Hunters in Louisiana are looking forward to an exciting turkey season in 2024. With all the anticipation around the hunt, being well-prepared for a safe and fruitful expedition is crucial. So let’s get started and prepare for a fantastic gobbler game! Before going into the field, we’ll review everything you need to know, including season dates, bag limits, and laws.
Louisiana Turkey Season
Variable parts of the state have variable start and finish dates for the season, which normally lasts from late March to late April. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is in charge of overseeing hunting and fishing regulations as well as managing and protecting the state’s extensive natural resources. According to the agency, up to 20,000 hunters chase wild turkeys in Louisiana each year, and harvest data shows that 9,100 birds were captured during the most recent season.
| Area | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| A | 6-Apr-24 | 5-May-24 |
| B | 6-Apr-24 | 28-Apr-24 |
| C | 6-Apr-24 | 21-Apr-24 |
| Youth/Disabled Weekend | 29-Mar-24 | 31-Mar-24 |
Bag Limit
| Hunting Limit | Allowed Amount |
|---|---|
| Daily Bag Limit | One gobbler per day |
| Season Limit | Two gobblers per season |
Tagging & Reporting
Throughout the season, Hunters must carry a carcass or electronic tag. Before leaving the kill site, the hunter must tag the turkey with the proper carcass or electronic tag.
The hunter must also note the date and parish of the kill on the carcass tag and the harvest report card component of the turkey tag license. Keep the turkey’s tag on while at camp or transporting it to the hunter’s home or cold storage facility. The hunter must confirm the kill within 72 hours using text-to-tag, the LDWF online portal, the toll-free hotline, or the validation website. Hunters must comply with Louisiana hunting rules by following tagging requirements.
Electronic or written turkey tags are mandatory. Hunters who buy licenses online or on mobile devices may print an E-License on their printer for instant use. They may also email or store the licenses to a device they must carry while hunting. Hunters utilizing online or mobile licenses may comply with Louisiana hunting laws by following this approach.
Licenses
All hunters who are 18 years of age or older must possess both Turkey Tags and a Basic Hunting and Wild Turkey License (or an equivalent combo license). A Youth Hunting License and Tags are necessary for hunters who are 17 years old or younger. These rules have certain exceptions and exemptions, listed on page 8 of the regulations.
| Licenses | Resident, Military & Student | NonResident | NonResident Native 10-Day | NonResident 5-Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Hunting | $20.00 | $200.00 | $20.00 | $65.00 |
| Turkey (includes tags; required for all turkey hunters in addition to Basic Hunting) | $12.00 | $50.00 | $12.00 | $35.00 |
| Youth Hunting (ages 17 and under; required for hunting deer, turkey, trapping and WMA youth lottery hunts; includes tags) | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 |
Note: For a complete list of Licenses, you review the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website.
Hunting Regulations
- Baiting involves putting, exposing, depositing, or dispersing feed like maize, wheat, or salt to lure the bird to a hunting spot, however Louisiana laws forbid this. Hunters should know this guideline and avoid baiting to avoid fines.
- Baking, exposing, dumping, or dispersing maize, wheat, or other feeds in turkey hunting areas—is illegal. Any area with maize, wheat, or other grain, salt, or other feed that may attract turkeys is a baited area. After feed withdrawal, this area is baited for 15 days. Wildlife agents may shut such sites and post signs in the area with closure dates.
- Rules ban capturing hens (even bearded), dogs, baiting, electronic calling devices, live decoys, and motorized decoys. Hunting, trapping, or taking turkey using bait or on or above a baited area is likewise illegal. Taking wild turkeys or their eggs is illegal without a game breeder license. These restrictions have fines and legal consequences.
- Hunters must follow game laws and not use unlicensed rifles or ammo. Hunters may use shotguns with #2 lead, #2 non-toxic, or BB steel shot up to 10 gauge, including muzzleloaders. Traditional bows, compound bows, crossbows, and mechanical bows are allowed.
- The Youth Season is for 17-year-olds. Youths must have a Youth License and a hunter safety certification or course completion certificate to participate in this season. For minors under 16, the supervision requirement is eliminated if the adult has a valid hunting license or hunter safety certification. The kid may have one legal firearm during the hunt, but the accompanying adult cannot. Except for 12-year-olds who have completed a hunter safety course, the supervising adult must always be visible and audible.
- Duplicate tag licenses must have certified tags. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website may print lost tags for free. They’ll pay $2 for a duplicate tag from a retail store. Hunters must remove and destroy duplicate tags after harvesting a turkey to account for verified tags.
- The harvester must attach a possession tag to any separated wild turkey. The turkey hunter’s name, date, address, and LDWF number must be written legibly in ink or pencil on paper, cardboard, or other material that may be affixed or fastened to the portion or parts on the possession tag. Failure to comply with this rule might result in fines and penalties.
- After a turkey is taken, it must have definitive sex identification, such as a head or complete leg, whether in the field, in transportation, at home or in a cold storage facility. This evidence must remain until the bird is recognized as food rather than wild game. This law ensures hunters comply with bag limits and sex ratio rules and prevents illicit game trading.
FAQ
When does the Louisiana Turkey Season start and end?
The Spring Youth and Disabled Hunters, which will be held on March 29 and 31 in Areas A, B, and C, will mark the beginning of the Louisiana Turkey Season for on April 6. Interested parties may check the norms and regulations for a more detailed map of these regions. On the other hand, the Spring C season will run from April 6 through April 21 in Area C. More details may be found in the same rules and regulations paper. Last but not least, the Spring A season will also begin on April 6 and continue through April 28 in Region A.
How many turkeys can I harvest in Louisiana?
Any combination of male or female turkeys with visible beards may be included in the two-bird bag limit during the spring hunting season. The bird, a young hunter, takes during the youth-only season counts against the spring bag limit.
How many hunters pursue wild turkeys in Louisiana each year?
In Louisiana, up to 20,000 hunters search for wild turkeys every year.
