Bogue Chitto Wildlife Management Area

In a scenic corner of Southeast Louisiana, where the forested hills meet the winding waters of the Bogue Chitto, a new chapter in conservation is unfolding. Thanks to a partnership between the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and Trust for Public Land, over 1,642 acres of wild, river-threaded wildlife habitat will soon become Washington Parish’s first, state-owned Wildlife Management Area(WMA).

With help from the Louisiana Outdoors Forever Fund, a conservation initiative established by the state legislature in 2022, this land will be permanently protected as a Wildlife Management Area. Stretching along six miles of riverfront south of Franklinton and just south of Bogue Chitto State Park, this area offers a haven for wildlife and a new kind of access for the public.

Rugged forested hills rise from the river floodplains to expansive forests and tranquil lakes, all forming an ecosystem rich with life. Thanks to incredible partners like Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation/Restore the Earth Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation’s Louisiana Chapter, Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation, and The AES Corporation, this vibrant landscape will continue to support whitetail deer, wild turkeys, squirrels, and other vital wildlife, while the Bogue Chitto will continue to invite anglers, paddlers, and swimmers to experience one of Louisiana’s most iconic and biodiverse rivers.

Whether it’s hunting, fishing, hiking, paddling, wildlife viewing, or photography, this wild and rich landscape will remain a source of wonder for generations to come.