John K. Flores: A look ahead to 2025-26 deer season

Over the past few weeks, hunters have quietly been going to the marsh and woods in St. Mary Parish to hunt deer with their bows and primitive weapons. For others, it has been a little too warm to get all that enthused about hunting. What’s more, it’s only a few hardcore diehards that have the gumption to deal with swarms of mosquitos that come with hot weather.
Nonetheless, deer season is fully upon us with the regular firearm season opening Saturday in Deer Area 7. And, although the daytime temperatures will remain in the low to mid 80s, with overnight morning lows in the 60s over the course of the next week, this is the time of year when deer start to move around.
Why? St. Mary Parish is known for divergent ruts (the time when does come into estrus). St. Mary Parish actually has 3 Deer Areas. Most of the parish falls in Deer Area 7 west of U.S. 90 all the way to the coastal marsh except for a portion north of U.S. 90 from the Iberia Parish line to Wax Lake outlet. Deer Area 9 is that portion of St. Mary east of U.S. 90 from the Iberia Parish line to the Wax Lake outlet.
The third is Deer Area 5 that lies east of the West Atchafalaya Basin protection levee. Note: Be sure to review the 2025-26 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Hunting Regulations to refine what area you are hunting in in St. Mary Parish, as details are more specific from the listed notes here.
Because of these three areas, the deer peak breeding dates in St. Mary Parish can range from Oct. 24-Dec. 18. Area 7’s peak breeding date is Oct. 19-Nov. 6.
During the ’50s and ’60s, post World War II, the LDWF embarked on a statewide whitetail deer restocking effort, as deer numbers were quite low. Some of those deer consisted of native deer captured from Delta National Wildlife Refuge at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
These deer were accustomed to annual spring flooding and therefore genetically bred earlier than native deer captured in the northern part of the state, as well as some brought in from Texas and Wisconsin to be restocked. Hence, the reason Area 7 annually opens earlier than other regions.
So, what can St. Mary Parish (Deer Area 7 and 9) hunters expect this year, particularly with no hurricanes or tropical systems across the Louisiana coastline this summer and fall?
LDWF Deer Program Manager Johnathan Bordelon said, “The lack of coastal flooding will benefit coastal deer populations. Coastal flooding at a time when fawns are most vulnerable can negatively impact recruitment — a year without flooding is a benefit.
“While the summer ended on a drier note than it began for many,” Bordelon continued, “most areas surveyed across the state looked favorable this summer as it pertained to plant growth.
Active growth was encountered in both the eastern and western parts of the state during summer browse surveys. This is a benefit to deer at a nutritionally demanding time of year.”
Deer harvest number continue to rise across the state. Using the LDWF deer reporting system metric, during the 2024-25 season, hunters harvested 143,527 deer. The deer harvest increased 5 percent from the previous year.
The northern parishes continue to dominate when it comes to total reported harvest. Union Parish hunters brought home 6,686 deer, followed by Vernon with 5,896, Bienville, 5,896, and Claiborne, 5,552, rounding out the 5000+ club.
Chronic wasting disease continues to be an issue in some of the northern parishes. This past season a deer with CWD was detected by the department.
Bordelon said, “The hunter harvested deer was the first free-ranging CWD detection outside of Tensas Parish. Within Tensas Parish, the disease has only been detected near the Mississippi River. While not widespread, the disease does have the potential to spread to new areas.”
Bordelon says the CWD control area was expanded in response to the detection in Catahoula Parish. The LDWF encourages hunters traveling to the areas within the CWD control area to visit the CWD page on the department website to learn more.
New for the 2025-26 hunting season is hunters 65 or older are able to use any legal firearm for deer during the primitive firearm season. Additionally, there is a provision that allows disabled veterans to use any legal weapon during the primitive firearm season. Details for specifics can also be found on the LDWF website.
With deer season fully underway, hunters should use caution when hunting from elevated stands. There are plenty of safety harnesses to choose from available today that fits anyone’s budget and comfort.
Many Deer Area 7 hunters will be using a watercraft to travel to and from deer stands in the marsh.
Wearing a personal flotation device could save your life. Additionally, prior to hunting, be sure to check your running lights, as the morning rush to the stand often includes encounters with other hunters.
Finally, be safe and be sure to send those first deer, big deer, and best hunt ever pictures to us. We’d love to tell your story.
John Flores is the Morgan City Review’s outdoor writer. He can be contacted at gowiththeflo@cox.net.