Louisiana › Species › American Woodcock
Doves, snipe, rails, gallinules, woodcock and crows
American woodcock in Louisiana: 2026-27 seasons, limits and where to hunt
The 2026-27 LDWF rules for woodcock, with public land and computed legal light.
Photo: Robert Nunnally (CC BY 2.0)
Louisiana american woodcock in brief
The first woodcock day this season is December 18, 2026, and the last dated row ends January 31, 2027 (1 row in all). On limits, the species summary reads "Daily 3, possession 9". One more note on woodcock: 2025-26 survey: 66,600.
- Dates and methods (woodcock): Dec 18-Jan 31; falconry from Nov 1.
- Bag rule (woodcock): Daily 3, possession 9.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 35 and LDWF Big and Small Game Harvest Survey 2025-26, checked November 4, 2026.
GearHeading out for small game season? Small game gear checklist →
Parishes and land for woodcock
Woodcock share one statewide season; WMA schedules add closures.
Local closures are possible: a parish governing authority may, with the secretary's consent, close or curtail open seasons for up to one year by ordinance.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 35 and Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 56, checked November 4, 2026.
American Woodcock calendar statewide
Each woodcock row with its zone, length in days and limit, as LDWF printed it.
| Season | Covers | Opening | Closing | Span | Today | Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falconry | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 92 | Full limit | |
| Season | Statewide | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 45 | Daily 3; possession 9. |
Notes on the woodcock rows
- Woodcock note: pamphlet lists Nov 1-Jan 31; the LDWF season page lists extended falconry Nov 1-Dec 17 (the regular season covers Dec 18-Jan 31).
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 35, checked November 4, 2026.
How many woodcock are taken in Louisiana
No parish harvest is published for woodcock; the statewide estimate and its range are shown, with 2024-25 for comparison.
| Row | People | Harvest | Range | Last year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodcock | 5,500 | 66,600 | 9,700 to 123,500 | 25,500 |
From LDWF Big and Small Game Harvest Survey 2025-26, checked November 4, 2026.
Daily and season limits for woodcock
Limits for woodcock: general rows first, then rows that print a different bag.
| Bag row | What it allows |
|---|---|
| Woodcock | Daily 3; possession 9. |
| Falconry (migratory) | Daily 3, possession 9 migratory game birds singly or in aggregate in extended falconry and regular seasons. |
| Falconry | Daily 3; possession 9 (aggregate). |
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 35, checked November 4, 2026.
What woodcock hunters buy in Louisiana
Licenses for woodcock are sold at LouisianaOutdoors.com, LDWF headquarters and license vendors, and can be shown on LA Wallet.
| License | Who | Price | Valid | 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 | – |
| 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.
American Woodcock on WMAs, refuges and federal land
51 public areas in this guide list woodcock in their seasons or LDWF area pages; the 15 largest follow.
| Place | Type | Parishes | Size (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 | – |
| Kisatchie NF, Catahoula District | Forest district | Grant, Rapides | 122,860 | – |
| 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 |
| Richard K. Yancey WMA | WMA | Concordia | 70,872 | Yes |
| Dewey W. Wills WMA | WMA | Catahoula, LaSalle +1 | 63,984 | Yes |
| West Bay WMA | WMA | Allen | 59,189 | Yes |
| Upper Ouachita NWR | Refuge | Morehouse, Union | 56,553 | – |
| Clear Creek WMA | WMA | Vernon | 52,559 | Yes |
| Boeuf WMA | WMA | Caldwell, Catahoula | 51,110 | – |
| Sherburne WMA | WMA | Iberville, Pointe Coupee +1 | 43,637 | Yes |
From this site’s public land records (LDWF area pages, the 2026-27 WMA schedules and federal rules), checked November 4, 2026.
Weapons and field rules for woodcock
| Season | Legal gear | Illegal gear |
|---|---|---|
| Migratory birds | Woodcock: Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells; non-toxic shot for ducks, geese and coots. | Not for woodcock: rifles, pistols, traps, nets, sink boxes, motor vehicles/aircraft, moving boats, live decoys, recorded calls (except light-goose Conservation Order), bait. |
- Dogs (woodcock): Deer may be hunted with dogs only in designated "with or without dogs" segments; archery and primitive seasons and still-hunt areas are dog-free; One leashed/GPS-collared tracking dog may trail wounded deer on private land; Coyote running with dogs banned in turkey areas during turkey season.
- Baiting (woodcock): 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.
- Hunter orange/blaze pink (woodcock): 400 square inches during open firearms deer seasons for anyone hunting with buckshot, slugs, primitive or centerfire firearms (class one violation).
Statewide, no woodcock may be shot from a public road or right-of-way, or across one.
From 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 42, 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 27, 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 52 and 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting & WMA Regulations, PDF p. 26, checked November 4, 2026.
After the hunt: woodcock rules
- Blaze orange, woodcock hunters: The orange rule (La; R.S. 56:143: 400 square inches hunter orange or blaze pink; cap/hat alternative on privately owned, legally posted land; class one violation.) applies during firearm deer seasons; On privately owned land a hunter orange or blaze pink cap or hat may be worn instead; not required in elevated stands on private land (but required walking to and from stands where firearms are allowed) or for archers where the landowner bars firearm hunting.
- Tags and woodcock: Woodcock carry no LDWF tag; federal tagging rules for birds left with others; HIP certification annually.
- Baited fields: Federal rule: no hunting migratory birds over bait; area stays baited 10 days after removal.
- American Woodcock: hunter education: 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.
When woodcock hunting starts and stops
Sunrise on the Sabine comes later than on the Pearl, so the woodcock hours below are computed parish by parish.
The woodcock hours rule: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
| Day | Marker | Parish | Sun up | Sun down | Hunting window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 18, 2026 | Opener | Caddo Parish | 7:12 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. |
| Dec 18, 2026 | Opener | Ouachita Parish | 7:04 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Dec 18, 2026 | Opener | Rapides Parish | 7:03 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. |
| Dec 18, 2026 | Opener | Calcasieu Parish | 7:04 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Dec 18, 2026 | Opener | St. Tammany Parish | 6:51 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Season closes | Caddo Parish | 7:11 a.m. | 5:46 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Season closes | Ouachita Parish | 7:04 a.m. | 5:39 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Season closes | Rapides Parish | 7:03 a.m. | 5:43 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Season closes | Calcasieu Parish | 7:05 a.m. | 5:48 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Season closes | St. Tammany Parish | 6:52 a.m. | 5:34 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:34 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.
Dense stand of cypress trunks in a duckweed swamp. Photo: Nick Shields (CC BY 2.0)
Moss-hung cypress around a dark swamp lake under a blue sky. Photo: Iryna Kuchma (CC BY 2.0)
Fog in a quiet bottomland swamp with bare trees. Photo: Trey Matula (CC BY 2.0)
Common questions on woodcock
May woodcock be hunted near bait?
Federal rule: no hunting migratory birds over bait; area stays baited 10 days after removal.
How many woodcock are taken in Louisiana each year?
Woodcock 2025-26: about 66,600 taken by 5,500 hunters (survey estimate, 95% interval plus or minus 56,900).
What are the 2026-27 woodcock dates in Louisiana?
From December 18, 2026 to January 31, 2027, split into 1 row. Coming next: December 18, 2026.
How many woodcock can I take in Louisiana?
Daily 3; possession 9.; Daily 3, possession 9 migratory game birds singly or in aggregate in extended falconry and regular seasons.
What permits go with woodcock hunting?
Woodcock hunters buy: Basic Hunting $20 resident, $200 nonresident; HIP certification Free; WMA Access Annual Permit $20. Residents who hunt woodcock can fold Basic Hunting into the $100 Sportsman’s Paradise license.
What gear is legal for woodcock hunting?
Migratory birds rules for woodcock: Shotgun 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells; non-toxic shot for ducks, geese and coots.
Does Louisiana require orange for woodcock?
The orange rule (La. R.S. 56:143: 400 sq. in. hunter orange or blaze pink; cap/hat alternative on privately owned, legally posted land; class one violation.) applies during firearm deer seasons. On privately owned land a hunter orange or blaze pink cap or hat may be worn instead; not required in elevated stands on private land (but required walking to and from stands where firearms are allowed) or for archers where the landowner bars firearm hunting.
Which WMAs and refuges have woodcock?
Start with Kisatchie NF, Kisatchie NF, Calcasieu District and Kisatchie NF, Winn District, the largest of 51 public areas for woodcock. Public land dates are often shorter.
How early can I shoot woodcock?
Hours for woodcock: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. On December 18, 2026 sunrise and sunset in East Baton Rouge Parish are 6:56 a.m. and 5:06 p.m. (NOAA solar formula).
How do I validate a woodcock?
Woodcock carry no LDWF tag; federal tagging rules for birds left with others; HIP certification annually.
Are woodcock off limits on Sundays?
Yes, on statewide dates. Public land is the exception: some WMA and federal schedules for woodcock name the days.
Other photos on this page: Nick Shields (CC BY 2.0); Iryna Kuchma (CC BY 2.0); Trey Matula (CC BY 2.0).