»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýappÏÂÔØ

The Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex has three Lottery Drawn Waterfowl Hunt opportunities on Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. The application period for the lottery waterfowl hunts is September 1-30, 2025. All applications must be received by Tuesday, September 30th 2025, any application cards received after will not be considered. Cards may be mailed to Cameron Prairie Lottery Hunt, 209 Nature Rd, Lake Arthur, LA 70549 or dropped into the secure incoming mailbox, located in front of the Cameron Prairie office at the edge of the parking lot. The Cameron Prairie Office/Visitor center is open Tuesday through Thursday between the hours of 9:30am and 2:30pm, cards may be brought inside and given to staff member. See description of each hunt and how to apply below.

The Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Youth Lottery Waterfowl Hunt is open to youth 8�17 years of age. The youth hunts, in five blinds, are scheduled on Saturdays and selected Sundays and school holidays within the Louisiana West Zone waterfowl hunting season. The 15 available hunt dates for the 2025-26 Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Youth Lottery Waterfowl Hunt are November 8-9* (* Youth Waterfowl Day is a youth only hunt for youths 17 years old and under. Adults must supervise youth, but adults cannot hunt on this day). November 15, 22, 28, and 29, December 06, 20, 26, and 27, and January 03, 10, 17, 24 and 25 (2026). Selected youth, their adult supervisor, and a guest of any age are permitted to hunt on these dates in compliance with state law. Youth hunters must harvest their own limit. Decoys are NOT provided.

Youth hunter applicants must be 8-17 years of age by November 1, 2025. (For the Louisiana Youth Only Hunt on November 8-9, 2025, the youth and youth guest must be 17 or younger on that day to hunt). One adult will supervise no more than two youth hunters. Youths may hunt without hunter education certification if they are accompanied by and under direct supervision of a person born before September 1, 1969 that has a valid hunting license; or accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a person who is 18 years of age or older and has proof of successful completion of a hunter education course approved by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. If the course has been taken, but the card has not been received, you are required to carry a copy of the course completion certificate while hunting. Three hunters (supervising adult, permitted youth, and a guest of any age) are permitted in each of the Cameron Prairie pit blinds.

The Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Senior Lottery Waterfowl Hunt is open to seniors age 55 and older by November 1, 2025. Senior hunts, in five blinds, are scheduled on Wednesdays during the Louisiana West Zone waterfowl hunting season. The 8 available dates for the 2025-26 Cameron Prairie NWR Senior Lottery Waterfowl Hunt are November 19 and 26, December 03, and 24 and 31, January 7, 14 and 21 (2026). Chosen senior hunters are permitted to bring two guests of any age. Decoys are NOT provided.

The Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Veteran Lottery Waterfowl Hunt is open to all Veterans. The Veteran hunts, in five blinds, are scheduled on Saturday January 31 and Sunday February 1, 2026, during the Louisiana West Zone waterfowl hunting season. Chosen Veteran hunters are permitted to bring two guests, guest must be Veterans as well. Decoys are NOT provided.

To apply for refuge Lottery Hunts: Submit Only ONE white 3� x 5� index card for each hunt that you are applying for this year. There are three different lottery waterfowl hunts, they are: 1) Cameron Prairie Youth Waterfowl Hunt and 2) Cameron Prairie Senior Waterfowl Hunt and 3) Cameron Prairie Veteran Waterfowl Hunt.

Each card must contain the following information:

1. Print or Type Name of Hunt that you are applying for:

2. Cameron Prairie Youth Waterfowl Hunt, Cameron Prairie Senior Waterfowl Hunt, Cameron Prairie Veteran Waterfowl Hunt (only one card per hunt, NOT one per hunt date)

3. Print or Type Applicant name

4. Print or Type Applicant age by November 1, 2025

5. Print or Type Applicants complete mailing address

6. Print or Type Applicants email address

7. Print or Type Applicants complete contact telephone number

8. Print or Type Applicants preferred Hunt Date and up to FOUR alternate dates, in priority order, or write “any available date� if you can make it to any hunt date.

Phone or email applications are not accepted. If the required information is not provided, or is illegible, the applicant will not be eligible for the drawing. Individuals submitting more than one card per hunt will be disqualified from the drawing.

Successful applicants will receive a packet containing a special lottery hunt permit that will identify the hunt date and blind number of the hunt, a map to the hunt blind, a parking permit to go on the dashboard and a SWLA NWR Complex hunt permit brochure. Packets should arrive no later than October 25, 2025.

For additional information about any of the SW LA National Wildlife Refuges call 337-774-5923 or view our website at /refuge/cameron-prairie. Information will also be provided on the complex Facebook page .