The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the U.S. Forest Service are in discussion to create a Wildlife Management Area, encompassing the Catahoula National Wildlife Management Preserve within Kisatchie National Forest, WMA Program Manager Steve Smith announced at the LDWF monthly commission meeting Dec. 3, in Lake Charles.
The Catahoula National Wildlife Management Preserve is contained within the Catahoula and Winn Ranger Districts located in Grant and Winn parishes. The proposed WMA would consist of 37,813 acres. Habitat types consist primarily of upland pine and upland pine hardwood, with associated bottomland hardwoods in the drainages. The area is popular for outdoor activities, including hunting, camping and hiking.
The LDWF will be able to assist the U.S. Forest Service in management activities such as timber harvest treatments, prescribed burning, data collection and habitat surveys.
Smith said some of the benefits that the LDWF can provide include:
1) Increased habitat management through forest timber stand inventories, forest stand improvement practices, and prescribed burning;
2) Emphasis on a variety of research associated with habitat and species management;
3) Increased data collection for managed wildlife species;
4) Enhancements to road and trail infrastructure and associated access for both management activities and public utilization.
The LDWF will begin soliciting public comment for a period of 90 days beginning Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, with support from the U.S. Forest Service. At the end of this 90-day period, a joint decision will be made on whether or not to enter into this cooperative endeavor. Creation of the WMA would require action from the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.
Comments may be made to Steve Smith, WMA Program Manager at (225)765-2346, (318)487-5885, or ssmith@wlf.la.gov.