Louisiana › Species › Ducks, Coots and Mergansers
Ducks, coots, mergansers and geese
Ducks, coots and mergansers in Louisiana: 2026-27 seasons, limits and where to hunt
Nov 7–Feb 6; limits, harvest, licenses and places to hunt ducks, coots and mergansers.
Photo: Bart Everson (CC BY 2.0)
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers in Louisiana, 2026-27
Counting every segment and zone, ducks, coots and mergansers are legal game in Louisiana from November 7, 2026 to February 6, 2027. The bag for ducks, coots and mergansers, as LDWF sums it up: ducks 6 (species limits), coots 15, mergansers 5 (2 hooded); possession 3x. Also on record: 2025-26 survey: 2,180,900 ducks, 79,700 coots.
- How and when (duck): East Nov 21-Dec 6 and Dec 19-Jan 31; West Nov 14-Dec 6 and Dec 19-Jan 24; youth/veteran days; falconry segments.
- Bag summary (duck): Ducks 6 (species limits), coots 15, mergansers 5 (2 hooded); possession 3x.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 35, 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 36 and LDWF Big and Small Game Harvest Survey 2025-26, checked November 4, 2026.
GearHeading out for duck and goose season? Duck and goose gear checklist →
Where duck dates change in Louisiana
- Western zone (duck): Texas state line to LA 79/LA 9/LA 147/US 167/US 90 line; 34 parishes all or in part.
- The East Zone (duck): the rest of the state, 47 parishes all or in part.
- Parishes crossed (duck): Bienville, Claiborne, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lafourche, Orleans, Rapides, St. Charles, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Terrebonne and Winn.
- Public land (duck): New for 2026-27: waterfowl hunting closes at 12 noon on all WMAs and public lands except Atchafalaya Delta and Pass-a-Loutre WMAs.
Hunt ducks, coots and mergansers on private land by zone dates; WMAs and refuges add their own closures and the noon rule.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 36 and LDWF waterfowl FAQ, checked November 4, 2026.
When ducks, coots and mergansers are open in Louisiana
These are the private-land and statewide rows for ducks, coots and mergansers; WMA schedules can be shorter.
| Segment | Area | First day | Last day | Length | Status | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ducks, extended falconry | East Zone | Nov 5, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | 16 | Read the limit | |
| Ducks and coots, youth and veteran day | East Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | 1 | Read the limit | |
| Ducks and coots, split 1 | East Zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | 16 | Read the limit | |
| Ducks, extended falconry | East Zone | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 18, 2026 | 12 | Read the limit | |
| Ducks and coots, split 2 | East Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 44 | Read the limit | |
| Ducks and coots, youth and veteran day | East Zone | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 6, 2027 | 1 | Read the limit | |
| Ducks, extended falconry | West Zone | Nov 5, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | 9 | Read the limit | |
| Ducks and coots, youth and veteran day | West Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 7, 2026 | 1 | Read the limit | |
| Ducks and coots, split 1 | West Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | 23 | Read the limit | |
| Ducks, extended falconry | West Zone | Dec 7, 2026 | Dec 18, 2026 | 12 | Read the limit | |
| Ducks and coots, split 2 | West Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | 37 | Read the limit | |
| Ducks, extended falconry | West Zone | Jan 25, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | 7 | Read the limit | |
| Ducks and coots, youth and veteran day | West Zone | Jan 30, 2027 | Jan 30, 2027 | 1 | Read the limit |
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers season notes
- Duck note: youths 17 and under (adult may not hunt ducks) and veterans/active military with proof of service, waterfowl license, HIP and duck stamp.
- Duck note: youths may also take geese and gallinules.
- Duck note: WMAs and public lands close to waterfowl hunting at 12 noon (new for 2026-27) except Atchafalaya Delta and Pass-a-Loutre WMAs.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 35, checked November 4, 2026.
What LDWF publishes on duck harvest
Statewide survey numbers for ducks, coots and mergansers follow; LDWF does not split them by parish.
| Row | Hunters | Estimate | Range | Year before |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duck | 80,200 | 2,180,900 | 1,805,800 to 2,556,000 | 1,775,900 |
| Coot | 5,700 | 79,700 | 31,600 to 127,800 | 50,100 |
From LDWF Big and Small Game Harvest Survey 2025-26, checked November 4, 2026.
Daily and season limits for ducks, coots and mergansers
LDWF writes the duck limits as below; lottery hunts may set their own.
| Rule for | Limit |
|---|---|
| Ducks, coots, mergansers | Ducks 6 daily: max 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 black duck, 3 pintails (1 hen); scaup 1 daily for the first 15 days then 2; mottled duck 0 for the first 15 days then 1. Coots 15. Mergansers 5 (2 hooded) in addition to ducks. Possession 3x daily. |
| Falconry (migratory) | Daily 3, possession 9 migratory game birds singly or in aggregate in extended falconry and regular seasons. |
| Youth and veteran day, East Zone | Ducks 6 daily: max 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 black duck, 3 pintails (1 hen); scaup 1 daily for the first 15 days then 2; mottled duck 0 for the first 15 days then 1. Coots 15. Mergansers 5 (2 hooded) in addition to ducks. Possession 3x daily. Mottled duck 0 and scaup 1 before the regular season; mottled 1 and scaup 2 after it. |
| Extended falconry, East Zone | Daily 3; possession 9 (aggregate). |
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 36 and 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 35, checked November 4, 2026.
What duck hunters buy in Louisiana
Hunting licenses run 365 days from the day of purchase; the prices below are the 2026-27 fees for ducks, coots and mergansers.
| Item | For | Fee | Good for | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Hunting | Resident | $20 | 365 days from purchase | – |
| Basic Hunting | Nonresident | $200 | 365 days from purchase | – |
| Basic Hunting | Native nonresident, 10 days | $20 | 10 consecutive days | – |
| Basic Hunting | Nonresident, 5 days | $65 | 5 days | – |
| Waterfowl | Resident | $12 | 365 days from purchase | – |
| Waterfowl | Nonresident | $50 | 365 days from purchase | – |
| Waterfowl | Native nonresident, 10 days | $12 | 10 consecutive days | – |
| Waterfowl | Nonresident, 5 days | $35 | 5 days | – |
| Federal Duck Stamp (electronic) | All | $27.72 (pamphlet); LDWF web pages show $29.79 | Through June 30, 2027 | – |
| HIP certification | All | Free | Season | – |
| WMA Access Annual Permit | All | $20 | 1 year | Included in Sportsman's Paradise, Senior and lifetime licenses; not required for 17 and un |
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 8, LDWF hunting licenses page and LDWF fee list, checked November 4, 2026.
Louisiana public land with duck seasons
83 public areas in this guide list ducks, coots and mergansers in their seasons or LDWF area pages; the 15 largest follow.
| Name | Type | Parishes | Acres | Lottery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kisatchie NF | Nat. forest | Grant, Natchitoches +5 | 607,483 | – |
| Kisatchie NF, Calcasieu District | Forest district | Rapides, Vernon | 183,020 | – |
| Kisatchie NF, Winn District | Forest district | Winn, Natchitoches +1 | 166,792 | – |
| Atchafalaya Delta WMA | WMA | St. Mary | 137,695 | – |
| Sabine NWR | Refuge | Cameron | 123,103 | – |
| Kisatchie NF, Catahoula District | Forest district | Grant, Rapides | 122,860 | – |
| Pass-a-Loutre WMA | WMA | Plaquemines | 115,000 | – |
| Maurepas Swamp WMA | WMA | Ascension, Livingston +2 | 112,615 | – |
| Fort Polk-Vernon WMA | WMA | Vernon | 105,545 | Yes |
| Kisatchie NF, Kisatchie District | Forest district | Natchitoches | 102,489 | – |
| Tensas River NWR | Refuge | Madison, Tensas | 80,904 | Yes |
| Fort Polk North WMA | WMA | Natchitoches, Sabine +1 | 74,309 | Yes |
| White Lake WCA | Conservation area | Vermilion | 71,905 | Yes |
| Richard K. Yancey WMA | WMA | Concordia | 70,872 | Yes |
| Dewey W. Wills WMA | WMA | Catahoula, LaSalle +1 | 63,984 | Yes |
From this site’s public land records (LDWF area pages, the 2026-27 WMA schedules and federal rules), checked November 4, 2026.
Legal weapons and methods for ducks, coots and mergansers
| Rule set | Legal | Not legal |
|---|---|---|
| Migratory birds | Duck: Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells; non-toxic shot for ducks, geese and coots. | Not for duck: rifles, pistols, traps, nets, sink boxes, motor vehicles/aircraft, moving boats, live decoys, recorded calls (except light-goose Conservation Order), bait. |
- Baiting (duck): Banned on WMAs, for turkey (200 yd) and migratory birds; restricted seasonally in CWD Management Zones; allowed for bear permit holders Nov 1 to close.
- Vehicles and aircraft (duck): No taking game from aircraft or moving land vehicles; no deer from a boat with motor attached in operating position (amputees excepted); no swimming deer.
- WMA rules (duck): WMA Access Permit and self-clearing permit; no bait, drones, permanent stands, tree spikes, organized deer drives; still hunting only for deer; stands removed within a day of the WMA deer season close; no firearms during closed seasons except ranges/transport.
Night-vision and laser sights stay illegal for ducks, coots and mergansers unless a private-land night rule covers the species.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 42, 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 52, 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 25 and 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 49, checked November 4, 2026.
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers checklist from LDWF
- Hunter orange for ducks, coots and mergansers: Bird shot for ducks, coots and mergansers does not bring the 400 square inch rule into play on private land, and on WMAs waterfowl and dove hunters are excused from it.
- Harvest report (duck): No check-in for ducks, coots and mergansers; federal tagging rules for birds left with others; HIP certification annually.
- Bait rule: Federal rule: no hunting migratory birds over bait; area stays baited 10 days after removal.
- Youth and veteran days: Youth and Veterans waterfowl days: East Zone Nov 14, 2026 and Feb 6, 2027; West Zone Nov 7, 2026 and Jan 30, 2027.
- Education rule for duck hunters: Anyone born on or after Sept 1, 1969 must complete an LDWF-approved hunter education course before hunting, unless under direct supervision (voice and sight) of a licensed hunter born before Sept 1, 1969 or an 18+ adult with proof of hunter education.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 26, 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 24 and 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 12, checked November 4, 2026.
Legal hours for ducks, coots and mergansers
Read the legal window column for ducks, coots and mergansers; it already applies the half-hour rule where there is one.
For ducks, coots and mergansers, LDWF says one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
New for 2026-27: waterfowl hunting closes at 12 noon on all WMAs and public lands except Atchafalaya Delta and Pass-a-Loutre WMAs.
| Day | Marker | Parish | Sun up | Sun down | Hunting window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | Season opens | Caddo Parish | 6:38 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Season opens | Ouachita Parish | 6:31 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 6:01 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Season opens | Rapides Parish | 6:30 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Season opens | Calcasieu Parish | 6:32 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Season opens | St. Tammany Parish | 6:18 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 5:48 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Feb 6, 2027 | End | Caddo Parish | 7:07 a.m. | 5:52 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. |
| Feb 6, 2027 | End | Ouachita Parish | 7:00 a.m. | 5:45 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. |
| Feb 6, 2027 | End | Rapides Parish | 7:00 a.m. | 5:48 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. |
| Feb 6, 2027 | End | Calcasieu Parish | 7:01 a.m. | 5:53 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. |
| Feb 6, 2027 | End | St. Tammany Parish | 6:48 a.m. | 5:39 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. |
Rules from the 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations and La. R.S. 56:116.1; sunrise and sunset worked out with the NOAA solar formula (Central Time); checked November 4, 2026. Legal hours for all 64 parishes.
Northern shovelers swimming in a flooded field pond near Grand Coteau, St. Landry Parish. Photo: JCCastex (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mallard drake drinking from a calm lake at the LSU Lakes in Baton Rouge. Photo: May (CC BY 2.0)
Canada geese flying low over a marsh. Photo: Yellowstone National Park (Public domain)
Answers about ducks, coots and mergansers
Is archery legal for ducks, coots and mergansers?
Migratory birds rules for ducks, coots and mergansers: Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells; non-toxic shot for ducks, geese and coots.
What should a duck hunter wear during gun deer dates?
Bird shot for ducks, coots and mergansers does not bring the 400 square inch rule into play on private land, and on WMAs waterfowl and dove hunters are excused from it.
Is there public land for ducks, coots and mergansers in Louisiana?
The biggest of 83 listed areas are Kisatchie NF, Kisatchie NF, Calcasieu District and Kisatchie NF, Winn District. WMA dates can differ from the statewide rows.
Are there daily hour limits for ducks, coots and mergansers?
Ducks, coots and mergansers may be shot from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. LDWF prints no sun table; the NOAA formula gives 6:23 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. at Baton Rouge on November 7, 2026.
Do I have to report ducks, coots and mergansers I take?
No check-in for ducks, coots and mergansers; federal tagging rules for birds left with others; HIP certification annually.
Are ducks, coots and mergansers off limits on Sundays?
Yes. No statewide Sunday rule limits ducks, coots and mergansers; some WMA and federal schedules hunt only on set weekdays.
Why do WMA duck hunts stop at noon?
New for 2026-27: waterfowl hunting closes at 12 noon on all WMAs and public lands except Atchafalaya Delta and Pass-a-Loutre WMAs.
Which stamps cover ducks, coots and mergansers?
The federal duck stamp is $27.72 in the pamphlet; the LDWF web pages show $29.79. The Louisiana duck stamp is now a collectible/contest program (state waterfowl license covers the privilege); federal duck stamp required at 16+. HIP certification is free and needed every year.
How many hunters go after ducks, coots and mergansers?
Duck 2025-26: about 2,180,900 taken by 80,200 hunters (survey estimate, 95% interval plus or minus 375,100). Coot 2025-26: about 79,700 taken by 5,700 hunters (survey estimate, 95% interval plus or minus 48,100).
When can I hunt ducks, coots and mergansers in Louisiana?
Dates run November 7, 2026 to February 6, 2027; the season table on this page lists every row. The next window starts November 7, 2026.
Is there a limit on ducks, coots and mergansers in Louisiana?
Ducks 6 daily: max 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 black duck, 3 pintails (1 hen); scaup 1 daily for the first 15 days then 2; mottled duck 0 for the first 15 days then 1. Coots 15. Mergansers 5 (2 hooded) in addition to ducks. Possession 3x daily.; Daily 3, possession 9 migratory game birds singly or in aggregate in extended falconry and regular seasons.
What license do I need to hunt ducks, coots and mergansers in Louisiana?
The duck license set: Basic Hunting $20 resident, $200 nonresident; Waterfowl $12 resident, $50 nonresident; Federal Duck Stamp (electronic) $27.72 (pamphlet); LDWF web pages show $29.79; HIP certification Free. Licenses for ducks, coots and mergansers sell at LouisianaOutdoors.com and at license vendors.
Other photos on this page: JCCastex (CC BY-SA 4.0); May (CC BY 2.0); Yellowstone National Park (Public domain).