|
|
|
|
||
|
|||
|
|||
|
OCTOBER 2008 NEWS |
|
L.D.W.F. AGENTS EXCEL IN LITTER ENFORCEMENT ACADIA PARISH MEN CITED FOR TAKING WOOD DUCKS DURING TEAL SEASON NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAY RECOGNIZED ACROSS STATE PORT BARRE MAN CITED FOR CLOSED SEASON SQUIRREL HUNTING Sentences Handed Down in Lafayette Federal Court for Hunting Migratory Game Birds Over Bait L.D.W.F. EXTENDS 2008 ALLIGATOR HARVEST SEASON NEW BOAT REGISTRATION ACT BECOMES LAW
L.D.W.F. AGENTS EXCEL IN LITTER ENFORCEMENT Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division Senior Agent Byron Cammock received the Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) Litter Enforcement Officer of the Year award at the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission Oct. 2 meeting. KLB Executive Director Leigh Harris was on hand to present the award to Cammock and thanked him for his work and dedication to litter prevention. Cammock works out of the LDWF Region 3 Office and is assigned to patrol the Rapides Parish area. The entire LDWF Enforcement Division was also recently honored at the 6th annual Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Keep Louisiana Beautiful Conference on Aug. 22 with the Law Enforcement KLB award for litter enforcement for the second year in a row. This award category recognizes the law enforcement organization that has done the most to promote a clean Louisiana, either through education or the issuance of litter citations. "Keeping our woods, roadsides, swamps and waterways clean is a very important part of our everyday duties and something we don't take lightly," said LDWF Secretary Robert Barham. "Litter prevention and enforcement is one of the department's top priorities and littering will not be tolerated. We appreciate these Keep Louisiana Beautiful awards as it brings recognition of another job well done by our Enforcement Division and agents." LDWF Lt. Col. Jeff Mayne noted that in the past year the division issued 344 gross litter citations and 557 intentional litter citations. LDWF Col. Vidrine said that the division’s aggressive stance on litter stems from their desire to keep our natural areas and roadsides pristine. A 2008 LDWF Enforcement Agency report, “The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Law Enforcement Division Continues Its Campaign Against Littering”, details field activity from July 1, 1991 to June 30, 2007. LDWF agents issued 4,819 citations for intentional littering and gross littering during that time. The report notes a rise in littering-related citations from 229 in fiscal year 1992 to 716 in fiscal year 2007. A copy of the report is available on the LDWF Web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/publicservices/LED_Anti_Littering_Efforts_040108.pdf. LDWF Enforcement Division Col. Winton Vidrine reminds the public, “Not only is littering ugly and harmful to our environment, it is also against the law. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents will continue to take a strong stance against littering.”
ACADIA PARISH MEN CITED FOR TAKING WOOD DUCKS DURING TEAL SEASON Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited two men and one juvenile for alleged violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act on Sept. 20 in Acadia Parish. Agents cited Brandon Stutes, 18, Ryan Servat, 19, both of Rayne, and a juvenile from Crowley after they heard several shots fired from an area along Bayou Plaquemine. Agents determined that Stutes, Servat and the juvenile were doing the shooting and agents found 11 wood ducks in their possession. It is illegal to hunt or possess any ducks other than teal during the special teal season. Agents seized the 11 wood ducks and donated them to charity. The penalty for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act is a fine up to $15,000, or jail time up to six months or both. Agents participating in the case were Senior Agents Buddy Murray, Justin Sonnier and Sgt. Keith Dellahoussaye.
NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAY RECOGNIZED ACROSS STATE More than 7,800 people throughout Louisiana celebrated National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) on Sept. 27 at events in Baton Rouge, Minden, Woodworth and Monroe. At the Baton Rouge event, over 1,700 people enjoyed skeet shooting, a youth fishing contest, archery and canoeing among other activities. Once again, the “Paradise Louisiana” outdoors show was on hand to capture the day’s events. The wild game tasting booth featured fried alligator, duck gumbo, venison sliders, shrimp penne pasta, fried Louisiana catfish and deer sauce piquant. The crowd also enjoyed the falconry, squirrel dog and casting demonstrations. Over 1,900 folks made their way to Woodworth’s NHFD event. Woodworth’s NHFD featured a hay bale ride from the parking lot to the gate and back, shooting instructions from the local LDWF Hunter Education staff and a U.S. National Guard rock climbing wall. In Minden, more than 1,000 visitors participated in NHFD. The shotgun, muzzleloader, BB gun and archery stations drew big crowds all day. A chainsaw carver also created an owl and eagle out of two cedar logs in front of the NHFD participants. At the Monroe NHFD activities, over 3,200 people attended a day full of crossbow demonstrations, a BB gun contest, pony rides and an alligator display. At each location, LDWF personnel provided displays and demonstrations to help educate kids 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.
PORT BARRE MAN CITED FOR CLOSED SEASON SQUIRREL HUNTING Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited a St. Landry Parish man on Sept. 15 for allegedly taking squirrels during a closed season near Port Barre. The fall squirrel season is set to open Oct. 4, 2008. Acting on a complaint, agents cited Joshua J. Richard, 21, of Port Barre, after conducting an investigation into alleged closed season squirrel hunting violations. Richard confessed to shooting a squirrel with his bow and arrow. Agents seized a fox squirrel shot with a bow. The squirrel was donated to charity. Hunting squirrels during a closed season carries a fine between $250 to $500, or jail time up to 90 days, or both plus court costs. Agents participating in the case were Sgt Travis Huval and Senior Agent Jason Romero.
Sentences Handed Down in Lafayette Federal Court for Hunting Migratory Game Birds Over Bait Four Louisiana men were tried and found guilty of federal migratory waterfowl regulation violations on Sept. 16 in Federal Court in Lafayette. The charges stemmed from a Nov. 11, 2006, illegal duck hunt in the southeastern portion of Evangeline Parish. U.S. Federal Magistrate for the Western District of Louisiana, Mildred Methvin, found the men guilty of the charges. For hunting migratory game birds with the aid of bait, Brad Thomas Andrus, 37, and Jade Roland Andrus, 37, both of Lafayette were each ordered to pay a $2,950 fine plus $10 to the criminal victim fund. They were placed on unsupervised probation for a period of two years and cannot hunt during this time. Paul Moise Bellard, 47, of Church Point, and Don Louis Wimberley, 37, of Sunset, were each ordered to pay a $1,450 fine plus $10 to the criminal victim fund. They were placed on unsupervised probation for a period of one year and cannot hunt during this time. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Division special agents began an investigation prior to the opening of the November 2006 segment of waterfowl season after aerial surveillance on three different occasions revealed alteration of a standing crop of milo between the last two successive flights. A permanent duck blind was observed on the center levee of the milo field. The agents continued the investigation by land and observed that the crop had not been harvested, but only laid down by mechanical means. Subsequent visits to the field revealed flooding from irrigation equipment and evidence of blind preparation for the intent of hunting waterfowl. The manipulation of the standing crop of milo constituted baiting and the agents surveilled the field on the opening morning of the waterfowl season and observed the men taking ducks and coots over the baited field. A total of 18 ducks and one coot were seized in connection with the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Mickel prosecuted the case. Counsel for the defense was Chad Pitre. Agents participating in the case were Lt. Jesse Savoie, Sgt. Scott Fontenot, Senior Agents Ray Thomas and Steve Vidrine, and Special Agents Kash Schriefer and Phillip Siragusa.
L.D.W.F. EXTENDS 2008 ALLIGATOR HARVEST SEASON Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Barham has signed a declaration of emergency to extend the 2008 wild alligator season to official sunset on Oct. 19, in both zones, due to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The original season was set to end on Sept. 25 in the east zone and Oct. 2 in the west zone. Both hurricanes have impacted the progress of this season as LDWF estimates that only 50 percent of the 37,000 tags allotted for the 2008 alligator season have been utilized at this time. Many alligator hunters and processors have had to delay their harvest and processing efforts multiple times in order to prepare for and recover from the two hurricanes. "Hunters and processors requested the extension to allow for completion of their allotted harvest, and the department agreed," said Phil Bowman, LDWF Coastal and Nongame Resources Division administrator. "This extension should give all alligator hunters sufficient time to complete their harvest efforts."
SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS COORDINATED BY L.D.W.F. TRANSPORT 363 RESIDENTS TO SAFETY DURING HURRICANE IKE’S PASS THROUGH STATE Search and rescue (SAR) missions coordinated by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) successfully evacuated 363 residents from parishes impacted by Hurricane Ike between Sept. 12 and 15. “Our search and rescue personnel and the support staff that kept them supplied, along with the state and federal agencies that assisted in our mission, did a remarkable job,” said LDWF Secretary Robert Barham. “Their efforts in preparation and response for the landfall of two hurricanes, within two weeks, demonstrates a high level of readiness that we can all be proud of.” Acting as lead agency for SAR within the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) emergency support function framework, LDWF worked closely with the Louisiana National Guard (LANG) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to respond to rescue calls for assistance. Additional SAR state-level assets were provided by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) support was provided at the federal level by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Over the course of the four day response to Hurricane Ike, 665 SAR-trained responders and support personnel and 349 watercraft were positioned at inland staging areas for rescue response. LANG and USCG additionally provided air support resources to aid waterborne responders with reconnaissance information and rescue flights as needed. Pets evacuated with residents during SAR missions post-Ike totaled 19 and included 14 dogs, four ducks and a cat. LDWF Enforcement Division agents are returning to their regional offices and will assist local law enforcement as needed with post-hurricane patrols and any additional SAR mission response.
NEW BOAT REGISTRATION ACT BECOMES LAW The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Licensing Section advises all commercial and recreational fishing boat owners that Act 35 of the 2008 Legislature requires certain owners to register their boats. All motorized vessels that are U.S. Coast Guard documented with a “use type” of recreational or commercial fishing, and which have been in Louisiana waters for a period of 90 days or longer, are included in this category. This new law, requiring registration of boats in this use type, has been in effect since Aug. 15. Registration applications with instructions and applicable registration fees are available at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/boating/registration. For additional information, please contact LDWF’s Licensing Section at 225-765-2898.
|