The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has created a Kisatchie National Forest (KNF) permit for individuals hunting deer during the "with or without dogs" portion of the hunting season - Dec. 18 to 24 and Dec. 26. The permit is available online at http://knf-permit.wlf.louisiana.gov and is free of charge. Hunters must still purchase and carry all other licenses required to hunt deer.

The permitting process will enable KNF and LDWF to gather information necessary to proceed with future hunting opportunities on these properties. Every deer hunter in Kisatchie National Forest, except on the Caney Ranger District and the Vernon Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District, during these dates, regardless of age, is required to have this permit. Deer hunters using dogs must register an identifying mark with LDWF. Each dog must wear a collar providing the owner's name, address and phone number. To obtain a permit, the hunter must provide their name and address and the identifying mark used on all dogs engaged in the hunt.

Dog hunters utilizing the online application should be sure that their dog marking (a one, two or three character marking unique to a hunter or group of hunters and consisting of numbers and letters only) is registered on the site and appears on the printed permit.

Hunters without access to the online permit application may call Justin Rabalais at 225-765-2346 or the LDWF Pineville Field Office at 318-487-5885.

For more information on all other rules regarding hunting on the KNF, please visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/kisatchie/hunting/index.html.