Louisiana is part of the Mississippi Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 19 through March 7, 2027, with 38 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Non-toxic shot required statewide
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Zone1 | Nov 21 – Dec 6 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 19 – Jan 31 Second Split | |||
| West Zone1 | Nov 14 – Dec 6 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 19 – Jan 24 Second Split |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Mallard No more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Black Duck | 1 | 3 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Pintail (Northern) No more than 1 female · Increased from 1 for 2025-26 | 3 | 9 |
| Mottled Duck CLOSED first 15 days of season. | 0 | 0 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup First 15 days limit. Lesser scaup. | 1 | 3 |
| Greater Scaup After first 15 days. Greater scaup. | 2 | 6 |
14 mallards (no more than 2 females), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 black duck, 3 pintails (no more than 1 female); 1 scaup for first 15 days then 2/day; no mottled ducks first 15 days then 1/day
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | 6 | 18 |
1Blue, Green, and Cinnamon Teal only
2Statewide early teal season
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Zone1,2,3 | Nov 14 – Dec 6 First Split | 3 | 9 |
| Dec 19 – Feb 7 Second Split | |||
| West Zone1,4,5 | Nov 14 – Dec 6 First Split | 3 | 9 |
| Dec 19 – Feb 7 Second Split |
1White-fronted Geese (Specklebelly): 3/day, 9 possession. Canada Geese: 1/day, 3 possession.
2Dark geese (white-fronted and Canada) share season dates with light geese in the same table row
3Dark geese second split, East Zone
4Dark geese first split, West Zone
5Dark geese second split, West Zone
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Zone1,2 | Nov 14 – Dec 6 First Split | 20 | – |
| Dec 19 – Feb 7 Second Split | |||
| West Zone1 | Nov 14 – Dec 6 First Split | 20 | – |
| Dec 19 – Feb 7 Second Split |
1Light Geese (Snow, Blue, Ross's): 20/day, no possession limit. White-fronted Geese: 3/day, 9 possession. Canada Geese: 1/day, 3 possession.
2All three goose species listed in same row; light geese bag given here, sub-limits in special_restrictions
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Zone1 | Dec 7 – Dec 18 First Segment | – | – |
| Feb 8 – Mar 7 Second Segment | |||
| West Zone1 | Dec 7 – Dec 18 First Segment | – | – |
| Feb 8 – Mar 7 Second Segment |
1Snow, Blue, and Ross's geese only; electronic calls and unplugged shotguns allowed; no daily bag or possession limit
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Zone1,2 | Nov 21 – Dec 6 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 19 – Jan 31 Second Split | |||
| West Zone3,4 | Nov 14 – Dec 6 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 19 – Jan 24 Second Split |
1Coots season runs concurrently with duck season; East Zone first split
2Coots season runs concurrently with duck season; East Zone second split
3Coots season runs concurrently with duck season; West Zone first split
4Coots season runs concurrently with duck season; West Zone second split
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Zone1,2 | Nov 21 – Dec 6 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Dec 19 – Jan 31 Second Split | |||
| West Zone1,3 | Nov 14 – Dec 6 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Dec 19 – Jan 24 Second Split |
1Only 2 of 5 may be hooded mergansers
2Mergansers listed together with ducks/coots; dates inferred from East Zone regular season
3Mergansers listed together with ducks/coots; dates inferred from West Zone regular season
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Zone1,2,3,4 | Nov 14 – Nov 14 Youth and Veterans | 6 | 18 |
| Feb 6 – Feb 6 Youth and Veterans - Closing | |||
| West Zone1,3,5,6 | Nov 7 – Nov 7 Youth and Veterans | 6 | 18 |
| Jan 30 – Jan 30 Youth and Veterans - Closing |
1Youth and Veterans day; same duck bag limits apply
2Second youth/veterans day on February 6, 2027 also listed for East Zone
3Youth and Veterans only
4East Zone youth and veterans day 2
5Second youth/veterans day on January 30, 2027 also listed for West Zone
6West Zone youth and veterans day 2
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Zone1,2 | Feb 6 – Feb 6 Youth and Veterans | 6 | 18 |
| West Zone1,2 | Jan 30 – Jan 30 Youth and Veterans | 6 | 18 |
1Youth and Veterans day; same duck bag limits apply
2Page lists both Youth and Veterans together; split into two rows to capture both dates
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Zone1 | Nov 5 – Nov 20 Pre-season Falconry | 3 | 9 |
| Dec 7 – Dec 18 Between-splits Falconry | |||
| West Zone1 | Nov 5 – Nov 13 Pre-season Falconry | 3 | 9 |
| Dec 7 – Dec 18 Between-splits Falconry | |||
| Jan 25 – Jan 31 Post-season Falconry |
1Falconry only; aggregate bag limit for all permitted migratory game birds not to exceed 3/day and 9 possession
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Oct 3 – Oct 11 Black Bellied Whistling Ducks | 4 | 12 |
| Oct 3 – Oct 11 |
1Special Permit Required
2Black Bellied Whistling Ducks special permit season
3Black Bellied Whistling Ducks; special permit required
Season dates and bag limits are verified against official state wildlife agency publications and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Data shown is for the 2026-2027 season. This data was verified on June 15, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.