WMAs / REFUGES HUNTING REGULATIONS

The following rules and regulations concerning the management, protection and harvest of wildlife have been officially approved and adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission in accordance with the authority provided in Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, Section 109 of Title 56. Failure to comply with these regulations will subject the individual to citation and/or expulsion from the management area.

• Citizens are cautioned that by entering a WMA managed by LDWF, they may be subjecting themselves and/or their vehicles to game and/or license checks, inspections and searches.
• Wildlife management area seasons may be altered or closed anytime by the Department Secretary in emergency situations (floods, fire or other critical circumstances).
• Hunters may enter the WMA no earlier than 4:00 AM unless otherwise specified. On days when daily permits are required, permit stations will open two (2) hours before legal shooting hours. Hunters must check out and exit the WMA no later than two hours after sunset, or as otherwise specified. Reference individual WMAlistings for specific requirements.
• Lands within WMA boundaries will have same seasons and regulations pertaining to baiting and use of dogs as the WMA within which the lands are enclosed; however, with respect to private lands enclosed within a WMA, the owner or lessee may elect to hunt according to the regular season dates applicable to the geographic area in which the lands are located, provided that the lands are first enrolled in DMAP. Interested parties should contact the nearest LDWF regional office for additional information.
• Dumping garbage or trash on WMAs is prohibited. Garbage and trash may be properly disposed of in designated locations if provided.
• Disorderly conduct or hunting under the influence of alcoholic beverages, chemicals and other similar substances is prohibited.
• Damage to or removal of trees, shrubs, hard mast (acorn, pecans, etc.) and wild plants and non-game wildlife (including reptiles and amphibians) is prohibited without prior approval from the Baton Rouge office.
• Burning of the marsh is prohibited.
• Hunting actively burning marsh is prohibited.
• Free ranging livestock prohibited.
• Gathering and/or removal of soft fruits, mushrooms and berries shall be limited to five gallons per person per day.
• Nature Trails: Trails shall be limited to pedestrians only. No vehicles, ATVs, horses, mules, bicycles, etc. allowed. Removal of vegetation (standing or down) or other natural material is prohibited.
• Deer seasons are for legal buck deer unless otherwise specified.
• Small game, when listed under the WMA regulations may include both resident game animals and game birds as well as migratory species of birds.
• Oysters may not be harvested from any WMA, EXCEPT that oysters may be harvested from private oyster leases and State Seed Grounds located within a WMA, when authorized by the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and upon approval by the Department of Health and Hospitals.

Methods of taking game

On WMAs the daily limit shall be one antlered deer and one antlerless deer per day (when legal). Season limit is three antlered and three antlerless (all segments included) by all methods of take.

Moving deer or hogs on a WMA with organized drivers and standers, drivers or making use of noises or noise-making devices is prohibited.

Baiting or hunting over bait is prohibited on all WMAs (hogs included).

Deer may not be skinned nor have any external body parts removed, including but not limited to feet, legs, tail, head or ears before being checked out.

Deer hunting on WMAs is restricted to still hunting only.

Hunting from utility poles, high tension power lines, oil and gas exploration facilities or platforms is prohibited.

Construction of and/or hunting from permanent tree stands or permanent blinds on WMAs is prohibited. Any permanent stand or permanent blind will be removed and destroyed. A permanent blind is any blind using nonnatural materials or having a frame Which is not dismantled within two hours after the end of legal shooting time each day. Blinds with frames of wood, plastic, metal poles, wire, mesh, webbing or other materials may be used but must be removed from the WMA within two hours after the end of legal shooting time each day. Blinds made solely of natural vegetation and not held together by nails or other metallic fasteners may be left in place but cannot be used to reserve hunting locations. Natural vegetation (including any material used as corner posts) is defined as natural branches that are two inches or less in diameter. All decoys must be removed from the WMA daily. Permanent tree stands are any stands that use nails, screws, spikes, etc. to attach to trees and are strictly prohibited. Portable deer s ands (those that are designed to be routinely carried by one person) may not be left on WMAs unless the stands are removed from trees and left in a non-hunting position (a non-hunting position is one in which a hunter could not hunt from the stand in its present position). Also, all stands left must be legibly tagged with the user's name, address, phone number and Big Game Hunting License number (or Lifetime License number). No stand may be left on any WMA prior to the day before deer season opens on that WMA and all stands must be removed from the WMA within one day after the close of deer hunting on that WMA. Free standing blinds must be disassembled when not in use. Stands left will not reserve hunting sites for the owner or user. All portable stands, blinds, tripods, etc. found unattended in a hunting position or untagged will be confiscated and disposed of by LDWF. LDWF will not be responsible for unattended stands left on the area.

Unattended decoys will be confiscated, forfeited to and disposed of by LDWF. This action is necessary to prevent preemption of hunting space.

It is illegal to save or reserve hunting locations using permanent stands or blinds.

Stands or blinds attached to trees with screws, nails, spikes, etc. are illegal. Tree climbing spurs, spikes or screw-in steps are prohibited.

Spot-lighting (shining) from vehicles is prohibited on all WMAs.

Horses and mules may be ridden on WMAs except where prohibited and except during gun seasons for deer and turkey. Riding is restricted to designated roads and trails depicted on WMA map, self-clearing permit is required. Organized Trail Rides prohibited, EXCEPT allowed by permit only on Camp Beauregard. Hunting and trapping from horses and mules is prohibited EXCEPT for quail hunting or as otherwise specified.

Firearms

Firearms having live ammunition in the chamber, magazine, cylinder or clip when attached to firearms or crossbows cocked and in the ready position are not allowed in or on vehicles, boats under power, motorcycles, ATVs, ATCs or in camping areas on WMAs.

Firearms may not be carried on any area before or after permitted hours except in authorized camping areas and except as may be permitted for authorized trappers (see Quadrupeds page 24).

Firearms and bows and arrows are not allowed on WMAs during closed seasons EXCEPT on designated shooting ranges or as permitted for trapping. Bows and broadhead arrows are not allowed on WMAs EXCEPT during deer archery season, turkey season or as permitted for bowfishing.

Encased or broken down firearms and any game harvested may be transported through the areas by the most direct route provided that no other route exists EXCEPT as specified under WMA listing.

Loaded firearms are not allowed near WMA check stations.

Center-fire rifles and handguns larger than .22 caliber rimfire, shotgun slugs or shot larger than BB lead or F steel shot cannot be carried onto any WMA EXCEPT during modern firearm deer season and during special shotgun season for feral hogs on Atchafalaya Delta, Pass-a-Loutre, Pointe-aux- Chenes and Salvador WMAs (see individual WMA season schedules for specific regulations).

Target shooting and other forms of practice shooting are prohibited on WMAs EXCEPT as otherwise specified.

Discharging of firearms on or hunting from designated roads, ATV trails and their rights-of-way is prohibited during modern firearm and primitive firearms deer season.

PERMITS

SPECIAL NOTE: A WMA HUNTING PERMIT WHICH COSTS $15.00 IS REQUIRED FOR PERSONS AGED 18 THROUGH 59 TO HUNT ON WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS.

DAILY
Daily permits when required shall be obtained at permit stations on or near each WMAafter first presenting a valid hunting license to a Department employee. Hunters must retain permit in possession while hunting. Hunters may enter the area no earlier than two (2) hours before legal shooting time unless otherwise specified. Hunters must check out daily and exit the area not later than two hours after sunset unless otherwise specified.

SELF-CLEARING PERMITS
A Self-Clearing Permit is required for ALL ACTIVITIES (hunting, fishing, hiking, birdwatching, sightseeing, etc. ) on WMAs unless otherwise specified.

The Self-Clearing Permit will consist of three portions:

1. Check In
2. Check Out 
3. Vehicle Tag

Self Clearing Permits

On WMAs where Self-Clearing Permits are required all persons must obtain a WMA Self-Clearing Permit from an Information Station. The CHECK IN portion MUST be completed and put in a permit box BEFORE each day's activity on the day of the activity. EXCEPT if hunting from a private camp adjacent to the WMAbeing hunted, users need only to check in once during any 72 hour period. Users may check in one (1) day in advance of use. The CHECK OUT portion must be carried by each person while on the WMA and MUST be completed and put in a permit box immediately upon exiting the WMAor within 72 hours after checking in if hunting from a private camp adjacent to the WMA being hunted. EACH
PERSON MUST leave the Vehicle Tag portion of his permit on the dashboard of the vehicle used to enter into the WMA in such a way that it can be easily read from outside of the vehicle. This MUST be done only when the vehicle is parked and left unattended on the WMA. If an ATV, boat or other type vehicle was used to enter the WMAthen the vehicle tag must be attached to that vehicle in such a manner that it can be readily seen and read. No permit is required of fishers and boaters who do not travel on a WMA road and/or launch on the WMAas long as they do not get out of the boat and onto the WMA. When mandatory deer checks are specified on WMAs, hunters must check deer at a check station. Call
the appropriate Region office for the location of the deer check station on these WMAs. (Self-Clearing Permits are not required for persons only traveling through the WMAprovided that the most direct route is taken and no activities or stops take place).

Persons using WMAs or other department administered lands for any purpose must possess one of the following:

1. Valid Wild Louisiana Stamp
2. Valid Louisiana fishing license
3. Valid Louisiana hunting license

Persons younger than 16 or older than 60 years of age are exempt from this requirement.
Also a self-clearing WMA permit, detailed above, may be required, (available at most entrances to each WMA). Check individual WMAl istings for EXCEPTIONS.