Louisiana

Centerfire rifles of .22 caliber (5.56mm) or larger firing expanding soft-point or hollow-point ammunition are legal for deer during the modern firearm season. .243 Win, .270 Win, and .30-06 are premier selections. Suppressors are legal with ATF compliance. FMJ prohibited.

Minimum .44 caliber single-barrel muzzleloaders. Modern in-line muzzleloaders with 209 ignitions and scopes are legal. Additionally, single-shot, breech-loading cartridge rifles .35 caliber or larger (e.g., .35 Whelen, .45-70) with exposed hammer are legal during Primitive Firearms seasons.

Compound, recurve, and longbows with minimum 30 lb draw weight. Broadheads must have minimum 7/8-inch cutting width. Mechanical expanding broadheads are legal. Archery deer season opens October 1 and extends through mid-February in designated southern parishes.

Fully legal for ALL licensed hunters during both the general archery season and the primitive firearms season without requiring a medical disability permit. Minimum 100 lb draw weight with working safety and legal broadheads.

Centerfire handguns firing expanding ammunition are legal for deer hunting. .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and 10mm Auto widely used in dense palmetto and bottomland hardwood swamps.

10, 12, 16, and 20 gauge shotguns firing slugs or buckshot legal for deer. 3-shell capacity limit. Non-toxic shot mandatory for waterfowl across the coastal marshlands and Catahoula Lake flyways.