Q. How do I get a hunting license?

Hunting licenses are regulated by the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). Annual licenses go on sale June 1^st of each year and expire June 30^th of the next year.

• The first thing to do before applying for a hunting license is to complete a Hunter Safety Course that is approved by the LDWF. A listing by Parish of when courses are offered can be found here: Hunter Education. There are exceptions to this for active military or veterans, for certified law enforcement officers and for those born before September 1^st, 1969

• There are a variety of different licenses that can be bought depending on the type of animal you want to hunt, the type of weapon you wish to use and the duration, whether you wish to hunt for a whole season or just a few days. There is a step by step tutorial that will ask you questions to help you determining what kind of license that you need. This can be found by clicking here: License Wizard

• The license fees vary greatly between residents and non-residents of Louisiana. It may be necessary to show documentation proving Louisiana residency such as a Louisiana driver's license or motor vehicle registration. List of Residency Requirements

• To purchase your license you can call 1-888-765-2602 and pay using a visa or MasterCard or you can apply online here

• Before hunting it is important that you familiarize yourself with Federal and State hunting regulations. These can be found here: Federal Regulations , General Louisiana Regulations. Remember to be safe!

For a fishing license you can follow the same steps and use the same Wildlife and Fisheries online resources, other than the Hunter Education course as that is not necessary.