BATON ROUGE – Deer season in parts of the Atchafalaya Basin could close early Friday due to rising flood waters.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Tuesday that rising flood waters in the Atchafalaya Basin could trigger an automatic closure of deer hunting season in parts of deer area 9 as early as Friday, Jan. 8.

Portions of Iberia, Iberville, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes will close when the flood gauge reaches 18 feet at Butte LaRose. Officials believe that the rising water will reach that level either Friday or Saturday.

The affected areas includes parishes south of I-10, west of the East Guide Levee, east of the West Guide Levee and north of U.S. 90.

Hunters should monitor river levels this week before planning to hunt in the area.