GAME MANAGEMENT

DEER MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (DMAP)

DMAP provides optimal opportunities to manage deer populations through prescribed antlerless deer harvest. Region and Program biologists conduct habitat surveys on DMAP land and make deer habitat and harvest management recommendations to the cooperators. Physical data from harvested deer are collected by these cooperators and submitted to biologists for evaluation. Age, body weight, antler development, and lactation are the main focus of data collecting. Biologists examine these data and evaluate the growth and development of deer by age class. Growth and development trends are identified and used to make management recommendations regarding the herd. Individual cooperator reports are combined with those from the same parish to develop a regional perspective. Similarly, parish reports are combined into a state population report that is used in the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' (LDWF) hunting regulations development process.

DMAP is resulting in improved age structure and sex ratios on enrolled properties. Many states in the southeast have found that 1 ½ -year age class bucks account for 75% or more of the antlered buck harvest. In contrast, the 1 ½ year old buck harvest on Louisiana DMAP lands generally accounted for 50% or less of the antlered buck harvest and cooperators are harvesting more antlerless deer than antlered bucks. This is desirable because it creates and maintains a healthy population of both bucks and does. 

The eligibility requirement for the program is a minimum of 500 acres of contiguous property of which one-half must be forested. A $25 registration fee is charged in addition to a charge of $0.05 for each acre enrolled. 

The Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) was initiated statewide during the 1981-82 deer hunting season in an effort to provide people who controll at least 500 acres an additional opportunity to manage deer populations occurring on their land. Under DMAP, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Biologists work with participating hunting clubs and private landowners  to accomplish their specific goals and objectives.

Antlerless deer tags are issued to cooperators for use during the entire deer season. Harvest quotas for antlerless deer are recommended by biologists along with buck harvest strategies and habitat management recommendations. Cooperators collect extensive physical data from deer harvested and biologists use this information to evaluate herd health and to make future recommendations.

Since its inception this program has been very successful.  Many cooperators are participating in Quality Deer Management Programs and in recent years there has been a decline in the percent of young bucks harvested along with an increase in the number of adult bucks harvested by DMAP cooperators. Some southeastern states have had to establish mandatory antler regulations in order to achieve similar results.

The Landowner Antlerless Deer Tag Program (LADT) was initiated in 2001, primarily to address crop depredation caused by deer.  In 2004, a number of changes occurred with LADT.  It now is a good option for landowners and clubs that want the flexibility to harvest antlerless deer at anytime during the open season, but do not want to be involved with extensive biological data collection.  LADT provides the opportunity to obtain antlerless tags for properties of 40 acres or more.

Download and print Rules and Regulations  
Download and print DMAP Harvest Data Sheet  
Download and print LADT Rules and Regulations  
Download and print LADT Harvest Data Sheet

Download our DMAP Newsletters:

VOLUME 3 - ISSUE 2  
VOLUME 4 - ISSUE 1  
VOLUME 4 - ISSUE 2  
VOLUME 5 - ISSUE 1  
VOLUME 5 - ISSUE 2  
VOLUME 6 - ISSUE 1  
VOLUME 6 - ISSUE 2  
VOLUME 7 - ISSUE 1  
VOLUME 7 - ISSUE 2  

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