To get HIP certification in Louisiana online, go to louisianaoutdoors.com, log in or create an account, select HIP Certification under the Hunting tab, answer a short survey about last season’s harvest, and download your proof at checkout. The certification itself is free, though the licensing portal adds a $2 vendor fee.1Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Louisiana Migratory Bird Hunters Must Complete HIP Certification Online or In Person at LDWF Headquarters You need it every year before hunting any migratory bird species, and you must carry proof with you in the field.2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Mandatory Harvest Information Program (HIP)
Step by Step on louisianaoutdoors.com
The whole process takes a few minutes if you already have a Louisiana hunting license account.2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Mandatory Harvest Information Program (HIP)
- Go to louisianaoutdoors.com and click HIP Certification under Licenses & Permits. Log in with your existing credentials or create a new account if you’ve never bought a Louisiana license.
- Confirm your information on the Customer Details page. Add an email address so your certification can be sent to you automatically.
- On the Choose Products page, open the Hunting tab and select HIP Certification. If you already hold a valid hunting license, the system takes you straight to the survey.
- Answer the survey for each migratory bird species.
- At checkout, download your certification, view it in your browser, or print it. If an email is on file, a copy is sent to you.
If you’d rather do it face to face, you can complete the same survey at LDWF headquarters, 2000 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge. Retail license vendors no longer handle HIP certification.1Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Louisiana Migratory Bird Hunters Must Complete HIP Certification Online or In Person at LDWF Headquarters
What the Survey Asks
The survey isn’t a test. For each migratory bird species, you pick from a dropdown whether you harvested none, 1–10 birds, 11 or more, or didn’t hunt that species at all during the previous season.2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Mandatory Harvest Information Program (HIP) Your answers feed into U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service harvest estimates that shape future seasons.3eCFR. 50 CFR 20.20 – Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program Answer honestly even if the numbers are approximate. First-year hunters simply select “did not hunt” for every species.
Who Needs HIP Certification
Anyone 18 or older with a Louisiana hunting license who plans to hunt migratory birds needs HIP certification. That covers ducks, geese, coots, mourning and white-winged doves, woodcock, rails, snipe, and gallinules.2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Mandatory Harvest Information Program (HIP) It applies to residents and non-residents alike. Hunters 17 and under are exempt.4Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Louisiana 2025-2026 Hunting and WMA Regulations A HIP registration from another state does not count in Louisiana; you certify separately in every state where you hunt migratory birds.
What Else You Need to Hunt Migratory Birds
HIP certification by itself doesn’t make you legal. You also need a basic hunting license, and for waterfowl, more on top of that. For the 2025–2026 season:4Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Louisiana 2025-2026 Hunting and WMA Regulations
- Basic hunting license: $20 resident, $200 non-resident, with short-term non-resident options available.5Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. License and Permit Fee List
- State waterfowl license for duck, goose, or coot hunters 18 and older: $12 resident, $50 non-resident.5Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. License and Permit Fee List
- Federal duck stamp for duck and goose hunters 16 and older: $25, with a possible processing fee through the LDWF portal.5Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. License and Permit Fee List
Dove, woodcock, snipe, rail, and gallinule hunters who aren’t going after waterfowl only need the basic hunting license and HIP certification. The federal duck stamp can now be carried as an authorized electronic version rather than a physical stamp; when you buy through louisianaoutdoors.com, the proof of purchase you get at checkout is federally compliant and valid immediately. A store receipt is not a legal substitute.6U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Buy a Duck Stamp or Electronic Duck Stamp (E-Stamp)
Carrying Proof and Renewing Each Year
You have to carry proof of HIP certification while hunting migratory birds, along with your hunting license and any required stamps.2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Mandatory Harvest Information Program (HIP) The downloaded, printed, or emailed copy from checkout works. Whether a warden accepts a phone screen or wants paper can vary in practice, so a printout in your gear bag alongside the digital copy is the safest setup.
HIP certification must be renewed every year. The renewal uses the same portal and the same survey; there’s no test or continuing education. Louisiana all-season hunting licenses run 365 days from the date of purchase, while the federal duck stamp runs July 1 through June 30. Line your renewals up so every credential stays current through the seasons you plan to hunt.