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MIGRATORY BIRDS
feral pigeon (commonly called rock dove), European starling, Eur-
asian collared-dove, mute swan, and upland game birds (which are
protected by state laws).
All migratory birds are protected. However, a subset of migratory birds
may be hunted in accordance with state and federal regulations. The
list of migratory game birds includes species of ducks, geese (includ-
ing brant), swans, doves and pigeons, cranes, rails, coots, gallinules
and moorhens, woodcock and snipe, if there is an open season.
DAILY BAG LIMIT
The maximum number of migratory game birds of a single species
or combination (aggregate) of species permitted to be taken by one
person in any one day during the open season in any one specified
geographic area for which a daily bag limit is prescribed.
AGGREGATE DAILY BAG LIMIT
The maximum number of migratory game birds permitted to be tak-
en by one person in any one day during the open season when such
person hunts in more than one specified geographic area and/or
for more than one species for which a combined daily bag limit is
prescribed. The aggregate daily bag limit is equal to, but shall not
exceed, the largest daily bag limit prescribed for any one species or
for any one specified geographic area in which taking occurs.
PERSONAL ABODE
One’s principal or ordinary home or dwelling place, as distinguished
from one’s temporary or transient place of abode or dwelling such
as a hunting club, or any club house, cabin, tent or trailer house
used as a hunting club, or any hotel, motel or rooming house used
during a hunting, pleasure or business trip.
MIGRATORY BIRD PRESERVATION FACILITY
1. Any person who, at their residence or place of business and for
hire or other consideration; or
2. Any taxidermist, cold-storage facility or locker plant which, for
hire or other consideration; or
3. Any hunting club which, in the normal course of operations; re-
ceives, possesses, or has in custody any migratory game birds
belonging to another person for purposes of picking, cleaning,
freezing, processing, storage or shipment.
NORMAL AGRICULTURAL PLANTING, HARVESTING OR
POST-HARVEST MANIPULATION
A planting or harvesting undertaken for the purpose of producing
and gathering a crop, or manipulation after such harvest and remov-
al of grain, that is conducted in accordance with official recommen-
dations of State Extension Specialists of the Cooperative Extension
Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
NORMAL AGRICULTURAL OPERATION
A normal agricultural planting, harvesting, post-harvest manipula-
tion, or agricultural practice that is conducted in accordance with
official recommendations of State Extension Specialists of the Coop-
erative Extension Service of the USDA.
NORMAL SOIL STABILIZATION PRACTICE
A planting for agricultural soil erosion control or post-mining land
reclamation conducted in accordance with official recommenda-
tions of State Extension Specialists of the Cooperative Extension
Service of the USDA for agricultural soil erosion control.
MANIPULATION
The alteration of natural vegetation or agricultural crops by activi-
ties that include but are not limited to mowing, shredding, discing,
rolling, chopping, trampling, flattening, burning or herbicide treat-
ments. The term manipulation does not include the distributing or
scattering of grain, seed, or other feed after removal from or storage
on the field where grown.
2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting Regulations
NATURAL VEGETATION
Any non-agricultural, native, or naturalized plant species that grows
at a site in response to planting or from existing seeds or other prop-
agules. The term natural vegetation does not include planted millet.
However, planted millet that grows on its own in subsequent years
after the year of planting is considered natural vegetation.
IT IS LEGAL TO TAKE MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS INCLUDING
WATERFOWL, COOTS AND CRANES, ON OR OVER THE
FOLLOWING LANDS OR AREAS THAT ARE NOT OTHERWISE
BAITED AREAS
Standing crops or flooded standing crops (including aquatics);
Standing, flooded, or manipulated natural vegetation; flooded
harvested croplands; or lands or areas where seeds or grains
have been scattered solely as the result of a normal agricultur-
al planting, harvesting, post-harvest manipulation or normal soil
stabilization practice;
From a blind or other place of concealment camouflaged with
natural vegetation;
From a blind or other place of concealment camouflaged with
vegetation from agricultural crops, as long as such camouflaging
does not result in the exposing, depositing, distributing or scatter-
ing of grain or other feed; or
Standing or flooded standing agricultural crops where grain is in-
advertently scattered solely as a result of a hunter entering or
exiting a hunting area, placing decoys, or retrieving downed birds.
It is legal to take migratory game birds, EXCEPT waterfowl, coots and
cranes, on or over lands or areas that are not otherwise baited ar-
eas, and where grain or other feed has been distributed or scattered
solely as the result of manipulation of an agricultural crop or other
feed on the land where grown, or solely as the result of a normal
agricultural operation.
WANTON WASTE OF MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS
No person shall kill or cripple any migratory game bird without mak-
ing a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird, and retain it in his actual
custody, at the place where taken or between that place and either
(a) his automobile or principal means of land transportation; or (b)
his personal abode or temporary or transient place of lodging; or
(c) a migratory bird preservation facility; or (d) a post office; or (e) a
common carrier facility.
OPENING DAY OF A SEASON
No person on the opening day of the season shall possess any fresh-
ly killed migratory game birds in excess of the daily bag limit, or ag-
gregate daily bag limit, whichever applies.
CUSTODY OF BIRDS OF ANOTHER
No person shall receive or have in custody any migratory game birds
belonging to another person unless such birds are properly tagged.
TERMINATION OF POSSESSION
Subject to all other requirements of this part, the possession of
birds taken by any hunter shall be deemed to have ceased when
such birds have been delivered by him to another person as a gift;
or have been delivered by him to a post office, a common carrier, or
a migratory bird preservation facility and consigned for transport by
the Postal Service or a common carrier to some person other than
the hunter.
GIFT OF MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS
No person may receive, possess or give to another, any freshly killed
migratory game birds as a gift, except at the personal abodes of the
donor or donee, unless such birds have a tag attached, signed by the
hunter who took the birds, stating such hunter’s address, the total
number and species of birds and the date such birds were taken.