L.D.W.F. News

 
(Feb. 8, 2013) - Today, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted a notice of intent that would remove the 14” minimum length limit on black bass in the Atchafalaya Basin, Henderson Lake and Lake Verret Complex.  LDWF biologists made this recommendation based both on results of an LDWF study and angler input.
 
As a temporary transition measure, LDWF staff recommends a reduction in daily creel limit from 10 to 7 bass for a two-year period.  After the two years, black bass regulations on these waterbodies would be consistent with statewide regulations – no length limit with a 10 fish daily creel.
 
An extensive, three-year study examined the effectiveness of the regulation as a management tool.  Findings show the Atchafalaya Basin largemouth bass population does not exhibit necessary criteria for which a 14” minimum length limit would produce larger bass.  The study indicates that the basin bass population is more heavily influenced by environmental factors, including water fluctuation and the effects of tropical storms, rather than angler harvest.
 
Results of the study were distributed throughout various media outlets including print, radio and television, and public opinion was requested.  Over 450 responses were received, and Atchafalaya Basin anglers were in agreement with the LDWF study and approval of removing the 14” minimum length for bass by an overwhelming margin of 91 percent.
 
To view the full notice of intent, please visit here.  Interested persons may submit written comments relative to the proposed rule by March 31, 2013, to Mike Wood, Office of Fisheries, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000 or via email at comment@wlf.la.gov.
 
The Louisiana 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 (225) 765-2396.
 

Feb. 8, 2013  -- The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) adopted notices of intent for the 2013-15 hunting seasons and the 2013-14 Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) General Rules and Regulations at their Feb. 7 meeting.

The notices of intent include proposed hunting season dates and changes from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) for the upcoming fall hunting seasons and provide for a public comment period.

Some of the proposed changes include:

• Alterations in deer areas and seasons to include a new Area 4, Area 9 and Area 10, plus re-aligned Areas 1, 6 and 7.
• Standardized crawfish limits on all Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) allowing up to 100 lbs/person/day.
• Feral hog, experimental trapping, from May 1 to Aug. 31, by permit only on Boeuf, Clear Creek, Jackson-Bienville, Manchac, Pearl River, Red River, Sherburne, Thistlethwaite, Three Rivers and West Bay WMAs; permits to be available at regional LDWF field offices.
• Elbow Slough WMA: proposed lottery-only hunts for Mourning Dove on opening weekend of 1st split.
• Pearl River WMA: proposed return to deer season framework and length utilized pre-Hurricane Katrina.
• Maurepas Swamp WMA: proposed reduction in deer hunting days from 42 days to 28 days to be consistent with proposed New Area 9 season.
• Salvador/Timken WMA: proposed Experimental Night-time Activity Season; plus deer hunting to be allowed after 12 noon.
• Thistlethwaite WMA: proposed 10-year Experimental Quality Deer Management Season to include ending current experimental season and adopting new experimental season with altered season structure.
• Kisatchie National Forest: proposed addition of a Youth Deer Hunt and still hunting only for all deer hunting.
• Primitive Gear: proposed addition of single shot, breech loading shotguns, 10-gauge or smaller, having an exposed hammer, loaded with buckshot or rifled slug.

To view the full notices of intent and all proposed hunting season dates and regulations changes for the upcoming hunting season and a presentation on recommended deer season changes for 2013-15, with area maps, please visit http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/action-items.

Public comment will be accepted at LWFC monthly meetings from March through May and/or can be submitted in writing by mail to: Steve Smith, LDWF Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000, or via email to ssmith@wlf.la.gov until 4:30 p.m., May 2, 2013.

Proposed hunting season dates, general hunting regulations and WMA regulations will additionally be presented in nine public meetings as follows:

• March 19 at 6 p.m., LDWF Minden Office, 9961 Hwy. 80, Minden
• March 19 at 6 p.m., St. Tammany Parish Council Chambers, 21490 Koop Drive, Mandeville
• March 20 at 6 p.m., LDWF Monroe Office, 368 Centurytel Drive, Monroe
• March 20 at 6 p.m., Chalmette Elem. School Resource Center, 75 East Chalmette Circle, Chalmette
• March 21 at 6 p.m., USGS National Wetlands Research Center Conference Room, 646 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette
• March 26 at 6:30 p.m., LSU Ag Center, 7101 Gulf Highway, Lake Charles
• March 27 at 6 p.m., Alexandria Convention Hall, 915 Third St., Alexandria
• March 27 at 6 p.m., Houma Municipal Auditorium, 880 Verret St., Houma
• March 28 at 6 p.m., Waddill Outdoor Education Center, 4142 N. Flannery Road, Baton Rouge

For more information, contact Steve Smith at 225-765-2359 or ssmith@wlf.la.gov.

 
Feb. 8, 2013 -- Search and rescue officials recovered the body of a Shaw man from Cocodrie Bayou in Concordia Parish this morning, Feb. 8.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents and Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies recovered the body of Louis Fisher, 84, around 9:45 a.m.

Officials were notified about a fisherman who apparently had fallen overboard in Cocodrie Bayou at 4 p.m. on Feb. 7.  According to family, Fisher was running trot lines in Cocodrie Bayou.

Fisher’s body was turned over to the Concordia Parish Coroner’s Office to determine a cause of death.  LDWF will be the lead investigative agency for this boating incident.

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

Feb. 8, 2013  -- The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) adopted a notice of intent Feb. 7 for amendments to the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) regulations.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ (LDWF) proposed changes would clarify the fee structure for DMAP program participants, as stated in the State Register.

The action denotes the entry point of Level 1 fees as $250 for tracts between 1,000 and 1,500 acres; and the entry point of Level 2 fees as $150 for tracts between 500 and 1,500 acres. The Level 2 fee for tracts between 1,500 and 10,000 acres would be $50 additional to the entry level fee and total $200. No other clarifications to the existing fee structure were presented.

To view the full notice of intent, please visit http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/action-items. 

Public comment will be accepted at LWFC monthly meetings through April 2013 or can be submitted to Scott Durham, LDWF Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000, until April 4, 2013.

For more information, contact Scott Durham at 225-765-2351 or sdurham@wlf.la.gov.   

Feb. 8, 2013  -- The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) paused for a moment of silence at Thursday’s meeting to reflect on the life and service of Commissioner Michael C. “Mike” Voisin who passed away Feb. 2, following a massive heart attack on Jan. 25.

“Mike could take any problem and bring all parties involved together to get it resolved,” said LWFC Chairman Ronny Graham. “His demeanor calmed the discussion and allowed all viewpoints to be heard.”

“From the department’s standpoint, Mike’s passing is a great loss of a key leader in the seafood industry who we could reach out to on issues important to those who managed and harvested the state’s fisheries resources,” said Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham.

Voisin was born in Los Angeles, Calif. and had lived in Louisiana for the past 38 years and resides in Houma. He owned Motivatit Seafoods, Inc., based in Houma since 1971. Voisin's affiliations with conservation organizations included the Louisiana Oyster Dealers and Growers Association, Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation, Southeastern Fisheries Association, Louisiana Seafood Processors Council and Gulf Oyster Industry Council and the Louisiana Oyster Task Force. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board.

Commissioner Billy Broussard was selected to fill the vice chairman position that Voisin had held since January.

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

(Feb. 7, 2013) - Today, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted a notice of intent to designate the fishing boundary for crappie fishing on Lake D’Arbonne in Union and Lincoln parishes.  This rule defines Lake D’Arbonne using the same geographic markers as used in the Department’s netting prohibition regulation.

Lake D’Arbonne includes all areas between the Bayou D’Arbonne spillway structure and Gill’s Ferry Landing on D’Arbonne Creek and Hogpen Landing on Corney Creek.

The daily bag limit was changed to 25 crappie in November 2012.  The change from 50 to 25 fish was approved by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission in response to concerns of overfishing that some anglers had expressed.

To view the full notice of intent, please visit http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/document/36343-bayo... Interested persons may submit written comments relative to the proposed rule by March 31, 2013, to Mike Wood, Office of Fisheries, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000 or via email at comment@wlf.la.gov.

The Louisiana 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 (225) 765-2396.

February 7, 2013 - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham issued the following statement today in regard to yesterday’s failed motion by the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council’s Reef Fish Committee to move forward with regional management of red snapper in Louisiana.

“Yet again, the Gulf Council refuses to work with Louisiana toward a more flexible management of our recreational fishery.  In a final effort to save the 2013 red snapper recreational season with compatible regulations, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife of Fisheries offered a common sense approach to the Gulf Council to modify the 2013 season and allow anglers more opportunities to recreationally fish for red snapper.  Our attempts at a favorable outcome failed.

“We have said time and again that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach that will work for the entire Gulf Coast when it comes to recreational fishing, which is why we proposed state-by-state or regional management.

“The approach of the Gulf Council is outdated and stagnant.  Louisiana believes that no one cares more about or can better manage our resources than our department. The unwillingness of the Gulf Council to work with us on these matters has left me, my staff and the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commissioners no choice but to move forward with state regulations that will directly contradict those of our federal counterparts.

“In the next 30 days, my staff will work with the Commissioners to decide on a path forward that best suits Louisiana’s recreational sector.  We remain open to further discussion with any and all interested parties.”

For press inquiries please contact Laura Wooderson at lwooderson@wlf.la.gov or (504) 430-2623.

Search and rescue crews found two overdue boaters alive this morning, Feb. 7, near the Lafitte area.

A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) seaplane spotted the overdue boaters waving their arms with their boat tied up to a camp around 9 a.m.  The seaplane called in the location for rescue crews on the water in boats to respond.  The rescue crews were then able to escort the missing boaters back to Joe’s landing in Lafitte.  The missing boaters were in good health when found.

Search crews from LDWF, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Lafourche, Jefferson and St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Offices participated in the search for the missing boaters.

The search crews received word at 8 p.m. on Feb. 6 about a grandfather and grandson who did not return home from a boating trip.  According to the family, the 72-year-old grandfather and 15-year-old grandson both from Gretna departed Joe’s landing at 7 a.m.

The rescue crews searched throughout the night for the two missing boaters until they were found about seven miles from Joe’s landing.

According to the grandfather, they were trying to get back to the landing, but became disoriented when it got too dark and they decided to find a place to tie their 19 foot boat up to for the night.

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

Feb. 6, 2013 -- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents arrested a New Iberia man for alleged drug and wildlife charges in Iberia Parish on Jan. 30.

Agents cited Christopher J. Pellerin, 34, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute, possession of a controlled dangerous substance while in possession of a firearm, driving with a suspended operator’s license, hunting without a resident basic license or state duck license, wanton waste of migratory game birds and using lead shot in an area designated for steel shot only.

Agents received a call from the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office about a subject poaching and trespassing in crawfish ponds in Iberia Parish on Jan. 27.  The sheriff’s office had already cited Pellerin for trespassing earlier in the day and released him.

Agents made contact with Pellerin later that evening and verified he hunted migratory game birds with a 20 gauge shotgun using lead shot and left dead American coots in the pond to go to waste.

Agents also discovered that Pellerin is a convicted felon with multiple convictions and he cannot possess a firearm.  The agents were issued arrest and search warrants for Pellerin’s residence to seize the firearm he allegedly used.

While serving the warrants on Jan. 30, agents discovered the firearm along with ammunition.  LDWF Agents with the help of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office K-9 division also located a substantial amount of marijuana divided and packaged in amounts to be distributed.  Pellerin was then booked into the Iberia Parish Jail.

Felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon brings 10 to 20 years in jail and a $1,000 to $5,000 fine.  Felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute carries up to five to 50 years in jail and up to a $50,000 fine.  Felony possession of a controlled dangerous substance while in possession of a firearm brings up to a $2,000 fine and one to two years of jail.  Driving with a suspended operator’s license carries a $300 to $500 fine and up to six months in jail.

Hunting without a resident basic license and state duck license each carry a $50 fine and up to 15 days in jail for each offense.  Wanton waste of migratory game birds brings up to a $950 fine and up to 120 days of jail.  Using lead shot in an area designated for steel shot only carries up to a $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.

Agents participating in this case are Sgt. Dusty Rhodes and Senior Agent David Boudreaux and the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office K-9 Division.

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

Feb. 5, 2013--Louisiana Operation Game Thief, Inc. (LOGT), a Louisiana wildlife crime-stoppers program, awarded $9,200 to diligent citizens statewide at their quarterly meeting on Jan. 26 in Baton Rouge.

For the 2012 calendar year, LOGT approved and dispensed $22,100 in cash rewards for concerned citizens who reported wildlife violations that led to 79 subjects being apprehended in wildlife cases.  There were a total of 53 cases presented and 531 offenses associated with those cases in 2012.

For the last quarter of 2012, LOGT issued $9,200 in reward money on 24 cases.

Louisiana Department Wildlife Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement LOGT Coordinator Lt. Will Roberts provided LOGT members with information on each case and a recommendation for reward amounts.

“We depend on Operation Game Thief and these public tips to help break a lot of cases that might have otherwise gone unsolved,” Roberts said.

Anyone wishing to report wildlife or fisheries violations should anonymously call LDWF’s 24-hour toll free Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-442-2511 or utilize LDWF's new tip411 program.  To use the tip411 program, citizens can anonymously text LADWF and their tip to 847411 or download the "LADWF Tips" iPhone app from the Apple iTunes store free of charge.  CitizenObserver, the tip411 provider, uses technology that removes all identifying information before LDWF receives the text so that LDWF cannot identify the sender.

LOGT was instituted in 1984 and provides cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of violators of fish and wildlife regulations.  Funds are raised through private donations, court directed contributions and through contributions from cooperative endeavor agreements with organizations such as the National Wild Turkey Federation and Quality Deer Management Association.

Since its inception in 1984, LOGT has issued $324,700 in rewards.

To make a donation to the LOGT that can be used for cash rewards, please contact Lt. Will Roberts at wroberts@wlf.la.gov.

LOGT meets quarterly throughout the year to review cases and dispense rewards.

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