Louisiana Commission Approves Revisions to Notices of Intent for Upcoming Hunting Seasons

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries 03.07.14

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) today adopted amended notices of intent for the upcoming hunting seasons based on recommendations by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).

If approved, beginning with the 2014-2015 small game season, hunters would be allowed a three-day possession limit for rabbit, squirrel and quail. The daily harvest limit would remain eight for rabbits and squirrels, and 10 daily for quail.

In additional action taken, the Commission amended the 2014-2015 deer season dates for Area 5 to close the still hunt season on the second Sunday in January, instead of the fourth Sunday in December. The still hunt season would remain “bucks only” unless “either sex” season is in progress.

To view the full, amended notice of intent, visit the LDWF website at http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/action-items . Public comment will be accepted at the LWFC monthly meetings through April 3. Comments will also be accepted by mail sent to Steve Smith, Wildlife Division, Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, P.O. Box 9800, Baton Rouge, LA, 70898-9000 or via email to 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.