Lousiana WFC Adds 7 Bucks-only Still Hunt Days to Kisatchie National Forest Hunting Season

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission today added seven days in designated areas within Kisatchie National Forest (KNF) for bucks-only still hunting with firearms, during the 2013-14 deer season. The dates include Nov. 22 through 28, 2013, providing additional bucks only hunting opportunity during the Thanksgiving week holiday period.

The still hunt, bucks only, modern-firearms areas within KNF include Catahoula (Grant and Rapides parishes), Winn (Winn, Grant & Natchitoches parishes), Kisatchie Ranger Districts (Natchitoches Parish), Evangeline Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District (Rapides Parish), and the Vernon Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District (Vernon Parish, excluding Fort Polk/Vernon WMA). Previously approved and announced dates in these areas include Nov. 2-21, Nov. 30 – Dec. 1 and Dec. 14-29. 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 83. To view the full document, visit http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/regulations .

The U.S. Forest Service requested the additional week of Nov. 22-28 be included in this year’s season dates for deer hunting to provide additional hunting opportunities during the Thanksgiving week holidays.

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 via email at 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.