LOUISIANA
DEER TRACKING

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TRACKING LAWS* FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA

Know the rules before you track. These Louisiana laws help ensure ethical recovery, respect for landowners, and the future of our hunting rights.

Louisiana allows licensed hunters and trackers to use trained tracking dogs to recover deer that have been legally shot and mortally wounded. Tracking dogs may only be used to recover a specific wounded deer and cannot be used to pursue or hunt healthy deer. These tracking provisions do not apply on Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).

Hunters and trackers may use artificial lights while recovering a wounded deer, except on Wildlife Management Areas where tracking dogs are not authorized. Only one tracking dog may be used by a tracking party, although a second dog may accompany the party for deer retrieval training. Tracking dogs must either remain on a handheld leash or wear a GPS tracking collar while conducting a recovery.

Louisiana does not require a separate tracking dog certification or permit for handlers. Hunters remain responsible for possessing all required hunting licenses, deer tags, and complying with Louisiana's harvest reporting and tagging requirements for any deer recovered.

If a mortally wounded deer is found alive after legal hunting hours, a licensed hunter or tracker may humanely dispatch the animal using a centerfire handgun with a caliber between .25 and .45 and a barrel length of six inches or less. This exception applies only to recovering a legally wounded deer and does not authorize nighttime deer hunting.

Using a tracking dog does not grant permission to enter private property. If a wounded deer crosses onto private land, hunters and trackers must obtain verbal or written permission from the landowner before continuing the recovery.

Louisiana permits drones to assist with recovering deer or bears reasonably believed to be mortally wounded on private property where the hunter and pilot have permission. Flights must occur outside legal hunting hours after traditional tracking efforts have failed, and the operator must hold an FAA Part 107 certificate and use an FAA-registered drone equipped with thermal imaging and a light used only to determine the animal’s condition. No one involved may possess a weapon, and the drone cannot be used to hunt, chase, harass, scout, or locate healthy wildlife. The animal’s location may be provided to the hunter only when it is confirmed dead or mortally wounded.

* Disclaimer: The information provided by TRAKR is intended as a general summary of state tracking laws and regulations and is not legal advice. Because laws and regulations may change, hunters and trackers should always verify current statutes, regulations, and agency guidance before using dogs, drones, or other recovery methods in their state.

Average Deer Tracking Fees in Louisiana

Hunters searching for deer tracking services in Louisiana primarily rely on trained blood tracking dog teams to help locate wounded deer. Based on pricing information listed by Louisiana trackers in the TRAKR database, tracking costs vary depending on the tracker’s pricing structure, travel distance, and service terms.

46% of Louisiana dog tracking teams offer free tracking services or operate primarily for tips or donations.
Among Louisiana dog tracking teams that list a fixed or calculable fee, the average listed price is approximately $169.
TRAKR does not currently have enough fixed or calculable Louisiana drone recovery rates to publish a dependable statewide average.

How Louisiana Deer Tracking Rates Were Calculated

These averages are based on rates and pricing instructions supplied by trackers through their TRAKR profiles. When a tracker listed mileage charges or travel-based pricing, the estimated rate was calculated using a standard travel distance of 50 miles each way.

Fee ranges were calculated using the midpoint. Separate recovery or finder fees were added to the initial tracking fee. When separate rates were listed for bucks and does, the buck rate was used because more than 80 percent of tracking requests involve bucks.

The rates shown are estimates based on available information and do not represent fixed, required, or recommended prices. TRAKR does not set tracker fees and does not guarantee the accuracy or availability of any listed rate. Individual trackers independently determine their own pricing, service areas, travel charges, deposits, recovery fees, and other terms. Louisiana deer tracking pricing data last updated July 2026.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TRACKING IN LOUISIANA

Louisiana presents a unique set of tracking conditions compared to many other southern states.

The state's whitetails inhabit an incredibly diverse landscape that includes hardwood bottoms, pine forests, agricultural fields, cypress swamps, river deltas, marshes, and thick palmetto cover. Recovering a wounded deer can quickly become difficult when blood trails disappear in standing water, flooded timber, heavy vegetation, or dense understory.

Because much of Louisiana experiences warm temperatures throughout deer season, scent conditions can change rapidly. High humidity, rainfall, and saturated ground often reduce visible blood while making experienced tracking dogs especially valuable.

Many recoveries also involve navigating bayous, drainage canals, pipelines, timber leases, and property boundaries. Having permission before crossing onto neighboring land is essential under Louisiana law.

When to Contact a Tracking Dog

Hunters should strongly consider contacting a tracking dog if:

Blood suddenly stops.
The shot placement is uncertain.
The deer enters a swamp, marsh, or flooded timber.
Heavy rain threatens to wash away sign.
Dense palmetto or thick brush makes visual tracking difficult.
The deer crosses onto neighboring property.
Several hours have passed without locating the animal.

Contacting a tracker early often improves recovery success and helps prevent contaminating the trail with unnecessary foot traffic.

TRAKR in Louisiana

At this time, Louisiana does not have an official statewide TRAKR Network.

If you're a Louisiana tracking dog handler interested in helping hunters recover wounded deer, we'd love to hear from you. TRAKR is actively expanding across the United States and welcomes experienced volunteer and professional tracking teams interested in building a Louisiana network.

LOUISIANA DEER TRACKING