2012 Louisiana White Lake W.C.A. Marsh and Rice Field Lottery Hunts Announced

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries 09.12.12

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is now accepting applications for 2012 marsh and rice field lottery waterfowl hunts on the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area (WCA) in Vermilion Parish.

The available dates for rice field hunts are: Nov. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30; Dec. 1, 2, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 27, 28, 30 and 31; and Jan. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20.

Marsh hunts are available on: Nov. 10, 11, 15, 19, and 25; Dec. 20, 22, 23 and 29; and Jan. 2 and 15.

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and applications for both hunts must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 11, 2012.

Applications may be obtained by contacting any of LDWF’s field offices or by visiting the LDWF website at http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/lottery-hunts. Completed applications may be delivered in person to Room 422 of the LDWF Building in Baton Rouge, or by mail. The mailing address is: La. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898. Please note on envelope: Attention: White Lake Marsh (or Rice Field) Lottery Hunt, whichever is applicable.

Each application will be assessed a non-refundable $5 administrative fee. Applications must be accompanied by a check or money order payable to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Successful applicants will be notified by mail.

Selected applicants will be allowed two guests for the rice field hunts and one guest for the marsh hunts. An additional payment of $225 will be required for the rice field hunts and $350 for the marsh hunts.

For more information on White Lake WCA marsh and rice field lottery waterfowl hunts, contact Wayne Sweeney at 337-536-9400 or wsweeney@wlf.la.gov.

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.