Manchac WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Manchac WMA is 8,328 acres of public hunting land in St. John the Baptist Parish, owned by LDWF, run from LDWF's Hammond office. Its 2026-27 schedule sets one deer hunt, 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.
Manchac WMAOther LDWF WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 8,328 acres (LDWF's legal acres); 7,350 acres measured on LDWF's boundary map |
|---|---|
| Parish | St. John the Baptist |
| Owner | LDWF |
| Established | 1975 |
| Deer hunts | Archery |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1-15 (bucks only); Oct. 16-Feb. 15 (either-sex) |
| 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 (11 mi), Madisonville (11 mi) and Killian (12 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 deer hunts on Manchac WMA?
| Hunt | Deer | Dates and rules, 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery | Bucks only | Oct. 1-15 |
| Deer Archery | Either-sex | Oct. 16-Feb. 15 |
Source: LDWF 2026-27 individual WMA hunting schedules, L to Z (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 Manchac WMA, and when?
| Game | 2026-27 season on the area |
|---|---|
| Small Game and Waterfowl | Same as outside except waterfowl closed after 12 noon, 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 Feb. 1-28. |
| Raccoon (nighttime) | Feb. 1-28. |
| Crabs | No crab traps allowed. Attended lift nets are allowed. |
What rules apply on Manchac WMA?
- Self-Clearing Permit required for all activities.
From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Which parishes is Manchac WMA in?
| Parish | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| St. John the Baptist Parish | 7,350 |
The parish acres are measured on LDWF's boundary map, which comes to 7,350 acres; the 8,328 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 Manchac WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: I-55 and US 51. Nearest towns: Ponchatoula (11 miles), Madisonville (11 miles), Killian (12 miles) and Springfield (13 miles). LDWF's page for the area, with its map: Manchac.
The closest other Louisiana WMAs with a page here: Joyce WMA (next to it), Maurepas Swamp WMA (next to it), Lake Ramsay Savannah WMA (17.4 miles) and Salvador and Timken WMAs (23.8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Manchac WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery (bucks only): Oct. 1-15; Deer Archery (either-sex): Oct. 16-Feb. 15. From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Is Manchac WMA open for turkey hunting?
No. Turkey season is closed on Manchac WMA in 2026-27, by LDWF's schedule.
What parish is Manchac WMA in?
St. John the Baptist 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.