LDWF License Changes Take Effect June 1

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fish is implementing a new hunting and fishing license fee structure effective Wednesday, June 1, 2022.

One change that some seem to like is that a license will now be valid for 365 days from the date of purchase instead of a July 1 to June 30 deadline.

However, one change that many people are unhappy with involves lifetime licenses. Officials said Residents Only Lifetime Fishing ($300) and Residents Only Lifetime Hunting ($300) licenses will no longer be available. The new licenses will now cost $500 but will be a combined license for hunting and fishing, officials added.

The LDWF explained that those who already have a lifetime fishing license will retain all of their privileges and will gain the privileges associated with the recreational freshwater license and the recreational saltwater license, but the license will not be converted to a combined hunting license. /sin. Those with a resident lifetime hunting license will also retain their existing privileges, but they will not be converted to a combined hunting/fishing license, officials said.

Click here for more details. Keep reading to learn about the major changes taking effect.

Here are some of the key changes to hunting and recreational fishing licenses that will come into effect on June 1:

1. Simplified fees for fishing gear:
   1. Residential Basic Freshwater Fishing Licenses will include all legal means/gear for catching freshwater species (e.g. pots, seines, slat traps, trammel nets, cast nets with a radius of less than 8′ , 6″, wire nets, pipes, buckets, drums, tires, canisters, crawfish traps, crawfish nets)
   2. Residential saltwater angling licenses will include all legal means/gear to catch saltwater species (e.g. crab pots [up to 10]shrimp trawl up to 25 feet, oyster gripper)
2. 365 day licenses: Recreational licenses purchased on or after June 1, 2022 will be valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. These licenses will no longer follow the year from July 1 to June 30.
3. Automatic license renewal: LDWF is pleased to offer an automatic renewal option for online license sales. This will allow individuals to store their payment information in the system and choose to have their license(s) automatically renewed each year.
4. Hunting Licenses and Youth Tags: As of June 1, young people (aged 17 and under) who actively hunt deer or turkey, participate in a bingo hunt or trap must have a youth hunting license (or a lifetime licence) . Youth who are spectators (not actively hunting) – or hunting game other than deer or turkey – are not required to have a licence.
5. Deer hunting license: The Big Game license will no longer exist under the new consolidated pricing structure. Instead, deer hunters will need to obtain a deer license (in addition to the basic hunting license.) The new “deer license” will include archery and primitive privileges, as well as beacons
6. Turkey hunting license: Previously, a hunter had to obtain all of the following licenses to hunt wild turkeys: Basic Hunting, Big Game, and Louisiana Wild Turkey License. As part of the new consolidated pricing structure, the Big Game license will no longer exist. Turkey hunters will only be required to obtain a basic hunting license and a turkey license (includes tags).
7. WMA Access Permit: As of June 1, you will need a permit to visit an LDWF Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for any reason – boating, hiking, bird watching, berry picking, fishing or hunt. The fee for a WMA Access Permit, which grants access to the 1.5 million acres of land managed by LDWF, is $20/year (resident/non-resident) or $5/day (resident/non-resident). -resident). All funds generated from permit fees will be dedicated to the management of the WMAs. Youth 17 and under are not required to have a WMA access permit. Sportsman Paradise License and Lifetime Licenses include WMA Access Permit.
8. WMA camping permit: As of June 1, staying overnight at a WMA designated campground will require a camping permit (in addition to the access permit). Camping permit is $7/night for up to five adults camping together and must be posted at the party campsite. All funds generated from permit fees will be dedicated to the management of the WMAs. Youth 17 and under are not required to have a camping permit. A campsite is defined as any tent, RV, motor home, vehicle or occupied site within a campground or a ship/houseboat moored next to a campground.
9. Disabled Veteran’s Permit: Effective June 1, the combined license fee for disabled veterans will be $4. However, these costs will be covered by donations made to the program through the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation.

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