Louisiana Brings Back Black Bear Hunting Permits For 2025

BATON ROUGE, La. (KMDL-FM) - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has announced that once again this year, Louisiana residents will be able to hunt black bears. However, only a handful of permits will be issued.

Bear Hunting Lottery Opens July 28

The Louisiana Black Bear Hunting Lottery will run from July 28 through August 28, 2025. Louisiana residents can apply for a chance at one of 26 permits that will be issued. (That's up from 11 last year.)

The black bear hunting season will run from December 6 to 21.

Permit Categories and Area Breakdown

Bear harvest permits will be issued in the following three categories:

• Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
• Private Landowner
• General

This year's hunt will expand to three Bear Management Areas (up from just one last year). The permit breakdown is as follows:

• 8 in Area 1
• 3 in Area 2
• 15 in Area 4 (includes Secretary's permit)

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Mandatory Training for Permit Holders

There is a lot to know before you consider a black bear hunt. For example, all successful applicants must attend a mandatory bear hunter training course on October 18, 24, or 30 before the hunt.

There is also a $50 non-refundable application fee. And, you must have a valid black bear hunting license before applying for the WMA and the general black bear lotteries.

How to Apply for a Bear Hunting Permit

To apply online, click here: https://buff.ly/aGo10F9

And for more information and application instructions, go to: https://buff.ly/MzSHWsg

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Why Is Black Bear Hunting Allowed Again?

In 2024, Louisiana reversed a nearly 40-year-old hunting ban on Louisiana black bears. So, why?

Quite simply put, the black bear population in the state has been at a sufficient population conducive to limited harvesting.

From Endangered to Managed: A Conservation Success Story

In the mid-20th century, Louisiana's black bear population had plummeted to as few as 80-120 bears, largely due to overhunting and habitat loss. By 1992, black bears were listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

However, from the 1990s through the 2010s, state and federal agencies, private landowners, and other non-governmental organizations worked to restore the habitat.

In 2016, the Louisiana black bear population was removed from the ESA list because population estimates reached approximately 1,200-1,500 bears, considered sufficient for limited harvesting.