REPEAT OFFENDER CITED FOR CRAB AND BOATING VIOLATIONS

AGENTS CITE SHRIMPERS FOR CRAB TRAP VIOLATIONS

SQUIRREL HUNTER CITED FOR OVER-THE-LIMIT TAKE

Families Gather to Celebrate Hunting and Fishing

Oyster Season Closes in Sister Lake Oyster Seed Reservation

THREE ARRESTED FOR KILLING DEER AT NIGHT

 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Agents arrested three Terrebonne Parish men for allegedly 

killing a doe deer at night in Lafourche Parish.  Jeremiah Pierron, 20, Titus Verdin, 19, and Chris Verdin, 20 all of Montegut,

were arrested on October 15 and booked into the Lafourche Parish Jail after agents watched the three kill a doe deer and 

load it into their truck. The three were stopped on LA 24 near Bourg in Lafourche Parish at 11:30 p.m.  

 They were each issued the following citations: taking deer during illegal hours, taking deer from a public road, possessing

 an illegally taken deer, and hunting from a moving vehicle. Taking deer during illegal hours carries a penalty of a fine of up to 

$950, jail for up to 120 days, or both, plus court costs.  Taking deer from a public road is punishable by a fine up to $350, 

jail time of up to 60 days, or both plus court costs.  Possessing an illegally taken deer carries a fine of  up to $750, jail time

 of up to 120 days, or both plus court costs. Hunting from a moving vehicle has a fine of up to $500, jail time of up to 90 days,

 or both, plus court costs. 

 Seized in connection with these violations were a 12-gauge shotgun and a doe deer. In addition to the above penalties, 

LDWF will seek restitution for the deer in the amount of $524.54. The court may also confiscate the vehicle and shotgun.

OYSTER VIOLATORS CITED AT LAKE MECHANT

 Enforcement agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries cited seven individuals for alleged violations

 of state oyster regulations on October 24.  The alleged violations occurred on the new public seed ground known as Lake

 Mechant in Terrebonne Parish.  The Lake Mechant seed ground is closed to harvest during the 2003-04 oyster season.  

Enforcement agents routinely patrol the public seed grounds to insure compliance with season dates and regulations.

 Howard A. Verdin, 52, Bryan Billiot, 35, Roger Marshall, 39 and Howard A. Verdin Jr., 29, all of Theriot were found taking

 oysters from unleased state water bottoms in Lake Mechant.  They were cited and 15 sacks of oysters were seized.

 Santos Rodriguez, 37, Jorge Bastida, 24, and Jose Aguirre, 29, all of Houma were cited for taking oysters during closed 

season in a separate incident.

Seized in connection with the violation were 30 sacks of oysters.  The penalty for unlawfully taking oysters from state water 

bottoms is a fine of not more than $750, jail for not more than 120 days, or both, plus court costs and forfeiture of anything

 seized.  Taking oysters in closed season carries fines of up to $350, jail for not more than 60 days, or both, plus court costs.

 Agents participating in both cases were Sgt. Bryan Marie and Sr. Agent Richard Purvis.

FOUR CITED FOR OYSTER VIOLATIONS IN ST. BERNARD PARISH

 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Agents have cited four Louisiana men for alleged oyster 

violations in St. Bernard Parish.  On October 22, Lawrence Nicosia, 40, of Violet, Roman Duplessis, 35, and Warren

 Duplessis, 42, both of Duvant and Perry Nunez, 42, of St. Bernard, were all cited for taking oysters from unleased state

 water bottoms in Lake Borgne in St. Bernard Parish. In addition, Lawrence Nicosia was cited for violation of the state

 sanitary code's refrigeration requirements for possessing unrefrigerated oysters on board which were harvested the 

previous day.

 Oysters harvested for shucking must be placed under refrigeration no later than midnight on the day of harvest.  The 

taking of oysters from unleased state water bottoms is prohibited. 90 sacks of oysters were seized in connection with 

the violation and returned to the water.  The penalty for unlawfully taking oysters from state water bottoms is a fine of not 

more than $750, jail for not more than 120 days, or both plus court costs and forfeiture of anything seized. The penalty

 for the sanitary code violation is a $25 fine and forfeiture of the product.

 Agents participating in the cases were Wildlife Enforcement Sergeants Stephen McManus,  Bryan Marie,  and Scott 

Keller, and Senior Agent Villere Reggio.

LOUISIANA SHRIMPERS TO RECEIVE FEDERAL SHRIMP FISHERIES DISASTER ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS

SOON

 The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will begin mailing federal shrimp fisheries disaster assistance 

payments to qualified Louisiana commercial shrimpers soon.  LDWF has completed the federal shrimp fisheries

disaster assistance program appeals process and is currently finalizing the processing of the required certification forms

 and documentation received from approximately 3,900 qualified applicants.  LDWF is planning to mail the assistance 

payments by the second week of November. All payments will be mailed at the same time. 

REPEAT OFFENDER CITED FOR CRAB AND BOATING VIOLATIONS

Peter Youngblood IV, 33, of Chalmette, was cited on October 9 in St. Bernard Parish by enforcement agents from the 

Louisiana  Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for allegedly taking undersized commercial hard crabs and careless

operation of a motorboat.  Youngblood has an extensive record of prior wildlife violations, including at least three

 prior charges for taking undersize crabs.

 Agents on night patrol in the Bayou Bienvenue area watched Youngblood run through a no wake zone causing 

damage to docked vessels in the area.  The agents initiated a boating safety stop and discovered two boxes of live

crabs on board Youngblood's boat. The agents checked the size of the crabs in both boxes; they were 30 and 36 

percent undersize. State law allows a maximum of 10 percent of hard crabs to be under the legal commercial 

size limit of five inches.

 Youngblood was cited for possessing over 20 percent of undersized commercial hard crabs, careless operation

 of a motorboat and operating at night without running lights.  Possessing in excess of 20 percent of undersized crabs

 is punishable by a fine of up to $750, jail not for more than 120 days, or both, plus court costs. In addition to the fine 

and jail time, the crab trap gear license may be voided and Youngblood may be prevented from obtaining a crab trap 

license for a period of six months.   The penalty for careless operation of a motorboat is a fine of up to $300 or

jail for not more than 90 days. Operating without running lights carries a fine of $50 payable to LDWF. 

 Agents participating in the case were Sr. Agents Todd Laviolette and Adam Young.

AGENTS CITE SHRIMPERS FOR CRAB TRAP VIOLATIONS

 On October 7, enforcement agents from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries arrested four Louisiana men for 

alleged theft of crab traps, destroying legal crab traps, removing contents of crab traps and failure to attach common floats

 on serviceable crab traps.  Arrested were Juston Schouest, 40, and Randy Thibodeaux, 39, both of Franklin, Ovey Buteaux, 

45, of New Iberia and Keith Segura, 47, of Avery Island.  

Agents saw the four aboard a double-rigged trawl vessel engaged in trawling in Vermilion Bay.  Serviceable crab traps were

 visible aboard the vessel.  Louisiana law allows shrimpers to take on board derelict crab traps caught in the shrimp nets, but

 serviceable traps must be returned to the water. Upon boarding the boat, the agents found more serviceable crab traps 

located in the ice hold of the vessel.  The metal tags proving the traps are legally licensed gear were missing from the traps

 along with the floats.  The trawls also contained numerous serviceable crab traps with floats still attached.  Further

 investigation revealed the crabs had been removed from the traps and stored in the hold. 

 All four men were arrested and booked into the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center. Eleven crab traps were seized along

 with 76 blue crabs.  Two trawls and two pairs of cutting pliers were also seized as evidence.  The 11 crab traps seized will

 be returned to the lawful crab fishermen after court proceedings are concluded.  The 76 blue crabs were photographed and 

released back to the water.

 Destroying legal crab traps, removing contents, theft of crab traps and failure to attach or remove floats from crab traps are

 all punishable by fines of  up to $750, jail for not more than 120 days, or both, along with forfeiture of anything seized in 

connection with the violation, plus court costs.  Agents participating in the case were Lt. Jubal Marceaux, Senior Agent

Lonnie Campbell and Senior Agent Layne Picard.

SQUIRREL HUNTERS CITED IN ALLEN PARISH ON OPENING WEEKEND

On October 4, six Allen Parish squirrel hunters were cited by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement 

Division agents for a variety of alleged violations.  Eugene V. Buxton, 53 , Michael A. Duplichan, 47, Melvin C. Gillard , 

31, all of Kinder,  and Adam J. Allee 24, of Lake Charles were each cited for hunting without a basic hunting license.  

In addition, Buxton and Willie Lafleur Jr., 37, also of Kinder, were cited for hunting with unplugged shotguns. Duplichan

 was also cited for illegal possession of marijuana and Curtis R. Cormier, 25, of Lake Charles was cited for an expired 

boat registration.

 The violations occurred near two campsites along the Quiska Chitto River and Calcasieu River woodlands. A total of

 nine squirrels were seized from these hunters and later donated to charity. A small amount of suspected marijuana

was seized and will be sent to the crime lab for analysis.  The penalties for the violations of hunting without a resident 

license and expired boat registration are fines of $50. Hunting with an unplugged shotgun is punishable by a fine of up to 

$500,  jail for not more than 90 days, or both, plus court costs.  Possession of marijuana is a criminal offense for which

 the penalty is a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment in jail for not more than six months or both.       

 Participating in the cases were LDWF Senior Agents Keith Aucoin, Steve Vidrine and  Scott Fontenot.

AGENTS SEIZE SHRIMP AND CITE FISHERMAN FOR OVERSIZED TRAWLS, NO COMMERCIAL LICENSES 

An Alabama commercial fisherman has been cited for using oversized trawls in Louisiana territorial waters just off the

 coast of Venice. He was also found to be operating without non-resident commercial licenses. At the time of the 

violations, he was accompanied by a non-law enforcement observer working under contract for the National Marine

 Fisheries Service, who was aboard to document the locations and times of the trawling activity.  Responding to 

complaints of oversized trawls offshore of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Salt 

Water Enforcement Patrol agents utilizing the patrol boat Delta Tide boarded the Lady Barbara about 1.6 miles inside

 state waters on September 13, 2003. The agents discovered that the captain, Mark W. Tunstall, 45, of BonSecour,

Alabama, was using oversized trawls and operating without Louisiana licenses.  Tunstall was cited for using trawls

exceeding size requirements in offshore territorial waters, operating without a non-resident commercial fisherman's

license, operating without non-resident commercial gear (trawl) licenses, and operating without a non-resident

commercial vessel license. Agents seized four trawls and 6,011 pounds of shrimp; the shrimp were sold for 

$19,112.65. The trawls and sale proceeds will be held in escrow until the final disposition of the case. Using 

oversized trawls carries a fine of $400 to $750, or no more than 120 days in jail, or both, plus court costs and forfeiture

of anything seized in connection with the violation. The three commercial license violations are punishable by fines of

$250 to $500, or no more than 90 days in jail, or both, plus court costs.Participating in the case were Sergeant Ray 

Champagne and Senior Agent Robert Cosse. The case will be submitted for prosecution in the 25th Judicial District 

Court to Plaquemines Parish District Attorney Daryl Bubrig.

SQUIRREL HUNTER CITED FOR OVER-THE-LIMIT TAKE

Patrick R. Aucoin Jr., 39 of Fordoche was cited by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and  Fisheries Enforcement Division

agents in Pointe Coupee Parish on October 5, 2003 for allegedly taking more than the legal limit of squirrels.  Aucoin was

 hunting on Sherburne Wildlife Management Area on the opening weekend of squirrel season when he was checked and 

found to be in possession of nine squirrels. The daily limit for squirrels is eight. The squirrels were seized and donated to

charity.  Taking over-the-limit of squirrels carries a fine of up to $500 or up to 90 days in jail or both plus court costs.  

Agents participating in the case were LDWF Lt. Donald Salpietra and Sr. Agent Cliff Ortis, and Federal Refuge Officer

Scotty Boudreaux. 

FAMILIES GATHER TO CELEBRATE HUNTING AND FISHING

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries hosted its 19th annual celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day, and hundreds and families participated.  Over 2,100 people visited the Waddill Outdoor Education Center in Baton Rouge on September 27 to take part in several exhibitions and hands-on activities. One of the most popular events of the day was the Kids' Fishing Contest.  The Waddill ponds were surrounded by kids of all ages trying to land the day's biggest fish.  Skeet shooting, BB guns, black powder guns and bows and arrows were also favorite spots during the day.  There were also many exhibits educating the crowds on different aspects of the great outdoors. And what would a Louisiana celebration be without food?  This year's attendees had the chance to sample wild-game cuisine prepared by local chefs.  Chef Celeste Gill of Taylor Made Gourmet Foods prepared alligator stew, and Chef Katherine Gividin of the Louisiana Culinary Institute served venison chili.  Pete Giovenco's Seasoning Sausage also provided nutria sausage for people to try.  For the less adventurous, soft drinks and hot dogs were also on hand.  Each year, LDWF celebrates the state's great heritage of hunting and fishing.  Saturday's event in Baton Rouge was mirrored in Minden, Monroe and Woodworth.

OYSTER SEASON CLOSES IN SISTER LAKE PUBLIC OYSTER SEED RESERVATION
LDWF Secretary James H. Jenkins, Jr. announced that the 2003 oyster season in the Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation will close one-half hour after sunset on Friday, October 10. The closure was based on recommendations made by LDWF Marine Fisheries Division biologists. At its August 6 meeting, the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approved a 70-day oyster season in Sister Lake extending from September 10 through November 18 but authorized Secretary Jenkins to take emergency action to close areas if biological or enforcement problems develop. Increases in fishing effort levels and oyster harvest rates in comparison to recent years, increases in spat set, recent declines in annual stock size and evidence of unacceptable amounts of reef shell onboard vessels harvesting seed oysters for bedding purposes is occurring within the area and this public oyster seed reservation is being closed to protect the oyster resource. The oyster season in the primary public seed grounds east of the Mississippi River including that portion of Lake Borgne described in LAC 76:VII.513, the sacking only area of the public grounds which is generally Lake Fortuna and Lake Machias to a line from Mozambique Point to Point Gardner to Grace Point at the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, the Bay Gardene and Hackberry Bay Public Oyster Seed Reservations, the Little Lake Temporary Natural Reef and the Calcasieu Lake public tonging area will remain open.