Attakapas WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Attakapas WMA is 27,962 acres of public hunting land in St. Mary, St. Martin and Iberia parishes, owned by the State of Louisiana (25,730 acres) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (2,232 acres), run from LDWF's Lafayette office. Its 2026-27 schedule sets 4 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth, firearms and primitive firearms, with archery Oct. 1-15 (bucks only); Oct. 16-Feb. 15 (either-sex). Turkey season is closed on the area.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: LDWF's 2026-27 individual WMA schedule for the area. Boundary and acres: LDWF's WMA layer.
Attakapas WMAOther LDWF WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 27,962 acres (LDWF's legal acres); 31,551 acres measured on LDWF's boundary map |
|---|---|
| Parish | St. Mary, St. Martin, Iberia |
| Owner | State of Louisiana (25,730 acres) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (2,232 acres) |
| Established | 1978 |
| Deer hunts | Archery, youth, firearms and primitive firearms |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1-15 (bucks only); Oct. 16-Feb. 15 (either-sex) |
| Primitive firearms | Jan. 16-17 (bucks only) |
| Firearms deer | Nov. 27-29 and Dec. 12-13 (either-sex); Dec. 26-Jan. 3 (bucks only) |
| Dogs for deer | No dog deer season on the schedule |
| Turkey | Closed |
| LDWF contact | sdartez@wlf.la.gov or 337.262.2080 |
| Nearest towns | Baldwin (6 mi), Franklin (6 mi) and Patterson (9 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 deer hunts on Attakapas WMA?
Deer hunting will be closed when the river stage of the Atchafalaya River reaches 15 feet at Butte La Rose, and will reopen when the river stage of the Atchafalaya River recedes to 14 feet at Butte La Rose.
| Hunt | Deer | Dates and rules, 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery | Bucks only | Oct. 1-15 |
| Deer Archery | Either-sex | Oct. 16-Feb. 15 |
| Deer Youth | Either-sex | Oct. 31-Nov. 1 |
| Deer Firearms | Either-sex | Nov. 27-29 and Dec. 12-13 |
| Deer Firearms | Bucks only | Dec. 26-Jan. 3 |
| Deer Primitive Firearms | Bucks only | Jan. 16-17 |
Source: LDWF 2026-27 individual WMA hunting schedules, A to K (eRegulations edition), read October 2026. On WMAs, deer seasons are for legal antlered deer unless a hunt says either-sex. LDWF's schedule is the final word.
What else can you hunt on Attakapas WMA, and when?
| Game | 2026-27 season on the area |
|---|---|
| Small Game and Waterfowl | Same as outside, except waterfowl closed after 12 noon, and except closed Oct. 31-Nov. 1, Nov. 27-29 and Dec. 12-13. Beagles allowed for rabbits and dogs allowed for squirrel hunting Jan. 18-Feb. 28 and open to squirrel hunting during the spring season, May 1-9, with or without dogs. |
| Raccoon (nighttime) | Sept. 12-27 and Jan. 18-Feb. 28. |
What rules apply on Attakapas WMA?
- Self-Clearing Permit required for all activities.
- Area closed: Oct. 31-Nov. 1 to all hunters except Youth Deer Hunters.
From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Which parishes is Attakapas WMA in?
| Parish | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| St. Mary Parish | 15,384 |
| St. Martin Parish | 11,920 |
| Iberia Parish | 4,246 |
The parish acres are measured on LDWF's boundary map, which comes to 31,551 acres; the 27,962 acres at the top of this page are LDWF's legal acres. The two figures are from different LDWF sources.
Measured by FilledTag on LDWF Wildlife Management Area boundaries, September 2025 and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 parish boundaries.
How do you get to Attakapas WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: LA 87, LA 323, LA 182 and US 90. Nearest towns: Baldwin (6 miles), Franklin (6 miles), Patterson (9 miles) and Jeanerette (10 miles). LDWF's page for the area, with its map: Attakapas.
The closest other Louisiana WMAs with a page here: Elm Hall WMA (12.5 miles), Atchafalaya Delta WMA (17.6 miles), Sherburne WMA (27.3 miles) and Maurepas Swamp WMA (34.3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Attakapas WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery (bucks only): Oct. 1-15; Deer Archery (either-sex): Oct. 16-Feb. 15; Deer Youth (either-sex): Oct. 31-Nov. 1; Deer Firearms (either-sex): Nov. 27-29 and Dec. 12-13; Deer Firearms (bucks only): Dec. 26-Jan. 3; Deer Primitive Firearms (bucks only): Jan. 16-17. From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Is Attakapas WMA open for turkey hunting?
No. Turkey season is closed on Attakapas WMA in 2026-27, by LDWF's schedule.
What parish is Attakapas WMA in?
St. Mary Parish (15,384 acres), St. Martin Parish (11,920 acres) and Iberia Parish (4,246 acres), measured on LDWF's boundary.
Get a Louisiana hunt plan when they open
Louisiana plans are not open yet. They are coming soon. Join the waiting list; the first 50 hunters get one plan free.
Use the map while you wait for your plan.
You need a WMA Access Permit, a Self-Clearing Permit for each visit and the licenses and tags for what you hunt. The WMA rules on one page. FilledTag is not part of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; seasons and rules are copied from LDWF, acres and maps from its WMA layer, each with its source above.