The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division received an award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on Oct. 15 in recognition of law enforcement support provided to the Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Cameron Parish.

The Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge’s visitor center was heavily damaged during Hurricane Rita in 2005 and officially reopened on Oct. 15. 

Since 2005, LDWF Enforcement Division agents from the area have worked closely with the USFWS agents in providing enforcement assistance to Cameron Prairie, Lacassine and Sabine National Wildlife Refuges.

LDWF agents also in the course of their routine patrols on Marsh Island State Refuge, monitor activity on the Shell Keys National Wildlife Bird Sanctuary located approximately three miles south of Marsh Island.

USFWS Project Leader Don Voros recognized the LDWF Enforcement Division's effort and support in the rebuilding efforts since 2005 during the official ribbon cutting ceremony.  Capt. Jubal Marceaux of the Region 5 office in Lake Charles accepted the award from Voros on behalf of the LDWF Enforcement Division.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division efforts have led to the conviction of a St. Mary Parish man for a Class A misdemeanor involving alligator violations.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mildred Methvin rendered the decision on Oct. 14, 2009 in Federal Court in Lafayette.  LDWF agents charged Merval J. Landry, 74, of Berwick, in September of 2006 for taking alligators in an unapproved area.

Landry was sentenced to pay $4,000 in fines.  He was also placed on probation and banned from hunting for two years.  He is prohibited from hunting anywhere in the world during the term of probation. 

LDWF agents participating in the case were Sgt. Mitchell Darby and Senior Agents David Boudreaux, Scott Dupre and David Ducote

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited four subjects on Sept. 29 for alleged violations of the Federal Endangered Species Act and Lacey Act in St. Martin Parish. 

While working in the Atchafalaya Basin, agents Jason Romero and Ryan Faul heard a gun shot near an area known for alligator hunting.  Upon making contact with the hunters, agents noticed that the hunters were in possession of a freshly killed untagged alligator nearly 11 feet in length.

After further investigation, agents learned that Alberta Melani, 60, and Morris Melani Jr.,51, of Big Lake, Alaska were participating in a paid hunt guided by Clint Martinez, 42, and Mike Martinez, 45, of Plaquemine.  Agents seized the untagged alligator and also determined it was taken on property the guides and hunters did not have permission to hunt. 

The fine for violation of the Endangered Species Act is up to $50,000, or imprisonment for up to six months or both.  The fine for violation of the Lacy Act is up to $100,000, or imprisonment for up to one year or both.

Agents participating in the case were Senior Agents Jason Romero, Ryan Faul, Jerry Stassi and Jason Marks.  Circumstances surrounding the taking of the alligator are still under investigation.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited seven individuals on Sept. 26 for alleged recreational shrimping violations on Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge located in Cameron Parish.

Lewis Davis Jr., 49, Yvette Davis, 47, James McCown, 51, Bernadette Meyer, 52, Darrell Meyer, 50, all of Welsh; and Anthony Brock, 44, and Larry Demarest, 57, of Vinton; were all cited for violation of special refuge regulations for taking over the limit of shrimp.  Lewis Davis, Yvette Davis, Darrell Meyer and Bernadette Meyer were also cited for violation of special refuge regulations for failing to maintain custody of shrimp.

Agents observed the seven as they cast netted on the refuge and noted the violations as they took place.  Those cited for failing to maintain custody of shrimp were observed taking limits of shrimp off the refuge then returning to catch another limit.

The penalty for a violation of special refuge regulations is a fine between $250 and $5000, and/or jail time plus court costs.  A $10 per pound restitution fee is also assessed on all shrimp taken in excess of the limit.

A total of 233 pounds of shrimp were seized in connection with these violations and were donated to the Calcasieu Parish Women’s Shelter in Lake Charles and A City of Refuge in Vinton.

Agents participating in the cases were Capt. Jubal Marceaux, Lt. Remy Broussard, Sgt. David Sanford and Senior Agents Chris Hoag and Beau Robertson.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited Bobby M. Scioneaux, 19, of Reserve for taking non-game migratory birds on Sept. 26 in the Manchac Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

 
Agents were checking hunters during the Special September teal season in the WMA within St. John the Baptist Parish when they saw Scioneaux shoot and kill two ibises.  Ibises are migratory non-game birds for which there is no open season.  When questioned regarding as to why he was shooting at the protected birds, Scioneaux explained it was due to boredom.

 
Agents cited Scioneaux for taking ibises, which have no season, and not abiding by WMA rules and regulations for not having a self-clearing permit.

The penalty for taking non-game migratory birds is set by the U.S. Magistrate at the New Orleans Federal Court. 

Agents participating in the case were Lt. Cullen Sellers, Sgt. Guy Adams and Senior Agent Clarence Marques.

More than 6,000 people throughout Louisiana celebrated National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) on Sept. 26 at events in Baton Rouge, Minden, Woodworth and Monroe.

At the Baton Rouge event, over 2,100 people enjoyed skeet shooting, a youth fishing contest, archery and canoeing among other activities.  The wild game tasting booth featured fried alligator, wild hog sliders, shrimp penne pasta, fried Louisiana catfish and deer sauce piquant.  Exhibitors included the East Ascension Sportsman's League, La. National Guard, LDWF's Natural Heritage, Upland Game and Waterfowl programs to name a few.

The Baton Rouge event was sponsored by American Awnings and Tents, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation, The Advocate, Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Associated Grocers.

Over 1,500 folks made their way to Woodworth’s NHFD event.  Woodworth’s NHFD featured an alligator skinning demonstration, flint knapping, target shooting with shotguns, .22 rifles, muzzeloaders, bow and arrows and air rifles.  A live snake display, rock wall climbing, retriever dog demos and hay rides were also provided.

Sponsors for the Woodworth NHFD event included Academy Sports & Outdoor, the Alexandria Optimist Club, CENLA Broadcasting, CLECO, Hixson Ford, McDonald’s, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Red River Waterway Commission, Sayes Office Supplies, Wal-Mart and the town of Woodworth.

In Minden, more than 800 visitors participated in NHFD.  Activities for the Minden NHFD event included archery range instruction, skeet shooting, a casting tournament, mountain bike trail rides, craft displays and information tables staffed by Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, Bayou State Bowhunters and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Sponsors for the Minden NHFD event included the Red River Waterway Commission, XTO Energy, North La. Fly Fishers, Covenant Embroidery and Screen Printing, Odom Forestry/Wildlife Consultants, Bayou State Bowhunters Association, Bayou State Timber Service, La Chapter of NWTF, Moore & Labruyere LLP, Anthony Forest Products, Beaty Logging Company and Harmon Wood Company.

At the Monroe NHFD activities, over 1,500 people attended a day full of activities such as bait casting, BB gun, archery, fishing and shotgun target shooting.  Exhibitors included the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, LDWF, Department of Natural Resources, LifeShare Blood Center, Twin City Longbeards, Ouachita Parish Sheriffs Office (DARE), Conwood Company, La. National Guard, Hamby’s Collar Shop, American Veterans & Family Support, La. Alligator Hunter & Trappers Association, Knives by Stein Baughman, La. Purchase Gardens and Zoo, and many more.

The Monroe NHFD sponsors included CenturyLink, Academy Sports & Outdoors, KNOE, and Armstrong’s Cricket and Tackle Company of West Monroe.

At each location, LDWF personnel provided displays and demonstrations to help educate children and families about different aspects of the outdoors in Louisiana.  Other exhibitors were also on hand to demonstrate different hunting and fishing techniques and to provide more information about the state’s valuable outdoor resources. 

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents assigned to the Oyster Strike Force cited 12 men on Sept. 22 for alleged oyster violations in Lake Borgne in St. Bernard Parish.

Responding to several complaints in lower St. Bernard Parish, agents saw the vessels, Pacific, Master Trey, Mama Doris, Miss Carol and the Cindy C dredging for oysters on unleased water bottoms.  The area in question contains private leases and unleased state water bottoms. 

Utilizing LDWF's global positioning satellite equipment, agents marked the locations with a lead enforcement vessel before boarding the vessels with assisting agents.  The locations were proven to be on unleased state water bottoms, where oyster harvesting is illegal.

Simo Tomasevic, 69, and Ben Tomasevic, 35, both from Belle Chasse; David Will, 34, from Poydras; Perry J. Nunez, 48, Mathew Bailey, 32, and Hugh P. Pentney, 43, all from St. Bernard; Fernando Leyva, 42, Jose Perez-Cruz, 26, and Jose Saavedra, 36, all from Bacliff, Texas; Jose Hernandez, 37, from Houston, Texas; Albert Biehl, 34, and Larry W. Johnson, 30, both from Bay St. Louis, Miss. were cited for unlawfully taking oysters from state water bottoms. 

Agents seized and returned over 635 sacks of oysters to the water bottom.  The vessels and dredges were placed under department seizure order pending the court case.

The penalty for unlawfully taking oysters from state water bottoms is a fine up to $950, imprisonment for up to 120 days, or both plus courts costs.  For any person convicted of this violation, the courts may order that person to only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system for a period of one year.  Access to the monitoring system shall be granted to LDWF.  For that year, the person convicted of these violations shall identify for the department which vessel he will be using to harvest oysters.

Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Bryan Marie and Senior Agents Mike Garrity and Austin Arteaga.