Waterfowl Seasons and Bag Limits

Waterfowl Guides

It is illegal for waterfowl hunters to be guided on wildlife management areas, special use areas or national wildlife refuges. Both hunters and guides are subject to penalties.

Hunting Ends at Noon

Shooting is allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise and ends at noon except where noted on pages 45-62. Waterfowl hunters on WMAs must cease all shooting at noon from Nov. 18, 2023- Jan. 30, 2024. Waterfowl hunting is allowed 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset on Jan. 31, 2024 and Dec. 2, 2023 and Feb. 3, 2024 (Youth and Special Active Duty Military and Veteran Waterfowl Hunts) on WMAs.

Waterfowl Hunter WMA Access Times

Waterfowl hunters must be off water-inundated areas or natural/man-made water courses by 1 p.m. (by noon on Dave Donaldson Black River WMA and George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMA) from Nov. 18, 2023- Jan. 30, 2024. Waterfowl hunters must be off water-inundated areas or natural/man-made water courses by 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2, 2023, Jan. 31, 2024 and Feb. 3, 2024.

No Equipment Left Overnight

Waterfowl decoys, dog stands and platforms may not be left out overnight on wildlife management areas, special use areas or wildlife demonstration areas, including river channels within exterior boundaries of WMAs. Boats in staging areas must be occupied. Boats cannot be left overnight except on Dave Donaldson Black River WMA at slough boat access points.

Vegetation Destruction Prohibited

On Commission-owned WMAs, it is illegal to use or possess chainsaws, handsaws, hatchets, axes, weed trimmers, string trimmers or other cutting devices. Chemical defoliants also are prohibited. Exceptions to this rule include: hunting knives, pocketknives and pocket saws; campers in designated camping areas; and trappers using hatchets during trapping season.

Permanent Duck Blinds

It is illegal to build, erect or hunt from a duck blind (any structure fabricated from metal, lumber, wire, nylon or other building materials) which is not removed or torn down each day at the end of shooting hours. This applies to all WMAs including river channels within exterior boundaries of WMAs.

Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt

Hunting is allowed by youths 15 and younger during the Youth Waterfowl Hunts on WMAs and NWRs open to waterfowl hunting, Dec. 2, 2023 and Feb. 3, 2024. During this hunt, youths have no shot shell limit on WMAs and may hunt from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset. Details are on page 4. Nonresident Permits are not required for this hunt.

Special Active Duty Military and Veteran Hunt

Hunting is allowed by members of active duty military and military veterans during the Special Active Duty Military and Veteran Waterfowl Hunt, Feb. 3, 2024. During this hunt, members of active duty military and military veterans have no shot shell limit on WMAs and may hunt from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset on WMAs and NWRs open to waterfowl hunting. Details are on page 4. Nonresident Permits are not required for this hunt.

Certain Waterfowl Decoys Prohibited

From the first day of the first segment of regular duck season until the end of regular duck season, as well as during early teal season and special youth waterfowl hunts, it is unlawful on any Commission-owned WMA or lake and national wildlife refuges to possess, or take or attempt to take waterfowl with the use of, any simulated wing movement decoy or any decoy other than an artificial decoy that imitates the appearance of waterfowl: no moving parts or electrical components; and is not subjected to any artificial means that makes it appear to move, splash or cause ripples. Exception: Manually operated “jerk strings” may be used to simulate movement.

Simulated Wing Movement Decoys
Simulated wing movement decoys are any electric, mechanically operated, wind-powered, or manually powered apparatus or device that simulates wing movement, including any device that spins one or more fixed- or stationary-winged decoys around a central axis.

1. Weaving through congested vessel traffic;
2. Jumping the wake of another vessel too close to such other vessel;
3. Operating a vessel when visibility is obstructed;
4. Moving at a speed that exceeds the safe and reasonable limits under the circumstances or that creates a hazardous wash or wake upon approaching or passing vessels;
5. Inattentive operation;
6. Failure to keep a proper lookout;
7. Failure to observe navigation rules;
8. Swerving at the last possible moment to avoid collision where correction reasonably could have been made earlier;
9. Operating while intoxicated or under the influence of any narcotic drug, barbiturate, or marijuana or while under any physical or mental disability so as to be incapable of operating safely under the circumstances;

10. Colliding with, striking or bumping another vessel, object or person;
11. Otherwise operating a vessel in a manner that endangers life, limb or property.
12. Impeding the normal and reasonable movement of boating traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with the law of regulations.
13.  With the exception of meeting oncoming boats, all boating traffic must proceed in single-file with no passing allowed, exception when boats have exited the current direction of travel or are no longer under power.
14. All boating traffic on a WMA or NWR must maintain a minimum distance of 100 feet (approximately 6-boat lengths) between boats.