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.
Rules checked against Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries regulations, August 30, 2026.
At a Glance
Check a Cartridge in Louisiana
Sourced Rules
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it.
Rifle and Handgun
2 rulesNo 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 · verified Aug 2026
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 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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 rulesShotguns 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 · verified Aug 2026
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 · verified Aug 2026
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 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
Handgun
1 ruleHandguns 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 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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 rulesTrue 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 · verified Aug 2026
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 · verified Aug 2026
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 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
Air Gun
3 rulesPre-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 · verified Aug 2026
PCP airgun projectiles for deer must weigh at least 150 grains.
Deer Hunting Regulations — Methods of Taking Deer, p. 22 · verified Aug 2026
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 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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 rulesInfrared/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 · verified Aug 2026
Louisiana allows a suppressed firearm for game birds, wild and outlaw quadrupeds, nutria and beaver — but the statute only authorizes it for someone whose right to possess the suppressor is evidenced by payment and possession of the federal tax stamp. The federal tax went to zero in January 2026 and ATF stopped issuing approvals in October, so a can bought since then comes with no stamp to evidence anything; filing the free voluntary registration is the way to satisfy the statute as written. Using a suppressor outside what the section permits is a class six violation. A conviction for a class four or greater hunting violation bars you from suppressor use for five years. Note the state hunting digest repeats only the five-year bar and never mentions the tax stamp, so the digest alone understates the rule.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"Any person who is authorized to possess a firearm sound suppressor, as evidenced by payment and possession of the required federal tax stamp issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, may use a..."
La. R.S. 56:116.6 — Sound suppressors (Acts 2014, No. 229, § 1; Acts 2014, No. 378, § 1) · verified Oct 2026
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 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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
|
Louisiana allows a suppressed firearm for game birds, wild and outlaw quadrupeds, nutria and beaver — but the statute only authorizes it for someone whose right to possess the suppressor is evidenced by payment and possession of the federal tax stamp. The federal tax went to zero in January 2026 and ATF stopped issuing approvals in October, so a can bought since then comes with no stamp to evidence anything; filing the free voluntary registration is the way to satisfy the statute as written. Using a suppressor outside what the section permits is a class six violation. A conviction for a class four or greater hunting violation bars you from suppressor use for five years. Note the state hunting digest repeats only the five-year bar and never mentions the tax stamp, so the digest alone understates the rule.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"Any person who is authorized to possess a firearm sound suppressor, as evidenced by payment and possession of the required federal tax stamp issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, may use a..." |
La. R.S. 56:116.6 — Sound suppressors (Acts 2014, No. 229, § 1; Acts 2014, No. 378, § 1) | Oct 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 |
Federal Rules That Apply in Every State
These federal requirements apply in Louisiana on top of state law.
Sources
How to Use This Page
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it. Rules marked needs review come from summaries rather than the regulation text, and never produce a green answer in the checker. The checker's energy figures are typical factory loads, so where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, check your own load's rating. This page covers equipment only, not seasons, tags or local ordinances, and it isn't legal advice. The current Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries regulations are the final word.