If you have questions about bears or bear hunting, please contact John Hanks at 318.343.4044.
Hunting Season
Black bear season opens the first Saturday in December and remains open through Sunday following the third Saturday in December. Black bear season is open in Bear Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
Bear Area Description and Map
Bear Area 1 Description:
- All of the following parishes: Acadia, Assumption, Cameron, Iberia, Lafayette, Lafourche, St. Mary, Terrebonne, and Vermillion.
- Portions of the following parishes:
- Allen that portion south of US 190 and east of US 165
- Ascension, that portion west of the Mississippi River
- Calcasieu that portion south of Interstate 10
- Iberville that portion south of Interstate 10 and west of the Mississippi River
- Jefferson that portion west of the Mississippi River
- Jefferson Davis that portion south of US 190 and east of US 165
- Orleans that portion west of the Mississippi River
- Plaquemines that portion west of the Mississippi River
- St. Charles that portion west of the Mississippi River
- St. James that portion west of the Mississippi River
- St. John the Baptist that portion west of the Mississippi River
- St. Martin the portion south of Interstate 10
- West Baton Rouge that portion south of Interstate 10
Bear Area 2 Description:
- All of the following parishes: Pointe Coupee, West Feliciana.
- Portions of the following parishes:
- Iberville that portion north of Interstate 10
- St. Landry that portion east of Interstate 49
- St. Martin that portion north of Interstate 10
- West Baton Rouge that portion north of Interstate 10
Bear Area 3 Description:
- All of the following parishes: Avoyelles, Concordia, LaSalle
- Portions of the following parish:
- Catahoula that portion west of US Highway 425
Bear Area 4 Description:
- All of the following parishes:
- East Carroll, Franklin, Madison, Tensas, West Carroll.
- Portions of the following parishes:
- Catahoula that portion east of US Highway 425
- Richland, that portion east of US Highway 425
Bear Area 5 Description:
- All of the following parishes: Caldwell, Ouachita, Morehouse, Union
- Portions of the following parish: Richland, that portion west of US Highway 425
Bear Area 6 Description:
- All of the following parishes: Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Desoto, Evangeline, Grant, Jackson, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, Vernon, Webster, Winn
- Portions of the following parishes:
- Allen, that portion north of US 190 and west of US 165
- Calcasieu, that portion north of Interstate 10
- Jefferson Davis, that portion north of US 190 and west of US 165
- Landry that portion west of Interstate 49
Bear Area 7 Description:
- All of the following parishes: East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston, St. Bernard, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington
- Portions of the following parishes:
- Ascension that portion east of the Mississippi River
- Iberville, that portion east of the Mississippi River
- Jefferson, that portion east of the Mississippi River
- Orleans, that portion east of the Mississippi River
- Plaquemines, that portion east of the Mississippi River
- Charles, that portion east of the Mississippi River
- James, that portion east of the Mississippi River
- John the Baptist, that portion east of the Mississippi River
