The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will conduct a public hearing May 21 in Monroe to collect input on the amended Louisiana black bear hunting season notice of intent (NOI) passed by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) in April. The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. at the LDWF Monroe Field Office located at 368 Century Link Drive, Monroe, LA. 71203.

The hunt, which will be by lottery and administered by LDWF, will be confined to Bear Management Area 4, which includes Tensas, Madison, East Carroll and West Carroll parishes and portions of Richland, Franklin and Catahoula parishes. The season would begin on Dec. 7, 2024 and run through Dec. 22, 2024.

Hunts will be restricted to properly licensed Louisiana residents. All successful applicants for the hunt will be required to attend a LDWF bear hunter training course.

To see the amended NOI, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/resources/category/commission-action-items.

For more information or to comment on the NOI, contact LDWF Large Carnivore Program Manager John Hanks at jhanks@wlf.la.gov or 318-343-8325.