Louisiana Deer decline May Lead To Fewer Hunting Days

More and more hunters are killing fewer and fewer deer in Louisiana, according to research compiled by the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and that may result in fewer days or lower season limits for hunters.

According to the agency’s 2014-15 Deer Harvest Report, 273,541 hunters were issued tags to pursue deer last season. That’s the highest number since the tagging program was implemented, continuing a steady rise up from 227,001 sets of tags issued in 2008-09.

But those hunters, on average, saw less success in 2014-15. Over the course of the season, only 139,900 deer were bagged, which was a 16 percent decline from 2013-14, when Louisiana hunters took 166,200 deer.

That continues a downward trend from the late 1990s and early 2000s when Louisiana hunters took more than 250,000 deer a year.