Louisiana Harvests the Most Waterfowl

by Angela Pham • July 25, 2011 • 4 comments

This might alter where you’re planning to hunt this  fall. According to the annual U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest report, the state known for Cajun cuisine and Mardi Gras is now known for being the state where waterfowl hunting is most abundant.

More ducks were harvested in Louisiana last season than in the entire Atlantic or Central flyways, with a total of more than 2.7 million ducks in Louisiana during the 2010-’11 waterfowl season.

According to Ducks Unlimited, Louisiana’s harvest accounts for 18 percent of the United States harvest. Arkansas had the second highest harvest with 1.4 million ducks. Factoring in hunter numbers, Louisiana’s harvest equated to 30.6 ducks harvested per hunter for the season.

Are you headed to Louisiana this fall?

In Tips & Tactics, Waterfowl • Tagged ,
  • bobby horn

    how about setting up a spot where we can talk and trade hunt from one part of the country to another

  • Steve Hearing

    There is a website, http://www.talkHunting.com which has forums nationwide.

  • Lance Gremillion

    Well we did well down hear in cajun country last year but it was a setup with severe drought above us herding the birds south. Also remember that cajuns are killing DUCKS down here not just greenheads. I bet mallards did not account for 25% of that harvest if you look into it. Still a trip with one of the guides in the coastal marshes is a mind opening experience for many people. Especially the mouth of the river is something everyone should see once. For do it yourselfers out there looking for adventure check out the Biloxi WMA and the Atchafalaya Delta WMA (specifically the wax lake outlet delta). If you have 5 days and spend some time scouting they are pretty user friendly areas and at 44,000 acres and 141,000 acres respectively you should be able to find something to your liking. Both of these areas are suitable for typical duck boats though you will have a long (10-20 mile) run. Both have primitive camping areas so you can stay closer to the action. If you have a large sea worthy boat and a mild shortage of common sense you can check out Pass a Loutre WMA (66,000 acre) and or Delta NWR both of these require running in the mighty Mississippi for long distances amongst heavy ocean going traffic. In general don't count on being able to wade in any of these areas (although it is frequently possible at Atchafalaya WMA) rather you will need either a skinny water capable craft or a mother ship paddle craft arrangement. Be aware of varying water levels due to both lunar tide and wind direction and don't let yourself get stuck. Realize in these coastal marshes gadwall, teal, pintail and mottled ducks are the most common ducks (got plenty of spoonies too).

    • La duck killer

      Lance Gremellion I personally have a leave in those
      2 area and this year we have shot Gadwall pintail Teal and lots of mallards. Louisiana is and will continue to be the best of the best when it comes to ducks.