Louisiana Teal Season Ends Strong After Slow Start

Louisiana’s nine-day early teal season closed on September 28 with a dramatic end that salvaged what started as some of the disappointing begins in latest reminiscence.

Pre-season surveys painted a bleak image for the 2025 season. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries September Waterfowl Survey estimated simply 101,000 blue-winged teal in coastal Louisiana and the Little River Basin. That quantity was 32 % decrease than September 2023 and a staggering 49 % beneath the five-year common. The mottled duck estimate of 10,000 birds marked the bottom September rely ever recorded.

Most teal had been concentrated in southwest Louisiana, with the heaviest numbers present in northwest Vermilion and southeast Calcasieu Parishes. Nevertheless, even these concentrations had been traditionally low, with no single flock better than 500 birds noticed on transects.

Opening weekend mirrored these grim numbers. Whereas some hunters managed limits by 8 a.m. in agricultural areas, most reported far fewer birds than typical years. Hunters throughout the state famous that whereas opening day produced good outcomes, the second day confirmed considerably much less exercise.

The season’s center days proved much more difficult. Hunters within the Buras and Venice areas report that after a stable opener, the following 5 days had been basically birdless.

Then every part modified. A late-week chilly entrance introduced rain and cooler temperatures that remodeled the searching. Hunters in southeast Louisiana reported that following the minor entrance, teal numbers exploded with birds blanketing the marshes. Many killed limits on each Friday and Saturday.

Within the Biloxi Marsh Wildlife Administration Space, hunters echoed related outcomes. After a troublesome opening weekend that just about discouraged additional efforts, the ultimate days exceeded all expectations as birds immediately appeared and remained via the shut of season.

Hunters famous uncommon habits from the teal this season. Moderately than the standard erratic, fast-paced flight patterns, birds approached decoys with gradual, deliberate glides. Others seen the birds appeared cautious and call-shy from the very starting of the season.

Regardless of the low chicken numbers, Louisiana’s marsh circumstances are one of the best they’ve been in years. With no tropical climate influence to date this season, habitat high quality is superb. Hunters report the feed is in one of the best form seen in 5 to 6 years, with plentiful duck potato all through coastal marshes.

As duck hunters now look towards the common season, optimism stays excessive that if birds arrive, Louisiana’s marsh circumstances will maintain them.

Keith Lusher

Keith Lusher is an award-winning out of doors journalist who resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly out of doors column for the Slidell Impartial Newspaper. He additionally writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Fee’s VisitTheNorthshore.com. He’s the previous host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Present and is on the board of the Louisiana Out of doors Writers Affiliation. Keith contributes to quite a few publications each on-line and in print and prides himself on selling South Louisiana’s distinctive fishery. To contact Keith e-mail: keithlusherjr@gmail.com