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Canada goose in Louisiana: 2026-27 seasons, limits and where to hunt
Seasons, limits, license prices and where to hunt Canada geese in 2026-27.
Photo: Jason Crotty (CC BY 2.0)
Canada Goose at a glance
Louisiana opens Canada geese on November 14, 2026 and the final goose window closes on February 7, 2027, with 4 dated rows in the 2026-27 LDWF tables. Goose limit summary: Daily 1, possession 3.
- Methods and dates (goose): Nov 14-Dec 6 and Dec 19-Feb 7 both zones; closed in part of southwest Louisiana.
- Bag (goose): Daily 1, possession 3.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 35 and 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 38, checked November 4, 2026.
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Canada Goose zones and the noon rule
- West duck zone (goose): Texas state line to LA 79/LA 9/LA 147/US 167/US 90 line; 34 parishes all or in part.
- East Zone (goose): the rest of the state, 47 parishes all or in part.
- On the boundary (goose): Bienville, Claiborne, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lafourche, Orleans, Rapides, St. Charles, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Terrebonne and Winn.
- WMA hours (goose): New for 2026-27: waterfowl hunting closes at 12 noon on all WMAs and public lands except Atchafalaya Delta and Pass-a-Loutre WMAs.
- Southwest closure: Closed in part of southwest Louisiana (Hwy 82/Calcasieu Ship Channel/Intracoastal Canal/Parish Road 3147/Freshwater Bayou area) and on open waters of Lake Arthur and the Mermentau River south of the Hwy 14 bridge.
Both zones share the same bag; only the dates of the splits and youth days move.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 36 and 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 38, checked November 4, 2026.
Every goose season row
4 season lines for Canada geese, opening to closing.
| Hunt | Applies to | Start | End | Days | Open now? | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | East Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | 23 | Daily 1; possession 3. | |
| Regular season | East Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | 51 | Daily 1; possession 3. | |
| Regular season | West Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | 23 | Daily 1; possession 3. | |
| Regular season | West Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | 51 | Daily 1; possession 3. |
What the goose rows add
- Goose note: closed in part of southwest Louisiana (Hwy 82/Calcasieu Ship Channel/Intracoastal Canal/Parish Road 3147/Freshwater Bayou area) and on open waters of Lake Arthur and the Mermentau River south of the Hwy 14 bridge.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 35, checked November 4, 2026.
Canada Goose numbers by parish and year
LDWF estimates goose harvest statewide from an email survey of licensed hunters; there is no parish table, so the best places below come from land listings rather than harvest.
| Species | Hunters | Taken | 95% interval | Prior year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goose | 15,200 | 245,300 | 54,900 to 435,700 | 66,200 |
From LDWF Big and Small Game Harvest Survey 2025-26, checked November 4, 2026.
Canada Goose: limit rows
Bag and possession rules for Canada geese, first as LDWF sums them up and then any season row with a bag of its own.
| Covers | Bag and possession |
|---|---|
| Canada goose | Daily 1; possession 3. |
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 35, checked November 4, 2026.
Canada Goose license prices
Bona fide resident: lived in Louisiana continuously for 6 months before applying and domiciled here (Louisiana voter registration, driver's license, vehicle registration and state tax return as applicable); resident licenses from another state disqualify. Honorably discharged veterans with a Louisiana driver's license or ID count as residents. Active-duty military, their spouses and dependents pay resident fees.
| License | Residency | Price | Period | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | – |
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 8, LDWF hunting licenses page and LDWF fee list, checked November 4, 2026.
Where to hunt Canada geese on public ground
Public land for Canada geese: 83 WMAs, refuges and federal areas, sorted by acres.
| Area | Category | Parishes | Acreage | 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.
Canada Goose: guns, bows and methods
| Weapons row | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Migratory birds | Goose: Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells; non-toxic shot for ducks, geese and coots. | Not for goose: rifles, pistols, traps, nets, sink boxes, motor vehicles/aircraft, moving boats, live decoys, recorded calls (except light-goose Conservation Order), bait. |
- Baiting (goose): 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 (goose): 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.
Suppressors are legal for Canada geese with ATF registration, unless the hunter has a recent class four or higher violation.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 42, 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 52 and 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 25, checked November 4, 2026.
What LDWF asks of goose hunters
- Canada Goose and hunter orange: LDWF ties hunter orange to firearm deer dates and to buckshot, slugs, primitive and centerfire guns; off WMAs, goose hunters with bird shot are not covered, and on WMAs waterfowl and dove hunters are exempt.
- After the shot: Canada geese: For Canada geese there is no harvest tag; federal tagging rules for birds left with others; HIP certification annually.
- Federal baiting: Federal rule: no hunting migratory birds over bait; area stays baited 10 days after removal.
- Youth and veterans: Youth and Veterans waterfowl days: East Zone Nov 14, 2026 and Feb 6, 2027; West Zone Nov 7, 2026 and Jan 30, 2027.
- Course requirement: 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.
Canada Goose legal light by parish
These goose hours use parish-centre sun times from the NOAA solar formula; check your own spot near a parish line.
Hour rule (Canada geese): 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.
| When | Event | Parish | Sunrise | Sunset | Shooting hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Opening | Caddo Parish | 6:44 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Opening | Ouachita Parish | 6:37 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Opening | Rapides Parish | 6:36 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Opening | Calcasieu Parish | 6:38 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Opening | St. Tammany Parish | 6:24 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Feb 7, 2027 | Last day | Caddo Parish | 7:06 a.m. | 5:53 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. |
| Feb 7, 2027 | Last day | Ouachita Parish | 6:59 a.m. | 5:46 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. |
| Feb 7, 2027 | Last day | Rapides Parish | 6:59 a.m. | 5:49 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. |
| Feb 7, 2027 | Last day | Calcasieu Parish | 7:01 a.m. | 5:54 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. |
| Feb 7, 2027 | Last day | St. Tammany Parish | 6:47 a.m. | 5:40 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 5:40 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.
Greater white-fronted goose walking through green marsh grass. Photo: Alaska Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Flock of snow geese flying across a blue sky. Photo: Amit Patel (CC BY 2.0)
Open marsh pond with ducks and golden grass under a deep blue sky in south Louisiana. Photo: brian gautreau (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Canada Goose, answered
Which public places are best for Canada geese?
Kisatchie NF, Kisatchie NF, Calcasieu District and Kisatchie NF, Winn District lead a list of 83 WMAs, refuges and federal lands. Each WMA keeps its own schedule.
Is hunter orange needed for Canada geese on a WMA?
LDWF ties hunter orange to firearm deer dates and to buckshot, slugs, primitive and centerfire guns; off WMAs, goose hunters with bird shot are not covered, and on WMAs waterfowl and dove hunters are exempt.
Do I have to report Canada geese I take?
For Canada geese there is no harvest tag; federal tagging rules for birds left with others; HIP certification annually.
What time does goose hunting end?
The goose day lasts one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Sun times on this page use the NOAA solar formula: 6:29 a.m. sunrise, 5:09 p.m. sunset in East Baton Rouge Parish on November 14, 2026.
Which areas skip the noon rule for Canada geese?
New for 2026-27: waterfowl hunting closes at 12 noon on all WMAs and public lands except Atchafalaya Delta and Pass-a-Loutre WMAs.
Is there a Sunday rule for Canada geese?
Louisiana has no statewide Sunday ban, so private-land goose rows run every day; WMA schedules can name specific days.
Does LDWF publish goose harvest numbers?
Goose 2025-26: about 245,300 taken by 15,200 hunters (survey estimate, 95% interval plus or minus 190,400).
Is HIP needed for Canada geese?
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 Canada geese can I take in Louisiana?
Daily 1; possession 3.
How long is the goose season in Louisiana?
November 14, 2026 to February 7, 2027, in 4 dated rows. The next opener after November 4, 2026 is November 14, 2026.
What weapons are legal for Canada geese?
Migratory birds rules for Canada geese: Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells; non-toxic shot for ducks, geese and coots.
Do nonresidents need a special license for Canada geese?
Costs for Canada geese: 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. Carry the goose license, or its number, with a photo ID.
Other photos on this page: Alaska Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Amit Patel (CC BY 2.0); brian gautreau (CC BY-SA 2.0).