Migratory Birds Regulations

Waterfowl and Goose Hunting Zones

West: That portion of the state between the Texas State line and the line going south on LA Hwy 79 from the Arkansas border to Homer; then south on LA 9 to Arcadia; then south on LA 147 to Hodge; then south on US 167 to Lafayette; then south and east on US Hwy 90 to the Mississippi state line.

East: Remainder of state.

Ducks, Coots and Mergansers

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days

Restricted to youths 17 or younger. Youths must be accompanied by one adult 18 years of age or older. Youths must possess a hunter safety certification or proof of successful completion of a hunter safety course. If the accompanying adult is in possession of hunter safety certification, a valid hunting license or proof of successful completion of a hunter safety course, this requirement is waived for youths younger than 16 years of age. Adults may not possess a firearm. Youths may possess only one legal firearm while hunting. The supervising adult shall maintain visual and voice contact with the youth at all times, regardless of age. Youths may take ducks, geese, mergansers, coots and gallinules on these days. Bag limits are the same as regular duck season. The adult may not hunt ducks on these days.

VETERANS WATERFOWL HUNT DAYS

Restricted to persons who served in the active military, naval, or air service who were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, and members of the Armed Forces on active duty including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training). Veterans and active duty military personnel must possess a valid proof of service such as DD214 form, Active Military ID, Retired Military ID, Veterans Administration ID, or Veteran designation on their Driver’s License, as well as mandatory waterfowl hunting license(s), HIP certification, and federal duck stamp to participate on these hunt days.

Daily Bag Limits

• Ducks: Daily bag limit on ducks is 6 and may include no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 females), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 black duck and 1 pintail. Only 1 scaup may be taken for the first 15 days of the season with 2 per day allowed for the remainder. No mottled ducks may be taken for the first 15 days of the season with 1 per day allowed for the remainder. Daily bag limits for scaup and mottled ducks during youth and veterans hunting days are 0 mottled ducks and 1 scaup if before the regular season, 1 mottled duck and 2 scaup if after the regular season.
• Coots: The daily bag limit for coots is 15.
• Mergansers: The daily bag limit for mergansers is 5; only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers. Merganser limits are in addition to the daily bag limit for ducks.

Possession Limit

The possession limit on ducks, coots and mergansers is three times the daily bag limit.

Dove Hunting

The state shall be divided into North and South Dove Hunting Zones by the following boundary: Beginning at the Texas-Louisiana border on LA 12; thence east along LA 12 to its intersection with US 190; thence east along US 190 to its intersection with I-12; thence east along I-12 to its intersection with I-10; thence east along I-10 to the Mississippi state line.

Eurasian collared doves and ringed turtle doves may only be hunted or taken during the open dove season. There is no bag limit on Eurasian collared doves or ringed turtle doves provided that a fully feathered wing and head remain attached to the carcass of the bird. Fully dressed Eurasian collared doves and ringed turtle doves (those without a fully feathered wing and head naturally attached to the carcass) shall be included in the daily bag limit for doves. The bag limit for mourning doves, white-winged doves and fully dressed Eurasian collared and ringed turtle doves is 15 in the aggregate.

Geese

Conservation Order for Light Geese

Only snow, blue, and Ross’s geese may be taken under the terms of the Conservation Order, which allows the use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns and eliminates the daily bag and possession limits. During the Conservation Order, shooting hours begin one-half hour before sunrise and extend until one-half hour after sunset.

* Canada Goose Season

The Canada Goose season is open statewide EXCEPT for a portion of southwest Louisiana:

• Closed in the following area: Beginning at the Texas State Line, proceeding east along Hwy 82 to the Calcasieu Ship Channel, then north along the Calcasieu Ship Channel to its junction with the Intracoastal Canal, then east along the Intracoastal Canal to its juncture with LA Hwy 82, then south along LA Hwy 82 to its juncture with Parish Road 3147, then south and east along Parish Road 3147 to Freshwater Bayou Canal, then south to the Gulf of Mexico, then west along the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico to the Texas State Line, then north to the point of beginning at LA Hwy 82. Open waters of Lake Arthur and the Mermentau River, from the Hwy 14 bridge southward, will also be closed to Canada goose hunting.

Band Reporting

If you have found or harvested a banded bird, please report it at www.reportband.gov. You’ll need the band number as well as where, when, and how you recovered the bird. Your contact information will be requested in case there are any questions. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Patuxent Bird Banding Lab (www.usgs.gov/centers/pwrc/science/bird-banding-laboratory) will send you a certificate of appreciation that includes information about the sex, age and species of the bird, and where and when it was banded. You may keep the band. Please note: Even if the band you recover is inscribed with a 1-800 telephone number, you can only report it at www.reportband.gov.

If some or all of the numbers have worn off, making the band unreadable, please email [email protected] or visit www.usgs.gov/centers/pwrc/science/bird-banding-laboratory for information on how to send the band for chemical etching. Most bands can be chemically etched so that the numbers can be read. The process does not destroy the band, and it will be returned to you. Thank you for helping manage migratory birds.

The following is a synopsis of Federal Regulations that pertain to the hunting of migratory game birds. Persons requiring more information should go to www.fws.gov/hunting/whatres.html where they will find a complete version of 50 CFR Part 20. When State law is different from the following Federal law the hunter must comply with the most restrictive law.

Restrictions

No person shall take migratory game birds:

• with a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10-gauge, punt gun, battery gun, machine gun, fishhook, poison, drug, explosive or stupefying substance.
• with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler which is incapable of removal without disassembling the gun. This restriction does not apply during the Conservation Order for Light Geese or those selected for the control of resident Canada Geese.
• from a sink box (a low floating device, having a depression affording the hunter a means of concealment beneath the surface of the water).
• from or with the aid of a car or other motor-driven land conveyance or any aircraft, EXCEPT that paraplegic and single or double amputees of the legs may take from any stationary motor vehicle or stationary motor-driven land conveyance. “Paraplegic” means an individual afflicted with paralysis of the lower half of the body which involves both legs, usually due to disease of or injury to the spinal cord.
• from or by means of any motor boat or sailboat unless the motor has been completely shut off and/or the sail furled and its progress therefrom has ceased.
• by the use or aid of live birds as decoys; although not limited to, it shall be a violation of this paragraph for any person to take migratory waterfowl on an area where tame or captive live ducks or geese are present unless such birds are and have been for a period of 10 consecutive days prior to such taking, confined within an enclosure which substantially reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals such birds from the sight of wild migratory waterfowl.
• by the aid of baiting, or on or over a baited area where a person knows or reasonably should know that the area is or has been baited. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HUNTERS TO CHECK HIS/HER HUNTING AREA FOR BAIT PRIOR TO EACH HUNT. A baited area is any area on which salt, grain, or other feed has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed or scattered, if that salt, grain, or other feed could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on or over areas where hunters are attempting to take them. Any such area will remain a baited area for 10 days following the complete removal of all such salt, grain or other feed. Agricultural areas must be prepared in accordance with official recommendations to be legally hunted. It is a separate offense to place bait on or adjacent to an area that causes, induces or allows another to hunt by the aid of bait or over a baited area. Hunters are responsible for ensuring that an area has not been baited and should verify its legality prior to hunting. The maximum federal penalties are: for hunting over bait; $15,000/six months jail, and placing bait; $100,000/one year jail.
• using records or tapes of migratory bird calls or sounds, or electronically amplified imitations of bird calls. This restriction does not apply during the Conservation Order for Light Geese or those selected for the control of resident Canada Geese.
• by driving, rallying or chasing birds with any motorized conveyance or any sailboat to put them in the range of the hunter.

MIGRATORY BIRDS

Birds protected by federal law as a result of treaties signed with other countries. Protected migratory birds are listed in Title 50 Code of Federal Regulations, Section. 10.13. This list includes almost all birds found in the United States with the exception of the house sparrow, feral pigeon (commonly called rock dove), European starling, Eurasian 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 (including 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 taken 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; receives, 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 removal of grain, that is conducted in accordance with official recommendations 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 manipulation, or agricultural practice that is conducted in accordance with official recommendations of State Extension Specialists of the Cooperative 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 recommendations 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 activities that include but are not limited to mowing, shredding, discing, rolling, chopping, trampling, flattening, burning or herbicide treatments. 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.

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 propagules. 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 agricultural 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 scattering of grain or other feed; or
• Standing or flooded standing agricultural crops where grain is inadvertently 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 areas, 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 making 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 freshly killed migratory game birds in excess of the daily bag limit, or aggregate 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.

Field Possession Limit

No person shall possess, have in custody, or transport more than the daily bag limit or aggregate daily bag limit, whichever applies, of migratory game birds, tagged or not tagged, at or between the place where taken 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.

Tagging

No person shall give, put or leave any migratory game birds at any place or in the custody of another person unless the birds are tagged by the hunter with the following information:

1. The hunter’s name and signature.
2. The hunter’s address.
3. The total number of birds involved, by species.
4. The dates such birds were killed.

Tagging is required if the birds are being transported by another person for the hunter or if the birds have been left for cleaning, storage (including temporary storage), shipment or taxidermy services. (Migratory Bird Possession Tags are provided on Resident Game Possession Tag and may be used for such purposes.)

Possession of Live Birds

Wounded birds reduced to possession shall be immediately killed and included in the daily bag limit.

Field Dressing

No person shall completely field dress any migratory game bird (except mourning doves, white-winged doves and band-tailed pigeons) and then transport the bird from the field. The head or one fully-feathered wing must remain attached to all such birds while being transported from the field to one’s home or to a migratory bird preservation facility.

Nontoxic Shot Regulations & Zone Descriptions

No person shall take migratory game birds while possessing shot other than steel or other approved shot. This restriction applies only to ducks, geese, brant, swans and coots.

Shipment

No person shall ship migratory game birds unless the package is marked on the outside with:

• the name and address of the person sending the birds,
• the name and address of the person to whom the birds are being sent and
• the number of birds, by species, contained in the package.

Importation

For information regarding the importation of migratory birds killed in another country, hunters should consult 50 CFR 20.61 through 20.66. One fully-feathered wing must remain attached to all migratory game birds being transported between a port of entry and one’s home or to a migratory bird preservation facility. No person shall import migratory game birds killed in a foreign country, EXCEPT Canada, unless such birds are dressed (EXCEPT as required in 20.63), drawn and the head and feet are removed. No person shall import migratory game birds belonging to another person.

License, Permit & Stamp Requirements

All persons hunting migratory birds must have a valid basic hunting license or equivalent combination license. In addition:

• Persons required to be licensed to hunt migratory birds must have a Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification and must possess proof of HIP certification while hunting. Migratory birds include mourning and white-winged doves, snipe, woodcock, rails, gallinules, ducks, geese and coots. If you are 17 and under you do not need a HIP certification. You must get HIP certified in every state you hunt migratory birds. The HIP certification can be obtained online at www.wlf.la.gov/page/hunting-licenses-permits-tags or at LDWF Baton Rouge headquarters.
• Persons 16 years of age and older who hunt ducks and geese must have a Migratory Bird Hunting Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp), that is signed in ink across the face, on their person while hunting.
• Persons 18 years and older hunting ducks, geese and coots must have a basic and state waterfowl license or an equivalent combination licenses that grants those privileges and must have the license(s) in their possession when hunting. (see Licenses & Fees for license details)
• The Federal Electronic Duck Stamp allows customers to buy Federal Duck Stamps online for immediate use. The electronic stamp is valid for 45 days from the date of purchase. Customers should receive their physical stamp within this period. As soon as you receive your physical stamp, you must sign it and use it for hunting. If you have not received your Federal Duck Stamp, please contact Amplex at 1-800-852-4897 or [email protected].

Dual Violation

Violation of state migratory bird regulations is also a violation of federal regulations.

Reference

Federal regulations related to migratory game birds are located in Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20.

Caution: More restrictive regulations may apply to National Wildlife Refuges open to public hunting. For additional information on Federal regulations, contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent:

• LaCombe 985-882-3756
• Metairie 504-219-8870

Call your regional enforcement office for more information on regulations (see General Hunting Info).