2026-2027 MIGRATORY BIRDS HUNTING SCHEDULE
MIGRATORY BTIURRDKESY
SHOOTING & HAWKING HOURS
1. Ducks, geese, teal, rail, gallinule, snipe and woodcock: One-Half Hour before sunrise to sunset, EXCEPT
Shooting hours for black-bellied whistling duck is sunrise to sunset.
Shooting hours for snipe at the Spanish Lake Recreation Area in Iberia Parish, including the Conservation Order, shall end at 2 p.m.
2. Mourning dove: One-Half Hour before sunrise to sunset.
2026-2027 MIGRATORY GAME BIRD SCHEDULE
Species Season Dates
North Zone: South Zone:
Mourning and White-winged Doves and Fully- Sept. 5-27 Sept. 5-20
dressed Eurasian Collared and Ringed Turtle Doves Oct. 10 - Nov. 15 Oct. 17 - Nov. 29
Dec. 19 - Jan. 17 Dec. 12 - Jan. 10
Woodcock Dec. 18 - Jan. 31
Teal (Blue-winged, Green-winged and Cinnamon) Sept. 19-27
Black-bellied Whistling Duck Oct. 3-11
Sept. 19-27
King and Clapper Rails
Nov. 7 - Jan. 6
Sept. 19-27
Sora and Virginia Rails
Nov. 7 - Jan. 6
Sept. 19-27
Gallinules
Nov. 7 - Jan. 6
Oct. 31 - Jan. 10
Snipe
Jan. 25 - Feb. 28
Canada Geese*
East Zone: West Zone:
Light Geese (Snow, Blue and Ross’) Nov. 14 - Dec. 6 Nov. 14 - Dec. 6
Dec. 19 - Feb. 7 Dec. 19 - Feb. 7
White-fronted Geese
Conservation Order for Light Geese (Snow, Blue
and Ross’)
East Zone:
Dec. 7-18
Feb. 8 - March 7
West Zone:
Dec. 7-18
Feb. 8 - March 7
Falconry for Ducks
Falconry for Rails and Gallinules
Falconry for Woodcock
Extended Falconry for Mourning Doves
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers
West Zone:
East Zone:
Nov. 5-13
Nov. 5-20
Dec. 7-18
Dec. 7-18
Jan. 25-31
Nov. 1 - Jan. 31
Nov. 1 - Jan. 31
Sept. 21 - Oct. 7
East Zone: West Zone:
Nov. 14 and Feb. 6 Nov. 7 and Jan. 30
(Youth and (Youth and
Veterans only) Veterans only)
Nov. 21 - Dec. 6 Nov. 14 - Dec. 6
Dec. 19 - Jan. 31 Dec. 19 - Jan. 24
Daily Bag Limit
Possession Limit
15
in the aggregate
3
6
4
15
in the aggregate
25
in the aggregate
15
45
in the aggregate
9
18
12
45
in the aggregate
75
in the aggregate
45
8
1
20
3
24
3
None
9
No bag or possession limit. See
“Geese” section for more detail
Falconry daily bag and possession
limit for all permitted migratory
game birds must not exceed 3 and 9
birds respectively, singly or in aggre-
gate, during the extended falconry
seasons and regular hunting seasons.
See Ducks, Coots and Mergansers
section for more details
LANDOWNER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
LLDDWWFF PPrriivvaattee LLaannddss PPrrooggrraamm
Landowner assistance programs are available to help
landowners and managers develop and enhance
wildlife habitat on their property. Contact the nearest
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries field
office (see page 11) to receive assistance.
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