2026-2027 Duck Hunting Forecast for Mississippi Flyway

The Mississippi Flyway is the place to be for duck hunters. Numbers don’t lie.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that Mississippi Flyway hunters took about 6.9 million ducks during the 2025-2026 season, which is about 47% of the total 14.68 million taken in the United States. Heavyweight states such as Arkansas (1.48 million ducks harvested) and Louisiana (1.47 million) led the way.

Of course, the flyway also had more hunters than any other flyway: more than 483,000 of the total 1.19 million, or about 41%.

Both stats paint a clear picture: The Mississippi Flyway is full of action and opportunity. And 2026-2027 is shaping up to be another great season. Check out our insider info for each state in this legendary region.

ALABAMA

Although it’s somewhat overshadowed by neighboring states, sweet home Alabama holds a lot of wintering ducks and offers solid opportunities. Just check out the Tennessee River Valley during a good flight year.

ARKANSAS

The Natural State remains the heart and soul of American duck hunting. Sure, some folks have grumbled recently about hunting pressure and tepid action at times, but no one can deny that Arkansas’s rice fields and flooded timber continue to attract crazy numbers of ducks — especially mallards.

ILLINOIS

The Land of Lincoln’s waterfowling reputation might have fallen somewhat, as the glory days of southern Illinois goose hunting have faded. Still, it’s an undeniable destination for migrating waterfowl. Only its relative lack of public opportunity limits it to a B grade.

INDIANA

The Hoosier State is no joke when it comes to waterfowl hunting. Sure, it has limited duck habitat and public access, but it boasts increasingly good goose hunting and offers good duck hunting along its major rivers.

‍IOWA

The Hawkeye State might not be a top-tier waterfowl destination, but it features good shooting along the Mississippi River, solid field-hunting when the weather turns cold, and some surprising opportunities in between.

KENTUCKY

Duck hunting action here can be a case of the haves and the have-nots. Most of the best waterfowling opportunities occur in the western and southern sections of the commonwealth, and action can be lean elsewhere. However, those good areas are more than enough to earn Kentucky a solid Duck Hunting Nation grade.

LOUISIANA

Has Louisiana duck hunting changed from a few decades ago? Sure. But it’s still undeniably great, as its harvest numbers prove. And when you throw in the state’s great waterfowling tradition, it continues to earn high marks.

MICHIGAN

The Wolverine State boasts two Great Lakes, St. Clair River Flats, and other renowned duck hotspots. And there’s plenty of opportunity elsewhere, from Upper Peninsula Lakes to lower Michigan field hunts. Hunting pressure can be tricky, but the state still rates a solid grade.

MINNESOTA

Because of its proximity to the Dakotas, Minnesota might get overlooked somewhat as a duck hunting hotspot. But tradition runs deep here, and opportunities abound, whether on wild rice lakes or the Mississippi River. And don’t forget about that famous goose hunting.

MISSISSIPPI

The flyway’s namesake state continues to be a top duck hunting destination. Between the Mississippi Delta and the Gulf Coast, there’s no shortage of opportunity, as the state remains a wintering area for millions of birds. It’s A grade is no surprise.

MISSOURI

Duck hunters know that Missouri has been hot in recent years. Maybe migration patterns have changed a bit. Or perhaps the state’s major rivers and many national wildlife refuges simply attract loads of ducks and geese. Either way, it gets a solid mark.

OHIO

Much like Kentucky, Ohio can be a hot-or-not duck hunting state. It offers some quality hunting at spots along Lake Erie and the Ohio River, and also features good draw-style hunts at several properties. And goose hunting can be very good in many parts of the state.

TENNESSEE

The western part of the Volunteer State — think Reelfoot Lake, near the Mississippi River and the Missouri Bootheel — is a great waterfowling destination. Opportunities typically dwindle as you travel farther east. Still, overall, it rates a B grade.

WISCONSIN

The Badger State truly has everything duck hunters could want, including great numbers of local ducks, solid numbers of migrants, big-water diver gunning and excellent goose hunting. The only knock might be heavy hunting pressure in some areas. Nonetheless, opportunity awaits.

Original Content: RealTree

Read more about our Arkansas Guided Duck Hunting Prices.

Read more about the 2026 State Waterfowl Surveys.