LDWF Primitive Weapons: Legal Rifles and Shotguns for Area 2 Deer Season

The woods of Louisiana have come alive again with deer hunters.

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Archers have been hunting for a couple of weeks now. Our youth and Veterans are now enjoying their special season which lasts through this Friday, October 17.

Then, this Saturday, October 18, Area 2 of Louisiana will see the start of Primitive Weapons deer season which will run through next Friday, October 24.

Once upon a time here in Louisiana, primitive weapons had to be traditional muzzleloaders like the old Flintlocks featured in the photo above.  However, those regulations changed a number of years ago to include a number of more modern style firearms.

And LDWF has made a new exception to those rules for Louisiana hunters 65 and older that just goes into effect this year.

READ MORE: Louisiana Deer Hunters 65+ Receive New Deer Hunting Privilege

That leaves a lot of hunters somewhat in the dark, scratching their heads and wondering, so exactly what firearms are legal for primitive weapons hunting.

What Are The Legal Weapons For Primitive Deer Hunting in Louisiana?

According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, it's legal to hunt with any of the following:

• Rifles or pistols, .44 caliber minimum, or shotguns 10 gauge or smaller, all of which must load exclusively from the muzzle, use black powder or approved substitute only, take ball, shot, or bullet projectile only, including saboted bullets. All of the above may be fitted with magnified scopes.
• Single shot, breech loading rifles or single shot, breech loading pistols, .35 caliber or larger, having an exposed hammer that use metallic cartridges loaded either with black powder or modern smokeless powder. All of the above may be fitted with magnified scopes.
• Single shot, breech loading shotguns, 10 gauge or smaller, having an exposed hammer, loaded with buckshot or slug.

What Are Louisiana's Exceptions To These Primitive Weapons Requirements?

• Youths 17 or younger or individuals 65 or older may hunt deer with any legal weapon during the Primitive Firearms Season in each deer hunting area.
• Either-sex deer may be taken in all areas open for deer hunting EXCEPT when a Bucks Only season is in progress. In such cases, hunters must conform to the bucks only regulations.

The exception above allowing hunters 65 and older to use any legal weapon during primitive weapons season is the new privilege mentioned above that was just instituted for the 2025-26 primitive weapons deer season in Louisiana.

Another recent change is that the license to hunt this special primitive weapons season is now included in the purchase of the Louisiana Deer License. Formerly, this was a special license that had to be purchased additionally.

I've been asked by a number of fellow hunters if their lever action .35 Whelen was legal. Nope!  But the single shot .35 Whelen is probably one of the most popular primitive firearms in the state.

Just remember, when it comes to a rifle, it must be single shot, with an exposed hammer, breach loaded and a minimum of .35 caliber.

And lots of people aren't aware they can hunt with their shotgun, but they're completely legal, as long as it, too, is single shot, breach loaded and 10 gauge or smaller.