A special nine-day Louisiana black-bellied whistling duck season began Oct. 3 and runs through Oct. 11. The new season gives Louisiana waterfowl hunters a dedicated opportunity to pursue a species that has expanded its range and numbers throughout the state in recent years. The season marks a new chapter for sportsmen, while providing another opportunity to experience the state’s rich waterfowl resources in the field.
The daily bag limit for the season will be four with a possession limit of 12. All hunters participating in the season will be required to have a free black-bellied whistling duck hunting permit from Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and are required to report effort and harvest within 15 days of the season’s closure. One major difference from other duck seasons is that shooting hours will be sunrise to sunset.
“Louisiana has always been a special place for duck hunters, and we're excited to see a new opportunity like this come to our state,” said Jacob Mayo, brand manager of Duck Commander. “We appreciate the work the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries does to manage Louisiana’s wildlife resources and create hunting opportunities that are rooted in conservation and responsible stewardship. As hunters, it’s our responsibility to follow the regulations, respect the resource and help preserve these traditions for future generations.”
Only black-bellied whistling ducks may be harvested during the special season, making it especially important for hunters to positively identify their target before taking a shot and to review all applicable state and federal regulations before heading afield. All license requirements for hunting waterfowl apply to this season as well, including Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration and the federal duck stamp.
Both hunter effort and harvest must be reported between Oct.12 and 26. Go to the LDWF website black-bellied whistling duck reporting page to report effort and harvest. For more information, visit the LDWF webpage with full details on the special black-bellied whistling duck season.
