Marsh Bayou WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Marsh Bayou WMA is 655 acres of public hunting land in Evangeline Parish, owned by LDWF, run from LDWF's Lake Charles office. Its 2026-27 schedule sets one deer hunt, archery: Oct. 1-Jan. 31 (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.
Marsh Bayou WMAOther LDWF WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 655 acres (LDWF's legal acres) |
|---|---|
| Parish | Evangeline |
| Owner | LDWF |
| Established | 1993 |
| Deer hunts | Archery |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1-Jan. 31 (either-sex) |
| Dogs for deer | No dog deer season on the schedule |
| Turkey | Closed |
| LDWF contact | wsmith@wlf.la.gov or 337.491.2575 |
| Nearest towns | Oakdale (4 mi), Pine Prairie (9 mi) and Turkey Creek (9 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 deer hunts on Marsh Bayou WMA?
| Hunt | Deer | Dates and rules, 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery | Either-sex | Oct. 1-Jan. 31 |
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 Marsh Bayou WMA, and when?
| Game | 2026-27 season on the area |
|---|---|
| Small Game | Same as outside and open to squirrel hunting during the spring season, May 1-9, with or without dogs. Beagles are allowed for rabbits and dogs are allowed for squirrels Jan. 2-Feb. 28. Additionally, they are allowed for training on the Small Game Emphasis Area June 1-Aug. 31. |
| Raccoon (nighttime) | Sept. 12-27 and Jan. 2-Feb. 28. |
What rules apply on Marsh Bayou WMA?
- Self-Clearing Permit required for all activities.
From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Which parishes is Marsh Bayou WMA in?
| Parish | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Evangeline Parish | 672 |
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 Marsh Bayou WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: LA 10, US 165, LA 106 and LA 372. Nearest towns: Oakdale (4 miles), Pine Prairie (9 miles), Turkey Creek (9 miles) and Glenmora (10 miles). LDWF's page for the area, with its map: Marsh Bayou.
The closest other Louisiana WMAs with a page here: West Bay WMA (6.3 miles), Acadiana Conservation Corridor (17.4 miles), Alexander State Forest WMA (18.2 miles) and Fort Polk-Vernon WMA (22.7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Marsh Bayou WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery (either-sex): Oct. 1-Jan. 31. From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Is Marsh Bayou WMA open for turkey hunting?
No. Turkey season is closed on Marsh Bayou WMA in 2026-27, by LDWF's schedule.
What parish is Marsh Bayou WMA in?
Evangeline 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.