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MMIGIGRARTOARTYO BIRRDYS BIRDS
WATERFOWL AND GOOSE HUNTING ZONES
West: That portion of the state between the Texas State line
and the line going south on LA Hwy 79 from the Arkansas bor-
der to Homer; then south on LA 9 to Arcadia; then south on LA
147 to Hodge; then south on US 167 to Lafayette; then south
and east on US Hwy 90 to the Mississippi state line.
East: Remainder of state.
DUCKS, COOTS AND MERGANSERS
YOUTH WATERFOWL HUNTING DAYS
Restricted to youths 17 or younger. Youths must be accompanied
by one adult 18 years of age or older. Youths must possess a hunt-
er safety certification or proof of successful completion of a hunter
safety course. If the accompanying adult is in possession of hunt-
er safety certification, a valid hunting license or proof of successful
completion of a hunter safety course, this requirement is waived
for youths younger than 16 years of age. Adults may not possess a
firearm. Youths may possess only one legal firearm while hunting.
The supervising adult shall maintain visual and voice contact with
the youth at all times, regardless of age. Youths may take ducks,
geese, mergansers, coots and gallinules on these days. Bag limits
are the same as regular duck season. The adult may not hunt ducks
on these days.
VETERANS WATERFOWL HUNT DAYS
Restricted to persons who served in the active military, naval, or
air service who were discharged or released under conditions oth-
er than dishonorable, and members of the Armed Forces on active
duty including members of the National Guard and Reserves on ac-
tive duty (other than for training). Veterans and active duty military
personnel must possess a valid proof of service such as DD214 form,
Active Military ID, Retired Military ID, Veterans Administration ID, or
Veteran designation on their Driver’s License, as well as mandato-
ry waterfowl hunting license(s), HIP certification, and federal duck
stamp to participate on these hunt days.
DAILY BAG LIMITS
Ducks: Daily bag limit on ducks is 6 and may include no more
than 4 mallards (no more than 2 females), 3 wood ducks, 2 can-
vasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 black duck and 3 pintails (no more than
1 female). Only 1 scaup may be taken for the first 15 days of the
season with 2 per day allowed for the remainder. No mottled
ducks may be taken for the first 15 days of the season with 1 per
day allowed for the remainder. Daily bag limits for scaup and mot-
tled ducks during youth and veterans hunting days are 0 mottled
ducks and 1 scaup if before the regular season, 1 mottled duck
and 2 scaup if after the regular season.
Coots: The daily bag limit for coots is 15.
Mergansers: The daily bag limit for mergansers is 5; only 2 of
which may be hooded mergansers. Merganser limits are in addi-
tion to the daily bag limit for ducks.
POSSESSION LIMIT
The possession limit on ducks, coots and mergansers is three times
the daily bag limit.
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCKS
Hunters participating in the black-bellied whistling duck season (Oct.
3–11) are required to possess a Black-bellied Whistling Duck Hunting
Permit and must complete mandatory reporting of effort and harvest
between Oct. 12-26. Report BBWD effort and harvest at:
https://louisianaoutdoors.com/bbwd-report
DAILY BAG LIMITS
Only black-bellied whistling ducks may be taken during the black-bel-
lied whistling duck season (Oct. 3-11). Daily bag limit on black-bel-
lied whistling ducks is 4.
DOVE HUNTING
The state shall be divided into North and South Dove
Hunting Zones by the following boundary: Beginning at
the Texas-Louisiana border on LA 12; thence east along
LA 12 to its intersection with US 190; thence east along
US 190 to its intersection with I-12; thence east along I-12
to its intersection with I-10; thence east along I-10 to the
Mississippi state line.
Eurasian collared doves and ringed turtle doves may only
be hunted or taken during the open dove season. There
is no bag limit on Eurasian collared doves or ringed turtle
doves provided that a fully feathered wing and head re-
main attached to the carcass of the bird. Fully dressed Eurasian collared doves and ringed turtle doves (those without a fully feathered wing
and head naturally attached to the carcass) shall be included in the daily bag limit for doves. The bag limit for mourning doves, white-winged
doves and fully dressed Eurasian collared and ringed turtle doves is 15 in the aggregate.
2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting Regulations