2026/2027 DUCK SEASON DATES  

 BOOKS ARE OPEN! 

The 2026/2027 Southwest Louisiana duck season dates are officially set, and our books are now open at Hackberry Rod & Gun! 

WEST ZONE 

Teal Season: September 19–27 
Youth & Veterans: November 7  
First Split: November 14–December 6 
Second Split: December 19–January 24 

Duck season is our favorite time of year around here, and we’re already looking forward to getting back into the marsh! 

Whether you’re coming down for a morning duck hunt or want the full experience with one of our Blast & Cast packages, now is the time to get your dates on the calendar. 

Popular weekends and prime dates tend to fill up quickly, so give our office a call at (888) 762-3391 to reserve your hunt. 

We can’t wait to share another season with you and make some memories that’ll last a lifetime! 

SUMMER FISHING SPECIAL! 

WORD ON THE DOCK

Oh, and don’t forget…” Ya Shoulda’ Been Here Yesterday!”. 

FISHING FACT

Redfish are opportunistic feeders rather than selective predators. If shrimp are abundant, they key on shrimp. If mullet are thick, they switch to mullet. Their biology favors adaptability over specialization.

We have boats available so call (888) 762-3391 and come see what Hackberry Rod & Gun Club is all about! 

To check out our complete photo gallery on our website, click HERE.

And remember, “Ya Shoulda Been Here Yesterday!” 

DON’T DRAIN THE DUCK FACTORY 

Hunters Spoke Up for One of North America’s Most Important Waterfowl Landscapes 

Over the past several weeks, you may have seen the phrase “Don’t Drain the Duck Factory” circulating throughout the waterfowl community. 

Ducks Unlimited and other conservation organizations sounded the alarm after the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service opened a review involving drain-tile setbacks around federally protected wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region. 

The good news? 

Waterfowl hunters responded — and the latest message coming from USFWS indicates those concerns were heard. 

But to understand why so many hunters spoke up, we first need to understand exactly what the “Duck Factory” is and what drain tile has to do with ducks. 

WHAT IS THE “DUCK FACTORY”? 

The Prairie Pothole Region stretches across portions of the Dakotas, Minnesota, Montana and Iowa and continues north into Canada. 

Thousands of years ago, retreating glaciers left the landscape covered with millions of shallow depressions. When filled with water, these small wetlands become what we now call prairie potholes. 

They may not look impressive from the road, but to breeding waterfowl they are incredibly valuable. 

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service calls the region America’s “Duck Factory,” with around half of the continent’s ducks spending at least part of their year there. 

Mallards, pintails, gadwalls, blue-winged teal, shovelers, canvasbacks and many other species depend on these wetlands for breeding and brood-rearing habitat. 

Before we can winter ducks in Louisiana, somebody has to produce them. 

WHAT DOES “DRAINING THE DUCK FACTORY” MEAN? 

The issue centers around agricultural drain tile — perforated pipe buried beneath farm fields to remove excess water from the soil. 

Drain tile itself isn’t the enemy. It is an important agricultural tool used by farmers throughout the region. 

The concern is how close that drainage can occur to wetlands that are already permanently protected. 

For decades, willing landowners have voluntarily sold wetland conservation easements to the federal government. The land remains privately owned and can continue to be farmed, but the protected wetlands cannot be drained, filled, leveled or burned. 

Many of those wetlands have been protected using conservation dollars generated by America’s hunters. 

The problem is that you don’t necessarily have to dig a ditch directly through a wetland to drain it. 

Underground tile installed close enough can potentially pull water away from the surrounding soil and change the hydrology that keeps a pothole wet. 

That’s why USFWS uses science-based setback distances when drain tile is installed near protected wetlands. Those setbacks consider things such as soil characteristics, tile diameter, tile depth and topography. 

SO WHAT HAPPENED? 

In July, USFWS opened a short public review seeking information about implementation of its 2024 drain-tile setback rule. 

Waterfowl organizations became concerned that the review could ultimately result in weaker protections for these permanently conserved wetlands. 

Hunters responded. 

Ducks Unlimited launched its “Don’t Drain the Duck Factory” campaign, and DU joined Delta Waterfowl, California Waterfowl and South Carolina Waterfowl Association in urging the Department of the Interior to maintain the existing protections. 

The official federal comment period closed August 7. 

Since then, USFWS has publicly acknowledged the tremendous response from hunters and conservationists and indicated that it does not intend to weaken the protections surrounding these wetland easements. 

At this time, the existing 2024 drain-tile setback regulations remain in place. 

That’s a win worth recognizing. 

But it’s also a reminder of what can happen when sportsmen actually pay attention and speak up. 

WHY SHOULD WE CARE IN LOUISIANA? 

It’s easy to look at a drainage issue in North Dakota and wonder what it has to do with a duck blind in Southwest Louisiana. 

The answer is simple. 

Ducks don’t recognize state lines. 

The birds that eventually migrate into Louisiana depend on habitat stretching across the continent. We can do everything possible to improve wintering habitat here at home, but wintering habitat can’t replace breeding habitat. 

You can’t winter a duck that was never hatched. 

That’s why protecting a little prairie pothole a thousand miles north of us can still matter to a hunter sitting in a Louisiana marsh. 

A WIN — AND A REMINDER 

For now, this appears to be encouraging news for waterfowl conservation. 

But perhaps the bigger takeaway is that sportsmen still have a voice. 

Generations of hunters have purchased Duck Stamps, paid excise taxes on hunting equipment, joined conservation organizations and voluntarily invested billions of dollars into wildlife and habitat conservation. 

When something threatens those investments, we should know about it. 

And when necessary, we should speak up. 

The Prairie Pothole Region may be a long way from Southwest Louisiana, but it helps produce the resource that brings us to the blind every winter. 

Protecting the Duck Factory is protecting the future of duck hunting. 

Come on by the Hackberry Mall and pick up a gift for that special someone in your life. We have a variety of items to choose from including Florida Fishing Reels, Costa Sunglasses, Olukia Shoes and flip flops, Ranger Turtlebox speakers and many other items.

Call or email Pauline at  dockshop@hrandg.com  if you would like to place an order to be shipped or if you would like to purchase a gift card to bless someone that has an upcoming trip. Thank You for your business!

VISIT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA  SITES  SHOWN BELOW EVERDAY TO SEE OUR CUSTOMER’S WITH THEIR DAILY CATCHES

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For options and pricing contact Connor Fontenot at:
   1-888-762-3391
   Hackberry Rod & Gun
   485 Lake Breeze
   Hackberry, LA 70645