Louisiana is home to one of the largest feral hog populations in the country — estimated at 700,000 animals across all 64 parishes. These destructive invaders uproot crops, erode wetlands, damage forests, and compete directly with deer and other native wildlife. According to the LSU AgCenter, feral hogs cause more than $76 million in agricultural damage annually, making Louisiana hog hunting both a year-round opportunity and a critical management challenge.

For hunters, the Bayou State presents both opportunity and responsibility. Hogs can be hunted year-round, but Louisiana law requires hunters to carry valid licenses and follow specific nighttime and WMA regulations. And with the 2025 deer season approaching, hog pressure on food plots and acorn drops is becoming a bigger concern for whitetail hunters.

Ready to get serious about control? Learn more about the Boar Blanket Hog Trap in Louisiana — the silent, one-person trapping system designed for whole sounder capture.

Do You Need a License for Louisiana Hog Hunting?

Yes. All hunters in Louisiana must carry a valid hunting license to pursue feral hogs.

• Private Land: A basic hunting license is required for year-round hunting, day or night, with landowner permission.
  
• Public Land (WMAs): Hog hunting is only allowed during open seasons for other game. Methods of take must match what’s legal for the season (archery, small game, firearms, etc.).
  
• Special Permits: An Alligator Harvest Permit or other stamps may overlap for certain activities but are not required for hogs.
  

Key difference vs. deer: Deer hunting requires tags, harvest records, and reporting through Louisiana Game Check. Hogs require only a license — no tags, no bag limits.

Can You Hunt Feral Hogs Year-Round in Louisiana Hog Hunting?

Yes. Feral hogs can be hunted 365 days a year with no bag limits. However, restrictions apply depending on land type and method.

Species	Season Dates (2025)	Notes
Feral Hogs	Year-round	Private land, no bag limit
Deer – Archery	Oct 1 – Jan 31, 2026	Statewide, parish exceptions apply
Deer – Firearms	Mid-Nov – Early Jan (dates vary by parish)	Antler restrictions in some areas
Deer – Youth & Primitive	Selected weekends in Oct & Jan	Limited opportunities

Night Hunting Rules:

• Allowed on private property with landowner permission.
  
• Hunters must notify the parish sheriff’s office 24 hours before hunting at night.
  
• Legal firearms include rifles, shotguns, and handguns; thermal and night vision optics are permitted.
  
• Suppressors are legal with ATF approval.
  

Types of Hogs Found in Louisiana Hog Hunting Areas

Louisiana’s hog population is a mix of:

• Domestic feral hogs – Escaped pigs turned wild, highly prolific breeders.
  
• Eurasian wild boar – Larger, darker, tusked animals originally introduced for hunting.
  
• Hybrids – The most common, combining traits of both and thriving in swamps, pine forests, and farmland.
  

These hogs thrive in bottomland hardwoods and wetlands, consuming acorns, rooting up seedlings, and damaging levees and dikes critical to Louisiana agriculture and ecosystems.

How Do Feral Hogs Affect Deer Hunting in Louisiana?

• Competition for Acorns: Both deer and hogs rely heavily on mast crops like acorns. Hogs often clean out entire areas, leaving little for deer.
  
• Food Plot Destruction: Farmers and land managers spend thousands planting winter food plots, only to see them uprooted by hogs.
  
• Feeder Domination: Hog sounders quickly take over corn feeders meant for deer, forcing whitetails to relocate.
  
• Predation: Hogs are opportunistic and have been documented killing fawns and ground-nesting birds.
  
• Habitat Loss: Rooting, wallowing, and erosion reduce cover and water quality, altering deer movement.
  

For Louisiana deer hunters, hog pressure often means fewer sightings, less predictable deer patterns, and diminished hunting success.

What Legal Methods Apply to Louisiana Hog Hunting?

• Trapping: One of the most effective methods. Systems like the Boar Blanket allow for full-sounder captures without spooking animals.
  
• Night Hunting: Permitted on private property with landowner permission, sheriff notification, and legal firearms.
  
• Public Land: Restricted to open seasons and legal weapons for those seasons.
  
• Aerial Control: Permits are available for aerial hog control in some cases.
  
• Transport Restrictions: Transporting live feral hogs without proper permits is illegal in Louisiana.
  

FAQs

Can I use night vision to hunt hogs in Louisiana?
Yes, on private land with landowner permission and sheriff notification. Thermal and night vision are legal.

Do I need tags for feral hogs like I do for deer?
No. Only a license is required. No tags, harvest records, or bag limits.

Can non-residents hunt hogs in Louisiana?
Yes. Non-residents must purchase a Louisiana hunting license.

Can I trap hogs on public land?
Trapping on WMAs is typically restricted and requires LDWF approval. Most trapping is conducted on private land.

Are there diseases in Louisiana hogs I should worry about?
Yes. Feral hogs may carry brucellosis, leptospirosis, and trichinosis. Always wear gloves and cook meat to 165°F.

Related Resources

• Visit the FAQ Hub
  
• Explore the upcoming Louisiana Deer Season Blog 2025
  
• Read the Case Study
  
• Learn How Whole Sounder Trapping Works
  

Final Thoughts

Feral hogs are one of Louisiana’s biggest wildlife management challenges. With populations expanding and deer season approaching, hunters and landowners need to plan for both whitetails and hogs.The Boar Blanket is purpose-built for Louisiana’s unique terrain — swamps, pine forests, and farmland — and allows one person to capture entire sounders in a single setup. If you’re serious about protecting food plots, preserving deer herds, and reducing agricultural losses, it’s the tool Louisiana hunters can rely on.