Ban on hunting deer with dogs lifted for Kisatchie National Forest

LDWF permitting for deer hunting with dogs still needed for Dec. 15-23 season, USFWS says.

The ban on hunting deer with dogs has been lifted from the season that runs Dec. 15-23, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced Tuesday (Dec. 4). However, permits are required of hunters using dogs to chase deer, the federal agency said.

The “with or without dogs” portion of the 2012-2013 hunting season within the Catahoula, Winn and Kisatchie Ranger Districts and the Evangeline Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District is scheduled for Dec. 15-23.

The Forest Service's decision to prohibit hunting deer with dogs on KNF property in Louisiana was issued Feb. 29. The Forest Service decision was affirmed by their Washington Office on Sept. 28.

A lawsuit was filed on Nov. 16 by Louisiana Sportsmen Alliance. While the Forest Service intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit, the decision will not be implemented at this time, and the 2012 “with or without dogs” deer season will proceed Dec. 15-23.

As required in 2010 and 2011, all deer hunters on KNF lands designated for “with or without dogs” hunting during this nine-day period will be required to carry a KNF Deer Hunting Permit. The no-cost permit required during the “with or without dogs” portion of the hunting season is available by clicking here.

The special season requiring the KNF Deer Hunting Permit will be bucks only. Every deer hunter in Kisatchie National Forest, except on the Caney Ranger District and the Vernon Unit of the Calcasieu Ranger District, during these dates, regardless of age, is required to have this permit.

Deer hunters using dogs must register an identifying mark with LDWF. Each dog must wear a collar providing the owner’s name, address and phone number. To obtain a permit, the hunter must provide their name and address and the identifying mark used on dogs engaged in the hunt.

For additional information on deer hunting on KNF or any rules regarding hunting on the KNF, contact Jim Caldwell at 318-473-7168 or 318-613-1048, or Mike Balboni at 318-473-7102.

If you have difficulty obtaining a KNF Deer Hunting Permit through the LDWF website at http://www.wlf.la.gov, call the LDWF Pineville Field Office at 318-487-5885 or the LDWF Wildlife Division Baton Rouge office at 225-765-2346 during weekday business hours.