2012-13 Bonnet Carré Spillway Louisiana Deer Hunting Season Rules & Regulations

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries 10.17.12

Following Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) deer herd assessments made to determine the impacts of Hurricane Isaac on the deer population, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the LDWF has revised the 2012-2013 Bonnet Carré Spillway hunting season rules and regulations.

LDWF’s population assessments showed that parishes impacted by Hurricane Isaac, which have historically lower deer productivity, required revised harvest rules for 2012-13 based on storm-related deer mortality including high fawn mortality. The changes to deer season at the Bonnet Carré Spillway follow the revisions approved Oct. 4 by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission for the Maurepas Basin, which includes St. Charles Parish, and are as follows:

All hunting shall be still-hunting only, EXCEPT as otherwise specified.

Deer*: Archery and Shotgun (buckshot) only.
Archery: Oct. 1-15 bucks only; Oct. 16 – Feb. 15 either sex
Shotgun: Nov. 23-25 bucks only; Dec. 15-30 bucks only
Youth: Oct. 27-28 bucks only

Additional permit required and posted restrictions apply for all persons regardless of age. Permits must be signed prior to hunting any game and must be carried at all times while in the field. For permits or more information, see bulletin boards on-site, visit the project website at www.mvn.usace.army.mil/recreation (then click on Bonnet Carré Spillway), or contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Bonnet Carré Spillway Project Office at (985) 764-7484.

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.