• Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area
This 137,000-acre tract of public land lies at the mouth of the Atchafalaya River and Wax Lake Outlet. This bountiful ecosystem is somewhat of an anomaly along the coast, as it is actively building land while most of the surrounding marsh is eroding into the Gulf. Deer hunting isn’t permitted on the Wax Lake Delta, but there is an archery only season on the Atchafalaya Delta.
• Pointe Aux Chenes WMA
There are few timber stands on this parcel of land, most of it along canal banks, levees and a few ridges. Much of the land is intermediate and brackish marsh. Access to the interior of the property is best by boat.
• Pass A Loutre WMA
Near the mouth of the Mississippi River, this tract is characterized by bayous, canals and marshes that are at the whim of the river. Past hurricanes have created large ponds and bays, which has prompted the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to create habitat enhancement projects. Hunting for whitetails is archery only.
• Biloxi WMA
Most of this 42,000-acre parcel of public land is brackish and saline marsh, which means vegetation mostly consists of cordgrass, black rush and glasswort. Sparse ridges may contain oak trees, but most of the area is full of widgeon grass. Access to the property is easy through an abundance of bayous. Deer hunting is archery only.
• Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge
Archery hunters only have from October 1 through the Friday before the Coastal Zone waterfowl opener to pursue whitetails. The area is located on the edge of Grand Lake, which covers more than 42,000 acres near the Gulf. The freshwater marsh is incredibly fruitful and home to a variety of wildlife.
• Bayou Teche NWR
This nearly 10,000-acre property near Bayou Teche is diverse in that it contains bottomland hardwood forests, cypress-tupelo swamps, bayous and freshwater marshes. Here, deer share habitat with the Louisiana black bear. Whitetails can be found in each of the habitat types, subsisting off of acorns and marsh grasses.
• Cameron Prairie NWR
Like Lacassine, this NWR allows archery hunting from the beginning of October through the Friday before the Coastal Zone waterfowl opener. At 9,621 acres, there is plenty of marsh, coastal prairie and old rice fields that hold deer.