Commission also approved 2015-17 hunting season dates Thursday, LDWF says
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission on Thursday approved an amendment allowing up to 25 hp straight shaft air-cooled mud motors on the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area, according to a press release.
All other types of mud boats or air-cooled propulsion vessels – including surface drive boats – are prohibited, the release states.
In other business, the Commission approved the 2015-17 hunting season dates, and the 2015-16 General and Wildlife Management Area rules and regulations. Season dates approved include the 2016 turkey season, and associated rules and regulations.
Changes from previous hunting seasons in the approved NOIs include, but are not limited to:
*Change to Area 5 Deer Season for the 2016-17 Season, in which Area 5 will become part of Area 1.
*Addition of pistols to allowable gear for primitive firearms season for deer.
*Addition of bird dog training to allowable uses on some Small Game Emphasis Areas on certain WMAs.
*Prohibition on the “possession” of bait on WMAs
*Allowance for certain UTVs to be utilized on ATV trails on WMAs, if the manufacturers specification for weight, length, and width do not exceed those limits set for ATVs.
*Prohibition on nighttime activity during open waterfowl seasons on Wham Brake, on Russell Sage WMA.
*Conversion of youth lottery to open youth weekend for turkey on Big Lake WMA.
*Modification to open all ranger districts of Kisatchie National Forest for entire youth weekend for turkey.
*Addition of two days of open season for turkey on US Army Corps of Engineers Indian Bayou Area.
*Addition of youth squirrel season on Maurepas Swamp WMA.
*Addition of six days of firearms either sex deer season on Sherburne WMA.
*Addition of shotgun youth either sex deer season on National Park Service Barataria Preserve.
*Addition of small game opportunity on Bogue Chitto, Black Bayou, Catahoula, and Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuges.
*Change in waterfowl closure times from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm on Cameron Prairie, Lacassine, and Sabine National Wildlife Refuges.
*Addition of youth waterfowl opportunity on Grand Cote, Lake Ophelia, and Red River National Wildlife Refuges.
To view the full notices of intent and all proposed and approved hunting season dates and regulations changes for the upcoming hunting seasons, click here.
