Russell Sage WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Russell Sage WMA is 38,213 acres of public hunting land in Ouachita, Morehouse, Richland and Caldwell parishes, owned by LDWF (34,018 acres), the Ouachita Parish School Board (1,240 acres) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (2,955 acres), run from LDWF's Monroe Field office. Its 2026-27 schedule sets 5 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth, physically challenged, firearms and primitive firearms, with archery Oct. 1-Jan. 31 (either-sex). Some firearms days have a mandatory deer check. 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.
Russell Sage WMAOther LDWF WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 38,213 acres (LDWF's legal acres) |
|---|---|
| Parish | Ouachita, Morehouse, Richland, Caldwell |
| Owner | LDWF (34,018 acres), Ouachita Parish School Board (1,240 acres) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (2,955 acres) |
| Established | 1960 |
| Deer hunts | Archery, youth, physically challenged, firearms and primitive firearms |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1-Jan. 31 (either-sex) |
| Primitive firearms | Nov. 14-20 (either-sex) |
| Firearms deer | Nov. 27-28, Nov. 29 (either-sex); Dec. 12-25 (bucks only) |
| Dogs for deer | No dog deer season on the schedule |
| Turkey | Closed |
| LDWF contact | mmcgee@wlf.la.gov or 318.343.4044 |
| Nearest towns | Collinston (2 mi), Monroe (2 mi) and Richwood (3 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 deer hunts on Russell Sage WMA?
| Hunt | Deer | Dates and rules, 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery | Either-sex | Oct. 1-Jan. 31 |
| Deer Youth and Physically Challenged | Either-sex | Oct. 31-Nov. 1, south of I-20 only. |
| Deer Firearms | Either-sex | Nov. 27-28, mandatory deer check. Nov. 29, self-clearing permit. |
| Deer Firearms | Bucks only | Dec. 12-25 |
| Deer Primitive Firearms | Either-sex | Nov. 14-20 |
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 Russell Sage 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 Nov. 27-29, except Wham Brake Area, South Bosco Tract and Pintail Alley Area will remain open. 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. On that portion designated as Small Game Emphasis Are, same as outside, and training of beagles for rabbit and dogs for squirrel same as outside. Snipe hunting after 12 noon prohibited during open waterfowl seasons. Youth Squirrel Hunt: Sept. 26-27. |
| Raccoon (nighttime) | Sept. 5-20 and Dec. 26-Feb. 28. |
| Crawfish | 100 lbs per person per day. |
What rules apply on Russell Sage WMA?
- Self-Clearing Permit required for all activities. Transporting trash or garbage on WMA roads prohibited. All nighttime activities prohibited except as otherwise provided.
- Limited Access Areas: See WMA map for locations.
- Wham Brake: Closed to all motorized vessels 14 days prior to opening day of duck and teal seasons, excluding youth and Veteran days. Also closed to all motorized vessels during waterfowl season splits, and Sept. 1-Jan. 31, all motorized vessels prohibited 12 noon - 4 a.m., and all nighttime activities prohibited during open waterfowl season.
- Chauvin Tract (US 165 North): All season dates on Chauvin Tract (US 165 North) same as outside, except still hunt only and except small game shotgun only and deer hunting restricted to archery only. All vehicles including ATVs/UTVs prohibited.
- South Bosco Tract: Closed from March 1-Oct. 15. Archery only for deer. Open to waterfowl hunting.
- Waterfowl Refuge: North of LA Hwy 15 closed to all hunting, fishing, trapping, and ATV use during duck seasons including teal season, except hunting allowed during Waterfowl Falconry Seasons.
- Area Closed: Oct. 31-Nov. 1 south of I-20 only to all except youth and physically challenged deer hunters. North of I-20 will remain open for all other allowable activities.
From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Which parishes is Russell Sage WMA in?
| Parish | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Ouachita Parish | 31,225 |
| Morehouse Parish | 2,775 |
| Richland Parish | 2,736 |
| Caldwell Parish | 2,556 |
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 Russell Sage WMA?
Highways through the area: I-20, LA 15, US 80 and LA 134. Nearest towns: Collinston (2 miles), Monroe (2 miles), Richwood (3 miles) and West Monroe (5 miles). LDWF's page for the area, with its map: Russell Sage.
The closest other Louisiana WMAs with a page here: Boeuf WMA (3.5 miles), Floy Ward McElroy WMA (8.5 miles), Big Colewa Bayou WMA (15.2 miles) and Big Lake WMA (28.7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Russell Sage WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery (either-sex): Oct. 1-Jan. 31; Deer Youth and Physically Challenged (either-sex): Oct. 31-Nov. 1, south of I-20 only; Deer Firearms (either-sex): Nov. 27-28, mandatory deer check. Nov. 29, self-clearing permit; Deer Firearms (bucks only): Dec. 12-25; Deer Primitive Firearms (either-sex): Nov. 14-20. From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Is Russell Sage WMA open for turkey hunting?
No. Turkey season is closed on Russell Sage WMA in 2026-27, by LDWF's schedule.
What parish is Russell Sage WMA in?
Ouachita Parish (31,225 acres), Morehouse Parish (2,775 acres), Richland Parish (2,736 acres) and Caldwell Parish (2,556 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.