The first shots of duck season arrived this sweltering weekend when West Region youth hunters caught early birds for the first time.

On Saturday, the 60 days begin in earnest when the West Regional takes on the first of three splits in the 60-day season. That same day, our state’s Eastern Waterfowl District has a special one-day season for hunters 17 and under and honorably discharged hunters. The Eastern Region will open with its first episode on November 16.

While the 2024-2025 Louisiana Hunting Regulations brochure outlines areas, daily catches, regulations on specific species, and any other rules regarding waterfowl seasons, it includes licensing requirements for all waterfowl hunters.

First, if you are 16 or older you need a federal duck stamp. Most post offices have it. You can also purchase them from a license dealer or go online to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Need more? Try this Wildlife and Fisheries website: wlf.louisiana.gov/page/federal-duck-stamps

Moreover, there is something new: Rep. Garret Tombs (R, La.) introduced a bill to Congress (the New Modernization Act Act) to create a federal electronic duck stamp that would allow hunters to obtain the stamp online for immediate use by downloading it to a mobile phone or printing a receipt. The law makes the stamp valid from the time of purchase until the end of the waterfowl season you hunt, including conservation order season on blue, snow and Ross geese. Hunters will receive the physical stamp after March 10 if requested.

If you are 18 or older, you need a basic state hunting license. Exemptions (no license required) are available for hunters born before June 1, 1940 and those with a lifetime hunting license.

All hunters need a state waterfowl stamp.

If you are 18 years of age or older, all migratory waterfowl and migratory bird hunters must have proof of completing the Harvest Information Program survey (HIP certification). There are no fees. Most often, you complete the HIP requirement when you obtain a basic state license or federal duck stamp.

If you don’t have a place to hunt, Wildlife and Fisheries has several popular waterfowl hunting areas (wildlife management areas), some of which are among the best in North America.

Try wildlife management areas off the Mississippi River near Venice such as Pass-a-Loutre, Atchafalaya Delta, Pointe-aux-Chenes, Sherburne, Biloxi Marsh, Dewey Wills and Russell Sage.

See the hunting brochure for rules and regulations regarding equipment and restrictions on hunting times.

State Wildlife and Fisheries in Baton Rouge has maps of these WMAs, or you can get details from the agency’s website: wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations.

Also, please remember that federal and state wildlife officers patrol during waterfowl seasons; so be aware that hunting hours on private lands are a half hour from sunrise to sunset (more restrictive on state and federal lands); hunting with non-toxic bullets; Your shotgun should be limited to carrying no more than three rounds; and make sure you stay within daily and ownership limits. Also know that you should hold a duck with its wing fully feathered and its head on the way home. This is the law.

Students

When it comes to our in-state college and high school students forming friendships with out-of-state individuals, it’s already been done, it’s been done.

Because one thing often leads to another – when it comes to a love of the outdoors – especially hunting and fishing – an invitation is often extended to our visiting students.

OK, what about licenses?

There is a special category for them and this includes all game and fish.

Nonresident full-time or part-time students age 18 and over enrolled in accredited public or private colleges, universities, or high schools may obtain a student license for resident fees.

You must provide Wildlife and Fisheries with a student identification card showing your current status and must have it along with your student hunting/fishing license if inspected by state or federal enforcement authorities.

In-person licenses can be purchased online or at the state headquarters on Quail Drive in Baton Rouge during business hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Need more? Call (225) 765-2887.

What’s up

It’s not water levels and it’s obvious if you have water to feed ducks in the few days leading up to the West Zone season opener.

Just like last year’s summer-fall drought, the last 30 or so rainless days (before Thursday and Friday) have so negatively impacted marshes and farmlands that rice and soybean fields have remained mostly dry, and that’s for anyone looking to make it to opening day. Success – even in the first split – is having to pump water.

The same goes for some coastal marshes; Even the rain that fell here late last week wasn’t enough to pour water over the swamp landscape.

There is hope in this week’s rain forecast that sufficient water from the skies will increase waterfowl habitat in coastal areas west of the Atchafalaya Basin.

Despite low water levels in the Mississippi River, areas on the east side of the Western Region appear to have enough habitat for a solid opening weekend.

what’s up

Reports of migrating ducks from every neighborhood show blue-winged teal dominating the action.

Some early gray ducks, pintails, spoontails, and the ever-present wood ducks are one species that appear to have taken up residence in our state in large numbers.

Word came from the midlands that Lake Catahoula was full of ducks, mostly teal, and that was because there was enough water and food to keep the ducks in the Nov. 16 East Regional opener, though not too much.

We’ll have a better understanding of migratory waterfowl numbers after state biologists release the first flight survey next week.

Happy hunting.