By DON DUBUC

Not since the dog hunter versus still hunter wars a decade ago has there been a more controversial deer hunting issue than what was proposed at last month’s WFC meeting.

If it gets final approval deer hunters in the state’s Area 6 will lose about 30 days of bowhunting. Area 6 includes all or portions of Rapides, Avoyelles, St. Landry, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, St. Martin, Iberville, Ascension, Assumption, Iberia, St. James, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, Jefferson, Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Lafourche, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes.

A portion of Terrebonne and all of Avoyelles is presently under consideration to be included in Area 6.

State biologists and deer hunters alike have long suspected what scientific data now verifies – whitetail deer in most of Area 6 have a later breeding season than in other portions of the state.

This explains why so many fawns (estimated 91 percent) are only two months old or less in October as more breeding occurs in February than December. State deer biologists feel it is an unsound management practice to remove bucks three months before the rut.

In a measure to prevent that and ensure that does with young fawns survive are not taken until later when the fawns have a better chance of survival, state biologists have recommended that the archery season be delayed until Nov 1.

And that would be fine with most deer hunters so long as the lost bowhunting days are added on after the close of gun seasons into February. But predicting potential conflicts with rabbit season with dogs, LDWF Commission has voted to not extend the season in Area 6.

This has caused rumblings among bowhunters and archery shop owners not happy with the decision.

So what do I think? I think the biology and the decision to delay bow season are sound management decisions.

But I think the LWFC is overestimating the impact of archery and rabbit seasons being open simultaneously.

First of all in October, rabbit season and archery seasons coexist without any major conflicts and have for years. Second, except for state and federally managed public lands, there are virtually no open hunting areas.

All hunting these days is on privately owned or leased land. Some of these groups and clubs bow hunt, some rabbit hunt, some do both.

Why not let the hunters decide which they prefer to do? Private clubs can make their own rules to resolve internal conflicts if there are any.

By mandating no bow hunting in February, some clubs will miss out on prime hunting during the rut and do not have any intention of rabbit hunting. If a club decides it needs to stop rabbit hunting or can allow both, they should have that flexibility.

Public lands have their own special rules and for good reason.

But to take away a land owner or lessee’s choice to decide for themselves with no biological impact should not be a function of the wildlife and fisheries department.

The public is invited to comment before the resolution is adopted by sending comments to Tommy Prickett, LDWF Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000 or by commenting in person at the next three monthly LDWF Commission meetings held at the LDWF headquarters on Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.

Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month.

GPS course in Mandeville

Daniel Boone would be proud.

The use of GPS (Global Positioning Systems) has been the biggest navigational aid since and maybe even bigger than, the compass. These electronic pathfinders have allowed fishermen and hunters to confidently and boldly go where they have never gone before.

But only after they have learned to master its use – and that in many cases is no small order. The reason – they come operation manuals written by engineers for engineers and not for the typical sportsman.

Learning to program and use a GPS by reading the instructions can be a frustrating experience.

Because of that, a seminar known as “GPS – The Basics” has become a regular circuit in south Louisiana.

It is a one-night course explaining how GPS works and more importantly, how to make your GPS work for you. Going one step further the course shows how to use your GPS in conjunction with maps to help you find that honey hole of a fishing spot or dynamite duck pond.

The next course is set for Thursday at Hook & Shoot on U.S. Highway 190 in Mandeville at 6:30 p.m.

Advance registration and tuition is $40. Space permitting, entry fee is $50 at the door.

For reservations or more information call 504-241-4614.

DON DUBUC is the outdoors reporter for L’Observateur.