J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert WMA is 7,524 acres of public hunting land in Catahoula Parish, owned by LDWF, run from LDWF's Monroe office. Its 2026-27 schedule sets 4 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth, firearms and primitive firearms, with archery Oct. 1-Jan. 31 (either-sex). Turkey season is open: youth March 26-28; general lottery April 3-5, 6-8 & 9-11.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: LDWF's 2026-27 individual WMA schedule for the area. Boundary and acres: LDWF's WMA layer.
J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert WMAOther LDWF WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 7,524 acres (LDWF's legal acres) |
|---|---|
| Parish | Catahoula |
| Owner | LDWF |
| Established | 1980 |
| Deer hunts | Archery, youth, firearms and primitive firearms |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1-Jan. 31 (either-sex) |
| Primitive firearms | Dec. 19-Jan. 1 (either-sex) |
| Firearms deer | Nov. 27-29 (either-sex); Dec. 5-18 (bucks only) |
| Dogs for deer | No dog deer season on the schedule |
| Turkey | Turkey Youth: March 26-28; Turkey General Lottery: April 3-5, 6-8 & 9-11. Hunting by pre-application lottery only |
| LDWF contact | mmcgee@wlf.la.gov or 318.343.4044 |
| Nearest towns | Harrisonburg (3 mi), Sicily Island (4 mi) and Wisner (9 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 deer hunts on J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert WMA?
| Hunt | Deer | Dates and rules, 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery | Either-sex | Oct. 1-Jan. 31 |
| Deer Youth | Either-sex | Oct. 31-Nov. 1 |
| Deer Firearms | Either-sex | Nov. 27-29, self-clearing permit. |
| Deer Firearms | Bucks only | Dec. 5-18 |
| Deer Primitive Firearms | Either-sex | Dec. 19-Jan. 1 |
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 J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert 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 and Nov. 27-29, and Open to squirrel hunting during the spring season, May 1-9, with or without dogs. Beagles allowed for rabbits and dogs allowed for squirrel hunting Jan. 2-Feb. 28. |
| Raccoon (nighttime) | Jan. 2-Feb. 28. |
What rules apply on J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert WMA?
- Self-Clearing Permit required for all activities.
- Area Closed: Oct. 31-Nov. 1 to all except Youth Deer Hunters.
- CWD Management Zone: Attention deer hunters, J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert WMA is located within a CWD Control Area. See Chronic Wasting Disease for more information about deer carcass transport regulations.
From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Which parishes is J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert WMA in?
| Parish | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Catahoula Parish | 7,509 |
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 J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: LA 124, LA 8, LA 15 and US 425. Nearest towns: Harrisonburg (3 miles), Sicily Island (4 miles), Wisner (9 miles) and Jonesville (13 miles). LDWF's page for the area, with its map: J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert.
The closest other Louisiana WMAs with a page here: Boeuf WMA (next to it), Big Lake WMA (20.1 miles), Buckhorn WMA (20.7 miles) and Dewey W. Wills WMA (23.4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery (either-sex): Oct. 1-Jan. 31; Deer Youth (either-sex): Oct. 31-Nov. 1; Deer Firearms (either-sex): Nov. 27-29, self-clearing permit; Deer Firearms (bucks only): Dec. 5-18; Deer Primitive Firearms (either-sex): Dec. 19-Jan. 1. From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Is J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert WMA open for turkey hunting?
Yes: Turkey Youth: March 26-28; Turkey General Lottery: April 3-5, 6-8 & 9-11. Hunting by pre-application lottery only.
What parish is J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert WMA in?
Catahoula Parish, 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.