Hopefully you already have your hunting and fishing licenses because the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is in the process of transitioning to a new sales system. This means that Louisiana residents will not be able to buy hunting or fishing licenses at local retail stores from February 1 to April 1.  
The Wildlife and Fisheries Department is currently training their staff to operate the new sales system. In the mean time, you can purchase a hunting or fishing license online. The new license sales system will make purchasing licenses faster and more convenient for customers. 
The department uses the data from hunting and fishing licenses for demographics to find out who the hunting public is. These licenses are also important because they help keep Louisiana’s native wildlife safe. 
In addition, the licenses are the Wildlife and Fisheries Department’s main source of revenue. The money earned goes into research and hunter education classes. The classes teach new hunters firearm safety, hunting techniques, habitat conservation, and animal conservation. 
“What the state is trying to do, although it may seem a bit clunky right now, is streamline the process from now into the future so that people can literally buy your hunting license on your phone every year,” said Bret Collier, a professor in LSU’s School of Renewable Natural Resources.