Louisiana Hunting Laws
Louisiana sets almost no caliber floor for deer: any centerfire firearm — rifle or handgun — of at least .22 caliber is legal, with no energy or bullet-construction requirement. Rimfire is technically allowed too, but only in .30 caliber or larger, which rules out ordinary .22 LR/.22 WMR ammunition in practice. Primitive Firearms Season is unusually permissive — magnified scopes are allowed on muzzleloaders, and single-shot breech-loading rifles/pistols firing modern smokeless metallic cartridges qualify as "primitive" if they have an exposed hammer.
Every rule below cites the official regulation. Last verified August 30, 2026.
At a glance
Check a cartridge in Louisiana
Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.
Sourced rules
Every row cites the controlling regulation and the date we verified it.
Air Gun
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) airguns are legal for deer during modern gun season if they fire at least a .30-caliber, 150-grain projectile at 800 fps (or an equivalent combination producing 215 ft-lb of muzzle energy).
"Pre-charged pneumatic devices may be used during the modern firearm season for deer provided that they fire a projectile of at least .30 caliber in diameter and at least 150 grains in weight with a minimum muzzle velo..." |
Deer Hunting Regulations — Methods of Taking Deer, p. 22 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | PCP airgun projectiles for deer must weigh at least 150 grains. | Deer Hunting Regulations — Methods of Taking Deer, p. 22 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | PCP airguns for deer must produce at least 215 ft-lb of muzzle energy (the 800 fps / 150-grain combination above is one way to meet this; other weight/velocity combinations meeting 215 ft-lb also qualify). | Deer Hunting Regulations — Methods of Taking Deer, p. 22 | Aug 2026 |
All weapons
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| All species |
Infrared/laser sights and night-vision-enhancing devices are banned for taking game quadrupeds and resident game birds, with a narrow statutory exception under R.S. 56:116(A)(8).
"Take of quadrupeds and resident game birds with a firearm fitted with an infrared sight, laser sight or EXCEPT as provided in R.S. 56:116 (A) (8) any sighting device which projects a beam of light to the target or oth..." |
Methods of Taking Quadrupeds & Resident Game Birds — Prohibited Activities | Aug 2026 |
| All species |
Suppressor-fitted firearms are legal for hunting in Louisiana; the only restriction found is a 5-year ban for hunters convicted of a class-four-or-greater hunting violation (R.S. 56:116.6).
"Any person who has been convicted of a class four or greater hunting violation for a period of five years after the date of such conviction shall not use a firearm fitted with a sound suppressor pursuant to R.S. 56:11..." |
Methods of Taking Quadrupeds & Resident Game Birds — Prohibited Activities | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
During open firearms deer season, anyone carrying buckshot, slugs, a primitive firearm, or a centerfire firearm must display at least 400 sq in of Hunter Orange or Blaze Pink (private-land exceptions apply for cap-only or elevated stands).
"Any person hunting any wildlife during the open firearms deer hunting season and possessing buckshot, slugs, a primitive firearm, or a centerfire firearm shall display on their head, chest and/or back a total of not l..." |
Hunter Orange and Blaze Pink, p. 23 | Aug 2026 |
Handgun
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
No real caliber minimum for deer: any centerfire rifle or handgun of at least .22 caliber is legal, with no bullet-weight, energy, or bullet-construction requirement.
"Take of deer with centerfire firearms smaller than .22 caliber, rimfire firearms smaller than .30 caliber, or a shotgun loaded with anything other than buckshot or slug." |
Deer Hunting Regulations — Methods of Taking Deer — Prohibited Activities, p. 22 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Rimfire rifles/handguns are legal for deer only in .30 caliber or larger — in practice this excludes common rimfire cartridges like .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR.
"Take of deer with centerfire firearms smaller than .22 caliber, rimfire firearms smaller than .30 caliber, or a shotgun loaded with anything other than buckshot or slug." |
Deer Hunting Regulations — Methods of Taking Deer — Prohibited Activities, p. 22 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Handguns are explicitly legal for deer hunting, subject to the same .22-caliber centerfire / .30-caliber rimfire floor as rifles.
"Handguns may be used for hunting." |
Deer Hunting Regulations — Methods of Taking Deer, p. 22 | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
True muzzleloading rifles/pistols must be at least .44 caliber (or a 10-gauge-or-smaller muzzleloading shotgun). Louisiana also separately allows single-shot, exposed-hammer breech-loading rifles/pistols of .35 caliber or larger firing modern metallic cartridges as "primitive firearms."
"Rifles or pistols, .44 caliber minimum, or shotguns 10 gauge or smaller, all of which are designed to have projectiles, ball, shot, or bullet, including saboted bullets, loaded exclusively through the muzzle... Single..." |
Primitive Firearms Season — Legal Gear, p. 23 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | Primitive Firearms Season covers true muzzleloaders (wheel lock/flintlock/percussion cap/centerfire-primer ignition) as well as single-shot, exposed-hammer breechloaders firing modern smokeless-powder metallic cartridges. | Primitive Firearms Season — Legal Gear, p. 23 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Unlike many states, Louisiana allows magnified scopes on muzzleloaders and other primitive firearms during Primitive Firearms Season.
"All of the above may be fitted with magnified scopes." |
Primitive Firearms Season — Legal Gear, p. 23 | Aug 2026 |
Rifle
2 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
No real caliber minimum for deer: any centerfire rifle or handgun of at least .22 caliber is legal, with no bullet-weight, energy, or bullet-construction requirement.
"Take of deer with centerfire firearms smaller than .22 caliber, rimfire firearms smaller than .30 caliber, or a shotgun loaded with anything other than buckshot or slug." |
Deer Hunting Regulations — Methods of Taking Deer — Prohibited Activities, p. 22 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Rimfire rifles/handguns are legal for deer only in .30 caliber or larger — in practice this excludes common rimfire cartridges like .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR.
"Take of deer with centerfire firearms smaller than .22 caliber, rimfire firearms smaller than .30 caliber, or a shotgun loaded with anything other than buckshot or slug." |
Deer Hunting Regulations — Methods of Taking Deer — Prohibited Activities, p. 22 | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Shotguns for deer must be loaded with buckshot or a rifled slug — no birdshot or other loads.
"...or a shotgun loaded with anything other than buckshot or slug." |
Deer Hunting Regulations — Methods of Taking Deer — Prohibited Activities, p. 22 | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
Turkey shot may be no larger than #2 (lead or non-toxic), except BB steel shot is also allowed; shotgun must be 10 gauge or smaller and hold no more than 3 shells.
"Shotguns, including muzzleloading shotguns, using shot not larger than #2 lead, #2 non-toxic, or BB steel shot, and being no larger than 10 gauge." |
Turkey — Legal Gear, p. 31 | Aug 2026 |
| Small Game |
On Wildlife Management Areas, dove hunters must use non-toxic shot of size 6 or smaller; snipe/rail/gallinule hunters must use non-toxic shot (no specific size cap given).
"Non-toxic shot must be used for snipe, rail and gallinule. Non-toxic shot size 6 and smaller must be used for dove." |
2026-2027 WMA Basic Season Schedule — Small Game | Aug 2026 |
Federal rules that apply in every state
These federal requirements apply in Louisiana on top of state law.
Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species.
50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist.
50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules.
50 CFR § 32.2(k)
Sources
Louisiana 2026-2027 Hunting & WMA Regulations (updated July 7, 2026)
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries · retrieved August 30, 2026
Sources & methodology
Rules on this page are verified against state statutes, administrative code, official agency regulation digests, and federal regulations — never forums, retailer blogs, or hunter-ed course summaries. Rules we could not yet pin to a primary source are labeled needs review and never produce a green "legal" answer. Cartridge energy figures used by the checker are typical factory-load values; where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, verify your specific load's manufacturer rating.
Legal disclaimer — please read
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Hunting regulations change every season, vary by zone, season, land type, and county ordinance, and are interpreted by the state's enforcement officers — not by this page.
- Confirm every rule in the current official Louisiana hunting regulations before your hunt.
- Check season dates, license and tag requirements, zone boundaries, and local ordinances — this page covers equipment rules only.
- When in doubt, contact Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries directly.
The controlling document is the regulation, not this page. We disclaim all liability for reliance on it.