Two Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents were honored at the Nov. 1 Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting held in Baton Rouge.
Shikar-Safari Club International presented their 2018 Conservation Officer of the Year award for Louisiana to retired LDWF Sgt. Cliff Ortis, of Oscar. The Shikar-Safari award recognizes an agent from each state for outstanding efforts in conservation law enforcement.
Sgt. Dean Aucoin, of Houma, received the Louisiana Waterfowl Enforcement Officer of the Year award from the Mississippi Flyway Council. The Mississippi Flyway Council recognizes law enforcement officers from each state who make outstanding contributions to the protection of waterfowl.
Sgt. Ortis retired in September of 2018 after serving the department for the past 28 years. He mainly patrolled West Baton Rouge Parish. Sgt. Ortis also received the LDWF Enforcement Division’s “2017 Agent of the Year” award.
Sgt. Aucoin mainly patrols Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes and has been an agent for over 12 years. Sgt. Aucoin was honored for his participation in numerous illegal waterfowl hunting investigations involving hunting migratory waterfowl over bait, taking over the limits of ducks, hunting with unplugged guns and with lead shot.