DuckCast

Atchafalaya Basin Duck Migration Forecast

The largest river swamp on the continent, from Butte La Rose down to Morgan City. River stage moves the hunting here more than temperature does.

See today’s live scoreAll of LA

Season dates: Louisiana duck season 2026-27, dates and migration timing

When Atchafalaya Basin peaks

DuckCast’s season model puts the gadwall peak here around mid January. This follows Louisiana's statewide curve; Atchafalaya Basin hasn't needed a curve of its own. That is a modelled typical curve, not a prediction for any single year. The actual push depends on cold fronts and freeze-up upstream, which is what the daily score tracks. Always confirm season dates with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

What DuckCast watches upstream of Atchafalaya Basin

3 upstream stations feed this region's freeze line: Natchez, Vicksburg, Monticello. When those stations ice over, the score here starts climbing before anything changes in the local sky.

Locations stay generalized

Hunter reports for Atchafalaya Basin are always shown at the region level. DuckCast never collects or displays exact coordinates, so filing a report here never burns a spot.

Also covered in Louisiana

Southwest Coastal MarshSouthwest Rice PrairieTerrebonne and Lafourche MarshBarataria and DelacroixCatahoula and Little RiverNortheast DeltaOuachita and BoeufRed River and NorthwestLive migration map

Season dates and regulations change. Always verify with Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries. DuckCast forecasts conditions, not legal seasons.