Louisiana Deer Report

July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

LDWF Deer Program

Prepared: August 2023

Introduction

White-tailed deer are an abundant and sustainable wildlife resource, and are the most pursued game

species in Louisiana. White-tailed deer are found in every habitat type in Louisiana. Their adaptability

allows them to thrive, despite changing environments and habitat conditions. The Louisiana

Seasons are set according to general breeding periods, biological indices, habitat productivity, and

landscape features. The statewide deer limit is 6 per season, not to exceed 3 antlered or 4 antlerless

deer per season, except Deer Areas 4 and 10 with a 3 deer limit/season (not to exceed 2 antlered or 2

antlerless deer). Antlerless deer may be taken during the entire season in all deer areas except 5 & 9

where antlerless harvest is limited to

designated days. Daily bag limits are

1 antlered and 1 antlerless when

legal.

All deer harvested in Louisiana are

reported through either the license

female harvest numbers for each

parish and Deer Area. Additional

harvest and participation data is

gathered through the Annual Hunter

Harvest Survey which is covered later

in this report.

Figure 1.

plan was activated. More information about the threats of CWD, subsequent detections, surveillance

efforts and disease mitigation will be covered in the Deer Health section of the report.

Deer hunters were able to utilize electronic deer tagging and reporting options through the LDWF web

portal, LA Wallet, and text-to-tag. While the LDWF web portal and LA Wallet require internet access,

text-to-tag provides an option where cellular service may be used to complete the tagging and reporting

process. Many hunters quickly adopted the new electronic methods for tagging and validating harvest.

Plans to offer a mobile app for the 2023 season will allow hunters to tag and validate without internet

service. Once internet connection is restored, the data will be uploaded to the system. This new

feature will allow hunters to utilize electronic tagging regardless of network availability.

been eliminated, hunters will now possess a deer license in addition to basic hunting which will include

all methods of take for deer. As before, lifetime license hunters and senior hunt/fish license holders will

be able to acquire deer tags at no charge. While tags have always been required for youth, a new ($5)

youth license is required in addition to tags.

Deer Regulation Reminders Concerning Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

Regulations have been established in recent years to restrict the spread of CWD in deer. Similar

regulations have been established in other states. Hunters traveling across state lines should check the

from outside of Louisiana. The regulation includes all members of the family Cervidae including but not

limited to white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose, caribou, fallow deer, axis deer, sika deer, red deer

and reindeer. Exceptions include deboned meat, packaged meat, quarters without any part of the head

or backbone, antlers, clean skull plates with antlers, cleaned skulls without tissue attached, capes,

tanned hides, finished taxidermy mounts and cleaned cervid teeth.

attempting to take, attracting or scouting wildlife; except natural deer urine products produced by

manufacturers or entities that are actively enrolled and participating in the Archery Trade Association

Deer Protection Program or the Responsible Hunting Scent Association (RHSA) Deer Protection Program,

which has been tested using real-time quaking induced conversion (RT-QuIC) and certified that no

for Tensas Parish as well as portions of Franklin, Madison and Concordia parishes. Hunters are

encouraged to refer to the LDWF website for CWD Control Area regulation updates for the 2023-24 deer

season.

Please visit the LDWF website for additional information. http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/deer

Feral Hogs

Feral hogs continue to be a major concern across Louisiana. Hog populations affect deer numbers

through direct competition for food resources, social stress, and disease transmission. Feral hogs carry

infectious diseases which are transmissible to humans and other wildlife species. Based on the annual

email survey, the estimated 2022 - 23 feral hog harvest was 393,000 (-105,100).

harvest mail survey dates back to 1970. The trends observed over the past 53 years have been integral

in monitoring harvest and participation. The 2023 hunter survey revealed an estimated 227,500 (+9%)

hunters harvested 217,700 (-7%) deer (Figure 2.) The sex ratio of the harvest remains almost unchanged

each season with 55.5% bucks compared to 44.5% does last season compared to 55% bucks and 45%

does the two previous seasons. The estimated number of days hunters spent deer hunting was 4.4

million (-14%) which is down from the previous ten-year high recorded the previous season. Deer

hunters in pursuit of deer accounted for 66% of all hunting days afield.

Prior to the 2021-22 hunting season, a decline in deer hunters was observed for the previous 8 seasons

(Figure 2). The 2022-23 hunter harvest survey measured the 2

Figure 3. Deer hunter and harvest trend since senior hunters were included in the estimate.

Table 1. Louisiana Deer harvest by weapon, based on 2023 email survey.

total reported harvest since mandatory harvest reporting began in 2008. The total number of deer

reported per parish, and the number of forested acres per deer harvested for the top 20 parishes is

illustrated in Tables 3 and 4, respectively. Last season was the 3

consecutive season in which a new ten

year high in reported harvest was recorded.

Table 2. Combined reporting data from all sources.

Table 5. Reporting harvest vs. mail survey index, 2008-2023.

has increased (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Long term WMA managed hunt efforts per deer harvested.

The recorded harvest for WMA either-sex managed deer hunts was 1,966 deer in 2022 (Table 6). WMA

managed deer hunts had an average hunter success rate of 6.8 efforts per deer harvested, which is the

best on record (Figure 5). Fewer efforts per deer harvested equals a greater percentage of hunters

going home with a deer. The sex ratio for the WMA managed either-sex hunt harvest was 52% buck and

Table 6. 2022 WMA Managed Hunt Results.