Louisiana DWF Reminds Migratory Bird Hunters of HIP Certification Requirement
OutdoorHub 10.27.11
Oct. 27, 2011– The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) reminds all migratory bird hunters that state and federal regulations require them to be Harvest Information Program (HIP) certified.
If you hunt ducks, coots, geese, brant, swans, doves, band-tailed pigeons, woodcock, rails, snipe, sandhill cranes or gallinules, you are required to participate in the HIP Program in each state that you hunt.
Hunters obtain their HIP certification when purchasing a hunting license by informing the sales agent that they hunt migratory birds and want to be HIP certified. There is no cost or test for HIP certification. Hunters of all ages, even hunters who have a lifetime hunting license, must obtain HIP certification and that can be done anywhere hunting licenses are sold.
Data gathered from HIP participants provides state wildlife managers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) a more accurate method of estimating the number of migratory birds harvested annually in each state. The information is used by biologists to justify season lengths, bag limits and population monitoring.
For more information, contact Jeff Duguay at 225-765-2353 or jduguay@wlf.la.gov.
