Louisiana Bird Hunting

Seasons Span September 5 – February 28, 2027

State Drought Monitor – Upland hunting conditions are often highly dependent upon moisture for both habitat production and bird survival.

Louisiana Upland Game Bird Hunting Overview

State DNR & Licensing Information

Upland and migratory game bird hunting in Louisiana is administered by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).

License Requirements & Fees

  • Resident Basic Hunting License: $20
  • Nonresident Basic Hunting License: $200
  • Nonresident 5-Day Hunting License: $65
  • Nonresident Native 10-Day Hunting License: $20
  • HIP Certification: Free; required for migratory game birds including dove, woodcock, rails and snipe.
  • WMA Access Permit: $20 annual / $5 for five days. (Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries)

Season Dates & Bag Limits — 2026–2027

Northern Bobwhite Quail

Mourning & White-Winged Doves

North Zone:

  • September 5–27
  • October 10–November 15
  • December 19–January 17

South Zone:

  • September 5–20
  • October 17–November 29
  • December 12–January 10
  • Daily Limit: 15 aggregate
  • Possession Limit: 45 aggregate (Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries)

American Woodcock

Weather Assessment & Bird Hunting Outlook

Survey Methodology

LDWF monitors small-game populations through annual surveys and hunter harvest surveys.

  • Quail: LDWF conducts late-October/early-November covey surveys and annual hunter harvest surveys.
  • Dove: LDWF uses banding data to help estimate population size and establish hunting regulations.
  • Harvest Data: LDWF’s 2024–25 survey estimated approximately 500 hunters pursued wild quail, with no reported wild-quail harvest, while about 25,300 pen-raised quail were harvested. (Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries)

Weather Impact & Habitat Conditions

  • Quail: Habitat is the dominant limiting factor. LDWF identifies agricultural changes and intensive pine management as major causes of long-term decline.
  • Dove: Agricultural conditions, crop maturity, field management and weather fronts are the major short-term factors.
  • Woodcock: Winter rainfall, soil moisture and cold fronts influence migration and concentration in suitable cover.
  • Snipe/Rails: Local wetland and soil-moisture conditions strongly influence availability.

Louisiana entered summer 2026 after an unusually wet May, when the state received more than 160% of normal precipitation. June also brought above-average precipitation across portions of the South and Gulf Coast, while Louisiana recorded its second-warmest June minimum temperatures on record. (NCEI)

2026–27 Statewide Population Outlook

  • Northern Bobwhite Quail — POOR: Louisiana’s long-term quail decline remains severe, with LDWF reporting approximately a 75% decline since 1966. Remaining opportunities are highly localized in quality grassland and early-successional habitat. (Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries)
  • Mourning Dove — GOOD: Louisiana supports a substantial dove harvest, with approximately 478,100 mourning doves harvested by 30,600 hunters in 2024–25. Managed agricultural fields should provide the best opportunities. (Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries)
  • American Woodcock — FAIR–GOOD: Louisiana is an important wintering area, and the combination of moist conditions and suitable bottomland/young-forest habitat can produce good localized hunting.
  • Wilson’s Snipe — FAIR: Approximately 29,400 were harvested in 2024–25; prospects will depend heavily on wet-soil conditions during the winter season. (Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries)
  • Rails & Gallinules — FAIR: More specialized wetland opportunities, with localized concentrations dependent on water and vegetation conditions.

Overall Louisiana Outlook: FAIR. For a traditional upland hunter, dove is by far the strongest opportunity, while wild quail hunting is now a specialized pursuit. Woodcock and snipe provide additional winter opportunities where suitable wetland and bottomland habitat is available.

This summary covers the key upland bird species (quail and woodcock) as specified. For other migratory birds like doves or snipe, additional details are available in the LDWF regulations.