US Forest Service Removes Ban on Hunting Deer with Dogs in Louisiana

The U.S. Forest Service announced Tuesday that the ban on deer hunting with dogs within Kisatchie National Forest (KNF) has been removed for the December dates previously approved by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC).

The “with or without dogs” portion of the 2012-2013 hunting season within the Catahoula, Winn and Kisatchie Ranger Districts and the Evangeline Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District will take place from Saturday, Dec. 15 through Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012.

The Forest Service’s decision to prohibit hunting deer with dogs on KNF property in Louisiana was issued Feb. 29, 2012. The Forest Service decision was affirmed by their Washington Office on Sept. 28, 2012. A lawsuit was filed on Nov. 16, 2012, by Louisiana Sportsmen Alliance, LLC, challenging the decision.  While the Forest Service intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit, the decision will not be implemented at this time and the 2012 “with or without dogs” deer season will proceed Dec. 15-23, 2012.

As required in 2010 and 2011, all deer hunters on KNF lands designated for “with or without dogs” hunting during this nine day period will be required to carry a KNF Deer Hunting Permit. The no-cost permit required during the “with or without dogs” portion of the hunting season is available on the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) website. To obtain a permit, go to www.wlf.la.gov and click on the link to the KNF Deer Hunting Permit.

The special season requiring the KNF Deer Hunting Permit will be bucks only.  Every deer hunter in Kisatchie National Forest, except on the Caney Ranger District and the Vernon Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District, during these dates, regardless of age, is required to have this permit.

Deer hunters using dogs must register an identifying mark with LDWF.  Each dog must wear a collar providing the owner’s name, address and phone number.  To obtain a permit, the hunter must provide their name and address and the identifying mark used on dogs engaged in the hunt.

For additional information on deer hunting on KNF or any rules regarding hunting on the KNF, contact Jim Caldwell at 318-473-7168 or 318-613-1048, or Mike Balboni at 318-473-7102.

If you have difficulty obtaining a KNF Deer Hunting Permit through the LDWF website at www.wlf.la.gov, call the LDWF Pineville Field Office at 318-487-5885 or the LDWF Wildlife Division Baton Rouge office at 225-765-2346 during weekday business hours.

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.