWS | Refuge hunt areas | 17,881 | – |
| Bodcau WMA | 54 mi NW | WMA | LDWF | WMA permits | 33,766 | Dove fields |
| Sabine WMA | 56 mi SW | WMA | LDWF | WMA permits | 7,571 | Lottery hunts |
| John Franks WMA | 59 mi NW | WMA | LDWF | WMA permits | 3,664 | Dove fields |
Kisatchie Winn Ranger District offers 166,792 acres, more than any other area this close to Saline. Bait is not allowed anywhere on Loggy Bayou WMA, and hunters may not enter before 4 a.m. Kisatchie ground near Saline (Kisatchie National Forest) uses LDWF licenses and seasons with Forest Service rules: temporary stands for 24 hours, no deer or hog dogs.
Saline close-in lands in brief
- Kisatchie National Forest: 607,483 acres; parish: Grant, Natchitoches, Winn, Rapides; seasons for deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, quail
- Kisatchie Winn Ranger District: 166,792 acres; in Winn, Natchitoches, Grant; species: deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, quail
- Loggy Bayou WMA: 6,558 acres; parish: Bossier; seasons for deer, waterfowl, squirrel, rabbit; deer in 2024 managed hunts: 90 (LDWF map)
- Bayou Pierre WMA: 2,799 acres; parishes: De Soto, Red River; species: deer, waterfowl, squirrel, rabbit, dove (printable map)
- Kisatchie Caney Ranger District: 32,322 acres; parish: Claiborne, Webster; listed game: deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, quail
- Red River NWR: 18,440 acres; parishes: Natchitoches, Red River, Caddo, De Soto; species: waterfowl, dove, snipe, woodcock, rail
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.
Saline close-up on Loggy Bayou WMA
Closest state-managed ground with a full schedule: Loggy Bayou WMA, 28 miles from town. LDWF describes it this way: "Loggy Bayou WMA lies between Loggy and Red Chute Bayous and Lake Bistineau in the Red River Alluvial Valley in northwestern Louisiana." The hunting section reads: "Available game species include white-tailed deer, squirrel, rabbit, and waterfowl." For a sense of the deer, the 2024 managed hunts there returned 90 deer from 265 hunter efforts. From the area rules: "Limited Use Area: Small game and waterfowl same as rest of WMA"
| Game | Schedule |
|---|---|
| Deer Archery (either-sex) | Oct 1-Jan 31 |
| Deer Firearms (either-sex) | Nov 27-28, mandatory deer check. Nov 29, self-clearing permit. |
| Deer Primitive Firearms (either-sex) | Nov 30-Dec 6 |
| Small Game and Waterfowl | Same as outside EXCEPT WATERFOWL CLOSED after 12 noon, and EXCEPT CLOSED Nov 27-29, and OPEN to squirrel hunting during the spring … |
| Raccoon (nighttime) | Dec 19-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.
Saline 2026-27 hunting dates by species
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 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 | 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 | |
| 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 | 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 | |
| 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 | East zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Specklebellies | Regular season | East zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Feb 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 | East zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Canada geese | Regular season | East 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.
Saline deer processors, taxidermists and shops
These are the businesses Saline hunters lean on each season, by trade and then by distance. To give venison to food banks, K&B Farms & Arms (11 mi) is a Hunters for the Hungry processor. Mounts: Bienville Taxidermy in Castor is the nearest taxidermy listing, 9.5 mi off. Shells and blaze orange are sold at Sand Hill Gun Shop in Saline, 0.4 mi away. Processing options within 35 miles of Saline number 7.
| Type | Inside 15 | Inside 35 | Nearest one | Distance | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processing shops | 1 | 7 | K&B Farms & Arms | 11 mi S | Goldonna |
| Mount makers | 1 | 5 | Bienville Taxidermy | 9.5 mi W | Castor |
| Outdoor stores | 1 | 12 | Sand Hill Gun Shop | 0.4 mi NW | Saline |
| Preserves | 0 | 2 | Grand Bayou Outfitters | 17 mi SW | Coushatta |
Processing shops
Mount makers
Outdoor stores
Preserves
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.
Deer and turkey numbers for Bienville Parish
The 2024-25 deer report lists Bienville Parish 3rd of the top 20 parishes, with 5,625 deer. Two seasons earlier: 3rd, 4,254 deer. Spring 2026 turkey harvest in Bienville Parish: 140, as read from the LDWF figure.
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.
Events around Saline
Some 30 miles around Saline take in 3 dates still ahead; the kinds are NWTF banquet, hunter education course and hunter education field day.
Upcoming
| Dates | Listing | Mi away | Venue or WMA | Button | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 23–24, 2026 | LDWF Hunter Education Course – Ringgold · hunter education course | 21 | American Legion Ringgold | Register | Source |
| Dec 5, 2026 | LDWF Hunter Education Field Day – Simsboro · hunter education field day | 28 | Lincoln Parish Sheriffs Office Range Simsboro | Register | Source |
| Mar 13, 2027 | Dugdemona Gobblers Banquet · NWTF banquet, Jonesboro | 16 | Jonesboro | Buy tickets | Source |
Saline hunters: clubs and LDWF lines close by
Nearest to Saline is Natchitoches Gun Club (24 miles), followed by two others.
Bodcau Shooting Range, about 49 miles away, is the state-run range nearest Saline. Open
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 4, 2026.
Shooting light at Saline
Big game light near Saline begins 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 30 minutes after sunset; migratory birds end at sunset.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Deer hours | Duck hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Area 2 archery opens | 7:05 a.m. | 6:58 p.m. | 6:35 a.m.–7:28 p.m. | 6:35 a.m.–6:58 p.m. |
| Oct 31, 2026 | Area 2 gun opens | 7:28 a.m. | 6:24 p.m. | 6:58 a.m.–6:54 p.m. | 6:58 a.m.–6:24 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | West zone ducks open | 6:40 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:10 a.m.–5:43 p.m. | 6:10 a.m.–5:13 p.m. |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Bear lottery hunt opens | 6:59 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:29 a.m.–5:37 p.m. | 6:29 a.m.–5:07 p.m. |
| Dec 10, 2026 | Area 2 dog season | 7:02 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:32 a.m.–5:38 p.m. | 6:32 a.m.–5:08 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:09 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:39 a.m.–5:41 p.m. | 6:39 a.m.–5:11 p.m. |
| Apr 3, 2027 | Spring turkey opens | 6:59 a.m. | 7:33 p.m. | 6:29 a.m.–8:03 p.m. | 6:29 a.m.–7:33 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.
Saline: LDWF office and enforcement
The Minden office is the LDWF location closest to Saline, 38 miles off. Bienville Parish belongs to the LDWF Minden field office area; the office phone is (318) 371-3050. Enforcement agents in Bienville Parish work in LDWF Enforcement Region 1, led by Captain Kenneth Balkom at the Minden office, (318) 371-3049.
LDWF Minden Field Office
LDWF office, Monroe
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.
Saline, answered
What day does spring turkey open near Saline?
April 3, 2027; the last day depends on the Turkey Area.
Do public lands near Saline allow afternoon waterfowl hunting?
No; the noon close applies on WMAs and public lands, and refuges may be stricter.
Is bear hunting legal near Saline?
Only for lottery permit holders, in Bear Area 6, December 5-20, 2026.
Does blaze pink count as hunter orange?
Yes, everywhere hunter orange is required.
What do I write on the tag of a deer from near Saline?
The date and the parish, on the carcass tag or electronically.
Which processor is nearest the Saline town centre?
K&B Farms & Arms, in Goldonna, at about 11 mi.
Which LDWF office takes violation reports near Saline?
Region 1, Minden office.
Which towns around Saline have hunting pages?
Goldonna, Jonesboro, Hall Summit and Coushatta.
Leaving Saline at dawn, where is the nearest public ground?
Head for Kisatchie National Forest, reached 1.3 miles from Saline at the boundary. A close second is Kisatchie Winn Ranger District, reached 21 miles from Saline at the boundary.
Does Saline have public land on its doorstep?
Yes: 1 area and roughly 39,787 acres within 10 miles.
How many antlered deer may a Saline hunter take?
Area 2: 3 antlered a season, one a day.
What are the still-hunt gun dates in Bienville Parish?
In Deer Area 2, October 31 through December 9, 2026.
Is baiting allowed on the WMAs around Saline?
No. Bait may not be used, hunted over or carried on any WMA.
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.
Leaving Saline to hunt
Orange or pink during firearm deer dates, a tag on the animal before it moves and validation within 72 hours keep a Louisiana deer hunt legal.
Other photos on this page: US Forest Service – Southern Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Nick Shields (CC BY 2.0); Trey Matula (CC BY 2.0); NatalieMaynor (CC BY 2.0); Tim Wilson (CC BY 2.0); brian gautreau (CC BY-SA 2.0); Nick Shields (CC BY 2.0); Megan Romer (CC BY 2.0).