COMMERCIAL LICENSES TO BE AVAILABLE AT L.D.W.F. BOURG OFFICE

N.T.S.B. RECOGNIZES LOUISIANA'S BOATER SAFETY PROGRAM

IBERVILLE PARISH MEN ARRESTED FOR WILDLIFE AND DRUG VIOLATIONS

AFTER HOURS WOOD DUCK SHOOT LEADS TO FEDERAL CITATIONS

DERIDDER MEN ARRESTED FOR NIGHT HUNTING VIOLATIONS

CHALMETTE HUNTERS CAUGHT WITH TOO MANY DUCKS

MULLET NETTERS CITED FOR NIGHTTIME NETTING

COMMISSION SETS COMMERCIAL SPOTTED SEATROUT FISHING SEASON

GULF OF MEXICO FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL ADVISOR CHARGED WITH 

VIOLATING RED SNAPPER REGULATIONS

MULLET FISHERMEN CAUGHT FISHING DURING ILLEGAL HOURS

AGENTS BAG CLOSED SEASON DUCK HUNTERS

OPENING DAY VIOLATIONS ON WEST BAY W.M.A.

ILLEGAL DOVE HUNT LEADS TO CITATIONS 

REPEAT OFFENDERS CITED FOR OYSTER VIOLATIONS 

COMMERCIAL LICENSES TO BE AVAILABLE AT L.D.W.F. BOURG OFFICE

 The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Licensing Section will open

 a temporary satellite license sales office in Bourg next month.  Commercial fishing

 licenses will be available for purchase from December 2 until December 4.  The

 office will open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 3:00 p.m. each day.  The office is located

 at 468 Texas Gulf Road.

 Cash, cashier's checks and money orders will be the only accepted methods of payment, 

with the majority of commercial licenses being available.  Credit cards and personal checks

 will not be taken.  Fishermen are asked to bring their renewal notices when they come to 

purchase their licenses.

This is the section's fifth trip to Bourg to sell licenses.  The temporary satellite office gives 

fishermen a more attractive alternative to traveling to LDWF headquarters in Baton Rouge, where

 license lines can become extended during the rush before their licenses expire.  LDWF licensing

 manager Janis Landry also offers another option for license seekers.  "Licenses can still be renewed

 through the mail," said Landry.  "There is an expected seven-day turnaround."

N.T.S.B. RECOGNIZES LOUISIANA'S BOATER SAFETY PROGRAM

 The National Transportation and Safety Board presented Louisiana with its State Advocacy Award for

 its acceptance and completion of NTSB recommendations to improve recreational boating safety. 

 Pennsylvania and Tennessee were recognized along with Louisiana at the National Association of State 

Boating Law Administrators' National Conference.

 The NTSB presented a list of recommendations for states to adopt in order to improve boater safety. 

 These recommendations included mandatory boating safety education that will eventually cover all 

recreational boaters; requiring the use of lifejackets by children ages 12 and under; strengthening 

boating-while-intoxicated laws with a defined blood alcohol concentration; and including information on 

safe operation of personal watercraft in all state recreational boating safety courses.  The three states 

honored were the firsts to implement all of the recommendations.

 NTSB Chairman Ellen G. Engleman made the presentations and commented on the level of importance

 boating safety has with these states.  "There is no safety benefit to the public unless the recommendations

 we (the NTSB) issue following  our investigations and studies are adopted.  By adopting our 

recommendations  on this issue, these states demonstrate that the safety of their recreational boaters

 is a priority."

 Boating safety is always an important issue for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 

Enforcement Division.  Many practices are in place to help ensure boaters and sportsmen have a safe and 

enjoyable time on Louisiana waters.  Routine checks are made to verify the use of personal flotation devices

 and to prevent boating under the influence of drugs and alcohol.  Enforcement  agents also provide positive

 reinforcement by rewarding safe boaters with T-shirts.   

Another very important safe boating measure was added at the most recent legislative session.  LDWF 

developed a bill that was passed by the legislature and signed by the governor that will now require boating 

safety education prior to the operation of certain boats for persons born after January 1, 1988.  LDWF offers

 a variety of boater safety classes, and has also begun to offer certification over the internet.

 "Louisiana waterways are very important parts of the sportsman's paradise," said LDWF Lt. Col. Charlie 

Clark.  "We are dedicated to keeping them safe for everyone's enjoyment, and we are proud to have 

received this award for our efforts."

IBERVILLE PARISH MEN ARRESTED FOR WILDLIFE AND DRUG VIOLATIONS

 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents arrested six Iberville Parish 

men on November 16 for alleged night hunting, drug and firearms violations. The six were cited for hunting 

wild game quadrupeds during illegal hours with artificial light, hunting from a moving vehicle, possessing 

firearms with a controlled dangerous substance, possessing crystal methamphetamine, possessing 

marijuana and possessing drug paraphernalia. 

 Agents arrested Dustin T. Hendricks, 17; Jacob Canezaro, 24; Brian Canezaro, 19; Luke Canezaro, 22, 

all of Rosedale; and Barret Aucoin, 24, and Denton Hadley Jr., 19, both of Maringouin. The men were booked

 into the Iberville Parish jail for the alleged violations after agents apprehended them with four rabbits and

 substantial amounts of drugs.

 Suspected marijuana and crystal methamphetamine were seized and sent to the Louisiana State Police

 Crime Lab for analysis. Also seized in connection with the case were four rabbits, one .17 caliber rifle, 

two .50-caliber muzzleloaders, one 20-gauge shotgun, one .380-caliber pistol, and two four-wheeled ATVs. 

The seized  items are being held as evidence.

The penalty for hunting wild game quadrupeds during illegal hours and hunting from a moving vehicle is 

a fine of up to $500, jail for not more than 90 days, or both.   The penalty for possession of a firearm with

 a controlled dangerous substance is a fine of not more than $10,000, and/or imprisonment at hard labor 

for not more than 10 years without benefit of parole, or suspension of sentence.

 The penalty for possession of crystal methamphetamine is imprisonment with or without hard labor

 for not more than five years and in addition may be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $5,000.

 The penalty for possession of marijuana is a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment in the parish

 jail for not more than six months, or both.  

 The penalty for possession of drug paraphernalia is a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment of

 not more than six months, or both.

 Agents participating in the case were Sr. Agent Jerry Stassi, Sr. Agent Brian Theriot, Sgt. Donald 

Vallet and Agent Shawn Courville.

AFTER HOURS WOOD DUCK SHOOT LEADS TO FEDERAL CITATIONS

 On November 23, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents issued

 several federal citations to a Washington Parish duck hunter for allegedly hunting migratory game birds

 after legal hours, hunting migratory game birds with an unplugged gun, hunting ducks without a federal

duck stamp, violating nontoxic shot requirements, hunting without a resident basic hunting license and

for hunting migratory game birds without a state migratory game bird license (state duck stamp).

 Billy Joe Moran, 43, of Bogalusa was observed after agents conducted surveillance on a flooded gum 

pond in the Old River Estates Subdivision, near Bogalusa. The agents had received a complaint of late

 shooting.  Moran was allegedly observed shooting two drake wood ducks after legal shooting hours with

 an unplugged shotgun and using lead shot instead of the required nontoxic shot. He did not have the 

required licenses and stamps to hunt ducks.   

 Violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are punishable by fines of up to $5,000, jail for up to six months,

 or both. The citations will be forwarded to the Office of the U.S. Attorney in New Orleans for prosecution. 

 Participating in the case were LDWF Senior Agents Darryl Galloway and Lee Davis.

DERIDDER MEN ARRESTED FOR NIGHT HUNTING VIOLATIONS

 On the evening of November 6, enforcement agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and 

Fisheries arrested two DeRidder men for allegedly hunting deer at night.  Clint M. Havens, 17, and Raymond

 D. Tyson, 34, were each cited for hunting deer during illegal hours and hunting from a moving vehicle near

 Massey Road in Beauregard Parish.

 The penalties for hunting from a moving vehicle include a fine of up to $350, jail for not more than 60 days,

 or both, plus court costs.  The penalty for hunting deer during illegal hours or with artificial light includes a 

fine of up to $950, jail for not more  than 120 days, or both, plus court costs and forfeiture of anything seized.

 The men were booked into the Beauregard Parish Jail, and bond was set by Judge Stuart Kay the next 

morning at $1,500 for hunting from a moving vehicle and $2,000 for hunting deer during illegal hours or with

 artificial light.  Two rifles were seized and the truck involved in the case was towed.

 Participating in the case were LDWF Senior Agents Joey James and David Liles.  Beauregard Parish

 Deputy Mickey Cooley assisted the agents.

CHALMETTE HUNTERS CAUGHT WITH TOO MANY DUCKS

 On November 8, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents issued 

federal citations to two duck hunters for allegedly possessing over their legal daily limit of ducks. 

Steven Bacala, 46, and Gary Bachemin, 46, both of Chalmette, were found to be in possession of 30 

freshly killed ducks on the opening morning of duck season in the west zone.  Agents conducted surveillance

 in the Delacroix Island area of Plaquemines Parish based on anonymous information of over-bagging. 

The daily bag limit is six ducks per person. Agents seized 17 teal, eight gadwall, three  mallards and two

 shovelers.  

Violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are punishable by fines of up to $5,000, jail for up to six months, 

or both. The citations will be forwarded to the Office of the U.S. Attorney in New Orleans for prosecution.

 Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Scot Keller, Agt. Roy Pier and Capt. Brian Clark.

MULLET NETTERS CITED FOR NIGHTTIME NETTING

 Four men have been cited by Enforcement Division agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and

 Fisheries for allegedly netting mullet at night in Plaquemines Parish. The cases were made in the early 

morning hours of November 6, in the Venice area. 

Robert A. Hebert, 44, and Daniel D. Hickman, 38, both of Barataria, Harry Joseph Frickey, 57, of Venice 

and Anthony Coludrovich, 29, of Lucedale, Mississippi were each cited for taking mullet commercially during

 illegal hours.  

Hebert and Hickman fished together, and seized from them were 2,853 pounds of mullet and one 1,200-foot 

mullet strike net. Frickey and Coludrovich fished together and seized from them were 698 pounds of mullet

 and one 1,200-foot mullet strike net. Agents also performed a paper seizure of the vessels involved. The

 mullet were sold and the proceeds and the nets will be held by the department pending disposition of the 

cases.  

The penalty for netting mullet during illegal hours, a Class 6 violation, is a fine of up to $950, jail for not more

 than 120 days, or both, plus court costs and forfeiture of anything seized. In addition, upon conviction the 

mullet permit shall be suspended  for a period of one year for a first offense, two years for a second offense, 

and for life for a third offense. 

Participating in these cases were Sergeants Mark Benton and Ray Champagne, Senior Agent Jordan 

Bayham, Jim Matkin and Robert Cosse', and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Officer Mike Downie. 

COMMISSION SETS COMMERCIAL SPOTTED SEATROUT FISHING SEASON

 The commercial fishing season for spotted seatrout in Louisiana state waters shall remain

 closed until January 2, 2004 when it shall open and remain open through official sunset July 

31, 2004 or until the quota is reached or projected to be reached, whichever comes first. 

During the open season the commercial harvest or taking of spotted seatrout is prohibited 

during the period from official sunset on Friday through official sunrise on Monday.

 During the open commercial season there shall be no commercial harvest, taking or possession 

of spotted seatrout in excess of the recreational limit between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. 

A declaration of emergency setting the 2004 commercial fishing season for spotted seatrout 

was issued by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission at their November 6 meeting. 

The Louisiana State Legislature, through adoption of Act 1164 of the 2003 Regular Legislative 

Session (R.S. 56:325.3), requested the Commission to modify the commercial spotted seatrout

season.

GULF OF MEXICO FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL ADVISOR CHARGED WITH 

VIOLATING RED SNAPPER REGULATIONS

 Commercial representative for the red snapper advisory panel for the Gulf of Mexico Fishery

 Management Council (GMFMC), Russell G. Underwood, 49, of Florida was charged November 2 

with violating commission rules and regulations for taking undersize commercial red snapper and 

violating prohibitions of interstate commerce regulations.  The Special Investigative Unit of the

 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division charged Underwood, captain

 of the fishing vessel Norman B, homeport of Lynn Haven, Florida, for the violations in Vermillion 

Parish.  The offenses allege that Underwood caught, possessed and was attempting to sell in 

interstate commerce approximately 96 undersized red snapper.  The penalty for commercially 

taking and possessing undersized red snapper carries a fine of up to $350, jail for not more than

 60 days, or both.  

The penalty for attempting to sell undersized red snapper in interstate commerce carries a penalty 

of up to $950 in jail, jail for not more than 120 days, or both.  Underwood may also be required to

 pay restitution for the undersized red snapper.  Underwood has represented the commercial industry

 on the GMFMC Red Snapper Advisory Panel for several years.Agents participating in the case were

 Sr. Agent Billy Gomillion and Cadet Joel Cromp.  

MULLET FISHERMEN CAUGHT FISHING DURING ILLEGAL HOURS

 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited three St. Bernard

 Parish men on November 5 for allegedly taking mullet for commercial purposes during illegal hours. 

Agents spotted Baron Navaro, 28, of Chalmette, Roland Navaro, 54, of St. Bernard, and Roland

 Navaro Sr., 79, of Meraux, around midnight in an unlit vessel working a strike net on the shoreline of

 Lake Borgne in St. Bernard Parish. The three men were in the process of retrieving a net containing

mullet. Agents seized a strike net 1,200 feet in length in connection with the violation, and released 

all of the mullet caught in the net.   

 Baron Navaro, was also issued a civil citation for improper running lights. The penalty for taking 

commercial mullet during illegal hours is a fine of up to $950, jail for up to 120 days, or both, plus 

court costs. The penalty for improper running lights is a civil fine of  $50.Agents participating in the 

case were Senior Agents Kris Bourgeois and Rachel Zechenelly.

AGENTS BAG CLOSED SEASON DUCK HUNTERS

 On November 1, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement agents issued federal 

citations to three men for allegedly hunting ducks illegally in Plaquemines Parish.  Enforcement agents 

saw Steve Vicknair, 19, Scott Vicknair, 18, and Matthew Benoit, 18, all of Belle Chase, shooting ducks 

going to roost in a pond well after sunset. After the hunt was completed the agents seized three wood 

ducks in connection with the violation, and cited the three men for hunting migratory game birds in closed

 season and after legal hours.  Duck season in the west begins on Saturday, November 8.The citations will 

be forwarded to the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Orleans for prosecution.Agents participating in the case 

were Senior Agents Kris Bourgeois, Rachel Zechenelly, and Jason Russo.

OPENING DAY VIOLATIONS ON WEST BAY W.M.A.

 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents have cited four persons in three 

separate incidents for allegedly not abiding by the rules and regulations of a wildlife management area. 

The violations occurred on the opening day of the modern firearms season on the West Bay WMA in

Allen Parish.  

On October 25, Rodney K. Ware, 40, of Oakdale, Shawn L. Douget, 24, of Eunice and Juanita F. Langley, 

38, of Church Point were each issued citations for hunting from a moving vehicle and hunting from a road 

in the management area.    

Also on October 25, Patrick R. Soileau Jr., 46, of St. Landry, was cited for not abiding by the rules and

 regulations of a WMA, by traveling on a closed road.  LDWF restricts access by motorized vehicle to 

certain designated areas on the wildlife management area.  Soileau was discovered traveling in his vehicle

in one such area. 

The penalties for not abiding by the rules and regulations of a WMA include a fine of up to $350, jail for not 

more than 60 days, or both, plus court costs.  The penalty for hunting from a moving vehicle includes a fine 

of up to $500, jail for not more than 90 days, or both, plus court costs. 

Participating in the cases were LDWF Senior Agents Keith Aucoin, David Liles, Scott Fontenot, Steven 

Vidrine, Agents Ray Thomas and Donnie Leger and Lt. Jesse Savoie.

ILLEGAL DOVE HUNT LEADS TO CITATIONS 

Enforcement agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries cited two men in Tangipahoa

 Parish in October 26 for alleged migratory game bird violations. Reggie D. Ott, 73, of Osyka , Mississippi 

and Lawrence J. Genin, 59, of New Orleans, were cited for hunting migratory doves over bait, and taking 

over the limit of doves. 

Agents saw the two men hunting on South River Road in Wilmer, on a freshly plowed and baited field. 

Wheat had been placed on the field. During the hunt Ott was seen leaving his hunting blind and going to his 

car with a bag containing doves. He placed the bag in the trunk of his car and returned to the hunting blind 

where he shot more doves. 

When approached in the field, Ott had four doves and Genin had 15, three more than the daily limit of 12 

doves. A search of the vehicle trunk revealed a hidden compartment where a bag containing 49 more doves

 was concealed. 

Hunting doves over bait and taking over the limit of doves are both punishable by fines of up to $15,000, up 

to six months in jail, or both. In addition the court may impose community service, a probationary period of 

up to five years and loss of hunting privileges worldwide.    

Agents participating in the case were Lt. Len Yokum, Sgt. Grady Brecheen, and Senior Agents Toby Miller 

and Britt Forbes. 

REPEAT OFFENDERS CITED FOR OYSTER VIOLATIONS 

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents have cited four commercial

 fishermen for alleged oyster violations in St. Bernard Parish. 

On October 21, Roger Toups, 37, of Galiano; Paul Verdin, 41, of Houma; Virgil Dardar, 45, of Montegut and 

Guillermo Marrero, of Chalmette, were all cited for unlawfully taking oysters from a private lease and taking 

oysters without written permission from a private oyster lease in Lake Borgne, in St. Bernard Parish. All men

have extensive records of prior oyster violations. 

Agents were able to return to the water 110 sacks of oysters seized in connection with the violations. 

The penalty for unlawfully taking oysters from a private lease is a fine of not more than $950, jail for not more

 than 120 days, or both, plus court costs. The penalty for taking oysters without written permission is a fine 

of not more than $750, not more than 120 days in jail, or both, plus additional court costs.  

Agents participating in the cases were Sergeants Stephen McManus, Bryan Marie and Captain Brian Clark.