The 2026 turkey hunting season begins Saturday and Sunday (March 28-29) for youth (17 or younger) and physically challenged-wheel chaired confined hunters. The season opens statewide in areas A, B and C on April 3 for all hunters, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced.
Turkey hunting in Area A runs from April 3-May 3, Area B from April 3-26 and Area C from April 3-19.
Turkey hunters are required to have a basic hunting license and wild turkey license, or an equivalent combination. A youth hunting license and turkey tags are required for those 17 or younger hunting turkey. Click here to purchase a hunting license.
Prior to hunting turkey, all turkey hunters, regardless of age or license status, must obtain turkey tags. They must have the tags in their possession while hunting turkey, and immediately after harvesting a turkey, tag the turkey before moving it from where it was killed. Hunters must record required information for tagged turkeys and validate tags within 72 hours of harvesting a turkey. Click here to obtain turkey tags.
Click here for a complete list of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) open to turkey hunting and more information on WMA turkey hunting.
All visitors to LDWF WMAs must have either a WMA Access Permit, Senior Hunting/Fishing License, Louisiana Sportsman’s Paradise License or Lifetime Hunting/Fishing License. Click here for more information.
Click here for more information on turkey hunting in Louisiana or contact LDWF Small Game/Wild Turkey Program Manager Cody Cedotal at ccedotal@wlf.la.gov.