DON DUBUC

Duck hunters get good news and more good news For duck hunters there’s good news and there’s good news. Even though south Louisiana temperatures have hit close to the 100-degree mark lately and most of us are fishing and not even thinking about fall and winter hunting, it’s time to plan trips now that season dates are being set. At last week’s LDWF commission meeting dates for early migratory birds and resident game were adopted. The duck and goose seasons will be set later when the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service releases the dates and bag limit options from which Louisiana can choose. Now, here’s the first good news. According to early reports, waterfowl populations should again be high enough to allow a 60-day, six duck per day season. The other good news is there will be new boundaries for the East and West Zones at least for the next five years. This year, in order to allow coastal hunters to hunt earlier, when access to shallow ponds is better; the entire coastal area below U.S. Highway 90 will share the same dates with the West Zone. The season in the West Zone traditionally begins earlier than in the East. This means that all or portions of parishes surrounding Lake Pontchartrain will have different opening and closing dates. Consequently by hunting in two different zones offers the chance to hunt more days. Other season dates that are set include the special teal, rail and gallinule season Sept. 15-30; Quail: Nov. 17-Feb. 28; Squirrel: Oct. 6-Feb. 10; Rabbit: Oct. 6-Feb. 28. For Area 1 Deer seasons will be Archery Oct. 1-Jan. 31; Muzzleloader Nov. 10-16 and Jan. 21-27; Still hunt Nov. 17-Dec. 2 and Jan. 7-20 and with dogs Dec. 8-Jan. 6. CCA BANQUET WEDNESDAY The Northshore Chapter of the LA Coastal Conservation Association annual fund-raising banquet and live auction is set for Wednesday at the Castine Center in Mand-eville’s Pelican Park. Raffle, door and auction items include fishing and boating equipment as well as guided trips with some of the area’s best charter guides. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with an open bar, dinner at 7:30p.m. with the program and auction to follow. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door and $10 for children and can be purchased Songy’s Sporting Goods on U.S. Highway 190 in Covington or Hook & Shoot on North Causeway Blvd. in Mandeville. For more information contact Denis Bechac at (504) 871-9005. R-U-D-U? Are you DU? That’s the slogan of this year’s 2001 LA State Ducks Unlimited convention to be held at the Holiday Inn in Covington this weekend. National officials and members from all over the state will converge for its annual combination of Ducks Unlimited business and local hospitality Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All members are invited to attend and meet National Chairman L.J. Mayeux and Oran Richard of the popular Ducks Unlimited television show. For registration and information call Fred Schroeder (985) 626-3409. LSU GETS CASH FOR BASS Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBV) is a disease that affects only cold-blooded animals and although it occurs in other bass and sunfish species, it is only lethal to the largemouth. All resulting fish kills have happened during warm weather and stress caused by water pollution or frequent handling by anglers can aggravate the virus. To date positive identification of LMBV has been documented in South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri. In Louisiana fish kills have been noted in Toledo Bend and in False River. Little is known about the LMBV and as part of a joint effort to study the disease, the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine will receive $100-,000 to develop a non-lethal sampling procedure for determining prior exposure of largemouth bass to the virus. DON DUBUC is the outdoors reporter for L’Observateur. He may be contacted by e-mail atlobnews@bellsouth.net