Won a Louisiana Bear Tag? Your Permit Isn’t Valid Until You Pass This Class
November 6, 2026
Bear hunting season in Louisiana 2026 runs December 5 through December 20, and you cannot simply buy a tag and go. Every permit comes from a lottery, and winners must sit through a mandatory training course before the tag is theirs.
This is the state’s third bear season in decades. Louisiana held its first black bear season in more than 35 years in December 2024, in Bear Management Area 4 only, and the 2025 season covered areas 1, 2 and 4. For 2026, the hunt is bigger, with more areas and more tags.
Below you’ll find the dates, the permit breakdown, the training deadline, and the rules that decide whether a bear is legal. Where a rule isn’t spelled out in the sources, this article points you to the agency that publishes it rather than guessing.
Bear Hunting Season Dates in Louisiana 2026
The hunt, run by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), takes place in all Louisiana Black Bear Management Areas December 5-20, 2026. That is a 16-day window, and it applies statewide to every bear area that has permits.
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission set the framework. It gave final approval to the Notice of Intent for the 2026 season at its May 7 meeting in Baton Rouge. The rules are published on the LDWF Black Bear Hunting Lottery page.
| Item | 2026 Detail |
|---|---|
| Season dates | December 5-20, 2026 |
| Open areas | All seven Black Bear Management Areas |
| Access method | Lottery permit only |
| Lottery window | July 28 to August 28, 2026 (closed) |
| Required training | LDWF bear hunter course, October 16, 17, 22 or 23 |
Important Note: The lottery closed on August 28 and the training dates have passed. If you did not apply, there is no over-the-counter way into the 2026 season.
Bear Season by Weapon and Method in Louisiana: Archery, Muzzleloader and Firearm
Louisiana does not run separate archery, muzzleloader and firearm bear seasons. LDWF dates a single December Black Bear Hunting Season and no separately dated archery bear season. Every permit holder hunts the same December 5-20 window.
That keeps planning simple. You are not choosing between weapon-specific windows the way you would for Louisiana deer season.
Which weapons you may carry during that window is covered under the legal weapons section below. Check the full rule text in the LDWF Notice of Intent before you load the truck.
Spring Bear Season in Louisiana
There isn’t one. Louisiana holds no spring bear season. The only legal bear hunting in the state is the December lottery hunt.
If you want spring hunting in Louisiana, turkey season is the obvious alternative. For a different big-game permit chase, alligator hunting also runs on a tight, regulated schedule.
Bear Hunting Zones, Units and Management Areas in Louisiana
Louisiana divides bear country into numbered Black Bear Management Areas. The commission expanded bear hunting areas from three last year to seven this season. All seven are open.
Area 4 in northeast Louisiana gets the most attention. Roughly half of the tags are for Bear Management Area 4, where LDWF sees the most interest.
Exact area boundaries are mapped on the LDWF bear hunting pages. Pull up the map before you apply for a landowner or general permit so you know which area your land falls in.
Bear Hunting License, Tag and Permit Requirements in Louisiana
You need more than a tag. Bear hunting is restricted to hunters who are properly licensed, hunter safety certified, and hold a valid bear hunting permit issued by the department.
WMA permit holders must possess a valid resident basic hunting license and a bear hunting license. A valid black bear hunting license is required before you can apply to the lottery.
- Hold a valid Louisiana hunting license and a black bear hunting license.
- Be hunter safety certified.
- Win a permit in the lottery.
- Attend an LDWF bear hunter training course before hunting.
Reports on the lottery fee differ between outlets. LDWF’s own lottery information says a $50.00 application fee is charged to each applicant and is non-refundable.
Pro Tip: The training course is not optional paperwork. Successful applicants must attend one of the scheduled courses, and skipping them may mean disqualification and forfeiture of the permit.
Bear Permit Draws and Lotteries in Louisiana
LDWF issued 42 tags through the lottery, plus a Secretary’s permit that is auctioned separately. Permits come in three types: Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Private Landowner and General.
Here is how the 2026 tags break down by area, per the LDWF lottery information:
| Bear Area | Total Permits | Types |
|---|---|---|
| Area 1 | 8 | 5 landowner, 3 general |
| Area 2 | 4 | 3 landowner, 1 general |
| Area 3 | 4 | 2 landowner, 1 general, 1 WMA |
| Area 4 | 19 | 14 landowner, 4 general, 1 WMA |
| Area 5 | 2 | 2 general |
| Area 6 | 2 | 2 general |
| Area 7 | 2 | 2 general |
The LDWF lottery information page lists these allotments. Note that its permit breakdown headline counts 41 lottery permits plus the Secretary’s permit, which is how the 42 total is reached.
Only one application is allowed per applicant per lottery, though you can apply once for the WMA lottery and once for the general lottery.
Winning has a cost on the back end. The Notice of Intent bars lottery winners from applying for another bear permit for two years.
Nonresident Bear Hunting in Louisiana
Nonresidents are shut out. Bear hunting is restricted to bona fide resident hunters. The 2026 permits go to properly licensed Louisiana residents by lottery.
Transfers are also limited to residents. A transferee must be a bona fide Louisiana resident who is properly licensed, and a permit can be transferred only once. An out-of-state friend cannot take your tag.
Bear Bag Limit and Harvest Quota in Louisiana
Each permit authorizes one bear. The quota is set by biology, not demand. The number of permits issued is based on Bear Area-specific population estimates and vital rate data.
Permits cannot allow harvest to exceed a level that would compromise the long-term sustainability of a Bear Area population.
Recent harvest numbers show how small this hunt is. Ten bears were taken in 2024 and 16 the following year. With 42 tags in 2026, expect a total harvest well under 50 animals.
Baiting Rules for Bear Hunting in Louisiana
The sources reviewed for this article do not spell out a baiting rule for the bear season. Do not assume the deer-baiting rules carry over, and do not assume they don’t.
The binding text is in the Notice of Intent published by LDWF, titled 2026 Black Bear Hunting Season Rules and Regulations. Read the baiting language there, and call LDWF’s large carnivore program if anything is unclear.
Hunting Bears with Hounds in Louisiana
Treat hounds the same way as baiting: confirm the rule in the official Notice of Intent before relying on anything. A wrong guess here can cost you a permit and a hunting privilege.
For questions about bears or bear hunting, LDWF lists its Large Carnivore Program Manager as the contact. John Hanks can be reached at jhanks@wlf.la.gov.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Bear Hunting in Louisiana
Permitted weapons and methods are set in the commission’s rules, not in news coverage of the lottery. The same Notice of Intent is the document to read.
What is clear is who can use them. General permits authorize hunting on private property, with landowner permission, within bear areas that have an open season. Hunters with a General Permit are responsible for coordinating with landowners to gain permission.
Legal Bears and Protected Bears in Louisiana
Not every bear is fair game. Cubs and females are not legal to harvest. Only males that are not cubs qualify, so positive identification matters before you shoot.
The Louisiana black bear was once federally listed, and the state banned hunting in 1987. Black bear hunting has been legal for the last two years after being banned in 1987. That history is why LDWF keeps the hunt so tightly controlled.
Common Mistake: Shooting at a large bear without confirming it is not a female. Size alone does not tell you sex, and a wrong call means a violation on one of the state’s few tags.
Youth and Special Bear Hunts in Louisiana
Young hunters can take part, with conditions. Youth applicants must attend bear hunting training with a properly licensed adult.
There is also one special permit. LDWF can auction one additional Secretary’s permit each year, and the revenue goes back into the Louisiana Black Bear Program. That is separate from the lottery, so it is a purchase, not a draw.
Youth hunters looking for easier opportunities can start with rabbit season or dove season.
Where to Hunt Bear in Louisiana: Public and Private Land
Your permit type decides where you hunt. A general permit means private land with the owner’s permission. A landowner permit is for property you control, and a WMA permit puts you on public ground.
The WMA options are specific. The Area 4 WMA permit authorizes hunting on either Bayou Macon, Big Lake or Buckhorn Wildlife Management Areas during December 5-20, 2026. Area 3 has its own WMA permit for a separate set of management areas.
With only one WMA permit in each of those areas, public-land bear hunting is the hardest ticket to draw. Landowners in Area 4 hold the most odds, with 14 of that area’s 19 permits.
Best Time to Hunt Bear in Louisiana
The season only lasts 16 days, so your timing options are limited to December. Cooler weather and shorter days make early morning and late afternoon the practical windows for most big-game hunting.
Scouting before the season matters more than picking a date. Bear sign, travel corridors and feeding areas in your assigned bear area will do more for you than choosing opening weekend versus the final days.
If you also chase other game this winter, compare calendars with goose season and quail season so the dates don’t collide.
Bear Hunting Hours, Sunday Hunting and Blaze Orange in Louisiana
Shooting hours, Sunday rules and any hunter-orange requirement for the bear hunt are set in the commission’s rule text. None of those details appear in the lottery announcements, so verify them in the official Notice of Intent.
The December dates fall on a Saturday start and end on a Sunday. Because December 5 is a Saturday and December 20 is a Sunday, confirm Sunday hunting is allowed for bears before you plan a final-weekend hunt.
Tagging, Check-In and Reporting a Bear in Louisiana
A harvest is only the start of the paperwork. LDWF collects biological data from every bear, which is how it sets next year’s quotas. Follow the check-in and reporting steps printed on your permit.
Do not move or process a bear before you understand the reporting requirement. Contact LDWF at the number or email on your permit if anything is unclear.
The data matters to the program’s future. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth called the second season a tribute to the conservation effort of the department, landowners and hunters. Accurate reporting keeps the seasons going.
Bear Hunting Season in Louisiana 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When Is Bear Season in Louisiana in 2026?
The season runs December 5-20, 2026 in all Louisiana Black Bear Management Areas.
Can I Still Apply for a Bear Tag?
No. The 2026 lottery was open July 28 through August 28. Watch LDWF announcements for the next lottery cycle.
How Many Bear Tags Did Louisiana Issue?
A total of 42 tags were issued through the lottery. A Secretary’s permit was auctioned in addition.
Can Nonresidents Hunt Bears in Louisiana?
No. The hunt is restricted to bona fide resident hunters.
Is There a Spring Bear Season?
No. Louisiana offers only the December lottery hunt.
Do I Have to Take a Course?
Yes. Permit holders must attend a department bear hunter training course, and those who do not attend are prohibited from hunting.
For the 2026 hunt, the work is already done: the lottery has closed, the courses have run and the tags are issued. If you did not draw, use the time to get your bear license in order and mark next summer’s lottery window on your calendar.