Why It Matters: Louisiana’s black bear hunt is one of the state’s most sought-after hunting opportunities and represents a remarkable conservation success story. As interest in the limited-entry hunt continues to grow, protecting applicants’ personal information is critical to maintaining confidence in the lottery process. Earlier this year, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) worked alongside the Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to advance House Bill 1177, ensuring hunters applying for limited-entry lotteries, such as the black bear hunt, can do so knowing their personal information is protected.
Highlights:
- The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has opened applications for the 2026 Louisiana black bear hunting lottery, with the season scheduled for December 5-20.
- Louisiana plans to issue up to 42 black bear permits across seven Bear Management Areas, providing additional opportunities for sportsmen to participate in this carefully managed hunt.
- Earlier this year, CSF supported House Bill 1177, legislation that protects the personally identifiable information of applicants participating in Louisiana’s limited-entry wildlife lotteries until after that hunting season has concluded.
Applications are now open for Louisiana’s 2026 black bear hunting lottery through August 28, marking another milestone in one of North America’s greatest wildlife conservation success stories. Following the successful return of regulated black bear hunting in recent years, the LDWF continues to use science-based management to provide carefully regulated hunting opportunities while maintaining a healthy and sustainable bear population.
As participation in the lottery continues to increase, so does the importance of protecting the personal information of hunters applying for these highly coveted permits. Recognizing this need, CSF spearheaded an effort that resulted in the Louisiana Legislature unanimously passing House Bill 1177 during the 2026 Legislative Session, which went into effect August 1. The legislation, authored by Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair and NASC Executive Council Member Representative Jerome Zeringue, protects personally identifiable information submitted through limited-entry wildlife lottery applications until after the season has concluded.
By safeguarding applicants’ names, addresses, contact information, and other personal information, HB 1177 helps preserve the integrity of Louisiana’s lottery system while protecting hunters from unwanted disclosure, harassment, and solicitation. These commonsense privacy protections ensure that sportsmen and women can apply with confidence while reinforcing public trust in one of the state’s premier hunting opportunities.
Louisiana’s black bear hunt represents decades of successful conservation made possible through science-based wildlife management, habitat restoration, and the investments of hunters through the American System of Conservation Funding. As interest in the hunt continues to grow, policies that protect both the resource and the hunters who support its conservation become increasingly important.
CSF remains committed to advancing policies that protect sportsmen and women while strengthening the future of hunting and wildlife conservation in Louisiana. Hunters interested in applying for this year’s black bear lottery are encouraged to review the application requirements and deadlines through LDWF before submitting their application.