Is Louisiana Getting a New Duck Season in 2026?

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) has been working overtime of late and some of their proposals for the upcoming 2026-27 hunting year could be just what you had hoped for.

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Among those proposals is the creation of a season for the exclusive harvest of the black-bellied whistling duck (aka Mexican Tree Duck) which has become extremely prolific in Louisiana over the past two decades.

This duck was only occasionally spotted in Louisiana, and most of these sightings were exclusive to the Louisiana coast, until around the year 2000. It was about then that a rapid population growth was observed through 2005 and as coastal habitats eroded, many ducks shifted nesting to central Louisiana, utilizing cypress trees for nesting cavities, leading to record numbers.

The LWFC has included the creation of this special season among its adopted Notices of Intent (NOI) which are now open for public comment through 4:00 pm on March 5, 2026. Other items among those proposals are the dates for upcoming hunting seasons:

• 2026–27 and 2027–28 hunting seasons
• 2026–27 general and WMA seasons/rules and regs
• 2027 general and WMA turkey season/rules and regs
• 2026–27 migratory bird seasons/rules and regs

The LWFC Proposals Include a Number of Notable Changes For Louisiana Hunters

Included in these recent LWFC proposals are the following significant changes:

• Black-bellied whistling duck season proposed for Oct. 3–11, 2026 (daily bag: 4) Hunters would need a free LDWF permit and must report harvest and effort.
• Waterfowl sanctuary on portions of Biloxi, Boeuf, and Russell Sage WMAs will be closed to public access and activity from Nov. 1 through the final day of the Conservation Order for Light Geese.
• Proposed youth squirrel season on private lands for two days starting the fourth Saturday in September.
• Special archery season for antlered bucks only in Deer Areas 1 and 2 within CWD Control Areas.
• Clarified definitions for Bucks Only and Legal Antlered Deer
• Disabled veteran licensee or properly licensed disabled hunters may hunt deer with any legal weapon during primitive firearms season
• Set hunting seasons for Bogue Chitto and Flatwoods Savannah WMAs

The LWFC will announce the date/time for a Zoom public meeting to discuss these proposals in the coming weeks.  To view the full Notice of Intent, go to wlf.louisiana.gov