Ok why and what is your source if it's anyone other than wlf agent Cassidy who manages the wax wma houseboats I wouldnt believe it to be true

I got the papers saying yesterday they will no longer allow houseboats on the delta.

Couple of my buddies that have house boats out there were just discussing the letters they got as well. There is a meeting planned not sure on all the particulars of when you have to be out.

What did the paper say did it give a reason I have not received my papers yet

From what I'm hearing the letter states that it's due to lack of funding, staff and conditions. I haven't gotten my letter yet so I don't know for sure.

We regret to inform you that LDWF has decided to discontinue the issuing of houseboat mooring permits @ atchafalaya delta wma and pass a loutre wma. This includes hunting season permits and 16 day permits @ all designated mooring areas within the boundaries of these wma's. LDWF'S office of wildlife has decided to no longer provide houseboat mooring accommodations due to poor conditions at the designated mooring locations and lack of staffing/funding to maintain the sites and supervise the program.

We apologize for any inconvenience. however LDWF will continue to maintain the established campgrounds on the WMA'S for tent camping while recreating at the WMA'S.

Sincerely
Jimmy Anthony
Assistant Secretary,Office of Wildlife

Yep I received my letter in the mail today..sucks that's they going through with this...if funding is an issues they should charge the ppl wanting to put the boats there...and also they are allowing the ppl with tents to still use the are like before...hope some way possible they change there mind and allow the houseboats back...definitely going to loose alot of hunters

I have been mooring there for years and there has been little no to maintenance or upkeep. We pay the $5 processing fees for the lottery permits. Dont we also pay WMA fees? Hunting licenses fee? What about these vehicles the agents are driving? What about these boats they are pulling with these vehicles? I wonder how much they are spending on that. I have contacted my local state representative already, Sam Jones, for St.Mary and St. Martin parishes. We need to come together for this issue. Sam Jones 337-828-7778 Let's do something about this.

#1) Thanks for the heads up, a month before they are to be moved & 2 months before teal season. This makes no sense what so ever for that lame letter.

2) Makes no sense whatsoever on the lack due to poor conditions at the designated mooring locations and lack of staffing/funding to maintain the sites and supervise the program. If you are going to have tents, you still have to cut the grass; with tents means people so the crap cans will have to be maintained; and last time i checked there was no bellhop or desk clerk checking me in and out of the management area getting paid salary or by the hour. Funding could be resolved by asking those to moore to pay a fee to go into that area and that area alone for upkeep. I would pay that to keep my houseboat there year around to enjoy that area all year long.

3) Poor Conditions? Last i checked you stay on the houseboat majority of the time, as long as you have something to tie up to who cares what the landscape looks like, and don't know about you but my houseboat sits on water. I know the water changes, but last year on the last weekend i jumped off into the water to try to retrieve my GPS and had to swim down 10' to the bottom. No silt there, what they think comes through there, a carnival cruise ship?

4) A couple of years ago, they tried shutting down the AMA down at 2:00 like the rest of the MA's. They held a meeting which many people showed up to and we squashed it. How come a meeting was not held, and the public notified as all state budgets and salaries come from Tax Payers dollars. I'm no lawyer, and have no clue for the most part, but there must be some form of 'Due Process/Procedure' in this matter. I know there has to be atleast one lawyer that has a houseboat and hunts in this area.

5) If you really want to get this thing changed, send an email to Jimmy Anthony who wrote the letter. JAnthony@WLF.La.gov is his email address. Also there are monthly meetings held every month on the 1st Thursday of the Month at 9:30am at the Quail Run Baton Rouge office. Help get the word out to people you know who use this area. Even those who use tents. There has been atleast a handful of times were people stopped and got on my house boat when the weather got ruff. More than just houseboat people will be affected.

6) In dealing with this issue, according to cassidy's secretary, most people have been really nice since she's just answering the phones, but some people have been @$$e$. Don't be, be respectful and let's resolve this issue with intellect. Hope this gets resolved so that the season coming soon will be great.

A.J. Holland

As i hear info, in which the 5 people i talked to really didn't have a clue, i'll let y'all know. Please do like wise.

When you email or talk to people especially if you are from that area, make sure you remind them of the fuel, food, and other cost that we hunters provide to the Morgan City Economy as well as the funds to the State for the privilidge to hunt/fish.

GO AJ tell them brother no but really we gotta try and have a meeting or something I know I can't tent camp every weekend so there for I couldn't hunt ducks I hunt there cuz I wanna kill ducks just like the rest of us and that is my camp I fish down there crab hunt everything them taking away the mooring is taking my who camp I'm sure all of us would be willing to pay fee but honestly what kind of staff and maintenance do you need to tie a rope to a piling this is why people hate wlf they always find a way to screw with everything where was our input on this before. This isn't some where we hunt a few weekends I go there every weekend so what now do I give up huntin ducks sell my houseboat get rid tof the mudbuddy cuz wlf is to lazy or just don't care we gotta at least try something

No I haven't seen anyone out there checking you in like a Bellhop but I'm sure there are costs.

Anybody have an idea as to the cost to have dredges go out there?

It seems the last 5 years or so I hunted out there they did do some dredging. If not for the dredging the majority of the pilings that the camps are tied to wouldn't even be near the water on low tide.

I can remember people tying up when I was in high school only to wake up in the morning on low tide and have their boat 10' from the water's edge. Seen a number of bass boats and heavier fiberglass boats that weren't going to get pushed off.

The dredging really made a difference and made it less of an issue. Without any dredging I bet it won't be long before the little pass where most of the camps tie up will be silted in.

At least it should relieve some of the pressure and may return to how it used to be.

Yes they do dredge out there. Just like last year the dredged there by the campground island and took that dirt and put it on the island. If you remember, during teal season, it was a mess when it rained. On that note, seems since they will be keeping tent camping open on the Island, then that will be an occuring cost. Also it's a rebuilding marsh, when will we be hearing about a letter or a post that says, 'sorry, but due to the rebuilding marsh from the atchafalaya river and wax lake outlet, hunting is not permitted due to silting of some canals.' 2 months before the season starts would you be aggravated then? For those that have house boats, that's how we feel.

As my boy brandon says, put my money where i hunt. If the cost is high then setup a paypal account for that area and other areas.

If boats are stuck on land, then need to understand how that area works. If it's a houseboat on land, they need to learn how to secure them off the bank so it rises and falls with the tides.

If you want it to get back the way it was, too bad. Ain't going to happen. Not trying to be rude, but when you have dumb people hunting on top of people who have put in the time scouting and prepping, People who run out right at shooting time when your first flight is cupped in; hit a mud flat; commence to cussing; drive thru your decoys while you are waiting for light, or all those dumb people who can't read the no wake zone that stretches from the campground point to the end of the houseboat on both sides. Write half of those morons a ticket and you could pay to support that area, and keep dirt from dropping from the banks due to erosion from the waves.

But back to the point at hand. To ask us as hunters to follow the rules and be good sportsman, you should have leaders doing the same thing and not being underhanded in the way they go about issues. How can you expect it to get back to the way it WAS when the people in charge are acting like spotlighters killing deer or other things at night. Being sneaky is not the way to go, and does not hold up in high regards. Don't know how anyone else was raised, but I Was Raised to Do things the RIGHT way, leave it better than you found it, and treat others the way you where treated.

In response to Ajsflooring,

Man I'm not trying to say what they're doing is the right thing. I was only responding to those that were saying there were no costs involved because there's no bellhop checking you in.

I have no idea as to the cost of dredging, but with the price of diesel it can't be too cheap.

I've hunted there for years sleeping in tents when there were only a handful of camps. Everyone scouted, hunted hard, and shot ducks. No one jumped in the blind you built and everyone kept a safe distance from you.

It was when word got out and everyone started pouring in from all over the state, that all respect went out the window. I know exactly what you're talking about with people running through your decoys etc.

I used to park my boat and walk 1/4 mile across the mudflat to get to our blind. I've had people run past me with mudmotors while I was less than 100 yards from the blind walking and dragging my decoys only to jump in the blind I was walking to. It couldn't be more obvious what my intentions were. Nothing else out there within a mile of me.

My brother-in-law also had a camp out there for a few years. No doubt it was the way to go. I haven't been out there in years, but I know exactly what you're talking about with the fresh mud piled on the levee and then the rain that almost always happens that opening weekend. Nothing but a slop. I'd surely be as upset as everyone else.

But I also try to look at the bright side of everything, and while I'd prefer to be able to bring a camp out there, there should be less pressure.

Unlike some people on here, thanks for your comments. Hoping we still can get this resolved.

I feel you on the people cutting you off, as this past year, i brought some people for the first time set them up and some guy came right thru and asked if they where going to hunt there, then cut through and blocked me to keep me from coming through to the place i was going. Mud motors aren't bad, it's like the gun saying, it's people. Some people that shoot 30 minutes before shooting time and till it's pitch black are just as likely to walk in. What i've tried to do to alleviate the idiots is use the app from the wlf on my iphone to report stupid people breaking the law, or putting people in danger. If you don't have it, it's called LADWF tips. It's free, and sends an anonymous email to agents in that area, who are constantly on an ipad monitoring situations. Stopped somebody this year. One at a time, is how we can make Sportsman's Paradise a little more pleasant.

Good luck to you this year Mr Wiggins.

Unfortunately I'm in West Texas and don't have public land with water on it to duck hunt within 3 hours of me.

Trust me I miss that place. I'd take it with the idiots and all over whats available out here.

I just try to look at all sides. I definitely agree that they could have given more notice. Its a little late now. New camps pop up out there every year. Who knows how many are being built right now with the intentions of towing it down there this season.

But I also wonder if they had to make cuts and it came down to laying off 5 employees (purely random guess) or elminating the mooring areas? What's more important our rights to tie up a camp, or other people's jobs.

However, at the same time I don't think they explored all options. They could have a fundraiser and I guarantee you if they'd promised to use the funds to maintain those WMA's, people would show up in droves to support them. I'll mail a check from West Texas.

I was fortunate enough to have guys join me for a hunt down there in 2006 from Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Texas. To this day every single one of them still consider that hunt one of the top hunts of their lifetime. They had never seen anything like that before with everyone towing camps down there just for duck season and then bringing them home for the summer. I hope for you guys they reverse course.

Mr wiggins I defineltly see what your saying about the pressure I would be with you except that I'm being selfish I guess but I would be one of the people putting less pressure I like other people drive 2 hours to hunt down there before we had a camp I couldn't do it all the time bringing 2 boats packing all that gear with the camp it allows me show up when I want with half the gear but also in just my opinion the camps aren't putting to much pressure we all have scouted and have our blinds built were gonna be hunting every weekend its the guys that just show up tryin to find a spot and also after my hunt I can kick back on the camp a lot of them tenters have nothin to do they goin out for a second limit that day it's hard for me to say because it's obvious which side I'm for but it's more than just hunting ducks to me

yes its true the ldwf sent me a letter also about not mooring on wax lake. I had asked Cassidy in the past about the option of charging for the mooring to offset the costs involved and was told it was not needed at this time, that was last year....now this!!!!i had also went down to the New Iberia office to ask questions about it but he was not there at the time.I have spent 5 years building a houseboat because it is the only PRACTICAL way to hunt down there with my children. Wax lake is very remote and with the equipment needed to duck hunt that was my best option. Now to take that away without any other methods to acquire funds for the upkeep is horrible. I cannot see myself and many of friends going down there without camps especially with our children. And isnt that what we are all trying to do is keep people in the outdoors. I sure hope the LDWF can understand this and try other options because if they dont many children will not see the wax like I have and have grown to love. Please everyone get on board and make some phone calls.

I am on the other side of the fence on this. I hope LDWF stands there ground. Looks like funding is not there and personnel. This might bring the old wax back. Less pressure more ducks!!

Bring it back to what true there probably less birds now than there used to be or there more educated but I really don't see how it can get much better we've kept a log for the past few years and we've pretty much killed the same amount of birds food and the cool fronts will always equal birds at the wax and they have abundance of food towards the end of the season birds will always get educated and you have to change you tactics we've had to change ours just with land changes I know I'm for the camps so that's where my options towards but I don't see how the Ones with camps hurt the hunting

last year at the wax late in the evening I ran down main pass scouting for a place to hunt in the am. A front had come through and the wind was howling out of the north temp around freezing. I came upon a man and his son who was high and dry since the morning and completely covered in wet mud. Their boat was at least 50 yards from the water edge and night was fast approaching. I finally convinced him to come with me to my camp and we would watch the water until it was high enough for his boat to float.His son didnt need any convincing!!!! They came to my boat had a hot meal and waited till about 9:30 then I brought them back to their boat which was finally free and able to be pulled off. If houseboats were not allowed this man and his son would have been there half the night below freezing after being there all day soaking.... I am not making this up!!! Im sure everyone there has had a close call or two, think about this and understand this is also a safety issue as I am sure the LWDF will get many more calls to go down to the wax looking for people if this remains as it is. There is more things that come from decisions like this than are obvious!

First off just left the wax went down to the pilings everything good and normal no need for dredging but mike same thing happen to us a few years ago we got two guys who were sleeping in the crap house there boat had sunk tied up to the old dock there tent had collapsed everything thing they owned was soaked we brought them to our camp give them dry clothes cooked breakfast the borrowed our phones and we've been friends ever since so I feel the same way

you would think that the department would have asked the affected houseboat owners if the would want to pay a piling fee or something along those lines to help defray the costs of upkeep. Even a fee per piling would be good so that the larger houseboats would pay a larger portion and the smaller boats would not pay as much would be very fair. I am beginning to believe this was done in this way to stir up the public about the cuts the department has had in the last session.I really think they dont care if they have funding they prob. want the negative press to highlight how their funding was cut, otherwise why would they have not contacted the hunters about footing the bill. That seems the only reason unless they just dont care about the public they are supposed to be serving!!

First of all how can you just send a letter 1 month before its time to move the house boats, then say the reason for this is funds and poor conditions the conditions are the same in the houseboat canal at the wax as they have been for the last 5 years! that canal is 15 to 18 feet deep it is not silted up by no means and to say they do all this up keep on it is bull the only up keep they do is for the camp ground! them poles for the houseboats have been there for ever the only thing they did for houseboats was re-paint the numbers on the poles about 4 years ago oooooooooo if they needed a can of spray paint i could have bought them one ! If its money they want well ask i will happily pay to park the house boat there, then there money problems are solved !!!!!!!!! LETS COME TOGETHER GUYS AND GET THIS THRU THERE HEADS CALL EVERYONE THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH WILDLIFEANDFISHIERS !!!!! WE HAVE TO GET THEM TO TURN IT AROUND . I feel like i just lost my dog the house boat is my life guess im goin to watch the new duck commander dvd and cry my self to sleep!

Going to try and get some info tomorrow from cassidy, Mr. Anthony, as well as the procedure we must take to try to get this taken care of.

I am going to try to get in touch with cassidy today and also with jimmy anthony to try to explain why I think this is a bad idea. I also urge everyone involved to do the same and also maybe ask about any options you might have. These are some phone numbers that may help

Jimmy Anthony 225-765-2346
Cassidy 337-373-0032
Sam Jones rep. for st mary area 337-828-7778
Also Brent Allain is the senator for this district but I dont have his number yet
and Stewart Bishop is also a legislator for that district also
Please call when and as often as you can
lets resolve this and help keep this our sportsmans paradise!

I spoke with Rep. Stuart Bishop just a few minutes ago. He is involving himself heavily with this issue, and wants people to contact himself, as well as Reps. Gordon Dove and Joe Harrison. Just send them an e-mail telling them you don't agree with this, and want a resolution to be able to continue bringing your houseboat out to The Wax...


Rep. Stuart Bishop:

bishops@legis.la.gov


Rep. Gordon Dove:

larep052@legis.la.gov


Rep. Joe Harrison:

harrisoj@legis.la.gov

Well folks I called Jimmy today and was told they stopped the houseboat mooring cause it was not a lottery and the Ldwf lawyers told them that that was illegal! He said it was first come first serve so they stopped it! So I guess it wasnt in his power to fix it only to shut it down!!! And what about all the other lotteries the ldwf oversees, he cant fix them if something is wrong only shut them down. He told me that we, the sportsman had our hands full to fix this!! He said there was nothing he could do, this is coming from the man that shut it down and didnt even contact the affected hunters. Is this the ldwf of the future? He also said he was getting threatening calls and letters which I said was not right (and isnt) but it seems to all involved that this is about the funding cuts and that excuses are being made to justify this. I even asked him why didnt they come to the housboat owners earlier to get funding for the pilings and his response is that this needs to go through the legislature. Now thats why this wasnt brought up earlier because it is in response to their cuts. I firmly believe that this was done after session so that we would have to wait till next session (year) and so that the public would demand that from the legislature. I told him that we all wanted to resolve this but he didnt seem to even WANT to help. That is what is so worrisome to me.

Is anyone aware of anyone requesting a permit and being denied due to a shortage of permits?

I surely have never heard of this.

Sounds like a bunch of bologna to me.

Not sure about other WMA's but I've never seen a shortage of pilings at the Wax Lake Delta.

Something sure sounds fishy about this excuse.

These are just my thoughts:

1. With the invention of the 'mudmotors', more of the WAX has been accessible and the 'big money' players want to less competition.

2. The WLF have their hands tied

3. The funding thing is a joke. People would pay top dollar to have their house boat there year round, much less hunting season. The money collected during hunting season alone could fund the dredging activities.

4. Its happening to all of our WMA's. We as sportsmen are getting less and less access to our 'public area's' because of 'big money' players.

Unfortunately Brandon is right. Once lawyers get involved things have a way of going toward the rich. They have already taken so called state property and leased it out in the atchafalaya.

This decision to close the houseboats is going to put more hunters safety at risk. No doubt this will result in more hunters running the wax cut or Atchafalaya River in the dark.

I know this sounds extreme, but the decision to end houseboat mooring at the Delta may very well result the death of fellow hunters.

Read Ricky Aucoin's report from Stuart Bishop.
Ldwf changed there mind after all the phone calls,e-mails, etc.
Great job fella's

if the last report I heard is true the ldwf has decided to allow houseboat mooring at some of the sites originally cited to be stopped. If this is true hats off to everyone who has stepped up to the plate to address this. That being said I think most of the affected hunters understand that something long term should be agreed upon by the sportsmen and women, the ldwf and the legislature to insure that the houseboat mooring should be better funded. Lets all try to work with all parties involved to make a long term commitment that will be beneficial to ALL parties. This should be done openly with everyones input. Every camp owner I have talked to has said they would not mind bearing some of the costs involved with this program,and we all know we love being out there so lets not just be all talk. Now that we have secured some time to make some changes FOR THE BETTER lets not stop now. Stay in touch with each other and the lawmakers who came to our side and Yes also with the ldwf and lets fix this for good.

This is a long shot and strictly my opinion on this issue but, has anyone entertained the idea that maybe everybody is getting pushed out so the Wax area can become a 'Private' hunting lease for the elite aristocrats? Think about it...hard working sportmen who spend their hard earned money in the towns along the area providing revenue and then get pushed out leaving these elite investors to come in and build extreme hunting/fishing lodges etc! Call me crazy! I hope I'm wrong! But, it could happen!!

What's the latest on this?