Joyce WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Joyce WMA is 42,292 acres of public hunting land in Tangipahoa and Livingston parishes, owned by LDWF (35,562 acres), the Joyce Foundation (851 acres) and the Tangipahoa School Board (484 acres), run from LDWF's Hammond 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.
Joyce WMAOther LDWF WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 42,292 acres (LDWF's legal acres) |
|---|---|
| Parish | Tangipahoa, Livingston |
| Owner | LDWF (35,562 acres), Joyce Foundation (851 acres) and Tangipahoa School Board (484 acres) |
| Established | 1982 |
| Deer hunts | Archery, youth, firearms and primitive firearms |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1-15 (bucks only); Oct. 16-Feb. 15 (either-sex) |
| Primitive firearms | Jan. 9-10 & 18-24 (either-sex) |
| Firearms deer | Nov. 27-29 (either-sex); Dec. 19-Jan. 3 (bucks only) |
| Dogs for deer | No dog deer season on the schedule |
| Turkey | Closed |
| LDWF contact | fburks@wlf.la.gov or 985.543.4777 |
| Nearest towns | Ponchatoula (2 mi), Springfield (2 mi) and Killian (3 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 deer hunts on Joyce WMA?
| 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 | Nov. 7-8 |
| Deer Firearms | Either-sex | Nov. 27-29 |
| Deer Firearms | Bucks only | Dec. 19-Jan. 3 |
| Deer Primitive Firearms | Either-sex | Jan. 9-10 & 18-24 |
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 Joyce 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. 25-Feb. 28. Youth Squirrel Hunt: Sept. 26-27. |
| Raccoon (nighttime) | Jan. 25-Feb. 28. |
| Crawfish | 100 lbs per person per day. |
What rules apply on Joyce WMA?
- Self-Clearing Permit required for all activities.
- Limited Access Area: See WMA map for specific location.
- Swamp Walk: No loaded firearms or hunting allowed within 100 yards of walkway. Closed between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise.
- Area Closed: Nov. 7-8, to all hunters except Youth Deer Hunters.
From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Which parishes is Joyce WMA in?
| Parish | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Tangipahoa Parish | 36,704 |
| Livingston Parish | 6,266 |
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 Joyce WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: I-55, LA 22, US 51 and I-12. Nearest towns: Ponchatoula (2 miles), Springfield (2 miles), Killian (3 miles) and Madisonville (6 miles). LDWF's page for the area, with its map: Joyce.
The closest other Louisiana WMAs with a page here: Manchac WMA (next to it), Maurepas Swamp WMA (1.2 miles), Lake Ramsay Savannah WMA (9.4 miles) and Tangipahoa Parish School Board WMA (16.8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Joyce WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery (bucks only): Oct. 1-15; Deer Archery (either-sex): Oct. 16-Feb. 15; Deer Youth (either-sex): Nov. 7-8; Deer Firearms (either-sex): Nov. 27-29; Deer Firearms (bucks only): Dec. 19-Jan. 3; Deer Primitive Firearms (either-sex): Jan. 9-10 & 18-24. From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Is Joyce WMA open for turkey hunting?
No. Turkey season is closed on Joyce WMA in 2026-27, by LDWF's schedule.
What parish is Joyce WMA in?
Tangipahoa Parish (36,704 acres) and Livingston Parish (6,266 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.