Dewey W. Wills WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Dewey W. Wills WMA is 63,984 acres of public hunting land in LaSalle, Catahoula and Rapides parishes, owned by LDWF (62,108 acres), the LaSalle Parish School Board (1,530 acres) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (256 acres), run from LDWF's Pineville office. Its 2026-27 schedule sets 6 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth, physically challenged, youth lottery, firearms and primitive firearms, with archery Oct. 1-Jan. 31 (either-sex), except bucks only Dec. 12-13 and Dec. 26-Jan. 10. Some hunts are by LDWF lottery. Some firearms days have a mandatory deer check. 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.
Dewey W. Wills WMAOther LDWF WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 63,984 acres (LDWF's legal acres); 69,303 acres measured on LDWF's boundary map |
|---|---|
| Parish | LaSalle, Catahoula, Rapides |
| Owner | LDWF (62,108 acres), LaSalle Parish School Board (1,530 acres) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (256 acres) |
| Established | 1964 |
| Deer hunts | Archery, youth, physically challenged, youth lottery, firearms and primitive firearms |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1-Jan. 31 (either-sex), except bucks only Dec. 12-13 and Dec. 26-Jan. 10 |
| Primitive firearms | Dec. 12-13 (bucks only) |
| Firearms deer | Nov. 27-28, Nov. 29 (either-sex); Dec. 26-Jan. 10 (bucks only) |
| Dogs for deer | No dog deer season on the schedule |
| Turkey | Closed |
| LDWF contact | adailey@wlf.la.gov or 318.487.5885 |
| Nearest towns | Jena (12 mi), Jonesville (12 mi) and Marksville (14 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 deer hunts on Dewey W. Wills WMA?
| Hunt | Deer | Dates and rules, 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery | Either-sex | Oct. 1-Jan. 31, except (bucks only), Dec. 12-13 and Dec. 26-Jan. 10 |
| Deer Youth and Physically Challenged | Either-sex | Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Only that portion of the area north of the Diversion Canal. The remainder of the area is open to other use. |
| Youth Lottery | Not stated on the schedule | Dec. 5-6 and Jan. 2-3, 9-10 & 16-17. Hunting by pre-application lottery only. |
| Deer Firearms | Either-sex | Nov. 27-28, mandatory deer check. Nov. 29, self-clearing permit. No hunting allowed in the greentree impoundment or within 100 feet of the greentree levee, if duck season is in progress. |
| Deer Firearms | Bucks only | Dec. 26-Jan. 10 |
| Deer Primitive Firearms | Bucks only | Dec. 12-13 |
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 Dewey W. Wills 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 (only north of the diversion canal) and Nov. 27-29 (entire area), except waterfowl hunting will be allowed in the greentree impoundment and Catahoula/Little River Basin (formerly Catahoula Lake) Nov. 27-29, if duck season is in progress. Beagles allowed for rabbits and dogs allowed for squirrel hunting from Nov. 1-Feb. 28, except closed during any firearms deer season (modern or primitive). Open to squirrel hunting during the spring season, May 1-9, with or without dogs. On that portion designated as Small Game Emphasis Area, same as outside. Catahoula Basin: Nov. 1-Jan. 31, all motorized vessels prohibited 12 noon to 4 a.m., and all nighttime activities prohibited during open waterfowl season except for the Catahoula Basin buffer zone, which will remain open to motorized vessels year round for recreation and navigation. |
| Raccoon (nighttime) | Dec. 14-Feb. 28. Nighttime Chase Only: May 1-Sept. 25, Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Raccoon hunters may use ATVs on designated trails during take season only. |
| Crawfish | Limited to 100 lbs per person per day. |
What rules apply on Dewey W. Wills WMA?
- Self-Clearing Permit required for all activities.
- Area Closed: Oct. 31-Nov. 1, to all except Youth and Physically Challenged Deer hunters only that portion of the area north of the Diversion Canal.
- Larto Tracts: All season dates on Larto Tracts (see WMA map) same as outside, except still hunt only and archery only for deer. All vehicles, including ATVs/UTVs, prohibited.
- Limited Access Area: See WMA map for location and specific rules.
- High Water Benchmark Road Closures: Hunt Road (South of the Catahoula Lake Diversion Canal) and Muddy Bayou Road east of Nolan Bayou Road will be closed when water levels at the Larto Lake gauge reaches 45.0 ft. msl, and will reopen when water levels recede to 43.0 ft. msl, and Muddy Bayou Road west of the intersection of Nolan Bayou Road and Sandy Bayou Road will be closed when water levels at the Larto Lake gauge reaches 42.0 ft. msl and will reopen when water levels recede to 40 ft. msl.
- Operation of internal combustion engine powered vessels prohibited 12 noon - 4 a.m. from Nov. 1-Jan. 31. See WMA map for locations.
From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Which parishes is Dewey W. Wills WMA in?
| Parish | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| LaSalle Parish | 54,595 |
| Catahoula Parish | 14,408 |
| Rapides Parish | 286 |
The parish acres are measured on LDWF's boundary map, which comes to 69,303 acres; the 63,984 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 Dewey W. Wills WMA?
Highways through the area: LA 28 and LA 3102. Nearest towns: Jena (12 miles), Jonesville (12 miles), Marksville (14 miles) and Ball (14 miles). LDWF's page for the area, with its map: Dewey W. Wills.
The closest other Louisiana WMAs with a page here: Little River WMA (4.2 miles), Camp Beauregard WMA (4.5 miles), Richard K. Yancey WMA (7.8 miles) and Grassy Lake WMA (11.3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Dewey W. Wills WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery (either-sex): Oct. 1-Jan. 31, except (bucks only), Dec. 12-13 and Dec. 26-Jan. 10; Deer Youth and Physically Challenged (either-sex): Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Only that portion of the area north of the Diversion Canal. The remainder of the area is open to other use; Youth Lottery: Dec. 5-6 and Jan. 2-3, 9-10 & 16-17. Hunting by pre-application lottery only; Deer Firearms (either-sex): Nov. 27-28, mandatory deer check. Nov. 29, self-clearing permit. No hunting allowed in the greentree impoundment or within 100 feet of the greentree levee, if duck season is in progress; Deer Firearms (bucks only): Dec. 26-Jan. 10; Deer Primitive Firearms (bucks only): Dec. 12-13. From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Is Dewey W. Wills WMA open for turkey hunting?
No. Turkey season is closed on Dewey W. Wills WMA in 2026-27, by LDWF's schedule.
What parish is Dewey W. Wills WMA in?
LaSalle Parish (54,595 acres), Catahoula Parish (14,408 acres) and Rapides Parish (286 acres), measured on LDWF's boundary.
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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.