LDWF exhibits photographs

Winning photos from the 2001-02 Outdoor Writers Association of America/Nikon Sport Optics photography contest are on display at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries building through Aug. 5. The exhibit is open to the public and can be viewed weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Baton Rouge headquarters at 2000 Quail Drive.

The exhibit includes 30 color and black-and-white photos that allows the viewer to experience nature. It also includes photos of people enjoying outdoor recreational activities.

Five categories of photos are represented: scenic, flora, people, action and fauna. This year’s winners include some of America’s best known outdoor photographers. While there were no winners from Louisiana this year, the state is regularly well-represented by photographers as well as scenic vistas.

OWAA’s membership consists of more than 1,800 professionals. For information contact Bill Geer, Executive Director, Outdoor Writers Association of America, 121 Hickory St., Ste. 1, Missoula, MT 59801.

Man cited for

killing alligator

LDWF Enforcement agents recently cited a St. Mary Parish man for allegedly killing an alligator illegally.

Ken Schexnayder, 47, of Franklin, was cited when Sgt. Ross Mire found Schexnayder in possession of a 52-inch alligator in a boat in Hog Bayou, west of Calumet Cut in St. Mary Parish. Schexnayder was accompanied by Sherrie Liner, 27, also of Franklin, and two juveniles.

Mire initially stopped to conduct a boating safety inspection of Schexnayder’s vessel when he discovered the alligator concealed in a front compartment in the boat. Schexnayder admitted to shooting the alligator with a .22 caliber rifle. No one else was cited.

Schexnayder was charged with taking an alligator in closed season. If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to $750 in fines, up to 120 days in jail and forfeiture of anything seized in connection with the investigation. A .22-caliber rifle, the boat and a 150 horsepower outboard were seized. In addition to the criminal citations, Schexnayder was also issued a civil restitution summons for the value of the alligator.

Agents nab poachers

LDWF Enforcement agents recently issued citations to four alligator poachers.

Melvin J. Colvon, 24, Gwendolyn P. Colvon, 56, and Jennifer N. Dorsey, 23, of New Orleans and Darius T. Caldwell, 22, of Montgomery, Ala. were all cited for possessing alligators during closed season.

Acting on a complaint from a confidential informant, agents investigated a residence in New Orleans East. They found the subjects to be in possession of two freshly killed alligators, each approximately five feet long. The alligators were seized as evidence and will be held by the department pending trial. In addition to the possible criminal penalties, civil restitution proceedings will be initiated for the value of the two alligators.

The penalty for possessing alligators during a closed season is a fine of up to $750, up to 120 days in jail, or both, plus court costs. The civil penalty for the violation is approximately $350.

COMMERCIAL FISHING FOR RED SNAPPER REOPENS IN LA WATERS

Commercial fishing for red snapper reopens in Louisiana waters at 12 noon,

Aug. 1, 2002 and will close at 12 noon Aug. 7, 2002. Federal waters of the

Gulf of Mexico will also be open for commercial harvest of red snapper

during the same time period.

The decision was made by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and

Fisheries Secretary James H. Jenkins Jr., as authorized by the state

Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. Jenkins acted following notification by

the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of changes to the season in

federal waters.

NMFS determined that the red snapper commercial fishery quota for the

spring fishing season had not been reached and action is needed to provide

opportunities for commercial harvest of the available quota of red snapper,

while ensuring that the spring quota is not exceeded.

The prohibition on sale/purchase of red snapper during the closure does not

apply to red snapper that were legally harvested, landed ashore, and sold

prior to the effective date of the closure and were held in cold storage by

a dealer or processor provided appropriate records in accordance with R.S.

56:306.5 are properly maintained.