Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Offering Fur Trapping Opportunity on Marsh Island Refuge

Due to the increased nutria population on Marsh Island Refuge, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is seeking trappers to participate in a special opportunity to harvest nutria, and possibly other furbearer species, from the refuge.

The nutria population is negatively impacting the habitat and the department’s goal is to reduce habitat damage and loss on the Iberia Parish refuge.

A maximum of six trappers will be selected from applications received by the Feb. 15, 2013 deadline. Those selected will be authorized to hunt nutria on the refuge through March 31, 2013, and for the next three trapping seasons, provided they pass an annual harvest review.

Applicants must have a minimum of three years of trapping experience, necessary equipment and must belicensed in the Coastwide Nutria Control Program (CNCP). To review the application form and all requirements, go to the LDWF website file: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/refuge/marsh-island-wildlife-refuge.

Application forms must be delivered or mailed to the following address to arrive by 4:30 p.m., Feb. 15, 2013:

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Marsh Island Refuge Fur Trapper Applications

2415 Darnall Road

New Iberia, LA 70560

Attn: Leslie Campbell

Participants will be required to enroll in the Coastwide Nutria Control Program (CNCP), if they are not already. LDWF will not collect a percentage of the funds generated as a result of nutria tail collections and/or other permitted furbearer harvest.

Overnight accommodations (primitive camping or houseboats) and staging of boats (flats, surface drives, etc.) at the refuge will be permitted to improve hunter efficiency. But boat storage and overnight camping/mooring will be permitted on an “as available” basis. Hunting/trapping activities will be permitted during the trapping season (November 20 – March 31).

For more information on Marsh Island Refuge nutria trapping opportunities or to obtain an application, contact Tyson Crouch or Cassidy Lejeune at 337-373-0032 or tcrouch@wlf.la.gov or clejeune@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.