Lousiana WFC Adds 17 Bucks-only Hunt Days to Deer Area 7 Hunting Season

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission today added 17 days in Deer Area 7 for bucks-only still hunting with firearms, during the 2013-14 Area 7 deer season. The dates include Nov. 9-15 and Nov. 18-28, 2013, providing additional bucks only hunting opportunities in the area.

The still hunt-only season dates for Area 7 deer hunting, with firearms, as originally approved, include: Oct.19-20 (Either-sex); Oct. 21-Nov. 1 (Bucks Only); Nov.16-17 (Either-sex) and Nov.  29-Dec. 1 (Either-sex). These dates have not changed.

The on-line version of the 2013-14 Louisiana Hunting Regulations pamphlet has been updated to reflect these changes on page 12. To view the full document, visit http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/regulations .

During the season setting process, it was the intent of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) to include the dates of Nov. 9-15 and Nov. 18-28 in the bucks only segment of this season.    However, these dates were mistakenly left out of the 2013 Notice of Intent.  In order to remain consistent with past season lengths and to provide intended additional hunting opportunities during the month of November, LDWF proposed and the Commission approved adding the dates of Nov. 9-15 and Nov. 18-28 in this year’s season dates for deer hunting, with firearms, bucks only, still hunt only in Area 7.

Deer Area 7 includes that portion of Iberia Parish south of LA 14 and west of US 90 and all of St. Mary Parish except that portion north of US 90 from Iberia Parish line eastward to Wax Lake Outlet, east of Wax Lake Outlet southward to Intracoastal Waterway, north of Intracoastal Waterway eastward to the Atchafalaya River, east of the Atchafalaya River southward to Bayou Shaffer, north of Bayou Shaffer to Bateman Lake, north and west of Bayou Chene from Bateman Lake to Lake Palourde.

The action was taken by Declaration of Emergency since the Commission’s season date rule has already been submitted to the legislative leadership and the Louisiana Register, and insufficient time remained to make these changes via standard rulemaking prior to the opening dates of these seasons.

The action was taken in accordance with the emergency provisions of La. R.S. 49953 of the Administrative Procedure Act, and under the authority of La. R.S. 56:115 and 116, the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.

For more information, contact Steve Smith at 225-765-2359 or 318-487-5885 or ssmith@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.