Two Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) employees and a USDA Forest Service employee were recognized for outstanding service at the Louisiana Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Awards Banquet on Jan. 25 in Marksville.
In addition to local NWTF chapter awards, awards were presented for “Agent of the Year”, “Biologist of the Year”, and “Wildlife Technician of the Year”.
Sgt. Billy Shoemaker of Marthaville in Natchitoches Parish received the 2013 Agent of the Year. Sgt. Shoemaker is a 12-year veteran with LDWF’s Enforcement Division. He made the most turkey cases in 2013 for Region 3 where his duties include looking for bait before and during the turkey season.
Jarrod Hughes of Haughton, a nine-year LDWF Wildlife Division employee, received the 2013 Biologist of the Year for habitat work on Bodcau WMA that included native warm season grass planting, fall food plot planting, and understory brush control.
Charles Boles of Kisatchie was named the 2013 Wildlife Technician of the Year. A 30-year USDA Forest Service employee, Boles received his award for wild turkey project assistance on Kisatchie Ranger District involving a cooperative four-year gobbler banding study with LDWF.
For more information, contact Jimmy Stafford at 225-765-2361 or jstafford@wlf.la.gov .
The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.