Louisiana will issue 10 tags for black bear hunting during this year’s 16-day season that will run December 7-22 after final approval was made by the state’s Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. The tags will be issued via the state’s lottery system for a limited area where bears have proven to be problematic for landowners, farmers and hunters.

The season will be limited to one area in northeast Louisiana, and hunting over bait will be permitted. The state has seven bear management zones. The one targeted for the hunt is Zone 4, in the northeast corner of the state. It comprises Tensas, Madison, East Carroll and West Carroll parishes, and portions of Richland, Franklin and Catahoula parishes.

Cubs and females with cubs will not be legal to harvest. A cub is defined as any bear less than or equal to 75 pounds. Permits will be required for the three public Wildlife Management Areas within the bear unit.

Hunts will be restricted to properly licensed Louisiana residents. All successful applicants will be required to attend a LDWF bear hunter training course. Hunts will be still-hunt only.