Lousisiana WFC Adopts Amendment to Hunting Seasons NOIs, Public Meeting Schedule Announced Again

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) adopted an amendment to the notice of intent for the 2013-14 WMA Hunting Seasons Rules and Regulations and the 2013 WMA Hunting Schedule at their March 7 meeting.

The amendment would provide for an experimental nighttime frogging season on Salvador-Timken Wildlife Management Area from June 1 to Aug. 15. If finally approved, after the public comment period, the experimental season would begin June 1, 2014. The daily limit would be 50 frogs per vessel and participants would be required to carry a valid Louisiana fishing license. For additional details on frogging, consult the 2013 Louisiana Fishing Regulations booklet, page 28.

To view the original notices of intent and amendments for upcoming hunting seasons, visit http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/action-items.

Public comment can be submitted to Steve Smith, Wildlife Division, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000, or via email to ssmith@wlf.la.gov until May 2, 2013.

Proposed hunting season dates, general hunting regulations and WMA regulations will additionally be presented in nine public meetings as follows:

• March 19 at 6 p.m., LDWF Minden Office, 9961 Hwy. 80, Minden
• March 19 at 6 p.m., St. Tammany Parish Council Chambers, 21490 Koop Drive, Mandeville
• March 20 at 6 p.m., LDWF Monroe Office, 368 CenturyLink Drive, Monroe
• March 20 at 6 p.m., Chalmette Elem. School Resource Center, 75 East Chalmette Circle, Chalmette
• March 21 at 6 p.m., USGS National Wetlands Research Center Conference Room, 646 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette
• March 26 at 6:30 p.m., LSU Ag Center, 7101 Gulf Highway, Lake Charles
• March 27 at 6 p.m., Alexandria Convention Hall, 915 Third St., Alexandria
• March 27 at 6 p.m., Houma Municipal Auditorium, 880 Verret St., Houma
• March 28 at 6 p.m., Waddill Outdoor Education Center, 4142 N. Flannery Road, Baton Rouge

For more information, contact Steve Smith at 225-765-2359.

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries – Enforcement Division(LDWF) is the fish & game regulatory agency of Louisiana. It has jurisdictionanywhere in the state, and in state territorial waters. The agency enforces both state and federal laws dealing with hunting, fishing, and boating safety. The agency also enforces criminal laws in rural areas including DWI enforcement both on highways and waterways. Most of the Department’s Wildlife Agents also carry Federal law enforcement commissions issued from the United States Department of the Interior - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and United States Department of Commerce - U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). These federal commissions allow these state officers to enforce federal migratory waterfowl laws and federal marine fisheries laws in state and federal waters off the coast of Louisiana. Besides their traditional role as a “game warden”, Louisiana Wildlife Enforcement Agents also have a number of other responsibilities, including conducting board of health inspections on some portions of the state’s commercial fishing industry. Agents are trained in and conduct numerous search and rescue operations, both in remote land areas and on the state’s waterways. Agents ensure that hunters, anglers, boaters, dealers, breeders, farmers, and transporters are in compliance with regulations governing equipment, quotas, licenses, and registrations. Agents also assist other State departments and law enforcement agencies in the coordination of educational and professional endeavors, as well as national and state emergency alerts by the Federal Office of Emergency Preparedness. In addition, agents perform search and rescue missions alone or in conjunction with other local, state, and federal agencies.