LDWF Crackdown Yields 141 Opening Weekend Citations

Opening weekend of the 2026-27 Louisiana dove season has come and gone, but for several dozen Louisiana hunters, it will be the gift that keeps on giving.

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Every year a great number of Louisiana hunters mindlessly forget the intensity with which LDWF agents treat this annual event and will attempt to bend or completely break the rules regarding this migratory game bird.

This year was no exception as a notice from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, just highlighted that LDWF enforcement agents issued a total of 141 dove hunting related citations for alleged violations on the opening weekend of dove hunting season that took place this past weekend from September 5-7.

On Opening Day, September 5th, LDWF Agents Issued 132 Dove Hunting Citations

On opening day of dove season, September 5, LDWF agents were busy writing citations across Louisiana for a number of alleged violations.

102 citations for hunting migratory game birds over bait
12 citations for placing bait to take migratory game birds
7 citations for aiding and abetting others in hunting migratory game birds over bait
6 citations for hunting migratory game birds with an unplugged gun
2 citations for hunting without a basic hunting license
2 citations for taking other than game birds
1citation for hunting migratory game birds from a public road.

On Sunday, September 6, LDWF Agents Issued Only 1 Dove Hunting Citation

Either hunters were paying closer attention to the dove hunting rule book, or there were simply less hunters or agents in the field, but only one dove hunting citation was issued on this date and that was for hunting migratory game birds with an unplugged gun.

Monday, September 7, LDWF Agents Wrote An Additional 8 Dove Hunting Citations

With Monday's observance of Labor Day, there were evidently a number of hunters off from work and still willing to brave the heat, but obviously weren't able to "beat the heat" as LDWF agents wrote an additional eight citations for dove hunting infractions.

6 citations for hunting migratory game birds over bait
1 citation for hunting migratory game birds with an unplugged gun
1 citation for hunting migratory game birds from a moving vehicle.

The LDWF notice goes on to stipulate that Louisiana state charges for hunting migratory game birds with an unplugged gun, hunting migratory game birds from a vehicle, hunting migratory game birds from a public road, and taking other than game birds brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail for each offense. Hunting without a basic hunting license brings up to a $50 fine.

All migratory game bird baiting cases are filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution in Federal Court.

WMA's and Public Hunting Lands in Northwest Louisiana

Northwest Louisiana is home to a number of public hunting grounds and surprisingly, some of these areas are conveniently located and used very little. See what we have found.