By DON DUBUC

The beginning of a New Year always jogs memories of the past year. That in mind, here’s looking back at what I consider the top 10 outdoor events and issues of 2002 for Louisiana sportsmen.

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE

This spring Wisconsin became the first state east of the Mississippi River to confirm CWD in its wild deer population. Officials there reacted by issuing plans to kill more than 15,000 deer in infected counties.

It is a “prion” or mutated protein-triggered, untreatable, fatal disorder that affects white-tailed deer and elk. The protein creates holes in the brain tissue, which leads to weakness, emaciation, and loss of motor control, stumbling, falling, blindness, and drooling and eventual death. It’s the deer’s answer to Mad Cow in cattle, Scrapie in sheep and Creutzfeld-Jakob in humans.

There is no evidence of cases in humans. Scientists believe transporting infected animals to other areas has caused its spread. At it’s September meeting the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries voted for an outright ban on all imported whitetail deer and elk. Through a loophole in the law, 44 deer were imported following the ban. Those deer are currently being destroyed and tested.

The state has also implemented a plan to test wild specimens taken this season and is preparing for a long-term battle to prevent the disease from threatening the state’s deer hunting heritage and $600 million industry.

BASSMASTER CLASSIC RETURNS

This spring ESPN, the new owners of the Bassmaster Classic, announced the Superdome would once again be the site of fishing’s Super Bowl. The event set for July 28-Aug. 3, 2003 marks B.A.S.S.’ fifth visit to the Delta and will be the first time a classic has ended on a Sunday.

WHITE LAKE PRESERVE

Through a strange arrangement, a 71,130 acre tract of Vermillion Parish freshwater marsh donated by BP Amoco became state-owned but privately controlled by a non-profit corporation known as White Lake Preserve Inc.

Gov. Mike Foster appointed its membership that included some political aides, his Secretary of Wildlife & Fisheries and ex-football player Bert Jones.

Foster was a member himself, but amid controversy about who should control the tract, resigned shortly after.

The public’s complaint stems from the concept of a self-perpetuating corporation controlling public land without public input and without following the state’s rule-making process.

Several sportsmen and environmental organizations, individuals and at least one legislator have criticized the decision for a corporation to operate it and not the LDWF. Sen. Joe McPherson (D-Woodworth) has filed suit challenging the constitutionality of the move.

WHERE ARE THE DUCKS?

The state and the rest of the nation’s waterfowlers were left asking that question following this past season’s closing in January.

Many longtime duck hunters said it might have been the worst season they could ever remember. While the official explanation from the USFWS was “weather-related shortstopping,” others such as Delta Waterfowl say another factor provides a more alarming answer – nesting failure.

That failure is, of course, weather related but the issue of predator control to increase populations is being touted as a factor we can control. Surprisingly, a liberal 60-day season and a six-bird daily limit was allowed this year which is shaping up to be another below average harvest.

NUTRIA OUTLAWED

Under a Coastwide Nutria Control Program, licensed trappers and hunters are being paid a $4 per tail bounty.

The goal of the program is to harvest 400,000 nutria per year for the next four years in an effort to prevent further erosion of the marsh by preventing nutria from destroying sediment-holding vegetation.

GROWING SUPER DEER

For the first time in Louisiana deer hunting history, an experimental regulation to create more trophies by protecting younger bucks with the potential to reach trophy-status has been incorporated. The only area affected by this “six point or better” rule is in West Baton Rouge Parish, Pointe Coupee Parish and that portion of Iberville Parish west of the Mississippi River (excluding Sherburne WMA) and those private lands owned by Adams and Summers.

In this area a “legal buck” is a deer with at least six points or a deer with both spikes three inches long or less. The issue of mandatory trophy management was a controversial one but in the local area affected it had strong support. And while it has some support statewide, this is only an “experimental” program in a restricted area and if it doesn’t produce the desired results, can be changed, modified or eliminated.

STORM DOUBLE TROUBLE

Back-to-back storms known as Lili and Isidore cut through the state’s coast causing considerable damage. Hundreds of thousands of fish, along with other wildlife, were killed by the storm surges.

Deer seasons were temporarily closed in flooded areas, duck ponds were stripped of their waterfowl vegetation and several marinas and LDWF structures suffered considerable damage.

GUIDES GIVEN THE BOOT

Complaining that charter operators were unfair competition, a few individuals succeeded in getting the LDWF to ban commercial hunting operations from state Wildlife Management Areas.

YEAR OF THE AJ

Duck hunters were disappointed with the 2001-02 season but offshore anglers couldn’t have been happier with amberjack.

And for some strange reason, catching the stingy limit of one, minimum size of 28 inched to the fork of the tail, hasn’t been much of a problem. Amberjacks are known for their strong powerful downward runs that make winching up even the smaller 20-30 pounders a workout and when cut into fillets or steaks, the white flesh of Amberjack is excellent fried, broiled, baked or grilled.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

The LA Sportsmen gained three new members this year. They are five-time state duck calling champ Mike Smith of Violet, legendary angler and hunter Dave Ballay who pioneered the offshore fishing industry in Venice and world-renown wildlife artist Jack Akers of Abita Springs.

DON DUBUC is the outdoors reporter for L’Observateur.