The first shots of the duck season came this rich weekend as West Zone youth hunters got their first crack at early birds.

On Saturday, the 60 days will truly begin as the West Zone gets the first of three splits in a 60-day season. On the same day, in our state’s East Waterfowl area, hunters 17 and younger, along with honorably discharged hunters, have a special one-day season. The East Zone will open with its first split on November 16.

While zones are outlined, daily use, species-specific regulations and all other rules related to waterfowl seasons are outlined in the 2024-2025 Louisiana Hunting Regulations brochure, here are the licensing requirements for all waterfowl hunters .

First, if you’re 16 and older, you need a federal duck stamp. Most post offices have them. You can also purchase them through a license vendor or go online to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Do you need more? Try this wildlife and fishing website: wlf.louisiana.gov/page/federal-duck-stamps

Moreover, there is something new: Rep. Garrett Graves (R, La.) pushed a bill through Congress – the New Modernization Act – to create an electronic federal duck stamp that allows hunters to obtain the stamp online for immediate use by downloading it to a mobile phone or printing a receipt. The law makes the stamp valid from the time of purchase until the end of any waterfowl hunting season you hunt, including the conservation order season for blue, snow and Ross geese. Hunters, if requested, will receive the physical stamp sometime after March 10.

If you are 18 and older, you need a basic state hunting license. There is an exemption (no license required) for hunters born before June 1, 1940 and those with a lifetime hunting license.

All hunters need a state waterfowl stamp.

If you are 18 years of age and older, all migratory waterfowl and migratory waterfowl hunters must have proof of completion of the Harvest Information Program questionnaire – HIP certificate. There is no fee. Most of the time you complete the HIP requirement when you get a basic state license or a federal duck stamp.

If you don’t have a place to hunt, Wildlife and Fisheries has several popular waterfowl hunting areas – wildlife management areas – some of them among the top areas in North America.

Try wildlife management areas, places like Pass-a-Loutre, near Venice, near the Mississippi River, Atchafalaya Delta, Pointe-aux-Chenes, Sherburne, Biloxi Marsh, Dewey Wills and Russell Sage.

See hunting brochure for rules and regulations regarding equipment restrictions and hunting hours.

State Wildlife and Fisheries in Baton Rouge has maps of these WMAs, or you can get details from the agency’s website: wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations.

Also, please note that federal and state agents are on patrol during waterfowl season, so know that hunting hours on private lands are a half hour before sunrise to sunset (more restrictive on state and federal); hunt with non-toxic shells; your shotgun must be limited to holding no more than three shells; and, make sure you stay within your daily and possession limits. You also know to keep a fully feathered wing and head on a duck when you go home. It’s the law.

The students

Been-there, done-that when it comes to our in-state college and high school students making friends with out-of-state.

Because one thing usually leads to another – when it comes to a love of the outdoors – especially hunting and fishing – there is usually an invitation extended to our visiting students.

OK, so what about licenses?

There is a special category for them and it extends to all game and fish.

Full-time or part-time nonresident students 18 years of age and older enrolled in accredited public or private colleges, universities, or high schools may obtain student licenses at resident fees.

You must provide Wildlife and Fisheries with a student identification card indicating current status and have that student card with your student hunting/fishing license if it is verified by state or federal law enforcement agencies.

Personal licenses can be purchased online or between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the state headquarters on Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.

Do you need more? Call (225) 765-2887.

what’s the matter

Not the water levels, and what is clear in the days before the West Zone season opens is whether you have water to have ducks.

Like last year’s summer-autumn drought, the last 30 days without rain (before Thursday and Friday) hit the swamps and agricultural fields hard, so much so that the rice and soybean fields are mostly dry and anyone who wants to have an opening day. — even at the first split — success is pumping water.

The same is true in some of the coastal marshes, where even the rain at the end of last week was not enough to put water over the marsh landscape.

With rain in the forecast this week, the hope is that enough water from the skies will improve waterfowl habitat in coastal areas west of the Atchafalaya Basin.

Even with the low water in the Mississippi River, it looks like the areas on the eastern side of the West Zone have enough habitat to make for a solid opening weekend.

what’s down

Migratory reports each quarter show blue-winged teal dominating the action.

Mixed in are a few early gray ducks, mallards, spoonbills, and the ever-present tree ducks, a species that seems to have taken up residence in large numbers in our state.

Word from the central parishes is that Catahoula Lake is loaded with ducks, mostly mallards, and that’s because there is water, not a lot of water, but enough water and enough food to hold ducks for the November 16th opening of the Zone from the East.

We’ll have a better handle on migratory waterfowl numbers after state biologists launch their first flight survey next week.

Happy hunting.