1944 Questions and Answer's about Louisiana Duck Limits

[Barq's]

SEPTEMBER, 1944



Number 1C



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON
MIGRATORY HUNTING REGULATIONS
IN LOUISIANA



"How many ducks can I shoot
this fall?" inquires a hunter. "Yes
I've read the regulations but I'm
still puzzled by some of the legal
terms. I want to clear up a few
points."

Below are listed some typical
questions asked by hunters, and
the answers:

Q. Does the daily bag limit on
ducks remain at 10?

A. Yes, except that you may
take an additional bag only of 5
mallards, widgeons or pintails, or
any combination of these three
ducks.

Q. But suppose my first 10
ducks were all mallards — Can I
shoot 5 more mallards for a total
of 15?

A. Yes. And the answer would
be the same if you had asked
about pintails or widgeons.

Q. Can I kill 5 more black
ducks if I have a bag limit of 10?

A. No. The black duck is not
a mallard although often erron-
eously called a black mallard.

Q. Why the extra bag on these
particular ducks?

A. Because they are now the
most abundant species. They are
the species most often concerned
with crop damages. Frankly, we
hope to control their depredations
as much as possible by allowing
hunters a larger bag. Bear in
mind this is only a temporary
relaxation. The extra bag might
be cut off at any time. It cer-
tainly will be when they cease to
be a problem in crop damage.

Q. What about canvasbacks,
redheads and buffleheads?

A. This year you may take a
full daily bag of 10 canvasbacks,
10 redheads, or 10 buffleheads.
But not more than 10 in the
aggregate of the three kinds.



Q. What's the law on wood
ducks?

A. You are permitted to take
daily 1 wood duck and to have
not more than 1 wood duck in
your possession.

Q. Does this 1 wood duck count
in my daily bag limit?

A. Yes, it must be included.

Q. What is the possession limit
on ducks?

A. 20, and in addition you may
possess 10 mallards, widgeons or
pintails, singly or in combination.

Q. Why has the daily bag limit
on American and red-breasted
mergansers been boosted to 25?

A. They have become so num-
erous that trout waters are being
depleted by them. In some places
they are now a real menace to
fish propagation. Incidently, there
is no possession limit on them.

Q. The daily limit on coots is
also 25, isn't it?

A. Correct. Coots compete
with the ducks for foods. Hunters
ought to take more coots; learn
to cook them. We have a number
of interesting recipes which will
be mailed free on request. Just
address U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Merchandise Mart, Chi-
cago 54, Illinois.

Q. What about goose limits?

A. There is no change from
last year on Canada geese and
brant. The daily limit is 2, pos-
session limit 4. These may be all
Canada geese, all brant, or any
combination of the two.

Q. May I legally shoot a Ross's
goose, swan or crane?

A. No open season at any
time.

Q. How about snows, blues
and white-fronted geese?

A. In Louisiana the new daily
bag may include 4 snow geese,
4 blue geese, but not more than



4 in the aggregate of both kinds
plus 2 of Canada and white-
fronted geese and brant singly or
in the aggregate. Possession limit,
two daily bag limits.

Q. What time in each day of
the open season is waterfowl
shooting allowed?

A. From half an hour before
sunrise to sunset.

Q. What else do I need to
know about the regulations be-
fore I go duck hunting this fall?

A. Don't ferget to have with
you a State Hunting License and
a Federal Duck Stamp. These are
the first two things the enforce-
ment officer will want to see.

Q. When is a Federal Duck
Stamp required?

A. Every waterfowl hunter
over 16 years of age must have
on his or her person while hunt-
ing a properly signed migratory
bird hunting stamp of current
issue.

Qi When is a state hunting
license rgquirgd?

A. Required of ail hunters
under 60 years of age. Those
over 60 must have permit which
can be obtained free from any
sheriff's office. Persons in the
armed services are exempt from
hunting license in Louisiana.