Louisiana Duck Season 2026–27
Updated October 27, 2026, with official 2026–27 season dates.
Louisiana’s 2026–27 duck season opens first in the West Zone on Saturday, November 14, 2026, and a week later in the East Zone on November 21. Youth and veteran hunters start even earlier, on November 7 in the West Zone. Both zones break for a split from December 7–18 and reopen December 19. Dates and limits come from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries seasons and regulations page.
Louisiana Duck Season 2026–27 at a Glance
| Season | West Zone | East Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Teal (blue-winged, green-winged, cinnamon) | Sept. 19–27, 2026 | Sept. 19–27, 2026 |
| Black-bellied whistling duck (permit required) | Oct. 3–11, 2026 | Oct. 3–11, 2026 |
| Youth and veteran days | Nov. 7, 2026 and Jan. 30, 2027 | Nov. 14, 2026 and Feb. 6, 2027 |
| Ducks, first split | Nov. 14 – Dec. 6, 2026 | Nov. 21 – Dec. 6, 2026 |
| Ducks, second split | Dec. 19, 2026 – Jan. 24, 2027 | Dec. 19, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 |
Louisiana Duck Zones
Louisiana has two duck zones, East and West, and the dates are different enough that it matters which side you’re on. The West Zone opens a week earlier but closes a week earlier, on January 24. Check the LDWF zone map in the waterfowl regulations before you book a hunt near the line.
Louisiana Duck Bag Limits
The daily bag is 6 ducks, with these limits from LDWF:
| Species | Daily limit |
|---|---|
| Mallards | 4 (no more than 2 hens) |
| Wood ducks | 3 |
| Pintails | 3 (no more than 1 hen) |
| Canvasbacks | 2 |
| Redheads | 2 |
| Black ducks | 1 |
| Mottled ducks | 0 for the first 15 days of the season, then 1 |
| Scaup | 1 for the first 15 days, then 2 |
| Mergansers | 5 (no more than 2 hooded) |
| Coots | 15 |
Possession is three times the daily bag. Two Louisiana-only rules are worth writing on your hand: only one hen pintail, and no mottled ducks at all during the first 15 days. Mottled ducks are a resident Gulf Coast bird, and the closure protects them while hunting pressure is highest.
Youth, Veteran and Military Days
West Zone youth and veteran days are November 7 and January 30. East Zone days are November 14 and February 6. These days fall right before each zone’s opener and right after its closer, per LDWF. WMAs run their own youth lottery hunts, as LDWF explains on its waterfowl page.
Licenses, Stamps and HIP
You need a Louisiana hunting license, the Louisiana duck stamp and a Federal Duck Stamp if you’re 16 or older. HIP certification is required for anyone licensed to hunt migratory birds. Hunters 17 and younger don’t need HIP unless they’re in a WMA youth waterfowl lottery hunt, according to LDWF. Black-bellied whistling ducks also need a special permit.
Where and When to Hunt Ducks in Louisiana
Louisiana is the wintering ground for a huge share of the Mississippi Flyway, so how you hunt depends on where you are:
- Coastal marsh (both zones): pintails, gadwall, green-winged teal and wigeon. A mud boat and good tide knowledge matter more than a fancy spread.
- Southwest rice and crawfish country (West Zone): big flights of gadwall, teal and specklebelly geese over flooded ag fields.
- Northeast Louisiana timber and ag (East Zone): mallards and wood ducks, especially after hard fronts in late December.
- Lottery hunts: White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area and several WMAs hold drawn waterfowl hunts.
Planning Around Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is Nov. 26, 2026. See what else is open that week in our Thanksgiving hunting guide, and sharpen up before opening day with 5 pro tips from a wingshooting expert.
Louisiana Duck Season FAQ
When does duck season open in Louisiana in 2026?
The West Zone opens Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. The East Zone opens Saturday, Nov. 21.
When does Louisiana duck season close?
Jan. 24, 2027, in the West Zone and Jan. 31, 2027, in the East Zone.
Can you shoot mottled ducks in Louisiana?
Not during the first 15 days of the season. After that, the limit is one per day.
How many pintails can you shoot in Louisiana?
Three per day, and no more than one can be a hen.
Gear Up for the Season
Every Hunt One More® design is built around faith, service and time in the field. Layer up in The Lord Is My Guide® tees and hoodies for those cold mornings in the blind, and put a Hunt One More decal on the truck or the boat before opening day.
Trust the process. Trust the hunt. And when the birds are still working, hunt one more.
Duck Season Dates in Other States
Hunting more than one state this winter? Here are our other 2026–27 duck season guides.
- Southeast Duck Season Dates 2026–27: All 10 States (coming Nov. 14)
- Alabama Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Nov. 10)
- Arkansas Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Nov. 5)
- Florida Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Nov. 8)
- Georgia Duck Season 2026–27
- Mississippi Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Nov. 12)
- North Carolina Duck Season 2026–27
- South Carolina Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Nov. 7)
- Tennessee Duck Season 2026–27 (coming Nov. 13)
- Virginia Duck Season 2026–27
Keep Reading on Camp Talk
- Georgia Duck Season 2026–27
- North Carolina Duck Season 2026–27
- Virginia Duck Season 2026–27
- 5 Pro Tips From A Wingshooting Expert
- Thanksgiving Hunting 2026: What’s Open
Season dates and bag limits come from LDWF. This guide is for planning only. Always confirm current regulations, license requirements and bag limits with LDWF before you hunt.
More from Camp Talk: Louisiana deer season 2026–27 · Southeast duck season dates 2026–27