The Louisiana squirrel and rabbit hunting seasons begin Saturday (Oct. 5) in all parts of Louisiana and run through Feb. 28, 2025, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) said. Squirrel and rabbit hunting are the perfect gateway for hunting and a great introduction for youth into the sport.

A basic hunting license is needed to hunt squirrel and rabbits and those 17 and under are not required to have a youth license to hunt those species. Squirrel and rabbit hunting are relatively inexpensive and there are many LDWF public lands on which hunting opportunity is available. Hunting on an LDWF WMA requires a WMA access permit and you must check in and out of the WMA.

For a complete list of WMAs and public lands open to squirrel and rabbit hunting and more information on WMA squirrel and rabbit hunting, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/assets/Resources/Publications/Regulations/2024-2025-Hunting-Regulations.pdf.

To purchase a hunting license, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/hunting-licenses-permits-tags.

All visitors to LDWF WMAs must have either a WMA Access Permit, Senior Hunting/Fishing License, Louisiana Sportsman’s Paradise License or Lifetime Hunting/Fishing License. Go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/wmarefugeconservation-area-licenses-and-permits for more information.

For more information on squirrel and rabbit hunting in Louisiana, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/subhome/small-game or contact LDWF Small Game/Wild Turkey Program Manager Cody Cedotal at ccedotal@wlf.la.gov.