03/05/2026
🐻 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 - 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) has adopted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to conduct the next Louisiana black bear hunting season 𝗗𝗲𝗰. 𝟱–𝟮𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, in 𝗔𝗟𝗟 Louisiana Black Bear Management Areas. 🐾🌲
The hunt will be conducted by lottery and administered by LDWF, with tag allotments for the 2026 season still being determined. The lottery application period will begin during the summer.
Louisiana held its first black bear hunting season in more than 35 years in December of 2024 exclusively in Bear Management Area 4, located in northeast Louisiana. The second season in December of 2025 was held in areas 1, 2 and 4.
📊 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻:
Bear Area specific population estimates and vital rate data are used to determine the number of bear harvest permits to be issued.
🚫 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
▪️Cubs and females with cubs are not legal to harvest
▪️A cub is defined as any bear less than or equal to 75 pounds
🎓 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱:
All successful applicants will be required to attend an LDWF bear hunter training course.
📄 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁: https://buff.ly/yoVIl1B
💬 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻:
Public comments on the NOI will be accepted through April 28 and can be submitted to LDWF Large Carnivore Program Manager John Hanks:
📧 [email protected]
📬 LDWF, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000
📞 318-343-8325