Keith Lusher   10.06.25
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 current 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 % under the five-year common. The mottled duck estimate of 10,000 birds marked the bottom September depend ever recorded.
Most teal have been concentrated in southwest Louisiana, with the heaviest numbers present in northwest Vermilion and southeast Calcasieu Parishes. Nevertheless, even these concentrations have been traditionally low, with no single flock higher 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 have been primarily 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 comparable outcomes. After a tricky opening weekend that just about discouraged additional efforts, the ultimate days exceeded all expectations as birds all of the sudden appeared and remained by the shut of season.
Hunters famous uncommon conduct from the teal this season. Fairly than the standard erratic, fast-paced flight patterns, birds approached decoys with gradual, deliberate glides. Others observed the birds appeared cautious and call-shy from the very starting of the season.
Regardless of the low fowl numbers, Louisiana’s marsh circumstances are the most effective they’ve been in years. With no tropical climate influence to date this season, habitat high quality is great. Hunters report the feed is in the most effective form seen in 5 to 6 years, with considerable 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.
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