Louisiana deer hunters are gearing up for the 2025–2026 season, but another challenge is already waiting in the woods: feral hogs. This Louisiana Hog Hunting Guide explains how invasive hogs impact deer hunting, what the rules are, and how hunters can stay ahead of the problem. With an estimated 700,000 hogs across all 64 parishes, Louisiana has the second-largest hog population in the U.S. These invasive animals cause $76 million in crop damage annually, uprooting food plots, damaging forests, and even threatening whitetail herds.
For sportsmen, the situation is clear: deer season is limited, hog season never ends. To have a successful whitetail hunt in 2025, hunters and landowners must also keep hogs in check.
Learn more about the Boar Blanket Hog Trap in Louisiana — a portable, silent trapping system built to capture entire sounders.
2025 Louisiana Deer Season Dates (Hog Hunting Guide Reference)
| Season Type | Dates (2025–2026) | Notes |
| Archery | Oct 1 – Jan 31, 2026 | Parish variations apply |
| Muzzleloader | Mid–Oct – Late Oct, 2025 | Primitive weapons only |
| General Firearms | Nov – Jan (varies by parish) | Region-specific regulations |
| Youth-Only Deer | Selected weekends (Oct & Jan) | Limited to ages 16 & under |
These dates overlap with peak hog activity — especially mast crop seasons — when hogs compete directly with deer for food and habitat.
Do You Need a License for Deer vs. Hogs?
- Deer: Requires a valid hunting license, deer tags, and a harvest record logged in Louisiana Game Check. Non-residents must buy the appropriate permits and tags.
- Hogs: Year-round hunting, no tags, no bag limits. A hunting license is still required on both public and private land.
The difference is cost and complexity: deer hunting requires more paperwork and fees, while hog hunting is simpler but just as essential for land management.
How Feral Hogs Threaten Louisiana’s Deer Season (Hog Hunting Guide Insights)
- Acorn Competition: Hogs clean out mast crops deer depend on in fall.
- Food Plot Damage: Winter plots planted for deer are often destroyed by rooting.
- Feeder Domination: Hog sounders overtake feeders, leaving deer displaced.
- Fawn Predation: Hogs kill young fawns, reducing deer herd recruitment.
- Habitat Destruction: Rooting and wallowing damage bedding areas, swamps, and forests.
Hunters across Louisiana report that hog-heavy areas produce fewer deer sightings during hunting season.
Hog don’t only ruin deer season, but they can also ruin your land. Learn more.
What Species of Hogs Are in Louisiana?
Louisiana hogs are all Sus scrofa but appear in three main forms:
- Domestic feral hogs – Escaped livestock pigs, highly prolific.
- Eurasian wild boar – Introduced for hunting, darker and tusked.
- Hybrids – The most common type, thriving in parishes from the piney woods to the Atchafalaya Basin.
Large boars, often 200+ pounds, dominate feeders and disrupt deer hunting activity.
Control Methods Allowed in Louisiana (Hog Hunting Guide 2025)
- Year-Round Hunting: Legal statewide with a hunting license.
- Night Hunting: Allowed on private land with landowner permission and sheriff notification. Thermal and night vision scopes are permitted.
- Trapping: Silent and effective. The Boar Blanket is one of the few traps designed for one-person setup and whole-sounder capture.
- Public Land Rules: WMAs restrict hog hunting to open game seasons, with weapon rules matching that season.
- Transport Restrictions: Live hog transport and holding require special permits from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture.
Learn how to trap hogs with our Hog Trapping Checklist: Prep for Sounders
How to Hunt Hogs During Deer Season (Tips)
- Separate Traps from Stands: Keep hog trapping areas away from deer hunting setups.
- Opportunistic Harvests: Carry hog ammunition while deer hunting.
- Use Different Baits: Corn feeders for deer, separate bait lines for hog traps.
- Go for Whole Sounders: Prevent rapid population rebound with full-group trapping. See our Sounder Trapping Guide.
FAQs for Louisiana Hunters
Can I hunt deer and hogs at the same time in Louisiana?
Yes. On private land, hogs can be taken during deer hunts. On WMAs, hog hunting is tied to open game seasons.
Are hogs ruining deer season in Louisiana?
In many areas, yes. They compete for food, damage plots, and scare deer away from feeders.
Do I need tags for hogs like I do for deer?
No. Only a hunting license is required.
Can non-residents hunt hogs in Louisiana?
Yes, with the appropriate non-resident hunting license.
Are there bag limits on hogs?
No. Hogs are invasive and may be hunted year-round with no limits.
Related Resources
Final Thoughts
Deer season in Louisiana is short, but hog season never ends. To protect whitetail herds and ensure a successful hunt in 2025, hog control must be part of every hunter’s strategy.
The Boar Blanket provides a proven, silent, and efficient solution — giving landowners and hunters the ability to reduce hog populations while preserving deer hunting opportunities.