Duck hunting season is almost here, and we’ve got all the information Louisiana hunters need to start bagging game.
When Is Duck Hunting Season?
Louisiana is divided into two zones for ducks and geese: East and West. Check the LDWF Zone Map to determine which zone you are in.
West Zone Dates
Duck hunting dates in the West Zone:
- November 5-6, youth and veterans only
- November 12–December 4
- December 17–January 1
- January 9–29
East Zone Dates
Duck hunting dates in the East Zone:
- November 12, youth and veterans only
- November 19-December 4
- December 17-January 29
- February 4, youth and veterans only
Duck Hunting Bag Limits
The possession limit on ducks this year is 18 ducks total. This year the daily bag limit for ducks is 6 ducks total with limitations as follows:
- four mallards, but no more than two female mallards
- three wood ducks
- two canvasbacks
- two redheads
- one scaup for the first 15 days of the season, then no more than two per day for the remainder
- one mottled duck
- one black duck
- one pintail
Hunting Licenses, Permits, and Stamps
Licenses
Anyone wanting to hunt in Louisiana must purchase a basic hunting license from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (LDWF) website. The fee structure changed in 2022, and licenses purchased after June 1, 2022 now last 365 days from the date of purchase.
Duck Stamps
In addition to a basic hunting license, hunters also need a Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp), and must carry it with them at all times while hunting. Hunters aged 16 or older can purchase a stamp through the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Certifications
Anyone licensed to hunt migratory birds must also get a Harvest Information Program certification and carry it with them at all times while hunting. The certification is free at the LDWF website. Hunters under the age of 17 are not required to get certified.
If you were born on or after September 1, 1969, you are required to complete an LDWF-approved hunter education course and get a Hunter Education Certification, unless you hunt under the direct supervision of someone with a valid hunting license, and they were either born before September 1, 1969, or they are over the age of 18 and have a Hunter Education Certification.
Insure Your Equipment With Farm Bureau Insurance
You’ve invested in your hunting equipment, so protect it with Farm Bureau Insurance. We offer auto insurance for ATVs and personal articles insurance for firearms. To learn more about how we can protect your equipment, contact a local agent near you.