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Black Bellied Whistling Duck 2026 Season Summary

Shooting hours are from sunrise to sunset. This is unlike teal and regular duck seasons; shooting begins at sunrise, not 30 minutes before sunrise.

Louisiana waterfowl hunters will be able to enjoy a special black-bellied whistling duck (BBWD) only season statewide from October 3-11. 

The daily bag limit for the season will be four with a possession limit of twelve. All hunters participating in the season will be required to have a free black-bellied whistling duck hunting permit from LDWF and are required to report effort and harvest within 15 days of the black-bellied whistling duck season closure.

Hunting Requirements

• All waterfowl licenses
• Federal Duck Stamp
• FREE, LDWF-issued, BBWD permit as a monitoring requirement, agreed to with USFWS
• HIP Registration
• All visitors to LDWF WMAs must have either a WMA Access Permit, Senior Hunting/Fishing License, Louisiana Sportsman’s Paradise License, or Lifetime Hunting/Fishing License. Go to the LDWF WMA webpage for more information.

Reporting Requirements

• Hunting effort and harvest during the 9-day season must be done via the department's online reporting system.
• If you purchased a Black-bellied Whistling Duck Permit, reporting is required between October 12 and October 26 even if you did not hunt or harvest any. This is within 15 days of the conclusion of the special October Black-Bellied Whistling Duck season. Reporting can be completed at LouisianaOutdoors.com by logging into your account then selecting Report BBWD Harvest under Licenses & Permits.
• Failure to complete this reporting requirement will prevent you from obtaining a permit during subsequent October special Black-Bellied Whistling Duck seasons.

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck Identification

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck Identification Guide (PDF)

• All black-bellies have a wide white stripe on upper surface of wings with a dark underside to the wing.
• Feet that extend beyond tail in flight
  • Older birds have an orange bill, pink feet, and chestnut chest sharply
    transitioning into a black belly
  • Juvenile birds have grayish bills, lack bright pink feet, and no distinct black belly.
• Call: Very vociferous during flight. Three or more-note harsh whistle
  (peecheeeee cheechee)