The practice of harvesting frogs, often called frogging, is a long-standing tradition in Louisiana, deeply tied to the state’s culture and cuisine. The primary focus is the American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), known for its large size and powerful legs, though the smaller pig frog (Rana grylio) is also a popular target. Because these amphibians are a renewable natural resource, their collection is managed to ensure species stability and continued availability. State laws regulate when and how frogs can be taken from public waterways and lands, establishing clear boundaries for recreational collectors.
Understanding the Official Season Dates
The official period for recreational frog harvesting is established by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and remains consistent statewide. The season runs for ten months, beginning on June 1 and continuing through March 31 of the following year. This extensive open season allows enthusiasts to take frogs throughout the warm summer months.
The two-month closure period occurs during April and May, coinciding with the peak breeding season for many frog species. This regulation protects reproductive adults and newly laid egg masses, ensuring the next generation can successfully enter the population. Frogging is often conducted at night, when the frogs are easier to locate and approach using a bright light source.
Daily Harvest Limits and Minimum Size
Louisiana regulations do not impose a numerical daily bag limit for the recreational harvest of frogs. Collectors may take any quantity of legally sized frogs, but they cannot possess more than one day’s limit while actively on the water. The law focuses on size restrictions, which are considered a direct conservation tool for maintaining healthy populations.
Size constraints are species-specific and measured from the tip of the frog’s muzzle to the posterior end of its body (snout-to-vent length). Bullfrogs must measure a minimum of five inches to be legally harvested. Pig frogs have a minimum length requirement of three inches. These minimum sizes protect younger individuals, allowing them to reproduce at least once before removal, thereby safeguarding the species’ breeding potential.
Required Licenses and Legal Gear
Anyone 18 years of age or older engaging in recreational frogging must possess a valid Basic Fishing License. This license covers the taking of frogs because the activity is classified under recreational freshwater fishing privileges. The license must be current and carried by the collector while participating in the activity.
The law permits several specific methods and gear types for capturing frogs. Legal gear includes:
- Any visible light source
- Mechanical devices like frog catchers
- Gigs or spears
- Bows
- Scoop nets
- Bare hands
Although a recent law change allows the carrying of a firearm for protection while frogging at night, the use of any firearm, including air rifles, to actually take or hunt frogs remains prohibited.
Geographic Restrictions on Frog Harvesting
While the season dates and size limits apply statewide, specific geographic locations impose additional restrictions on frog harvesting. This is particularly true for State Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), refuges, and federal lands administered by the LDWF. Accessing these administered lands for any recreational purpose, including frogging, generally requires the purchase of a WMA Access Permit.
Regulations concerning season dates, harvest limits, and legal gear can differ significantly from statewide rules when operating within a WMA. Certain WMAs may prohibit nighttime activity or impose a specific daily limit not present in statewide regulations. Collectors must consult the individual regulations for the specific WMA or refuge they intend to visit before beginning any harvest activity.
Harvesting frogs on any private property requires the collector to obtain explicit permission from the landowner beforehand, regardless of statewide season dates or limits.