The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) adopted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to conduct the next Louisiana black bear hunting season in December of 2025 in Louisiana Black Bear Management Areas 1, 2, and 4 with an increased number of total permits from 11 to 26. The action came during the commission’s March meeting Thursday (March 6) in Baton Rouge.
“The ability to extend the 2025 black bear season to new areas and add additional permits are an attribute to not just the success of our black bear program, but also to the historic 2024 black bear season and the strength of our partnerships,” said LDWF Secretary Madison Sheahan. “This is truly an exciting time in Louisiana’s history and we are proud to be able to offer more hunting opportunity to Louisiana hunters.”
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. A total of 10 bears were harvested.
This year’s hunt, which would be by lottery and administered by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), would expand to Bear Management Areas 1 and 2. The season would begin on Dec. 6, 2025 and run through Dec. 21, 2025.
Bear Area specific population estimates and vital rate data were used to determine the number of bear harvest permits to be issued. There will be eight permits issued in Bear Management Area 1, three permits in Bear Management Area 2, and 15 permits, including a Secretary’s permit, in Bear Management Area 4. This would be a total of 26 permits for the season. Cubs and females with cubs are not legal to harvest. A cub is defined as any bear less than or equal to 75 pounds.
Hunts will be restricted to properly licensed Louisiana residents by lottery. All successful applicants for the hunt will be required to attend a LDWF bear hunter training course.
To see the complete NOI, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/resources/category/commission-action-items.
Public comment on the NOI will be accepted through May 1 and can be submitted to LDWF Large Carnivore Program Manager John Hanks at jhanks@wlf.la.gov, by mail to LDWF, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA, 70898-9000 or 318-343-8325.