The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) would like to remind waterfowl hunters that the harvest of mottled ducks is prohibited in the first 15 days of the regular duck season in both the East and West zones. In the final 45 days of the season, the daily bag limit is one.
Waterfowl hunting begins Nov. 9 in the West Zone and Nov. 16 in the East Zone. Nov. 24 would be the first day in which a mottled duck could be harvested in the West Zone and Dec. 1 in the East Zone.
Mottled ducks may not be harvested during the special youth and/or veteran hunting days if they are held before the beginning of duck season in both zones. The West Zone youth only days will be Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 2-3) and the East Zone youth and veterans only day will be Nov. 9 and Feb. 1. Youth and veteran hunters would be able to harvest one mottled duck on Feb. 1 in the East Zone, and veterans may harvest one mottled duck per day Feb. 1-2.
The West Gulf Coast population of mottled ducks has shown a 65% decline since 2009 in Louisiana, resulting in the recommendation to reduce harvest of this species in the Mississippi Flyway by 50%.
For more information on the new regulations, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/assets/Resources/Publications/Waterfowl/Mottled-Duck-Brochure-for-web.pdf or contact LDWF Waterfowl Program Manager Jason Olszak at jolszak@wlf.la.gov.
For complete 2024-25 hunting regulations, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations.