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FEBRUARY 2004 NEWS
NIGHT HUNTER CAUGHT IN BOOTHVILLE DUMP
SCENIC RIVERS VIOLATIONS ON THE BOGUE CHITTO
AGENTS RENDER AID IN TWO INCIDENTS
NIGHT HUNTERS CITED IN EVANGELINE PARISH
L.D.W.F. AGENTS TO MEET BOATERS AT NEW ORLEANS SHOW
NIGHT HUNTER CAUGHT IN BOOTHVILLE DUMP On the night of January 26, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Enforcement Division agents issued citations to a Plaquemines Parish
man for allegedly hunting rabbits during illegal hours. Cletus G. Riley, 32, of
Boothville was cited for hunting at night with the use of a light and hunting with
an unplugged shotgun. The case resulted from a night patrol in the Boothville
area of Plaquemines Parish. Riley's light was spotted shining in the old Boothville
dump. Agents set up surveillance and apprehended Riley with three rabbits, the
spotlight and a 20-gauge shotgun, all of which was seized in connection with the
violations.
The penalty for hunting wild quadrupeds during illegal hours with an
artificial light and for hunting with an unplugged shotgun are fines of up
to $500, jail for not more than 90 days, or both, for each violation. The
citations will be forwarded to the office of District Attorney Daryl Bubrig
in Plaquemines Parish for prosecution. Agents participating in the case
were Senior Agent Mike Garrity and Agent Villere Reggio.
SCENIC RIVERS VIOLATIONS ON THE BOGUE CHITTO
Recent complaints of alleged Scenic Rivers Act violations brought about the
issuance of several citations to three gravel operations located in
Washington Parish. On January 14 and 15, it was discovered that Denmon
Farms was in violation by pumping water from the Bogue Chitto River without a
permit. B & J Backhoe was found with two violations including leaking
diesel fuel into the Bogue Chitto River and operating within 100 feet of a
Scenic River without a permit, which was a second offense. R.A. Michel
Industries was cited for three violations, one of which was a second offense
for operating within 100 feet of a Scenic River without a permit. If
convicted, these parties face fines of up to $500, or up to 90 days
imprisonment for each first offense. If convicted of a second offense, the
parties could face fines of up to $800 and imprisonment for not more than 90
days, along with the forfeiture of any equipment seized. The Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries may also impose civil penalties.
This investigation will continue to insure the natural and scenic values
of the Bogue Chitto River remain unharmed. LDWF Enforcement Senior Agent
Lee Davis issued the citations.
AGENTS RENDER AID IN TWO INCIDENTS
Enforcement agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
recently participated in two successful rescues. A routine squirrel
hunt on January 24 turned out to be more of an evening adventure for one
group of hunters who became lost on Sherbourne Wildlife Management Area
in Pointe Coupee Parish. A hunter told Senior Agent Channing Duvall about a
group of lost hunters on Sherbourne WMA. Agent Duvall was able to contact one
of the group, Craig Otero of Carencro, by cell phone. The group of missing hunters
included four adult men, and two boys, ages fourteen and six. Otero told Agent
Duvall over the phone that their GPS batteries had run down and they were
lost. Knowing the hunters had to be north of his location, Duvall asked the
hunters to fire three shots. Duvall heard the shots and repositioned his
patrol vehicle to face in their direction. He then used the siren to give
the hunters a reference point. For the next hour, Duvall maintained contact
by cell phone and continued sounding the siren as the hunters made their way
to his location. Relieved to reach the agent after an hour of walking
through unfamiliar terrain, the hunters were escorted back to their camp on
Big Alabama. On February 7, Acadian Ambulance requested help evacuating
Edward Keller, an 80-year-old man who had fallen from a deer stand he was repairing.
Acadian Ambulance advised that they were in route to the south Ramah area of
Iberville Parish to pick up the injured victim. They advised that they
would have to reach the victim by boat. Wildlife agents responded within
minutes and were able to bring emergency medical personnel to Keller's
location. He was suffering from serious injuries, including numerous broken
ribs, a collapsed lung and neck trauma. Keller was stabilized and transported to
the nearest location where Air Med could safely land and transport him. Agents
participating in this rescue were Lt. Donald Salpietra, Sgt. Ronald Hebert, Sr. Agent
Jerry Stassi and Sr. Agent Jordan Bayham.
NIGHT HUNTERS CITED IN EVANGELINE PARISH
On January 18, three Evangeline Parish men and one St. Landry Parish man
were cited by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement
Division Agents for violations stemming from an alleged night hunting trip
in Evangeline Parish. Kenneth J. Lafleur II, 23, Eric B. McDaniel, 18, Cody L. Vidrine,
17 of Evangeline Parish and Daniel P. Mayeux, 18, of St. Landry Parish were each
cited for hunting from a public road, hunting from a moving vehicle, and hunting wild
quadrupeds during illegal hours. Lafleur was also cited for hunting with unplugged gun.
The men were cited after agents working a night hunting detail in the Belaire Cove area
allegedly witnessed shots fired from two separate vehicles. Seized in connection with
the violations were two 12-gauge shotguns, 1 rabbit and one spotlight. The penalty for
each of the violations of hunting wild quadrupeds during illegal hours, hunting from moving
a vehicle and hunting with an unplugged shotgun is a fine of up to $500, jail for not more
than 90 days, or both. The penalty for the violation of hunting from public road is a fine
of up to $350, jail for not more than 60 days, or both. Agents participating in the cases were
LDWF Senior Agents Scott Fontenot and Keith Aucoin.
L.D.W.F. AGENTS TO MEET BOATERS AT NEW ORLEANS SHOW
Agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement
Division will be looking to speak to boaters this weekend in New Orleans,
but it won't be out on the water. The agents will be hosting an information
booth at the New Orleans Boat Show from February 4 through February 8.
They will be distributing important information to attendees in order to get
them ready for the upcoming boating season.
This year, agents will be informing boaters about some new regulations
and legislation that has gone into effect. New this year is an act passed
by the state legislature that will now require a boating safety course for
anyone born after January 1, 1988, before they can operate a motorboat.
The agents will also be explaining the new "20 Rules of the Road for Louisiana
Waterways." This list of rules was ratified by the Louisiana Wildlife and
Fisheries Commission and is a set of safety guidelines for boating on the
state's lakes, rivers and other waterbodies. Not complying to these rules
can result in the issuance of citations that require payment of fines.
In addition to these new rules, boaters will also be able to find out about
the upcoming fishing seasons. The latest regulations pamphlets will be on
hand for participants to pick up, along with other informative literature.
The agents which will be on hand hope that by spending some time at the
show, they won't have to spend as much time issuing citations or investigating
accidents.
"This is a great opportunity for anyone who has even considered buying a
boat," said LDWF Lt. Colonel Charlie Clark. "Someone can come here and
see all the different options and get very valuable safety information from
us. This way, they can head out on the water well informed, and truly enjoy
their boating experience."
The New Orleans Boat Show will be held at the Louisiana Superdome. Tickets
are available through TicketMaster or at the box office. Adult tickets sell
for $8, and children's tickets cost $3. For more information regarding the
show, visit www.discoverboating.com/neworleans. |