For the first time in over a decade, Louisiana is expanding its black bear hunting program, with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announcing the 2025 Black Bear Lottery Hunt will open for applications on July 28 and run through August 28.

This year, 26 hunting permits will be issued, more than doubling the number available in 2024, signaling growing confidence in the state’s black bear population and its recovery since being removed from the endangered species list in 2016.

“We’ve reached a point where controlled, science-based harvest is a tool we can use for population management,” said LDWF Secretary Jack Montoucet. “It also provides a unique opportunity for Louisiana hunters to engage with a species that was once nearly gone from our landscape.”

Where and When

The permits are divided across three Bear Management Areas (BMAs):

• Area 1: 8 permits

• Area 2: 3 permits

• Area 4: 15 permits (including one Secretary’s discretionary permit)

The hunt is scheduled for December 6–21, 2025, and will take place exclusively on private lands within those BMAs. The harvest of cubs and females with cubs (bears under 75 pounds) is strictly prohibited to protect the species’ sustainability.

Who Can Apply

The lottery is open only to Louisiana residents with a valid black bear hunting license. The non-refundable application fee is $50, and hunters may apply once per category. There’s also a private landowner category, requiring ownership of at least 40 contiguous acres and supporting tax documentation.

All selected hunters will be required to attend one of three mandatory training sessions hosted by LDWF in October. These workshops will cover bear biology, harvest reporting, and ethical hunting practices.

What This Means for Louisiana

The black bear, once a vanishing symbol of Louisiana wildlife, has made a significant comeback thanks to decades of conservation efforts. The expanded lottery is not just a win for hunters—but for conservation advocates and rural economies alike.

“This is a historic moment,” said wildlife biologist Sara Benoit of LDWF. “It reflects years of hard work restoring habitat, monitoring populations, and educating the public. The bear is back—and now we can responsibly manage it for the future.”

Farmers and landowners in parishes like Tensas, Concordia, Pointe Coupee, and Avoyelles, where bear sightings have grown more common, also see the lottery as a tool to help manage bear-human interactions.

How to Apply

Interested hunters can apply online at www.wlf.louisiana.gov starting July 28. Selection results will be announced shortly after the application period closes.

For updates, training dates, and bear zone maps, visit the LDWF website or call the Black Bear Hotline at 1-800-256-2749.