L.D.W.F. News

Search and rescue personnel from four different agencies and volunteers located the body of a Central man this morning, Dec. 22, in Bayou Pigeon in Iberia Parish.

Rescue personnel from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office along with countless volunteers found the body of Brent J. LeBlanc, 37, this morning around 8:30 a.m.

Rescuers received a call around 4 p.m. on Dec. 21 about a surface drive vessel floating in Bayou Pigeon about a mile southwest from the Bayou Pigeon landing.  LDWF agents and Sheriff Office deputies searched into the night until severe weather made them call off the search for the night.  They resumed the search at first light this morning.

LDWF will be the lead investigative agency for this boating crash incident.  It is unknown at this time how LeBlanc got ejected from the vessel.  Investigators do not suspect alcohol was a factor at this time.  LeBlanc was found without a personal flotation device.

LeBlanc’s body was turned over to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

For more information, contact Adam Einck at 226-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited a Baker man for alleged deer hunting violations on Dec. 18 in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Agents cited William R. Aucoin, 61, for two counts of hunting deer during illegal hours, four counts of hunting deer using illegal methods, two counts of illegal possession of poisonous arrow pods, obstruction of justice and no possession of deer tags.

Agents were notified by a confidential informant that Aucoin was night hunting on the west side of Zachary off of Hwy. 61.  Agents set up surveillance on Dec. 18 and found his hunting site.

Agents then came back to Aucoin’s hunting site around 6:30 p.m. and found him sitting in his stand with a bow and arrow armed, night vision goggles (NVG) and a flashlight attached to his bow.  Aucoin was not in possession of deer tags.

Agents also saw Aucoin fidgeting with his arrow and then throw an object on the ground.  During the investigation, agents found a poisonous pod that attaches to an arrow.

During questioning Aucoin admitted to hunting deer that night and also admitted to hunting deer on Dec. 2 at night with the same illegal setup.

Agents seized Aucoin’s bow and arrow, NVGs and flashlight.

Hunting deer during illegal hours brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.  Hunting deer using illegal methods and using illegal poisonous pods each carries a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail.  Failing to possess deer tags brings a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail.  Obstruction of justice carries up to a $10,000 fine and up to five years in jail.

Agents participating in the case are Lt. Will Roberts, Sgt Guy Adams and Sgt. Carl Armstrong.

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

A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agent cited two men for alleged recreational fishing violations on Dec. 18 in Plaquemines Parish.

LDWF Sgt. Villere Reggio cited Gilbert Merricks, 62, of New Orleans, and Corey Carter, 44, of Laplace, for possessing undersized red drum and for possessing more than the five red drum per person per day limit.

Sgt. Reggio found the men in possession of 47 red drum of which 29 were under the legal size limit of 16 inches.

Taking or possessing undersized red drum carries up to a $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail.  Taking more than double the red drum limit brings up to a $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.  The two men also face a grand total of $979.39 in civil restitution charges to the State of Louisiana for the illegally taken red drum.

The case will be forwarded to the District Attorney Charles Ballay for prosecution. Agents involved in the case are Sgt. Villere Reggio and Sgt. Adam Young.

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

December 19, 2013 - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is extending the open hours for Elmer’s Island refuge over the Christmas and New Year’s holiday. During the holidays, Elmer’s Island will be open on Friday, December 20 and through Sunday, January 5, 2014.
 
Elmer’s Island refuge will be open will be 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset throughout the opening.
 
Night-time access on the island remains closed and camping on the beach is strictly prohibited.
Following this special opening, public access to Elmer’s Island will revert back to the previously established schedule, open Friday through Sunday.
 
On September 4, 2012, LDWF announced an emergency closure of coastal waters due to the emergence of a large tar mat and concentrations of tar balls on adjacent beaches, including the area of Elmer’s Island. The closure prohibits commercial and recreational fishing within these waters except for recreational and charter boat angling. The harvest of live bait by wholesale/retail seafood dealers who hold a special bait dealers permit and who harvest live bait for sale to recreational fishermen exclusively is also permitted.  On December 5, 2013 LDWF reopened some of the area for commercial and recreational fishing. A map of the closed area can be found here:
VIEW MAP OF CLOSURE AREA
 
The only fishing activity allowed in the area is recreational, rod and reel (hook and line) fishing for finfish.
 The following activities are strictly prohibited on Elmer’s Island:
     •    All commercial fishing
     •    Recreational harvest of shrimp, crabs and oysters
     •    Camping
     •    Night-time access
 
Workers and state officials will continue to monitor the shoreline in order to continue to respond to oiling impacts. Any sightings of oil should be reported to LDWF at (800) 442-2511 and the National Response Center (NRC) at (800) 424-8802.
 
For more information regarding Elmer's Island, please contact Julia Lightner at jlightner@wlf.la.gov or (504) 286-4041.

(Dec. 19, 2013) – The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries would like to remind anglers that revised regulations are now in affect regarding the use of yo-yos and trotlines on Black Lake, Clear Lake, Prairie Lake, Caddo Lake, Chicot Lake, D'Arbonne Lake and Lake St. Joseph.

The change only applies to the waterbodies listed above and addresses an ongoing problem.  The previous rule only prohibited metal objects from being placed to anchor a yo-yo or trigger device.    This change prohibits the placement of any artificial object to anchor a yo-yo or trigger device.  Such objects could include metal, cane, PVC tubing, or any other type of material.

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

Dec. 19, 2013 – The Ouachita Wildlife Management Area has expanded to 13,931 acres through a lease arrangement the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) now has in place with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
 
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission officially adopted the acreage as part of the WMA at their December meeting.
 
The 2,954-acre Kennedy Tract extends the southern boundary of the WMA to Bosco Lane with the eastern boundary of the new area following Bayou Lafourche. LDWF Wildlife Division staff will be posting perimeter signs through mid January, but the property is currently available for public hunting during hunting seasons that are currently open.
 
LDWF will not have a parking area in place for the Kennedy Tract until the 2014-15 hunting season and access to the new tract will be limited to boat access via Bayou Lafourche until that time.
 
For a map outlining the boundaries of the Kennedy Tract, go to http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/wma and scroll down to Ouachita WMA.
 
The entire WMA lies within the Bayou LaFourche flood plain. Game species available for hunting during their respective seasons include deer, squirrel, rabbit, snipe, dove and waterfowl. Among the ducks wintering on the area are blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, mallard, shoveler, pintail and wood ducks. Trapping is permitted with available furbearers including raccoon, mink, nutria, muskrat, opossum, beaver, coyote, and bobcat.
 
For more information, contact the Wildlife Division’s Monroe field office at 318-343-4044.
 
 

Dec. 19, 2013 -- Each year, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ (LDWF) Wildlife Division schedules either-sex firearms deer hunts on many of the state Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) .
 
Excellent weather throughout the hunting season this year has provided favorable conditions for hunter success.  This year 25,360 hunter efforts were tallied during these hunts on the 37 managed hunts that provided opportunities. Richard K. Yancey, Fort Polk, Dewey W. Wills, Sherburne and Boeuf WMAs attracted the greatest numbers of hunters with Richard K. Yancey drawing 5,128.
 
The total deer harvest for the 37 managed hunts was  2,651 which included 1,322 bucks and 1,329 does.
 
These opportunities are greatly anticipated by many hunters across the state, and out-of-state as well.  It is a time when deer hunters and their families can enjoy the outdoors and have the opportunity to harvest deer of either-sex.
 
Wildlife Division personnel were able to collect valuable data during these hunts which help them manage each WMA’s deer herd.  WMA hunter efforts were consistent with past years while having a slightly higher success rate.  To view the full list of WMAs and data collected, go to http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/deer/seasons and scroll down to the Documents section.
 
WMAs are distributed across the state and within a reasonable drive from any location.  WMA habitats for these hunts range from upland hardwood and pine sites to bottomland hardwoods. To view a complete list of state WMAs, visit http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/wma .
 
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Wildlife Management Area Program is charged with providing necessary habitats to manage and protect both game and non-game wildlife, as well as to provide quality outdoor recreation for the public.
 
For more information: visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov, at www.facebook.com/ldwffb; on Twitter @LDWF; or by contacting Steve Smith at ssmith@wlf.la.gov or 225-765-2359.
 

A Turkey Creek man pleaded guilty to taking deer illegally on Dec. 13 in the 13th Judicial Court in Evangeline Parish.

Judge Tom Fusilier sentenced Corey S. Gautreaux, 25, to pay a $1,000 fine and $122.50 in court costs, revoked his hunting privileges for two years and to 30 days of jail, which will be suspended.

On Oct. 23, 2011 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited Gautreaux for taking deer illegally by snare in Evangeline Parish.

Agents received a complaint that Gautreaux had put several snares out on private land near the St. Landry community off of Frontier Road.  The snares appeared to be set in a manner to take deer.

Agents went to the area to investigate on Oct. 23, 2011.  After locating the snares, agents found a camera and a deer stand set up near the snares.  After reviewing the photos on the camera, agents found photos of Gautreaux checking the snares.

On that same afternoon agents found Gautreaux sitting in the stand with a bow and arrow.  After advising Gautreaux of his rights, he admitted to setting the snares for deer.

All the snares along with the camera were forfeited to the state.

Assistant District Attorney Tim Fontenot prosecuted the case.  Sgt. Scott D. Fontenot was the lead investigative agent in the case.

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

(Dec. 13, 2013) Today, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham announced a closure of the fall shrimp season in state inside waters west of the Mississippi River and in a portion of state outside waters effective Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at official sunset.

Specifically, those waters that will close to shrimping include:

• The portion of state inside waters from the eastern shore of South Pass of the Mississippi River westward to the Louisiana/Texas state line
• The portion of state outside waters extending a distance of 3 nautical miles seaward of the inside/outside shrimp line from the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel at Eugene Island as delineated by the Channel red buoy line westward to Freshwater Bayou Canal at -92 degrees 18 minutes 33 seconds west longitude

The following state waters will remain open to shrimping until further notice:

• The portion of state inside waters east of the eastern shore of South Pass of the Mississippi River eastward to the Louisiana/Mississippi state line.
• All state outside waters east of the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel at Eugene Island as delineated by the Channel red buoy line as well as all state outside waters west of the western shore of Freshwater Bayou Canal.
• All fishery jurisdiction waters claimed by the state beyond the three nautical mile closure zone.

Existing data does not currently support shrimping closures in additional state inside and outside waters. However, historic data suggest additional closures may be needed in the near future and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will continue monitoring shrimp populations in these waters.

Regulations state that the possession count on saltwater, white shrimp shall average no more than 100 (whole shrimp) count per pound, with the exception of October 15 through the third Monday in December, when there is no minimum count size.   

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission provided LDWF Secretary Robert Barham with authority to close both the fall inshore shrimp season and shrimping in the state’s territorial sea when biological and technical data indicate the need. Recent sampling conducted by the LDWF Fisheries biologists indicates that average white shrimp size in those waters to be closed is smaller than the minimum possession size limit. This action, which characteristically takes place at this time of year, is designed to protect small, white shrimp and provide opportunity for these populations to over-winter and grow to larger, more marketable sizes.

For a map detailing today’s actions click here

Louisiana continues to lead the country in shrimp landings.  In 2012, approximately 5,566 licensed Louisiana commercial shrimpers landed 100.3 million pounds of shrimp (all species combined/heads-on weight) that had a dockside value of $145 million. 

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/ldwffbor follow us on Twitter @LDWF.

For more information, contact Martin Bourgeois (985) 594-4130 mbourgeois@wlf.la.gov. For press inquiries, contact Ashley Roth at aroth@wlf.la.gov or (504) 286 -4162.

A Labadieville man pleaded guilty on Dec. 10 in Eastern District Federal Court in New Orleans for the illegal killing of 49 sea gulls.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries cited Jackoby D. Bertot, 29, for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in September following a lengthy investigation.

Agents uncovered that the subject utilized a vehicle to speed through a flock of resting sea gulls in the Home Depot parking lot in the Elmwood Area shopping center in the suburbs of New Orleans on Sept. 2, 2013 at 9:48 p.m.

Bertot pleaded guilty before the honorable Daniel E. Knowles III.  The subject was ordered to pay a fine of $1,210 and serve a one year inactive probation.  U.S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis prosecuted the case.  LDWF Sgt. Tim Fox investigated the case.

Violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act carry up to $15,000 in fines and up to six months in prison.

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