West Bay WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
West Bay WMA is 59,189 acres of public hunting land in Allen Parish, owned by Manulife Investment Management, Roy O. Martin, AgVictus Capital Management, and Rayonier, run from LDWF's Lake Charles office. Its 2026-27 schedule sets 5 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth, physically challenged, firearms and primitive firearms, with archery Sept. 19-Jan. 15 (either-sex except bucks only during bucks-only firearms dates). Some firearms days have a mandatory deer check. Turkey season is open: youth lottery March 26-27; general lottery April 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: LDWF's 2026-27 individual WMA schedule for the area. Boundary and acres: LDWF's WMA layer.
West Bay WMAOther LDWF WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 59,189 acres (LDWF's legal acres) |
|---|---|
| Parish | Allen |
| Owner | Manulife Investment Management, Roy O. Martin, AgVictus Capital Management, and Rayonier |
| Established | 1999 |
| Deer hunts | Archery, youth, physically challenged, firearms and primitive firearms |
| Archery deer | Sept. 19-Jan. 15 (either-sex except bucks only during bucks-only firearms dates) |
| Primitive firearms | Nov. 2-8 (either-sex) |
| Firearms deer | Oct. 31-Nov. 1, Nov. 27-29 (either-sex); Nov. 9-26 and Dec. 12-Jan. 1 (bucks only) |
| Dogs for deer | No dog deer season on the schedule |
| Turkey | Turkey Lottery: Hunting by pre-application lottery only; Youth Lottery: March 26-27; General Lottery: April 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18 |
| LDWF contact | wsmith@wlf.la.gov or 337.491.2575 |
| Nearest towns | Elizabeth (next to it), Oakdale (2 mi) and Oberlin (5 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 deer hunts on West Bay WMA?
| Hunt | Deer | Dates and rules, 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Archery | Either-sex except bucks only during bucks-only firearms dates | Sept. 19-Jan. 15, either-sex when bucks only firearms is closed |
| Deer Youth and Physically Challenged | Either-sex | Oct. 24-25, for youth and physically challenged hunters only. |
| Deer Firearms | Either-sex | Oct. 31-Nov. 1, mandatory deer check. Nov. 27-29, self-clearing permit. |
| Deer Firearms | Bucks only | Nov. 9-26 and Dec. 12-Jan. 1 |
| Deer Primitive Firearms | Either-sex | Nov. 2-8 |
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 West Bay 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. 24-25 and Oct. 31-Nov. 1 and Nov. 27-29. 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. 26-27. |
| Raccoon (nighttime) | Jan. 2-Feb. 28. |
What rules apply on West Bay WMA?
- Self-Clearing Permit required for all activities.
- Limited Use Area: Small game same as outside except shotgun only. Deer hunting restricted to archery only. See WMA map for specific location.
- PCHP Limited Use Area (PCHP Wheelchair Bound Hunting Area): Access restricted. Check WMA map for location and call Lake Charles or Baton Rouge office for details and applications. Hunting by reservation for wheelchair confined PCHP permittees only.
- Area Closed: Oct. 24-25, to all except youth and physically challenged deer hunters.
From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Which parishes is West Bay WMA in?
| Parish | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Allen Parish | 60,640 |
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 West Bay WMA?
Highways through the area: LA 112, LA 10 and LA 1156. Nearest towns: Elizabeth (next to it), Oakdale (2 miles), Oberlin (5 miles) and Glenmora (10 miles). LDWF's page for the area, with its map: West Bay.
The closest other Louisiana WMAs with a page here: Marsh Bayou WMA (6.3 miles), Fort Polk-Vernon WMA (11.2 miles), Flatwoods Savanna WMA (13.9 miles) and Alexander State Forest WMA (18.8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on West Bay WMA in 2026-27?
Deer Archery (either-sex except bucks only during bucks-only firearms dates): Sept. 19-Jan. 15, either-sex when bucks only firearms is closed; Deer Youth and Physically Challenged (either-sex): Oct. 24-25, for youth and physically challenged hunters only; Deer Firearms (either-sex): Oct. 31-Nov. 1, mandatory deer check. Nov. 27-29, self-clearing permit; Deer Firearms (bucks only): Nov. 9-26 and Dec. 12-Jan. 1; Deer Primitive Firearms (either-sex): Nov. 2-8. From LDWF's 2026-27 schedule for the area.
Is West Bay WMA open for turkey hunting?
Yes: Turkey Lottery: Hunting by pre-application lottery only; Youth Lottery: March 26-27; General Lottery: April 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18.
What parish is West Bay WMA in?
Allen 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.