Flood waters in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area (WMA) have triggered an automatic deer hunting season closure, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced. The benchmark closure, enacted by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, closes deer hunting in the WMA when the flood gauge reaches 3.0 feet.
The season will reopen once the water falls below 2.5 gauge height feet. The WMA gauge height can be found at https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/300602090375100/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D&showMedian=false.
Maurepas Swamp WMA, which consists of 112,615 acres, is located approximately 25 miles west of New Orleans and along the south shore of Lake Maurepas west to near Sorrento. The WMA includes property in Ascension, Livingston, St. John the Baptist and St. James parishes.
Available game species on Maurepas Swamp WMA include white-tailed deer, squirrel, rabbit and waterfowl.
All visitors to Maurepas Swamp WMA and all LDWF WMAs must have either a WMA Access Permit, Senior Hunting/Fishing License, Louisiana Sportsman’s Paradise License, or Lifetime Hunting/Fishing License. Go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/wmarefugeconservation-area-licenses-and-permits for more information.
For additional information on Maurepas Swamp WMA go to: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/maurepas-swamp or contact the LDWF Hammond Field Office at 985-543-4777.