Louisiana DWF to Host National Hunting & Fishing Day Events Across the State on September 28th

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) on September 28.

NHFD is a national event celebrated by all 50 states on the fourth Saturday in September.  It was created in 1972 when Congress passed two bills establishing a specific day to celebrate the conservation contributions of our nation’s hunters and anglers. Over forty years later, the events are still going strong.

LDWF introduced its first NHFD event in 1982 at the Monroe district office.  In the following years, three more locations were developed in Baton Rouge, Minden and Woodworth.  Today, more than 10,000 people statewide attend the celebrations, establishing the overall largest public outreach event for the department.

“Our goal to is get people outdoors to enjoy the activities we offer and hopefully, send them home with a renewed interest and appreciation for Louisiana’s natural resources,” said LDWF Secretary Robert Barham.  “The National Hunting and Fishing Day experience is designed to stimulate greater interest in experiencing and preserving the treasures we have here in Sportsman’s Paradise.”

All four events are free. The number and types of exhibits vary at each location but all include exhibits on LDWF management programs, shooting and fishing demonstrations, exhibits from local chapters of Ducks Unlimited, Safari Club and CCA, and supporting businesses from the local communities. Attendees have the chance to try their skills at the shooting ranges, fishing ponds and boating activities, as well as learn about wildlife through interaction with live animals.

For more information on National Hunting and Fishing Day, contact one of the four locations or go to http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/nhfd2013.

Monroe
LDWF District Office 2
368 Centurylink Dr.
Monroe, LA  71203
(318) 343-4044

Baton Rouge
Waddill Outdoor Education Center
4142 N. Flannery Road
(225)765-2800

Minden
Bodcau Wildlife Management Area
1700 Bodcau Dam Rd.
Haughton, LA.  71037
(318) 371-3050

Woodworth
Woodworth Outdoor Education Center
661 Robinson Bridge Rd.
Woodworth, LA.  71485
(318) 484-2212

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.