Louisiana WFC Adopts Revised Protocol for Adopting Hunting Season Rules and Regulations

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries 10.04.13

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved a revised protocol for adoption of amendments to hunting seasons and regulations during their Oct. 3 meeting.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries requested the change to combine the proposals presented annually for season dates with the general and WMA hunting season rules and regulations. The new protocol will also provide earlier dissemination of season dates and rules for public comment.

Starting in 2014, the Commission will receive LDWF staff recommendations in January and will announce a notice of intent at their January meeting, instead of February. Public meetings around the state will occur during the period February 24 to March 1 each year, allowing hearings to be held on Saturday in most years. Following receipt of public comments and any amendments to the notice, the Commission will adopt the provisions of the notice of intent, with any amendments, in April.

The Legislative oversight committee will then review all proposed rules, regulations and dates prior to June, allowing final ratification of the rule in early June..

The new time frame will provide for a more timely printing and distribution schedule for the department’s hunting regulations pamphlet in mid-summer, instead of late summer.

For more information, contact Kenny Ribbeck, Chief of Wildlife Division, kribbeck@wlf.la.gov or 225-765-2346.

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.