Lottery hunts scheduled

The Sherburne Wildlife Management Area South Farm complex will be open for lottery waterfowl hunts during the 2002-03 season.

(The Red River “Yakey” waterfowl lottery hunts have been discontinued.)

Applications for the Sherburne hunts must be received in Baton Rouge by Sept. 24, and must be accompanied by a non-refundable $5 administrative fee. Applications should be mailed to Waterfowl Lottery Applications, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898 and are available at each of the LDWF regional offices or on the LDWF Web site at www.wlf.state.la.us.

Lottery hunt dates for Sherburne WMA will be Nov. 16, Nov. 23, Dec. 14, 21, 28 and Jan. 4, 11, 18 and 25. Each of these dates is a Saturday. Shooting hours will be 30 minutes before sunrise until noon.

During the Sherburne hunt, no more than three persons will be allowed to hunt within a predetermined hunt area. Selected hunters will be notified by mail and must submit an additional $10 fee to receive the necessary permits.

On the Youth Waterfowl Hunting days, Nov. 9-10, Sherburne WMA will be open for youth duck hunting at no charge. All youngsters age 16 or younger, who are accompanied by an adult age 18 or older will be welcome to participate and no lottery application is needed. Youths must possess a hunter safety certification or proof of successful completion of a hunter safety course.

Each youth must be accompanied by an adult. If the adult is in possession of hunter safety certification, a valid hunting license or proof of successful completion of a hunter safety course, this requirement is waived for the youth.

The South Farm complex at Sherburne WMA will also offer additional duck hunting opportunities on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the season, except on Thanksgiving Day. The hunts will be conducted in the same way as the weekend hunts, but the lottery drawing will take place on the day of each hunt at Sherburne WMA.

No hunter will be allowed to hunt more than one day per week. Hunters will be given numbers beginning at 4 a.m. Lottery numbers will be drawn at 4:30 a.m. and successful hunters will be assigned sites. Each hunter will be allowed to hunt only from the assigned site.

The Sherburne hunt area has been intensively developed and managed for wintering waterfowl. Lottery hunts allow the department to manage hunting pressure, promote quality-hunting experiences and still provide beneficial winter habitat for wetland dependent species.

All hunters must have appropriate licenses, including federal duck stamps, WMA hunting permits and Hunter Information Program permits. No licenses will be available at the hunting site and licenses will be checked.

Additionally, a self-clearing daily permit (free) must be completed and will be available at the lottery hunt site. Permit applications and additional information are available from any LDWF region office.

Applications available for nutria control program

Applications to participate in the LDWF Coastwide Nutria Control Program are available to hunters and trappers. The applications may be obtained from various locations and should be completed and returned to LDWF by Oct. 1, in order for the participant to be registered by the opening of trapping season.

All applications returned after Oct. 1 will be processed on a first come, first served basis.

The CNCP is the latest program to be instituted in order to control the nutria population in Louisiana. The program will pay $4 per nutria tail turned in to check stations by participating trappers and hunters. The goal is to raise the annual harvest of nutria to 400,000. The program will run during the open trapping season, Nov. 20 to March 31.

The applications are available on the Internet at www.nutria.com or www.wlf.state.la.us. The form includes an instruction page on how to complete the application, as well as a W-9 form for tax purposes. Applications may also be obtained from LDWF field offices and LSU AgCenter Extension offices.

Men arrested after hunt

Two Pierre Part residents were recently arrested LDWF Enforcement agents for alleged violations stemming from an illegal grosbec (night heron) hunt. The arrests came after a high speed chase and subsequent altercation.

State and federal citations were issued.

Roger D. Gros, 49 and Barney B. Pantinople, 41, were each cited for taking federally protected birds – grosbec “night herons” – for which there is no season, and flight from an officer. Gros was additionally charged with DWI, reckless operation and battery of a police officer.

Agents responded to a complaint of illegal hunting and staked out the route it was believed the suspects would take. The agents saw Gros and Pantinople in a pick-up truck towing an aluminum boat on a trailer. The suspects were taken into custody. Twelve fully dressed night herons and a shotgun were recovered.

The penalty for taking or possessing federally protected birds is a fine up to $5,000, up to six months in jail or both, and possible loss of hunting privileges.

Suspects charged with fawn violations

LDWF agents recently cited Marty A. Starks, 34, of Many, in Sabine Parish for allegedly possessing spotted fawns illegally. Norman L. Hardy, 36, of Many, was also cited in the case for taking a spotted fawn.

Agents issued the citations after responding to a complaint that Starks possessed two spotted fawns allegedly taken from the wild. Starks possesses a Department of Agriculture and Forestry alternative livestock permit allowing him to farm pen-raised deer. Agents questioned Starks about the spotted fawns, but he denied they were caught from the wild.

Agents questioned Hardy, who gave a written statement he caught a spotted fawn from the wild and had given it to Starks. When Starks was questioned again, he said the fawns had been taken from the wild. Starks was cited for two counts and Hardy was cited for one count of taking and/or possessing spotted fawns. Starks was also issued a civil summons to pay restitution in the amount of $1,049.08 for the deer, which were seized. The penalty for taking and/or possessing a spotted fawn is a fine of up to $750, up to 30 days in jail, or both.

Taxidermist cited for violations

LDWF agents recently cited Scotty L. Martin, 29, of Hornbeck, for allegedly possessing birds and other animals illegally.

Agents cited Martin after investigating his place of business and finding numerous birds and other animals which were not tagged as required. Agents also found three non-game birds, which may not be legally possessed at any time. Martin was issued federal citations for possessing untagged migratory game birds and possessing non-game birds. He was also issued a state citation for possessing fur-bearing animals without a license.

Agents seized 23 ducks, one merganser, one common nighthawk, one Chuck-Will’s-Widow, one Eastern Bluebird, two bobcat hides and skulls and one red fox hide, which are being held as evidence.

Possessing non-game birds and possessing untagged migratory game birds are both punishable by fines, jail terms, and loss of hunting privileges. The penalty for possessing fur-bearing animals without a license is a fine of up to $350, jail for up to 60 days or both, plus court cost.