LWFC Proposed Changes for Upcoming Hunting Seasons

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) adopted notices of intent for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 hunting seasons, 2021-22 general and Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) hunting seasons and rules and regulations, 2022 general and WMA turkey hunting season and rules and regulations and 2021-22 migratory bird hunting season and rules and regulations at its meeting on Thursday (January 7, 2021).

Some of the proposed changes include: 

• Clarification on use of legal gear in take of raccoon and opossum to allow use of archery gear and air rifles, which makes legal gear the same as for small game.
• Removes the requirement to obtain a permit from LDWF enforcement in order to take nuisance wildlife and outlaw quadrupeds at night during hunting season on private property.
• Change in tagging requirement that once a harvested deer has been tagged and validated, the hunter will no longer be required to possess antlers or sex organs as long as the tag remains with the carcass. This will allow fewer body parts transported to reduce the movement of potentially CWD infected material.
• Move Washington and St. Tammany parishes into Area A for turkey season.

To view the full notice of intent and all proposed hunting season dates and regulation changes for the upcoming hunting seasons, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/resources/category/commission-action-items.

For more information, contact Tommy Tuma at 225-765-2349 or ttuma@wlf.la.gov.