LDWF to sell licenses in Bourg

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will make commercial fishing licenses available at the Bourg, office for three days this month.

On April 16-18, the LDWF office will sell commercial fishing licenses to help fishers to prepare for the upcoming seasons. The office, located at 468 Texas Gulf Road, will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Fishers are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to avoid the long lines that can occur at the main Baton Rouge office, where licenses are also available. This is also a chance to avoid costly citations for fishing without the proper licenses.

With the spring brown shrimp season to be set at the May meeting of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, commercial fishers can beat the expected rush by visiting the Bourg office.

Those wishing to purchase licenses may pay for them with cash, cashiers’ checks or money orders. Credit cards and personal checks cannot be accepted.

Two LDWF license employees will staff the facility, which regularly houses LDWF biologists and staff. To avoid long lines, LDWF licensing manager Janis Landry offers some suggestions.

“We are asking fishers to remember to bring their renewal notices to help expedite the process,” said Landry. “We are also reminding everyone that they can still renew their licenses through the mail, where they can expect about a seven-day turnaround.”

LDWF looks to distribute funds

Local and state government entities looking for funding sources to construct boating access projects are encouraged to contact the LDWF.

“We have boating access funds at our disposal and we want to make sure that they are taken advantage of,” said Program Manager Mark McElroy. “There are many potential projects out there that can greatly improve boating access in our state.”

The deadline for submitting applications is June 1, and LDWF is looking to fund several projects.

The Wallop-Breaux boating access funds are managed by the department and are available to government agencies for projects to improve boating access at public fishing sites. Such projects include installing or repairing boat ramps, wharfs, and associated parking areas.

To be eligible, the waterbody must be open to the public.

Government entities, such as city councils and parish police juries, may submit their proposed projects to LDWF. The projects will be graded and prioritized based on criteria established by the fund. Aspects of the projects that will be considered include the number of boat ramps already in the area and the number of people who use the area.

Wallop-Breaux Funds come from fees and federal taxes collected on fishing gear, boat fuel and motors. Should a project be accepted, the Wallop-Breaux Funds can account for up to 75 percent of the total cost of the project.

The remaining percentage, or match, must be paid by the governing body submitting the proposal. A statement of how the 25 percent will be funded should be included in the initial application.

A project accepted and funded by Federal Sport Fish Restoration funds is to be completed within one year of starting. The sponsors of the project also agree to manage and maintain the facility.

Project sponsors will be notified prior to Nov. 1 of their acceptance. Applications may be obtained by contacting the Inland Fisheries Division.

Any questions regarding the Wallop-Breaux Funds or other Sport Fish Restoration projects may also be directed to the Inland Fisheries Division.

Crab task force meeting today

The Crab Task Force will meet today at 4:30 p.m. in the Louisiana Room of the Wildlife and Fisheries Building in Baton Rouge.

The task force is an industry group comprised of fishermen, soft crab shedders, dealers and processors. Derelict crab traps and trap removal programs are on the agenda to be discussed.

Commission accepts changes to hunting season

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission accepted modifications to the proposed season dates and regulations submitted in a notice of intent at last month’s meeting.

The changes, presented at the Thursday meeting by Biologist Program Manager Jimmy Anthony, were the result of public comments submitted at seven regional public meetings, at-large comments, and comments from the March and April commission meetings. The changes become part of the proposed plan to be ratified at the July meeting of the commission.

Most of the changes were calendar adjustments. In Area 1, the second portion of the still hunting season is now suggested to close Jan. 19. This shift now calls for the muzzleloader season in Area 1 to open Jan. 20 and run through Jan. 26.

In Area 2, it was proposed that the muzzleloader season run the same as this past season, ending on Jan. 17. Also, in Ascension and Assumption Parishes, two “either sex” days were inadvertently left off the original notice. The notice now includes Dec. 28 and 29 as “either sex” days in Ascension and Assumption parishes.

LDWF biologists gave their recommendation that the archery season at Pass-a-Loutre Wildlife Management Area begin on Oct. 1 and run through Jan. 31. This would make Pass-a-Loutre an exception to the current proposal that the archery season in the rest of Area 6 begin on Nov. 1 and run through Jan. 31.

Anthony said that this exception was to be made because rut data specific to this area shows that it would not be harmful to take deer in October. He also said that low water in October allows for safer passage to Pass-a-Loutre.

In a step toward a quality deer management program, the commission also moved to explore a proposed antler restriction on an experimental basis. The plan would call for an antler restriction of six points or better, or three inch spikes or shorter, only in the parishes of West Baton Rouge, Iberville and Pointe Coupee.

The experiment would last three years, in order to collect sufficient information to judge its effectiveness. The commissioners stressed that this would only be an experimental restriction, limited only to these parishes.

These proposed adjustments to the notice of intent are open to public comment until the commission meets on July 2 to ratify the final rule. Comments may be mailed in, phoned in, or made in person at the next commission meeting on May 2.

Each commission meeting until the July 2 meeting will have a place on its agenda for public comment and the public is encouraged to attend.

Commission reduces tag fee

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission accepted a notice of intent to suspend a portion of the alligator hide tag fee. Currently, the tag fee is $4. It was proposed by the LDWF that $1 of the fee be suspended for a limited period of time.

The acceptance of the notice of intent allows for 120 days of public comment before possible ratification at the September meeting of the commission.

The alligator hide tag fee is part of legislation that calls for the LDWF to handle administrative responsibility of alligator management.

The same legislation allows the LWF Commission to adjust the tag fees as is deemed necessary.

The temporary suspension of $1 of the fee would commence in September and continue for a period of two years or until the commission takes further action.

Philip Bowman, assistant secretary of the Office of Wildlife, presented the notice of intent to the commission at the most recent meeting.