How to Get Your Louisiana Hunting License

A Louisiana hunting license starts with the Basic Hunting License, which every resident and non-resident hunter age 18 or older needs before adding species-specific licenses for deer, turkey, or waterfowl. Residents pay $20 for the Basic Hunting License, while non-residents pay $200.

Hunters born on or after September 1, 1969 must complete an approved hunter education course before hunting unsupervised, though the course itself isn't required to purchase a license if you're exempt or hunting under direct supervision. Louisiana licenses are sold through the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) at louisianaoutdoors.com and through approved retailers statewide, and they're valid for 365 days from the date of purchase rather than on a fixed calendar year.

This guide walks you through how to get your Louisiana hunting license and Hunter Education Certificate, step by step.

What Is a Hunting License in Louisiana?

A Louisiana hunting license authorizes you to hunt, take, possess, or transport wild birds and quadrupeds during open seasons. The Basic Hunting License covers general small game, but deer, turkey, and waterfowl each require their own additional license layered on top of it.

The license itself is separate from your Hunter Education Certificate. The certificate proves you completed an LDWF-approved safety course and, once earned, it's good for the rest of your hunting life. The Basic Hunting License, by contrast, expires 365 days after purchase and has to be bought each year again.

Who Needs a Hunting License in Louisiana?

Louisiana requires a Basic Hunting License for residents and non-residents age 18 or older, but the state builds in several exceptions and youth pathways. Age and birth date both play a role in determining what applies to you.

Hunter education runs on a separate track from the license itself. Anyone born on or after September 1, 1969 must complete an LDWF-approved hunter education course before hunting unsupervised, unless one of the following applies:

1. Under age 18, hunting game other than deer or turkey: no license required, and no hunter education required if directly supervised by someone born before September 1, 1969 or by a certified adult.
2. Age 18 to 59, active or veteran military: qualifies for resident-rate pricing on the Basic Hunting License regardless of home state.
3. Age 60 and older: may qualify for the reduced-fee or free Senior Hunting/Fishing License instead of the standard license lineup.
4. Totally and permanently disabled residents: may qualify for a reduced-fee or free Disability License depending on the specific disability.

Whichever category applies to you, keep your license number or card and a physical ID on hand while afield.

How to Get Your Louisiana Hunting License (Step-by-Step)

Getting licensed in Louisiana means confirming your hunter education status first, then choosing the right license bundle for what you plan to hunt. Here's the full process from start to finish.

1. Complete an approved hunter education course if you were born on or after September 1, 1969 and don't qualify for a supervised exemption.
2. Create or locate your LDWF number at louisianaoutdoors.com.
3. Purchase your Basic Hunting License online, by phone, or through an approved retailer.
4. Add species-specific licenses as needed: Deer ($15 resident / $100 non-resident), Turkey ($12 / $50), or Waterfowl ($12 / $50) plus the $29.79 Federal Duck Stamp.
5. Carry your license, or a digital version through the LA Wallet app, along with your Hunter Education Certificate any time you hunt.

Once you've completed these steps, you're fully licensed and ready for the field. The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.

Step 1: Complete an Approved Hunter Education Course

Louisiana's hunter education requirement varies by age at the time you register for the course, which is why choosing the right format matters before you start.

1. Online Only, age 16 and older: Pass the course and print your permanent certification immediately, with no in-person component required.
2. Online plus Field Day, under age 16: Pass the online course, then attend a required Hunter Education Field Day to receive certification.
3. Traditional classroom course: A free, in-person 10-hour course taught over one to three days, covering both classroom and hands-on components in a single format.

Once you earn your Hunter Education Certificate in Louisiana, it stays valid for as long as you hunt, with no renewal and no retesting required.

Step 2: Purchase Your Basic Hunting License

Once you have your Hunter Education Certificate, if it applies to you, you can buy your license through LDWF's licensing site, by calling 1-888-765-2602, or at an approved retailer.

You'll need a government-issued photo ID or LDWF number, proof of hunter education if required, and payment.

Step 3: Add Species Licenses and Go Hunting

A Basic Hunting License only covers small game and other non-specialty species. Taking deer, turkey, or migratory waterfowl each requires its own separate license, purchased after your Basic Hunting License, along with any required federal stamps.

Once your Basic Hunting License and any species licenses are in hand, you're ready to hunt. Before you head out, review general hunting safety practices to make sure you're field-ready.

Louisiana Hunting License Requirements by Age

Let's look at the requirements for hunting licenses in Louisiana by age.

Species licenses: Deer ($15 resident / $100 non-resident), Waterfowl ($12 / $50), and Turkey ($12 / $50) each require a separate license in addition to the Basic Hunting License, along with the $29.79 Federal Duck Stamp for waterfowl hunters age 16 and older.

Season dates and bag limits vary widely across Louisiana's ten deer areas and separate waterfowl zones, so check the current regulations before you plan a hunt.

Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost

Louisiana stands out for letting hunters age 16 and older skip the in-person Field Day entirely, since the online course alone provides full, permanent certification for adults. The chart below offers a quick overview of those formats.

However you earn it, that certification stays with you for life — no repeat courses, no re-testing. The Basic Hunting License is what actually needs renewing, and in Louisiana that happens every 365 days from your purchase date.

What to Bring When Buying Your License

Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your Louisiana hunting license. You'll need:

• Government-issued photo ID or LDWF number
• Hunter Education Certificate, if required for your age and birth year
• Payment (credit or debit card online, or check or card in person)
• Proof of Louisiana residency, if applying for resident rates

Louisiana Hunting Laws and Penalties

Hunting without a required license in Louisiana is generally treated as a class one violation for residents under Louisiana's hunting laws and regulations, carrying a $50 fine for a first offense, $75 to $250 for a second, and $200 to $550 for a third or subsequent offense.

Non-residents face steeper class three penalties: $250 to $500 or up to 90 days in jail for a first offense, rising to $750 to $1,000 with 90 to 120 days in jail and license forfeiture for repeat offenses.

What About Reciprocity?

Louisiana accepts hunter education certificates from any U.S. state, Canadian province, or other jurisdiction that meets IHEA-USA standards, since the state's own program is built to the same guidelines. Other IHEA-USA-compliant states and provinces return the favor and accept a Louisiana Hunter Education Certificate.

The hunting license itself, however, is not transferable. Hunters visiting from out of state still need to purchase a Louisiana non-resident license.

What Out-of-State Visitors Need to Know

Non-residents can hunt in Louisiana with a non-resident Basic Hunting License ($200), plus species-specific licenses like Deer ($100) or Waterfowl ($50), or the bundled Louisiana Sportsman's Paradise License ($400). Hunters born in Louisiana but living elsewhere may qualify for the Nonresident Native License, a 10-day option priced the same as the resident rate.

Start Your Louisiana Hunter Safety Course Today

The Hunter-Ed Louisiana course is approved by LDWF, self-paced, and available on any device. Complete the online portion, finish your Field Day if you're under 16, and get your lifetime Louisiana Hunter Education Certificate.

Approved by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) | Last verified August 11, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Do I need a hunting license in Louisiana?

A: Yes, if you're age 18 or older, you need a Basic Hunting License to hunt most legal game in Louisiana. Hunters age 17 and under only need a license, the $5 Youth Hunting License, if they're actively hunting deer or turkey, trapping, or participating in a lottery hunt.

Q: How old do you have to be to get Louisiana hunter education certification?

A: You must be at least 10 years old to receive full Louisiana hunter education certification, though you can take the online course starting at age 9. Youth younger than 9 can attend the in-person classroom format but won't be eligible for certification until they turn 10.

Q: How much does a Louisiana hunting license cost?

A: A resident Basic Hunting License in Louisiana costs $20, and a non-resident license costs $200. Species licenses like Deer ($15 resident) and Turkey ($12 resident) are purchased separately, and prices reflect LDWF's current fee schedule.

Q: Does a Louisiana hunting license expire?

A: Yes. Louisiana hunting licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase rather than a fixed calendar year, so your renewal date shifts based on when you bought it.

Q: Can I complete Louisiana hunter education entirely online?

A: Yes, if you're 16 or older at the time you register, you can complete Louisiana hunter education entirely online. Hunters under 16 must pass the online course and then attend an in-person Field Day before they can receive certification.

Q: Do I need hunter education in Louisiana?

A: Yes, you need hunter education in Louisiana if you were born on or after September 1, 1969. Hunters born before that date, or anyone hunting under the direct supervision of a qualified adult, are exempt from the requirement.

Q: What's the penalty for hunting without a license in Louisiana?

A: If you hunt without a hunting license in Louisiana, a first offense for a resident carries a $50 fine under the state's class one violation schedule. Non-residents face a steeper class three penalty starting at $250 to $500 or up to 90 days in jail, with fines and jail time increasing for repeat offenses.