Duck Hunting Guide Louisiana | Deluxe Package
Private Trip
Bird hunting
Cast and blast package combines fishing with deluxe duck huntingNovember through February season with lodging and meals included$825 per person with two-person minimum booking requirement
Looking for the ultimate Louisiana duck hunting experience that goes way beyond your typical marsh trip? Our "cast and blast" special with Calcasieu Charter Service delivers exactly what serious hunters want – premium duck hunting paired with solid fishing action, all wrapped up in a deluxe package that takes care of every detail. From November through February, when the ducks are flying thick and the fishing stays hot, you'll get the best of Louisiana's legendary hunting and fishing in one killer trip. We're talking three square meals, open bar, comfortable lodging, and guides who know these marshes like the back of their hand. At $825 per person with a two-person minimum, you're getting world-class hunting without the hassle of planning every little thing yourself.
This isn't your run-of-the-mill duck hunt – we've built this package for hunters who want the complete Louisiana experience. You can structure this trip however works best for your crew. Roll in early and split the action over two days, or kick things off with dinner and make it an all-day adventure that'll have you talking for years. The morning hunt starts before dawn in some of the most productive marsh country Louisiana has to offer. We're hunting prime habitat where ducks have been using the same flyways for generations. Your guide will have the decoys set and the blind ready while you're still finishing your coffee. The afternoon fishing component isn't just a bonus – it's legitimately good action on redfish, speckled trout, and whatever else is biting. All your fishing gear is included, but bring your favorite rods if you've got them. For the hunt, you'll need to pack your own shotgun, shells, and any personal gear you can't live without. We handle everything else, including cold drinks and hot meals that actually taste good.
Louisiana's coastal marshes are duck hunting heaven, but they require local knowledge to hunt effectively. We're working tidal marshes, shallow ponds, and managed impoundments that hold birds throughout the season. The key to success here is reading the weather and wind patterns – something our guides have been doing for decades. When a front pushes through, the ducks move, and we move with them. You'll be hunting from well-built blinds that keep you concealed and comfortable, even when the weather turns nasty. The terrain changes with the tides, so your guide will position you based on water levels, wind direction, and where the birds have been working. Bring your 12-gauge with 3-inch capability – you'll want the reach when those high-flying birds decide to test your shooting skills. Steel shot only, of course, and bring plenty of shells because when the action heats up, you'll go through them faster than you think. Waders are essential, and make sure they're in good shape because you'll be doing some walking through marsh terrain that can be tough on gear. Layer your clothing because Louisiana weather in duck season can swing from cold and nasty to warm and humid in the same morning.
White-fronted Goose hunting in Louisiana is something special. These big, smart birds show up in good numbers during peak season, and they'll test every skill you've got as a hunter. Specklebellies, as we call them locally, are wary and vocal, often circling multiple times before committing to the decoys. They're substantial birds, with mature geese weighing 4-6 pounds, and they're absolutely delicious on the table. Peak season runs from late December through January, when cold fronts push fresh birds down from the north. What makes hunting them exciting is their intelligence – they'll spot a bad decoy spread or poor blind placement from a mile away.
Mallards are the bread and butter of Louisiana duck hunting, and for good reason. These birds are everywhere during season, from the big showy greenheads to the crafty hens that seem to know exactly when shooting time ends. Mallards respond well to calling, especially on cold, overcast mornings when they're actively feeding. The drake mallards are what every duck hunter wants to see cupping into the decoys, wings set, feet down, ready to land right in your lap. They're active throughout the entire season, but the best hunting happens after cold fronts when fresh birds move in from up north.
Mottled Duck hunting offers a unique Louisiana experience since these birds are year-round residents that know every trick in the book. They're beautiful birds with distinctive mottled plumage, and they're perfectly adapted to coastal marsh life. Mottled ducks are extremely wary because they live here year-round and see hunting pressure regularly. When you connect on a mature mottled duck, especially a big drake, you've accomplished something that takes real skill and patience. They're most active during early morning and late afternoon, making them perfect for our hunt timing.
Blue-winged Teal provide some of the fastest shooting you'll find in duck hunting. These small, quick birds fly in tight flocks and can turn on a dime, making them a real challenge for even experienced shooters. Early season is prime time for blue-wings, particularly September through November, when they're moving through in large numbers. What makes teal hunting so exciting is the speed and unpredictability – one minute the marsh is quiet, the next minute you've got a flock of 20 birds buzzing the decoys at light speed.
Gadwall Duck hunting often gets overlooked, but these birds are numerous in Louisiana waters and provide consistent action throughout the season. They're medium-sized ducks with subtle but beautiful plumage, and they're excellent on the table. Gadwalls are less wary than some species and often decoy readily, especially in mixed flocks with other puddle ducks. They prefer shallow water areas with plenty of vegetation, exactly the type of habitat we hunt regularly. The drake gadwalls are particularly handsome birds with intricate feather patterns that really show up when you get them in hand.
Our 24-foot 2024 Triton bay boat cuts through Louisiana's coastal marshes and shallow waters where the ducks fly thick. This sleek center console handles four hunters comfortably while the 250-350 HP Mercury engine gets you to prime hunting spots fast, cruising at 50-60 knots across open water before slowing into those tight backwater channels where mallards and teal gather. The shallow draft design navigates skinny water perfectly, letting you reach remote hunting grounds other boats can't touch. An onboard icebox keeps your drinks cold and stores your harvest fresh throughout long hunting days. Whether you're running decoy spreads in open bays or sneaking into hidden ponds, this boat delivers the speed and shallow-water performance Louisiana duck hunting demands.
Blue-winged teal are small, fast ducks that'll test your shooting skills. They weigh just over a pound but fly in tight flocks at incredible speeds. You'll spot them by those bright blue wing patches that flash when they turn. These birds prefer shallow marshes and ponds with lots of vegetation, especially areas with smartweed and other seed-producing plants. Early season is best - September and early October before they head further south. They're amazing to watch fly, darting and weaving in perfect formation. The meat is outstanding despite their small size - dark, rich, and flavorful. Blue-wings are curious birds and respond well to spinning wing decoys and aggressive calling. The trick is setting up in small, shallow potholes or along marsh edges where they like to feed. When they commit to your spread, they come in fast and low.
Gadwall might not be the prettiest duck, but don't let their gray appearance fool you - they're smart, fun to hunt, and taste great. These medium-sized ducks, around 2 pounds, have subtle beauty with intricate feather patterns and white wing patches that show in flight. They're big on shallow water areas with lots of aquatic vegetation, especially our coastal marshes and flooded fields. December and January bring the best numbers when northern birds arrive. Gadwall are grazers, feeding on underwater plants, which gives their meat a clean, mild flavor that many prefer over mallards. They're not as vocal as other ducks, so subtlety works better than aggressive calling. The secret with gadwall is hunting areas with submerged vegetation and setting decoys in the feeding zones rather than just open water. They like to land and swim into the spread.
Mallards are the classic duck most folks think of - drakes with those bright green heads, hens in mottled brown. They run 2-3 pounds and are pretty adaptable birds. You'll find them everywhere from shallow ponds to deeper bayous, but they really shine in flooded timber and rice fields where they can tip up to feed. Peak season runs December through January when northern birds join our year-round residents. Mallards are aggressive feeders and respond well to calling, making them great for beginners and fun for experienced hunters. They're excellent table fare too - rich, flavorful meat that's hard to beat. The key to success is watching the weather. After a cold front blows through and water levels rise from rain, mallards get active and move into new feeding areas. Set up in the flight path between roost and feed.
Mottled duck are Louisiana's year-round residents and a real treat to hunt. They look similar to female mallards but with a brighter yellow bill and slightly darker body. These birds know our marshes like the back of their hand - they've been here all their lives. You'll find them in shallow coastal marshes, ponds, and tidal areas where they dabble for vegetation and small fish. Since they don't migrate, hunting stays consistent from November through February, though they can be tougher to decoy than traveling ducks. What makes mottleds special is they're purely wild birds with great genetics, and they taste fantastic. They're also pretty vocal, so calling works well. The local trick is hunting them early morning near roosting areas or late afternoon when they're moving to feed. They love areas with mixed fresh and salt water.
White-fronted geese are big birds, weighing 4-6 pounds with that distinctive white patch above their bill and dark barring on the belly. They're some of the smartest waterfowl you'll hunt - wary, vocal, and always seem to have a few lookouts posted. These geese love our coastal marshes and flooded rice fields from December through January when the weather pushes them down from up north. They feed in shallow water and mudflats, often mixed with other goose species. What makes them special is they're considered the best eating of all the geese - tender, mild meat that doesn't have that strong "goose" taste. The trick with specklebellies is patience and good calling. They respond well to aggressive calling when they're high, but tone it down once they commit to your spread.
Lafayette