L.D.W.F. News

(Nov. 18, 2013) - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana honored volunteer fish taggers throughout the state at the Louisiana Cooperative Marine Fish Tagging Program awards banquet on November 7, held at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, La.

The program relies on a group of dedicated and well-trained volunteer taggers and honors those volunteer anglers who out-tagged their colleagues with 10 fish or more during the 2012-2013 fiscal year. 

The anglers, who originally tag a fish get notification of the re-capture and a certificate of their achievement.  “It’s incredibly rewarding to see a tag that I deployed come back,” said volunteer angler Jerrod J.W. Meche.  “It’s a great feeling to catch and release these fish and to also know that my efforts could help better understand these species is amazing.  It’s a highlight of my angling career.”

Volunteers tagged more than 10,102 fish during the year, and since the program began in the 1980s, over 161,000 have been tagged and of those nearly 5,100 have been recaptured.

“We’re pleased to recognize the dedication of our outstanding group of volunteer anglers who make the Tagging Program possible,” said LDWF Secretary Robert Barham.  “Each of these volunteers should be commended for their contributions to fisheries science and conservation.”

This year’s Tagger Award winners were:

Most Tagged Fish Overall
Joseph Ingram, 936 fish

Most Tagged Redfish
Ross Barkhurst, 924 redfish

Most Tagged Speckled Trout
Dr. Victor E. Tedesco, 785 speckled trout

Most Tagged Red Snapper
Andre Thomas, 70 red snapper

Most Tagged Yellowfin Tuna
Woody Woods, 17 yellowfin tuna

In addition, volunteers who tagged 100 fish or more were honored as members of the tagging program’s “Century Club.”  Fourteen taggers received this distinction including Joseph Ingram, Ross Barkhurst, Dr. Victor E. Tedesco, Jeff Bavar, Bob Bateman, Clark Cormier, Andre Thomas, Pat Olivier, Kyle Leger, Diane and Norman Norton, Steve Fourrier, Jerrod J.W. Meche and Kenneth LeCompte.

“Citizen science is an essential component of this program,” explained LDWF Assistant Secretary Randy Pausina.  “Anglers can take an active role in aiding biologists in the collection of important information which otherwise would not be possible. It is through the data collected from our tagging program that provides us with crucial information such as growth rates, longevity, migratory patterns and habitat utilization.”

One exciting thing the Department has learned through taggers’ data is there is a higher recapture rate for yellowfin tuna than any other species.  This is a highly migratory species, so understanding the behavior of tuna is integral to so many aspects of improved practices and management.

The Louisiana Cooperative Marine Fish Tagging Program is a cooperative effort between the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana, universities, non-profit organizations and volunteer anglers.  Program goals include educating anglers on fisheries management and conservation and opening communication between researchers and anglers. 

LDWF urges interested saltwater anglers to join the program.  Tagging kits and program materials are provided at no charge.  For more information about the Louisiana Cooperative Marine Fish Tagging Program, contact us by calling 1-800-567-2182, via Facebook at www.facebook.com/tag/louisiana or email Fishtags@wlf.la.gov.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb, or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.

For press inquiries, contact Ashley Wethey at (504) 286-8733 or awethey@wlf.la.gov.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited a Baton Rouge man for alleged deer hunting violations on Nov. 15 in East Feliciana Parish.

Agents cited Adam Bedell, 30, for taking deer using illegal methods, criminal trespassing, intentional concealment of wildlife, possession of illegally taken deer, failing to abide by deer tagging requirements, failing to wear hunter’s orange, and not possessing hunting and big game licenses.

Agents received a tip from a landowner about a person walking on private property transporting deer parts.  Agents located Bedell on the property with the deer parts of a freshly harvested eight point deer and a .243 rifle.

Bedell did not possess his resident hunting and big game licenses and was not wearing any hunter’s orange.

After searching Bedell’s truck, agents found deer blood and hair at which time Bedell admitted to harvesting a doe deer on Nov. 6 in East Baton Rouge Parish with his .243 rifle.

The areas where Bedell was hunting is only open to Primitive Firearms and Archery until Nov. 16 at which time modern firearms may then be used.  Bedell’s .243 rifle does not qualify for the Primitive Firearms season.

Intentional concealment of a deer carries a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.  Possession of an illegally taken deer brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.  Criminal trespassing brings a $100 to $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail.  Taking deer using illegal methods carries a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.  Failing to comply with deer tagging requirements carries a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail.  Hunting without a hunting and big game licenses and without hunter’s orange each bring up to a $50 fine and up to 15 days in jail.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited a Pineville man for alleged commercial fishing violations in Plaquemines Parish on Nov. 12.

Agents cited Jason A. Wilkerson, 23, after an anonymous compliant was called in saying he was transporting a large amount of black drum illegally.

Agents spotted the vehicle in Belle Chasse and saw that the bed of the truck full of black drum.  Agents performed a vehicle stop on the truck where Wilkerson identified himself as the fisherman and produced resident commercial fishing licenses.

Upon investigation, agents determined that Wilkerson obtained his resident vessel and fishing licenses by fraud since he is not a bona fide Louisiana resident.

Agents cited Wilkerson for taking commercial fish without non-resident commercial fishing licenses, non-resident gear licenses, and non-resident vessel licenses.  Investigation is ongoing and further charges may be filed regarding obtaining commercial fishing by fraud.

Each of the license violations carries a maximum penalty of $500 and up to 90 days of jail.

Agents seized a total of 2,346 pounds of black drum.

Agents participating in the case are Sgts. Adam Young and Villere Reggio, and Senior Agent Robert Cosse Jr.
For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

On Nov. 14 four people pleaded guilty to red snapper violations in front of the 25th Judicial District of Plaquemines Parish.

Nghia Huu Hoang, 33, Loan Huynh, 32, both from Harvey, Thang Van Tran, 38, of Avondale, and Truong Nguyen, 33, of Kenner, pleaded guilty to the intentional concealment of illegal fish, over limit of red snapper and undersized red snapper.

Judge Kevin Conner accepted their pleas and sentenced them to a collective fine of $4,000 plus court costs and to pay $1,178 of restitution to the state of Louisiana for the illegally taken red snapper.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents stopped the four in Empire on June 23, 2013 while on a Joint Enforcement Agreement patrol in conjunction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service.

During the stop agents were shown a limit of red snapper.  After further investigation, agents discovered two hidden compartments in the bow of the vessel that contained more red snapper.  The subjects were in possession of 40 red snapper placing them 32 fish over their allowable limit.  Eighteen were under the minimum size limit of 16 inches.

Jerry Lobrano, who is the assistant District Attorney for Charles Ballay, prosecuted the case.

Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Adam Young and Senior Agent Jason Gernados.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents arrested two Louisiana men on Nov. 14 for allegedly falsifying a boat sale.

Agents arrested Tyler J. Chenvert, 19, of Pierre Part, and Lawrence J. Toups Jr., 48, of Berwick, for injuring public records.  Agents also charged Chenvert with forgery and felony theft and Toups Jr. with filing false public documents.  Agents booked Chenvert into the St. Mary Parish Jail and Toups Jr. into the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail.

According to the arrest warrant, Chenvert injured public records and forged his grandfather’s signature on a bill of sale claiming to be the rightful owner of a vessel he sold to Toups Jr. on Aug. 19.  The vessel is registered to his grandfather who has been deceased since Feb. 17, 2012.

During the investigation, Toups Jr. admitted to agents that he knew Chenvert had forged the grandfather’s signature on the bill of sale.  Chenvert and Toups Jr. completed the sale of the vessel for $1,800, which resulted in Chenvert committing theft against his grandfather’s heirs to the vessel.

Toups Jr. then filed the forged bill of sale when trying to register the vessel in his name on Aug. 30, which resulted in filing a false public document.  On the boat registration application, Toups Jr. also said he purchased the boat from the deceased grandfather, which didn’t match the forged bill of sale.

Injuring public records and filing false public documents each carry up to a $5,000 fine and five years in jail for each offense.  Forgery brings up to a $5,000 fine and 10 years in jail.  Felony theft carries up to a $3,000 fine and 10 years in jail.

Agents participating in the case are Senior Agent Michael Marques, Senior Agent Mike Williams and Sgt. Edward Ridgel.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

Nov. 13, 2013 – The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries formally honored Richard K. Yancey on Friday, Nov. 8 with the unveiling of the new headquarters sign at the Concordia Parish wildlife management area that now bears his name.

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted a resolution in May to rename the Red River-Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area in honor of Yancey, a distinguished conservationist and LDWF administrator for many years.

"All who enjoy state wildlife management areas should be thankful for the service provided to this agency during his tenure,” said LDWF Secretary Robert Barham as he addressed present and former department employees and members of the Yancey family. “He saw the need for preserving land as habitat for our native fish and wildlife species and public outdoor recreation access, as well.”

Yancey, who passed away in March at age 88, was a former assistant secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) whose career at the department spanned 31 years between 1948 and 1979.

Yancey began as a field biologist and progressed to project leader, becoming the LDWF’s first Waterfowl Study Leader. He was promoted to chief of the Fur and Refuge Division, assistant director of Wildlife and then assistant secretary of the Office of Wildlife.
 
Over the length of his career, which included service as executive director of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Conservation, Yancey served on the Executive Committee of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (State, Provencial and Federal Agencies of Canada, the US and Mexico), as chairman of International Treaties Committee and Migratory Wildlife Committee, as chairman of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions and president of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
 
He also served as chairman of the Mississippi Flyway Council Regulations Committee and Technical Committee and Flyway Council, and was co-chairman of the Tensas Conservancy Coalition, instrumental in the establishment of the Tensas National Wildlife Refuge and Big Lake Wildlife Management Area, to be preserved in perpetuity.
 
Yancey was also the recipient of many international, national and state awards including National Wildlife Federation’s 1980 Wildlife Conservationist of the Year in the U.S.  for outstanding contributions to the wise use and management of the Nation's natural resources, the Ducks Unlimited Outstanding Service Award in 1970, the La. Outdoor Writers Conservationist of the Year in 1969, the LSU Forestry Alumni of the Year Award in 1969, and the 1963 Governor's Award for Outstanding Professional in Louisiana presented by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation.
  
The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. Visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF

For more information, contact Bo Boehringer at 225-765-5115 or bboehringer@wlf.la.gov .

*PHOTO CAPTION: Attending the ceremony to unveil the new headquarters sign at Richard K. Yancey WMA were (left to right) Hugh Bateman, Joe Herring, Robert Ray, Carolyn Ray, Allan Ensminger, Linda Yancey Ray, Richard Charles Yancey, LDWF Secretary Robert Barham,  Mrs. Richard K. Yancey, Michael Ray and Kay Yancey.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited three Louisiana men for alleged hunting violations on Nov. 8 in Pointe Coupee Parish.

Agents cited Alex Manuel, 21, of Melville, Titus Manuel, 17, of Krotz Springs, and Blake Sparrow, 20, of Krotz Springs for illegally taking a deer at night, hunting from a moving vehicle, discharging a firearm from a levee road, intentionally concealing wildlife evidence and taking a deer with an illegal weapon.

Agents received a public tip about potential night hunters on the East Guide Levee approximately three miles south of Hwy. 190 in Lottie.  While patrolling the area, agents noticed a vehicle stopped on the levee with headlights off.  After investigating the stopped vehicle, agents found one of the suspects close to the vehicle.

After briefly interviewing the suspect, he admitted to shooting a deer from his vehicle and that two more individuals were hiding in the woods with the illegally taken deer. The deer and firearm were recovered and the remaining two suspects were apprehended without incident.

Illegally taking deer at night and intentionally concealing wildlife evidence each carry up to a $950 fine per count and up to 120 days in jail.  Hunting from a moving vehicle carries up to a $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.  Taking deer with an illegal weapon brings up to a $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail.

Agents involved in the case include Sgt. Jerry Stassi, Sgt. Cliff Ortis, Senior Agent Anthony Adams and Senior Agent T.J. Ashley.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

Nov. 13, 2013 -- The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division’s training site will be upgraded with a $2 million multi-purpose training facility, LDWF Secretary Robert Barham announced today.

LDWF trains wildlife agent cadets and hosts continuing education courses for Enforcement Division agents and officers from other agencies at the department’s Waddill Outdoor Education Center on Flannery Road in Baton Rouge. The existing training facility is outdated and does not meet the current needs of the Enforcement Division.

“The new facility will provide additional classroom space and dormitory space,” said LDWF Col. Jeff Mayne. “We’ll be able to house an additional 48 law enforcement officers for in-service training that includes advanced boating crash incident investigation, DWI detection and continuing education coursework.”

The Waddill site is also utilized as a staging area for LDWF agents assigned to search and rescue missions during hurricanes or other natural disaster response efforts coordinated by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Federal funding for the new facility will be provided through NOAA’s Joint Enforcement Agreement and the US Coast Guard. Additional funding will come from the department’s Conservation Fund.

Site preparation will begin in 2013 and project completion is anticipated within two years.

LDWF is charged with managing, conserving, and promoting wise utilization of Louisiana's renewable fish and wildlife resources and their supporting habitats through replenishment, protection, enhancement, research, development, and education for the social and economic benefit of current and future generations; to provide opportunities for knowledge of and use and enjoyment of these resources; and to promote a safe and healthy environment for the users of the resources.  

For more information, contact Adam Einck, LDWF Enforcement Division, ph. 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

The Public Oyster Seed Ground Vessel Permit Appeals Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 10:30am at the LDWF offices inside the University of New Orleans (UNO) Advanced Technology Building located at 2021 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA in the second floor conference room has been CANCELLED.  As of now a reschedule date has not been set.  Notice of the new meeting date will be published as soon as a date is chosen.
 
This Board was established by Act 922 of the 2008 Regular Legislative Session for the purpose of hearing appeals of vessel permit denials by LDWF. Act 922 requires that anyone commercially harvesting oysters on the public oyster seed grounds and reservations, except those in Calcasieu Lake and Sabine Lake, must do so from a vessel holding a public oyster seed ground vessel permit issued by LDWF.
 
For more information, contact Ty Lindsey at 225-765-2387 or tlindsey@wlf.la.gov. 
 
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The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb, or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.
 
 
 

Nov. 7, 2013 -- The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission today added seven days in designated areas within Kisatchie National Forest (KNF) for bucks-only still hunting with firearms, during the 2013-14 deer season. The dates include Nov. 22 through 28, 2013, providing additional bucks only hunting opportunity during the Thanksgiving week holiday period.
 
The still hunt, bucks only, modern-firearms areas within KNF include Catahoula (Grant and Rapides parishes), Winn (Winn, Grant & Natchitoches parishes), Kisatchie Ranger Districts (Natchitoches Parish), Evangeline Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District (Rapides Parish), and the Vernon Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District (Vernon Parish, excluding Fort Polk/Vernon WMA). Previously approved and announced dates in these areas include Nov. 2-21, Nov. 30 - Dec. 1 and Dec. 14-29. These dates have not changed.
 
The on-line version of the 2013-14 Louisiana Hunting Regulations pamphlet has been updated to reflect these changes on page 83. To view the full document, visit http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/regulations .
 
The U.S. Forest Service requested the additional week of Nov. 22-28 be included in this year’s season dates for deer hunting to provide additional hunting opportunities during the Thanksgiving week holidays.
 
The action was taken by Declaration of Emergency since the Commission’s season date rule has already been submitted to the legislative leadership and the Louisiana Register, and insufficient time remained to make these changes via standard rulemaking prior to the opening dates of these seasons.
 
The action was taken in accordance with the emergency provisions of La. R.S. 49953 of the Administrative Procedure Act, and under the authority of La. R.S. 56:115 and 116, the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.
 
For more information, contact Steve Smith at 225-765-2359 or 318-487-5885, or via email at ssmith@wlf.la.gov .