Louisiana Crossbow Hunting
Louisiana is known for its Cajun cooking and Mardi Gras celebration, but how about hunting? This humid subtropical state is very flat with lots of swampland along the coast of the Mississippi river and Gulf of Mexico. It offers a plethora of game, namely white tail deer, bobcat, quail, and other countless varieties of wildfowl.The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Commission will set a bow and arrow only season, and a bow and arrow and crossbow season in special deer hunting seasons. All licensed hunters are now able to hunt with a crossbow during the new archery and crossbow seasons. Crossbows and compound bows are legal for taking all resident game birds and quadrupeds. Check out Louisiana’s hunting laws and seasons listed below.
House Bill 694 (Passed May 30th, 2008)
This bill increases the age of eligibility for youth deer hunts to under 18 years of age (from under 16) to encourage Louisiana youth to participate in hunting.
House Bill 698 (Passed May 30th, 2008)
Hunter orange must be worn during the open gun deer hunting season by all hunters possessing buckshot, slugs, muzzleloader or center fire rifle.
Senate Bill 68 (Passed June 5th, 2008)
This bill allows military personnel and POST-certified personnel to file for firearm and hunter education exemption at certain offices.
Senate Bill 165 (Passed June 5th, 2008)
Allows the use of crossbows during archery season for all licensed hunters, no matter their age, and changes the wording from muzzleloader season to primitive firearms season in the hunting regulations.
