Pearl River WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Pearl River WMA is 35,619 acres of public hunting land in St. Tammany Parish, owned by LDWF, 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-Jan. 31 (either-sex). Turkey season is open: youth turkey March 26-27; general lottery April 3-4.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: LDWF's 2026-27 individual WMA schedule for the area. Boundary and acres: LDWF's WMA layer.
Pearl River WMAOther LDWF WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 35,619 acres (LDWF's legal acres) |
|---|---|
| Parish | St. Tammany |
| Owner | LDWF |
| Established | 1971 |
| Deer hunts | Archery, youth, firearms and primitive firearms |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1-Jan. 31 (either-sex) |
| Primitive firearms | Nov. 14-20 and Dec. 21-Jan. 3 (either-sex) |
| Firearms deer | Nov. 27-29 (either-sex); Dec. 5-20 (bucks only) |
| Dogs for deer | No dog deer season on the schedule |
| Turkey | Youth Turkey: March 26-27; Turkey Lottery: Hunting by pre-application lottery only; General Lottery: April 3-4 |
| LDWF contact | fburks@wlf.la.gov or 985.543.4777 |
| Nearest towns | Pearl River (next to it), Slidell (4 mi) and Abita Springs (18 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 deer hunts on Pearl River WMA?
| Hunt | Deer | Dates and rules, 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery | Either-sex | Oct. 1-Jan. 31 |
| Deer Youth | Either-sex | Nov. 7-8 |
| Deer Firearms | Either-sex | Nov. 27-29, self-clearing permit. |
| Deer Firearms | Bucks only | Dec. 5-20 |
| Deer Primitive Firearms | Either-sex | Nov. 14-20 and Dec. 21-Jan. 3 |
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 Pearl River WMA, and when?
| Game | 2026-27 season on the area |
|---|---|
| Waterfowl | Same as outside except closed after 12 noon, and except no hunting in Waterfowl Refuge Area and except closed Oct. 31-Nov. 1 and Nov. 27-29 north of US 90. |
| Small Game | Same as outside except closed Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Beagles allowed for rabbits and dogs allowed for squirrel hunting from Nov. 1-Feb. 28, except closed during any gun deer season (modern or primitive firearms). Open to squirrel hunting during the spring season, May 1-9, with or without dogs. Youth Squirrel Hunt: Sept. 26-28. |
| Raccoon (nighttime) | Sept. 12-27 and Jan. 4-Feb. 28. |
| Crawfish | 100 lbs per person per day. Recreational crawfishing only. |
What rules apply on Pearl River WMA?
- Self-Clearing Permit required for all activities. All hunting, except waterfowl hunting south of US Hwy 90, will be closed when the river stage at Pearl River reaches 16.5 feet. No hunting in the vicinity of the Nature Trail. Observe “No Hunting” signs. No loaded firearms or hunting within 100 yards of boardwalk.
- Shooting Range: Self clearing permit not required, but all range users must obtain a daily check-in numbered ticket at the range upon sign-in at the range.
- Area Closed: Nov. 7-8 to all hunters except Youth Hunters.
From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Which parishes is Pearl River WMA in?
| Parish | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| St. Tammany Parish | 36,877 |
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 Pearl River WMA?
Highways through the area: I-10, I-59, US 11 and US 90. Nearest towns: Pearl River (next to it), Slidell (4 miles), Abita Springs (18 miles) and Sun (19 miles). LDWF's page for the area, with its map: Pearl River.
The closest other Louisiana WMAs with a page here: Biloxi WMA (11.4 miles), Lake Ramsay Savannah WMA (26.3 miles), Bogue Chitto WMA (28.9 miles) and Joyce WMA (31.4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Pearl River WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery (either-sex): Oct. 1-Jan. 31; Deer Youth (either-sex): Nov. 7-8; Deer Firearms (either-sex): Nov. 27-29, self-clearing permit; Deer Firearms (bucks only): Dec. 5-20; Deer Primitive Firearms (either-sex): Nov. 14-20 and Dec. 21-Jan. 3. From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Is Pearl River WMA open for turkey hunting?
Yes: Youth Turkey: March 26-27; Turkey Lottery: Hunting by pre-application lottery only; General Lottery: April 3-4.
What parish is Pearl River WMA in?
St. Tammany 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.