The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission voted Thursday (Jan. 7) to close deer hunting season in areas affected by the Morganza and Bonnet Carre spillways should either or both be opened because of flooding of the Mississippi River.  The action came during the commission’s monthly meeting in Baton Rouge.
 
The closures will become effective a half hour after sunset on the dates the spillways are opened.
 
All land within the Morganza Spillway, which could be opened as soon as Monday, would be closed to deer hunting, including from the Morganza control structure, south to I-10 and from I-10 south within the protection levees of the Atchafalaya basin.
 
Additionally, the following buffer area east of the Morganza Spillway will be closed to deer hunting: All land between the East Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee eastward to LA 1, beginning at the junction of LA 1 and LA 10 in Morganza, thence following LA 10 west to LA 77, then south on LA 77 to LA 81 near Fordoche, then south on LA 81 to LA 77 south of Livonia, then south on LA 77 to LA 76 at Maringouin, then south on LA 76 to Hwy. 3000, then south on Hwy. 3000 to I-10 at Ramah.
 
Other closures would include Sherburne WMA, including the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, the Bayou Des Ourses Area and the Indian Bayou Area.
 
Land in and around the Bonnet Carre Spillway, which could be opened as soon as Saturday, would be closed.
 
The commission acted under authority of Louisiana Revised Statue 49:953 of the Administrative Procedure Act. The closure will remain in effect until rescinded by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary.
 
The public is encouraged to monitor the spillway openings this week and weekend prior to planning deer hunting in these areas.
 
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.la.gov or www.FishLA.org. To receive recreational or commercial fishing email and text alerts, signup at http://www.wlf.la.gov/signup.