By Journal Services Staff Writer

The 2025 Louisiana black bear hunting lottery concluded Aug. 28 with 1,330 applications from 1,119 applicants, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced.

Key Details:

• 26 permits will be issued for the Dec. 6-21 hunt, up from 11 in 2024
• Applications included 554 for private landowner lottery, 212 for LDWF Wildlife Management Area lottery in Bear Area 4 and 564 for general lottery
• Eight permits issued in Bear Management Area 1, three in Area 2 and 15 in Area 4
• Cubs and females with cubs are illegal to harvest; cubs defined as bears weighing 75 pounds or less
• Unsuccessful applicants receive preference points (capped at five) for subsequent years
• Hunters drawn cannot be selected again for two years

Impact/Analysis: The lottery drew 973 applications from 814 hunters in 2024. Population estimates and vital rate data determined permit numbers for each bear area. All lottery fees and license revenue fund the Louisiana black bear program, supporting live trapping, radio collaring, winter den checks and hair sampling to monitor range expansion.

Bottom Line: The Louisiana black bear was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1992 and delisted in 2016 following collaborative conservation efforts, marking one of the state’s most successful conservation programs.

For more information on the black bear hunting lottery, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/black-bear-hunting-lottery.