A week ago, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission gave final approval to the 2021-22 hunting regulations, and attached is a summary .
Substantive Changes from 2020-21:
1) This is the first of 5 years for the new Zones/Splits options and boundaries. We are moving from 3 zones with 1 split to 2 Zones with 2 Splits (3 season segments) as our foundation. Attached is a map of the new 2-Zone boundary, and here is a written description: West: That portion of the state between the Texas State line and the line going south on LA Hwy 79 from the Arkansas border to Homer; then south on LA 9 to Arcadia; then south on LA 147 to Hodge; then south on US 167 to Lafayette; then south and east on US Hwy 90 to the Mississippi state line. East: Remainder of state. Be sure to check the new boundaries because important hunting areas in Jefferson Davis, Acadia, Vermilion, and Evangeline Parish have moved out of the East Zone.
2) Goose Zones have returned to the same as the Duck Zones.
3) West Zone duck season has 2 splits (3 season segments) to allow hunting until the end of January while maintaining the second Saturday in November opening date. The second break in the season comes after the Christmas and New Year holidays. The East Zone retains the familiar single split and traditional opening and closing dates.
4) Youth and Veterans hunt days are now concurrent.
Approved 2021-2022 Migratory Bird Seasons
DOVES:
South Zone: Sept. 4 – 18
Oct. 16 – Nov. 28
Dec. 18 – Jan. 17
North Zone: Sept. 4 – 26
Oct. 9 – Nov. 14
Dec. 24 – Jan. 22
TEAL: Sept. 11 – 26
WOODCOCK: Dec. 18 – Jan. 31
DUCKS AND COOTS:
East Zone: November 20 – December 5 (Youth/Veterans: Nov. 13 and
Feb. 5)
December 18 – January 30
West Zone: November 13 – December 5 (Youth/Veterans: Nov. 6-7) December 18 – January 2
January 10 – January 30
Daily Bag Limits: 6 and may include no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 females), 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 1 mottled duck, 1 black duck, and 1 pintail. Only 1 scaup may be taken for the first 15 days of the season with 2 per day allowed for the remainder.
Daily bag limit on coots is 15.
Mergansers – The daily bag limit for mergansers is 5, only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers, in addition to the daily bag limit for ducks.
Possession Limit – Three times the daily bag limit.
LIGHT (SNOW, BLUE and ROSS’), WHITE-FRONTED, AND CANADA GEESE
East Zone: November 6 – December 5
December 18 – January 30
West Zone: November 6 – December 5
December 18 – January 2
January 10 – February 6
Daily bag limit on light geese (snow, blue and Ross’): 20
Possession limit on light geese (snow, blue and Ross’): None
Daily Limit on white-fronted geese: 3
Possession Limit on white-fronted geese: 9
Daily Limit on Canada geese: 1 per day
Possession limit on Canada geese: 3
CONSERVATION ORDER FOR LIGHT GEESE (SNOW, BLUE AND ROSS’S):
East Zone: December 6 – December 17
January 31 – March 6
West Zone: December 6 – December 17
January 3 – January 9
February 7 – March 6
Only snow, blue and Ross’s geese may be taken under the terms of the Conservation Order, which allows the use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns and eliminates the daily bag and possession limits. During the Conservation Order, shooting hours begins one-half hour before sunrise and extends until one-half hour after sunset.
RAILS AND GALLINULES:
September 11 – 26
November 13 – January 5
KING AND CLAPPER: Daily bag is 15 in aggregate, Possession 45.
SORA AND VIRGINIA: Daily bag is 25 in aggregate, Possession 75.
GALLINULES: Daily bag limit 15, Possession limit 45
SNIPE:
November 2 – December 5
December 18 – February 28
Daily bag limit 8, Possession limit 24
EXTENDED FALCONRY
Ducks (All Zones): Nov. 2 – Jan. 31
Rails and Gallinules: Nov. 2 – Jan. 31
Woodcock: Nov. 2 – Jan. 31