By: ELIZABETH
WEST
Managing Editor
There have been several changes made this year that will affect duck hunters across Louisiana.
One of those changes made has been a modification to teal season, which was previously during the last three weekends of September.
According to the Louisiana 2017-2018 Hunting Regulations from the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, teal season will be the last 16 days of September.
The upcoming season will begin on Friday, Sept. 15, and will last until Saturday, Sept. 30.
A change has also been made to the daily bag limit for pintail.
In the past, a hunter’s daily bag limit for pintail was two, however the limit has now been changed to one.
Another major change that was made for the 2017-2018 hunting season is the age of requirements for youth waterfowl season.
The youth age to partake in youth waterfowl seasons is now 17 years of age and younger instead of 15 years of age and under like in the past.
For these hunting days, youth must be accompanied by one adult that is 18 years or older and must possess a hunter safety certification or proof of successful completion of a hunter safety course.
However, if the accompanying adult is in possession of a hunter safety certification and a valid hunting license or proof of successful completion of a hunter safety course, this requirement is waived for youths younger than 16 years of age.
Adults are not allowed to possess a firearm during the youth hunt, and youth may only possess one legal firearm.
During youth waterfowl hunting days, youth may hunt ducks, geese, mergansers, coots and gallinules.
Youth hunt days for ducks, coots and mergansers on November 4th and 5th in the Coastal Zone, Nov. 4th and January 27, 2018 in the West Zone, and Nov. 11th and February 3, 2018 in the East Zone.