Thistlethwaite WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
Thistlethwaite WMA is 11,100 acres of public hunting land in St. Landry Parish, owned by the Thistlethwaite Heirs, run from LDWF's Lafayette 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). 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.
Thistlethwaite WMAOther LDWF WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 11,100 acres (LDWF's legal acres); 11,685 acres measured on LDWF's boundary map |
|---|---|
| Parish | St. Landry |
| Owner | Thistlethwaite Heirs |
| Established | 1996 |
| Deer hunts | Archery, youth, firearms and primitive firearms |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1-15 (bucks only); Oct. 16-Feb. 15 (either-sex) |
| Primitive firearms | Nov. 14-15 and Jan. 11-17 (bucks only) |
| Firearms deer | Nov. 27-28, Nov. 29 and Dec. 5-13 & 26-27 (either-sex); Dec. 28-Jan. 10 (bucks only) |
| Dogs for deer | No dog deer season on the schedule |
| Turkey | Closed |
| LDWF contact | sdartez@wlf.la.gov or 337.262.2080 |
| Nearest towns | Washington (2 mi), Port Barre (4 mi) and Palmetto (5 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 deer hunts on Thistlethwaite 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 | Oct. 31-Nov. 1 |
| Deer Firearms | Either-sex | Nov. 27-28, mandatory deer check. Nov. 29 and Dec. 5-13 & 26-27, self-clearing permit. |
| Deer Firearms | Bucks only | Dec. 28-Jan. 10, self-clearing permit. |
| Deer Primitive Firearms | Bucks only | Nov. 14-15 and Jan. 11-17 |
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 Thistlethwaite 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, Nov. 27-29 and Dec. 5-13 & 26-27, and open to squirrel hunting during the spring season, May 1-9. Beagles allowed for rabbits and dogs allowed for squirrel hunting Feb. 1-28. |
What rules apply on Thistlethwaite WMA?
- Self-Clearing Permit required for all activities. All motorized vehicles restricted to improved roads only. All users must enter and leave through Main Gate only.
- Restricted Area: Small game hunting allowed with shotgun only loaded with shot no larger than BB lead or F steel. Deer hunting allowed by archery only.
- Area Closed: Oct. 31-Nov. 1, Except to Youth Deer Hunters.
From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Which parishes is Thistlethwaite WMA in?
| Parish | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| St. Landry Parish | 11,685 |
The parish acres are measured on LDWF's boundary map, which comes to 11,685 acres; the 11,100 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 Thistlethwaite WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: I-49, LA 10, US 71 and LA 182. Nearest towns: Washington (2 miles), Port Barre (4 miles), Palmetto (5 miles) and Opelousas (8 miles). LDWF's page for the area, with its map: Thistlethwaite.
The closest other Louisiana WMAs with a page here: Acadiana Conservation Corridor (1.8 miles), Sherburne WMA (13.8 miles), Pomme de Terre WMA (23.9 miles) and Spring Bayou WMA (24.2 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Thistlethwaite WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery (bucks only): Oct. 1-15; Deer Archery (either-sex): Oct. 16-Feb. 15; Deer Youth (either-sex): Oct. 31-Nov. 1; Deer Firearms (either-sex): Nov. 27-28, mandatory deer check. Nov. 29 and Dec. 5-13 & 26-27, self-clearing permit; Deer Firearms (bucks only): Dec. 28-Jan. 10, self-clearing permit; Deer Primitive Firearms (bucks only): Nov. 14-15 and Jan. 11-17. From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Is Thistlethwaite WMA open for turkey hunting?
No. Turkey season is closed on Thistlethwaite WMA in 2026-27, by LDWF's schedule.
What parish is Thistlethwaite WMA in?
St. Landry 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.