---
title: "Duck Hunting: The Ducks Stop Here"
description: "Duck Dynasty made Louisiana synonymous with waterfowling. But that’s old news to some of us. Indeed, the state’s waterfowl study leader, Larry Reynolds, recently called Sportsman’s Paradise “the single most important state for wintering ducks.\" We went back to the marsh to update our recon"
date: "2017-01-25"
modified: "2017-01-25"
authors:
  - name: "Gerry Bethge"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/gerry-bethge/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/duck-hunting-ducks-stop-here/"
categories:
  - "Duck Hunting"
  - "Hunting"
  - "Waterfowl Hunting"
---

# Duck Hunting: The Ducks Stop Here

![duck hunting Louisiana](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/3W7PGHO7NRET5E75B7FKZQGPFY.jpg>)
*Duck hunting in Louisiana. Hollis Bennett*

We found that although Louisiana is the last stop for millions of wintering ducks in the Mississippi River Flyway—approximately 2,486,000 in 2016—waterfowling’s overall impact on the state is far-reaching. Consider a few facts:

![Duck Hunting in Louisiana](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/PZGHZUQXI5KEOZMYQ5JUHE6BK4.jpg>)
*A duck boat at the ready. Hollis Bennett*

Hunters harvest approximately 3 million ducks in Louisiana each year.

![Hunting ducks in Louisiana](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/OAAUBAYSMJLQS5JEGEZWX2ES6E.jpg>)
*Louisiana success. Hollis Bennett*

Approximately 97,300 hunters spent 857,100 days afield.

![retrieving ducks](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/QQ57RFU2WHDNVGDYULFVVTSUJE.jpg>)
*A dog at work in the Louisiana marsh. Hollis Bennett*

Waterfowling supports more than 1,000 jobs, and adds more than $4.255 million in state tax revenue annually.

![duckhunters](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/5J33ZZRDVUARDLYFOEPMSTJLLA.jpg>)
*Another satisfying day in the marsh. Hollis Bennett*

## Author
The “Elder Statesman,” of the *Outdoor Life* staff, Gerry Bethge began his career at the magazine in 1982. He was fortunate to have worked side-by-side with outdoor-media icons such as: Jim Carmichel, Jim Zumbo, Jerry Gibbs, and Charlie Elliot among others. During his career, he has held numerous titles including: executive editor, fishing editor, web editor, and editor-in-chief of brand licensing.