Video: White-Tailed Deer in Louisiana

White-Tailed Deer in Louisiana Transcript

On screen: WHITE-TAILED DEER, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries logo

White-tailed deer are an abundant and sustainable game species in Louisiana. More hunters in Louisiana pursue deer than any other game species. Deer are highly adaptable; they are found in every forest type within Louisiana, including our coastal marshes. Deer rely on forest plants as well as hard and soft mass for their dietary needs. These important food sources provide deer the nutrition they need for growth and development.

Hunters keying in on these important resources while scouting will increase their odds of encountering deer. In addition to food resources, hunters can look for other forms of sign while scouting, such as tracks and trails where deer frequently travel. Other obvious deer signs that are associated with the rut include rubs and ground scrapes. Bucks will not only rub trees and saplings while shedding velvet, they’ll also rub trees as a means of chemically communicating through scent. Ground scrapes provide similar chemical cues during the rut.

Hunters looking to pursue deer may do so on more than two million acres of public land in Louisiana. Public land consists of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries wildlife management areas, federal lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and National Park Service. In addition to numerous public land opportunities, deer are hunted on private property across Louisiana.

The state is divided into deer areas. Each deer area has unique season dates and limits specific to that deer area. This format is influenced by a wide range of breeding dates in Louisiana as well as the management goals of each respective deer area.

Breeding ranges in Louisiana vary by location. In general, seasons are structured to take advantage of the increased movement associated with the deer breeding season. Methods of take and special seasons for deer hunting include Archery, Primitive Firearms, and Modern Firearms seasons.

Deer tags, either paper or digital, are required for each deer hunter in Louisiana. In addition to deer hunting schedules for each area of public property, special seasons such as Youth and Honorably Discharged Veterans season are provided on select public areas as well as each deer area.

On screen: wlf.la.gov

Remember to refer to the current hunting pamphlet or the LDWF website for dates and allowances, and don’t forget your hunter orange or blaze pink before taking to the field. Good luck on your next hunt.