Louisiana Hunting Laws

What makes land legally posted in Louisiana?

Posting is not required. Entering someone else's land without express, legal or implied authorization is criminal trespass whether or not it is posted. A landowner may still give notice with signs placed where they can reasonably be seen, or with purple paint.

The statute sets no sign size or wording.

Source: La. R.S. 14:63(B), (J) · official source

Does Louisiana have a purple paint law?

Yes. Purple paint marks on trees or posts give notice that entry is prohibited. Each mark must be a vertical line at least 8 inches long and 1 inch wide, with the bottom 3 to 5 feet off the ground. Marks must be no more than 100 feet apart on forest land or 1,000 feet apart on other land.

Source: La. R.S. 14:63(J)(2) · official source

Do you need written permission to hunt private land in Louisiana?

No. Louisiana law requires express, legal or implied authorization to be on another's land; it does not require that permission be in writing.

Written permission IS required for a lessee or agent to take hogs, coyotes and other outlaw quadrupeds, nutria or beaver at night on private land, and they must carry the landowner's contact information.

Source: La. R.S. 14:63(B) · official source

Can you retrieve a deer or a hunting dog from posted land in Louisiana?

There is no exception for following wounded game onto land without permission. You may go onto someone else's land only to retrieve your dog if you are not carrying a firearm or other weapon, and only if the owner has not forbidden it.

Tracking dogs, and drones after legal hours, may be used to recover mortally wounded deer only on private land where you have permission to be.

Source: La. R.S. 14:63(F)(6) · official source

What is the penalty for hunting trespass in Louisiana?

Criminal trespass is a $100–$500 fine and/or up to 30 days in jail for a first offense, and $300–$750 and/or up to 90 days for a second. A third or later offense is $500–$1,000 and/or 60 days to 6 months, plus forfeiture of seized property. Any wildlife killed while trespassing must be forfeited and its value repaid to LDWF.

Wildlife values are set by the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission under R.S. 56:40.2.

Source: La. R.S. 14:63(G) · official source

Can you hunt from or near a road in Louisiana?

You may not hunt, stand, loiter or shoot game while on a public road or public road right-of-way, or shoot across a highway or road right-of-way. Shooting game from a moving vehicle is also illegal.

Spotlighting or shining from public roads is also prohibited.

Source: La. R.S. 56:116.1(B)(1)-(2); Louisiana 2026-2027 Hunting & WMA Regulations, p. 29 · official source

What are legal shooting hours in Louisiana?

Resident game, including deer, may be hunted from one-half hour before official sunrise to one-half hour after official sunset.

Some WMAs and federal lands have their own hours.

Source: La. R.S. 56:116.1(A)(5) · official source

What are the blaze orange requirements in Louisiana?

During open firearm deer season, anyone hunting any wildlife while carrying buckshot, slugs, a primitive firearm or a centerfire gun must wear at least 400 square inches of Hunter Orange or Blaze Pink on the head, chest and/or back. On private land, an orange or pink cap or hat may be worn instead.

Deer hunters in elevated stands on private land are exempt but must wear orange or pink walking to and from the stand, and archers are exempt on land where firearm hunting isn't allowed. WMA rules are stricter: all hunters, including archers, need 400 sq in plus a cap during gun seasons.

Source: Louisiana 2026-2027 Hunting & WMA Regulations, p. 24 · official source

Is night hunting legal in Louisiana?

Hunting with firearms or bows at night, or with any artificial light, is illegal, so night deer hunting is out. The landowner, or a lessee or agent carrying written permission, may take feral hogs, coyotes and other outlaw quadrupeds, nutria or beaver at night on private land year-round, with lights, lasers or night vision.

Night hunters must notify the parish sheriff within 24 hours before (or immediately after) the take. Raccoons and opossums may be hunted at night with dogs and lights.

Source: La. R.S. 56:116.1(B)(10), (D); Louisiana 2026-2027 Hunting & WMA Regulations, p. 29 · official source

Do you need a hunting license to hunt your own land in Louisiana?

No. Louisiana has no landowner exemption: anyone hunting any wild bird or quadruped needs a basic hunting license, plus a deer or turkey license for those species.

Youths 17 and under need a youth license to hunt deer or turkey. Landowners may remove beaver and nutria causing damage without a special permit.

Source: La. R.S. 56:103 · official source

Who needs hunter education in Louisiana?

Anyone born on or after Sept. 1, 1969 must complete an LDWF-approved hunter education course. You can hunt without it only under direct supervision (within voice and sight) of a licensed hunter born before Sept. 1, 1969, or of an adult 18 or older who has completed hunter education.

The minimum age for certification is 9. Hunters 11 and younger must always be directly supervised. Active and veteran military and POST-certified officers can get an exemption.

Source: Louisiana 2026-2027 Hunting & WMA Regulations, p. 10 · official source

Is Sunday hunting legal in Louisiana?

Louisiana has no Sunday hunting restriction; statewide seasons run every day.

Some WMAs limit hunting to certain days.

Source: Louisiana 2026-2027 Hunting & WMA Regulations · official source

Is it legal to bait deer in Louisiana?

Baiting deer is legal on private land outside the CWD Management Zone. Inside the zone, baiting and supplemental feeding are restricted, allowed only Sept. 1–March 31 under specified conditions. Baiting, hunting over bait or possessing bait is prohibited on all WMAs.

Feeding raw sweet potatoes to wild game quadrupeds is illegal statewide (R.S. 56:116.1(B)(12)). Turkey hunting over or within 200 yards of a baited area is prohibited.

Source: Louisiana 2026-2027 Hunting & WMA Regulations, p. 12 and WMA general rules (p. 52) · official source

Can you use a crossbow during archery season in Louisiana?

Yes. Crossbows are legal gear for all hunters during archery deer seasons, along with traditional and compound bows.

Bows and crossbows may not carry laser or other sights that project light onto the target (non-projecting red dots are allowed).

Source: Louisiana 2026-2027 Hunting & WMA Regulations, p. 25; La. R.S. 56:116 · official source

Can you use a drone to scout or recover game in Louisiana?

Drones may not be used to hunt, chase, drive or locate live deer, bear or other wildlife. New for 2026-27, an FAA-registered, thermal-equipped drone flown by a Part 107 pilot may help recover a mortally wounded deer or bear outside legal hunting hours, on private land where you have permission, with no weapon in possession.

If the animal is not clearly mortally wounded, the recovery must stop; locating a live deer with a drone counts as illegal hunting.

Source: Louisiana 2026-2027 Hunting & WMA Regulations, p. 25 · official source

Is a landowner liable if someone gets hurt hunting on their land in Louisiana?

A landowner, lessee or occupant who lets others hunt, fish or otherwise recreate on their land owes them no duty to keep it safe or to warn of hazards. Under R.S. 9:2795 this applies whether or not the owner charges a fee.

No protection for willful or malicious injury or failure to warn, or for commercial recreational enterprises run for profit (R.S. 9:2791(B)).

Source: La. R.S. 9:2791; 9:2795 · official source