US Army Annual Permit No Longer Needed to Hunt on Louisiana’s Fort Polk and Peason Ridge WMAs

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries 10.29.13

Officials with the US Army have announced that the federal permit previously required to hunt on Fort Polk and Peason Ridge Wildlife Management Areas is no longer required. Archery and small game hunters using the Cantonment Area within the Army installation are advised that proper visitor passes will be required to enter the security gates, however.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) reminds all hunters that Louisiana hunting licenses are still required to hunt on these federal properties, including the $15 annual Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Hunting Permit.

Also, all users of Fort Polk or Peason Ridge WMAs must still fill out a Self Clearing Permit for all activities (hunting, fishing, birdwatching, sightseeing, etc.). Self Clearing Permits are available at information kiosks and are located at most WMA entrance roads.

Fort Polk and Peason Ridge WMAs provide over 138,000 acres for public outdoor recreation opportunities through a cooperative partnership between LDWF, the US Army and the US Forest Service.

Information on Fort Polk or Peason Ridge WMAs can be found on LDWF’s website, www.louisiana.gov, or by contacting Wendell Smith at 337-491-2575 or wsmith@wlf.la.gov, or the Fort Polk Public Affairs office at 337-531-7203.

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.