Migration Alert: Louisiana Hunters Continue to Be Optimistic Heading into New Year

Many Louisiana duck hunters had a successful first split this season—something that many had not experienced in quite some time. “We’ve had a really good season so far. The weather generally cooperated, and the birds were here in good numbers throughout,” reports John Owen, who hunts near Venice. “It has warmed up quite a bit, but we’re still hoping for a good second split.”

Scheduling conflicts and aircraft availability hindered the completion of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) December aerial survey. However, counts conducted in some areas resulted in encouraging news for the remainder of the season. “The 2025 December survey estimate of 1.66 million ducks in Louisiana’s coastal region and Little River Basin represents a 33 percent increase from the 1.24 million estimated in November, with all species but ring-necked ducks increasing from the November estimate,” says Jason Olszak, LDWF waterfowl study leader. Even though the December ringneck count was lower than the previous month, the November count of ringnecks was 100 percent higher than both the five- and 10-year averages.

Once again, the largest total number of ducks (1,124,000) was found in the southwest region, followed by 315,000 in the southeast and 216,000 in the Little River Basin. “Waterfowl habitat in the [southwest] region increased substantially in the last month. The mostly dry agricultural fields that had been observed in November received precipitation, and with the assistance of pumping by landowners, the agricultural region as a whole was roughly 35 percent inundated. The duck estimate for southwest Louisiana is 60 percent higher than the November estimate and one percent higher than December 2024,” Olszak says.

The southeast portion of the state saw a 24 percent decline in duck numbers from the November survey. “Similar to November, ducks were well distributed throughout the region with the majority being observed in western Terrebonne Parish. Other notable areas of high density were the Delacroix area and east of Venice,” Olszak adds.

A bright spot in the survey was a big increase in the number of ducks observed in the Little River Basin (LRB). “The duck estimate at LRB is 80 percent higher than November and 575 percent higher than the December 2024 estimate, when only 32,000 ducks were observed,” Olszak notes. He explains that the timing of the survey has an effect on the numbers. “Survey timing can be a major factor in both seasonal and annual differences in the presence of ducks in the basin. The 2024 December survey took place six days into the second season segment for the East Zone, whereas the 2025 survey was conducted eight days into the split,” he says.

John Owen and his friends are continuing to have success. “Our first split was one of the best we had in several years, and despite the hot weather, the split opener was good both days. On Saturday, we filled a four-man limit by 8:30 a.m. Sunday was a little slower, but three of us limited out on green-winged teal and a couple of ringnecks by 9 a.m.,” he says.

Cooler temperatures and winter weather to the north should help Louisiana hunters as the season continues. Waterfowlers continue to be optimistic as bird numbers fluctuate throughout the state. The West Zone wraps up on January 25 and the East Zone closes on January 31.