Isaac could affect success for hunters as dove season opens

The dove season’s first split begins Saturday, and like the days after past major storms like hurricanes Andrew and Katrina, there’s little way to predict success in the days after the storms.

With the full effects of Hurricane Isaac yet to be determined, the dove season in the state’s North and South zones will open as scheduled.

Following a program started more than 10 years ago, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has secured several fields to provide public dove hunting for Saturday’s opening day, in addition to 11 wildlife management areas where fields have been legally prepared for dove hunts.

LDWF managers have outlined regulations for Saturday-only, leased-land hunts.

There’s a $10 fee for hunters 16 and older. Hunters 15 and younger can hunt free of charge.

All hunters are required to obtain a permit at each site. Permits will be issued at each site on a first-come, first-served basis until each field is filled.

Hunters 16 and older must have a basic hunting license, complete with federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification. Fee-free HIP certification is available from state hunting license vendors.

The leased fields will be open to public hunting Sept. 1 only.

LDWF personnel will be present at the field to issue permits and monitor the hunt.

The list of leased fields includes:

• DeRidder in Beauregard Parish. The field is 500 acres of harvested corn and milo. Travel U.S. 190 approximately five miles west of DeRidder. The field is on the north side of U.S. 190 a short distance west of La. 3226. Check-in will be at the dryers. Maps are available at the LDWF’s Lake Charles office. Call Kori Legleu at (337) 491-2575 for details.
• Franklin Parish. The field is 110 acres of harvested milo and is east of the town of Gilbert at the intersection of La. 4 and La. 572. No ATVs will be allowed.
• Grant Parish. The field is 180 acres of harvested milo and is five miles north of Boyce on La. 8. No ATVs will be allowed.
• Welsh in Jefferson Davis Parish. The field is 290 acres of harvested rice and is off Interstate 10’s Exit 59 (Roanoke). Travel north on La. 395, then west on Blanchard Road to Compton Road. The field is on the southwest corner of Blanchard and Compton roads. Maps are available at the LDWF’s Lake Charles office. Call Legleu for details.
• Rapides Parish. A 90-acre field of harvested milo two miles east of Lecompte on La. 457. No ATVs will be allowed.

As of Tuesday, LDWF managers indicated public dove hunters were planned for Red River WMA in Concordia Parish; West Bay WMA in Allen Parish; Bayou Pierre WMA in the northwest portion of Red River Parish; Big Colewa WMA in West Carroll Parish; Boeuf WMA in Caldwell Parish; Clear Creek and Fort Poll WMAs in Vernon Parish; Elbow Slough WMA in the southeastern portion of Rapides Parish; and, Floy McElroy WMA in Richland Parish.

Correction

The LDWF also issued a correction about the coming season: The shooting hours listed on Page 28 of the Louisiana Hunting Regulations 2012-2013 are incorrect for Saturday’s opening day, but listed that date as Sept. 3.

Opening date is Sept. 1, when shooting hours are noon to sunset. All other days for the dove season on private lands is one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Not this week

The weekly nighttime bass tournament Friday on False River and the annual Original Grand Isle Redfish Rodeo, set to run Friday through Sunday, have been canceled. Wednesday’s second annual Quality Deer Management Association’s Gun Bash at LSU has been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date.

Public closures

Earlier this week, in advance of Hurricane Isaac, the LDWF announced the closure of 27 agency-owned or managed wildlife management areas.

The latest on the list is the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Cameron Parish.

Also on the list is Sandy Hollow WMA in Tangipahoa Parish, which was scheduled for a youth-only dove hunt Saturday on the WMA’s North Tract. Other closed WMAs in the Capital City area include Maurepas Swamp and Tunica Hills; Attakapas and Sherburne in the Atchafalaya Basin; Hutchinson Creek, Joyce, Manchac, Lake Ramsey, Tangipahoa Parish School Board and Pearl River WMAs in the Florida Parishes; Elm Hall in Assumption Parish; and the Acadiana Conservation Corridor, Atchafalaya Delta, Lake Boeuf and Thistlethwaite WMAs in the Acadiana area.

Coastal WMAs closed include Biloxi, Marsh Island, Pass a Loutre, Pointe aux Chenes, Salvador-Timken, State WMA and the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area. Others are Spring Bayou, Grassy Lake and Pomme de Terre WMAs in east-central parishes. Elmer’s Island near Grand Isle closed Sunday.

The LDWF’s advisory indicated these WMAs “will remain closed until further notice.”

Late Monday, the LDWF notified wild alligator hunters that Wednesday’s opening of the East Zone season will be delayed until Saturday, but LDWF had no plans to move the Sept. 5 opening of the West Zone Wild Alligator season.