The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has closed the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in St. Tammany Parish due to flooding. The Pearl River flood gauge has reached 16.5 feet, an automatic benchmark for closure of the WMA set by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.
The gate at the entrance to the WMA on Old Highway 11 is closed and locked. This gate will remain closed until the river recedes below 16.5 feet and the roads have been inspected. Included in the closure is the Pearl River-Honey Island Shooting Range, located in the Pearl River WMA.
The Pearl River WMA, which consists of 35,618 acres, is located approximately six miles east of Slidell and approximately one mile east of Pearl River.
Available games species include white-tailed deer, squirrel, rabbit, waterfowl, snipe and woodcock. There are youth deer and squirrel seasons as well as youth and general turkey lottery hunts. Trapping is available for furbearers, including beaver, nutria, mink, muskrat, opossum, raccoon, coyote and bobcat. There is also opportunity for hiking and birding.
All visitors to Pearl River 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 information on this WMA, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/pearl-river or contact Forest Burks at fburks@wlf.la.gov or 985-543-4777.