Most deer hunters are doing it all wrong

Deer herds in State Deer Areas 4 and 10 have not recovered significantly to be a part of the overall season limit of six deer in ถถา๕h's other eight deer hunting areas. Those eight areas are limited to no more than three antlered and four antlerless deer among the six allowed per season. The proposed 2024-2025 deer seasons for Areas 4 and 10 continue with a three-per-season limit with no more than two antlered or two antlerless deer among the three allowed.

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Proposed seasons dates for resident game and migratory waterfowl/birds were outlined by the Wildlife Division of the ถถา๕h Department of Wildlife and Fisheries during Tuesday’s Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting in Baton Rouge. Public comment on these season dates will be accepted through 4 p.m., March 5 and can be sent to Jeff Duguay, LDWF Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000 or email: jduguay@wlf.la.gov

RESIDENT GAME

DEER

Either-sex deer take allowed unless there is a bucks-only season in progress. Archery season allows either-sex deer to be taken except when a bucks-only firearms season is in progress. Daily limit remains 2 (1 antlered/1antlerless). Season limit remains 6 (no more than 3 antlered/4 antlerless) in Deer Areas 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9; Deer Area 4, 4 season limit (2 antlered & 2 antlerless); Deer Area 10, 3 season limit (not to exceed 2 antlered & 2 antlerless); Deer Area 1 proposed change to 6 per season (1 antlered, 1 either-sex & 4 antlerless):

Area 1: Archery, Oct. 1-Jan. 31; Primitive Firearms, Nov. 14-20 & Jan. 25-31; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Nov. 21-Dec. 11 & Jan. 4-24; with/without dogs, Dec. 12-Jan. 3; Youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Oct. 24-30.

Area 2: Archery, Oct. 1-Jan. 31; Primitive Firearms, Oct. 24-30 & Jan. 18-24; Modern Firearms/still hunt only, Oct. 31-Dec. 9; with/without dogs, Dec. 10-Jan. 17; Youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Oct. 10-16.

Area 3: Archery, Sept. 19-Jan. 15; Primitive Firearms, Oct. 10-16 & an. 4-10; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Oct. 17-Nov. 29; with/without dogs, Nov. 30-Jan. 3; Youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Sept. 26-Oct. 2.

Area 4: Archery, Oct. 1-Jan. 31; Primitive Firearms, Nov. 14-20 & Jan 25-31; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Nov. 21-Dec. 11 & Jan. 4-24; with/without dogs, Dec. 12-Jan. 3; Youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Oct. 24-30.

Area 5: Archery, Oct. 1-15, bucks only & Oct. 16-Feb. 15; Primitive Firearms, Nov. 14-20, either sex & Jan. 25-31, bucks only; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Nov. 21-Dec. 11, bucks only except either-sex take allowed Nov. 21-22 & Nov. 27-29; with/without dogs, Dec. 12-Jan. 24, bucks only except either-sex take allowed Dec. 12-13 & Dec. 19-20 ; Youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Oct. 24-30.

Area 6: Archery, Oct. 1-15, bucks only & Oct. 16-Feb. 15; Primitive Firearms, Nov. 14-20 & Jan. 25-31; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Nov. 21-Dec. 11; with/without dogs, Dec. 12-Jan. 24; Youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Oct. 24-30.

Area 7: Archery, Sept. 19-Jan. 15; Primitive Firearms, Oct. 10-16 & Jan. 4-10; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Oct. 17-Nov. 29; with/without dogs, Nov. 30-Jan. 3; Youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Sept. 26-Oct. 2.

Area 8: Archery, Sept. 19-Jan. 15; Primitive Firearms, Oct. 10-16 & Jan. 4-10; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Oct. 17-Nov. 29; with/without dogs, Nov. 30-Jan. 3; Youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Sept. 26-Oct. 2.

Area 9: Archery, Oct. 1-15, bucks only & Oct. 16-Feb. 15; Primitive Firearms, Nov. 14-20, either sex & Jan. 25-31, bucks only; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Nov. 21-Dec. 11, bucks only except either-sex take allowed Nov. 21-22 & Nov. 27-29;with/without dogs, Dec. 12-Jan. 24, bucks only except either-sex take allowed Dec. 12-13 & Dec. 19-20; Youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Oct. 24-30.

Area 10: Archery, Sept. 19-Jan. 15; Primitive Firearms, Oct. 10-16 & Jan. 4-10; Modern Firearms/still-hunt only, Oct. 17-Nov. 29; with/without dogs, Nov. 30-Jan. 3 Youth-only and honorably discharged veterans, Sept. 26-Oct. 2.

RABBITS: Oct. 3-Feb. 28, statewide, private lands only.

QUAIL: Nov. 21-Feb. 28, statewide, private lands only.

SQUIRRELS: Statewide: Oct. 3-Feb. 28 & May 3-25 (2027), statewide, private lands only. Special youth-only weekend Sept. 26-27, private lands only.

TURKEY (2027):ย Area A: April 3-May 2. Area B: April 3-25. Area C: April 3-18. Youth/Physically Challenged weekend: March 26-28.

MIGRATORY BIRDS/WATERFOWL

BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS: Oct. 3-11, statewide.

DOVES: South Zone: Sept. 5-20, Oct. 17-Nov. 29 & Dec. 12-Jan. 10; North Zone: Sept. 5-27, Oct. 10-Nov. 15 and Dec. 19-Jan. 17 .

DUCKS, COOTS & MERGANSERS: West Zone, Nov. 14-Dec. 6, Dec. 19-Jan. 24 with youth-only & veterans-only weekend Nov. 7-8; East Zone, Nov. 21-Dec. 6 & Dec. 19-Jan. 31 with youth- & veterans-only days Nov. 14 & Feb. 6.

GEESE: East & West Zones, Nov. 14-Dec. 6 & Dec. 19-Feb. 7. Includes Canada, blue, snow & Ross' & specklebellies. Take of Canada geese prohibited in portions of Cameron & Vermilion parishes.

GEESE/CONSERVATION ORDER: East & West Zones, Dec. 7-18 & Feb. 8-March 7. Limited to take of blue, snow and Ross' geese only. No daily nor possession limits. Hunters allowed to use electronic calls and shotguns capable of holding more than three shells.

RAILS/GALLINULES: Sept. 19-27 & Nov. 7-Jan. 6, statewide.

SNIPE: Oct. 31-Jan. 10 & Jan. 25-Feb. 28, statewide.

TEAL: Sept. 19-27, statewide.

WOODCOCK: Dec. 18-Jan. 31, statewide.

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