(The Center Square) – Hunters in parts of Louisiana affected by chronic wasting disease will have a new opportunity to harvest velvet-antlered bucks before the regular archery season under changes approved for the state’s 2026-27 deer hunting regulations.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries created a new nine-day early archery velvet season for antlered bucks within the state’s Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zones in Deer Areas 1, 2 and 6.

The season opens Aug. 29 and runs through Sept. 6 in the Deer Area 2 management zone before shifting to the Deer Areas 1 and 6 management zones from Sept. 12-20. The season is limited to antlered bucks and legal archery equipment and applies only within designated CWD Management Zones, not entire deer management areas.

Those management zones include areas where chronic wasting disease has been detected or where wildlife officials are working to slow its spread. Confirmed cases have been found in Catahoula, Concordia, Ouachita and Tensas parishes, while portions of Jackson, Lincoln, Union, Morehouse, Caldwell, Franklin, La Salle, Madison and Avoyelles parishes are also included within the state’s four CWD Management Zones.

Brad Kennon, deer program manager for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, said the agency created the season after hearing increased interest from hunters who wanted an opportunity to pursue bucks before they shed their velvet.

“Recently, we observed an increased interest for an early archery buck season where hunters may have the opportunity to pursue bucks during unique hunting period when antlers may still be in velvet,” Kennon told The Center Square. “This season also aligns Louisiana with several other states which offer early archery seasons.”

Kennon said the season also restores hunting opportunity for some private land hunters within CWD management zones who have lost other hunting opportunities because of disease mitigation efforts.

“This early archery velvet season provides hunters the opportunity for additional harvest, specifically on private land within CWD Management Zones where they may have previously lost other allowances due to CWD mitigation efforts,” Kennon said. “Utilizing CWD Management Zones for this season will also allow us to gauge interest, participation, and the effectiveness of an early season in Louisiana.”

Although the season takes place within CWD management zones, Kennon said it is not specifically tied to the department’s long-term chronic wasting disease management strategy.

“This season isn’t specifically tied to our CWD long-term management strategy,” Kennon said. “It will however offer opportunity for additional harvest, which is recommended when managing deer populations, especially within a CWD Management Zone.”

Louisiana has confirmed 55 cases of chronic wasting disease since 2022, including 15 detected during the 2025-26 hunting season, according to Kennon.

The early archery season is one of several statewide changes hunters will see this year.

Hunters in Deer Area 1 will see the seasonal bag limit increase from four to six deer. The new limit allows hunters to harvest up to six deer each season, including no more than two antlered deer and five antlerless deer. Previously, the limit was four deer, including no more than two antlered deer and three antlerless deer.

Another change expands who may use any legal firearm during primitive firearms season. In addition to hunters 65 and older, disabled veteran license holders and other properly licensed disabled hunters may now use any legal weapon during primitive firearms season.

Hunters will also be allowed to use drones to recover mortally wounded deer or bears. The new rule applies only after an animal has been shot and does not permit hunters to use drones to locate, scout or pursue live game before making a harvest.

The regulations also clarify that a legal antlered buck includes one with velvet-covered antlers measuring at least 3 inches, addressing questions surrounding bucks harvested during the early season while their antlers are still in velvet.

Most other deer regulations, including the statewide limit of three antlered bucks per hunter each season, mandatory tagging and harvest reporting requirements and the overall season framework, remain unchanged.

Hunters preparing for the season can also save money during Louisiana’s annual Second Amendment Weekend Sales Tax Holiday, scheduled for Sept. 4-6. Eligible purchases of firearms, ammunition and hunting supplies are exempt from the state’s sales tax during the three-day event.