Louisiana revises CWD zones and hunting rules for 2026‑27 deer season

Louisiana's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has introduced a new legal framework for the 2026‑2027 deer season to improve tracking of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The agency redefined what counts as a legal buck and expanded the reach of CWD zones after a recent disease detection in northeast Louisiana. In addition, possession limits were restructured for hunters in Deer Area 1. The department released a full calendar for all ten deer hunting areas, detailing opening dates for archery, primitive firearms, still‑hunting, and firearms seasons, as well as specific velvet‑buck periods for several areas.

Key changes include earlier archery openings in some areas, adjusted primitive‑firearms windows, and the removal of a dog‑hunting stage in Area 10. The revised rules aim to better manage wildlife health while providing hunters with clear, area‑specific season schedules.