so wma's are shrinking,and we are loseing wma's and wlf is going into the buisness of guided hunts. they want more license sales start pull'n those fish'n poles and cast nets from those no tax pay'n no english speak'n people on side the road till they buy one.

Aug. 6, 2012 -- The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is now accepting applications for waterfowl group hunts for up to 12 hunters per group at White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area (WCA).

The cost of the 2012-13 waterfowl season hunts will be $30,000 for each group and the application form is available on the LDWF website at http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/lottery-hunts. A completed application form and $2,500 deposit must be submitted to LDWF by the close of business on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2012.

Interested groups must select one, two-day group hunt per application. When selecting dates from the dates offered (example: Nov. 10-11), it is understood that arrival will be the afternoon before (example: Nov. 9). The two consecutive days of hunting do not include the arrival day, which will be the day before from 3 to 5 p.m.

LDWF will then select one application by random lottery drawing for each hunt offered. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must submit a separate application for each two-day group hunt they wish to reserve.

Applications must be accompanied by a bank draft, money order or other liquid instrument made payable to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in the amount of $2,500. If the application is selected, the deposit is non-refundable, and the applicant will be notified by mail and required to submit the final payment of $27,500 no later than 14 days prior to arrival.

The fee covers up to 12 hunters and includes the following: transportation to and from the airport (Jennings or Lake Charles or Lafayette), all food and beverages, two-night stay at the White Lake Lodge, professional hunting and fishing guides, hunting and fishing licenses, steel shot shotgun shells for waterfowl hunts and lead shot for skeet range, the use of shotguns and fishing gear, bird and fish cleaning and packaging.

On the arrival day, hunters will watch a safety film and then be issued hunting and fishing licenses. If time allows, the group will shoot skeet in the late afternoon hours. Day two starts with a morning waterfowl hunt from 6 to 9:30 a.m. After the hunt, the group can fish or shoot clay targets on the skeet range or sporting clays course. On day three, a morning waterfowl hunt is scheduled from 6 to 9:30 a.m., and checkout is no later than noon, after lunch.

Applications must be mailed to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Attention: White Lake Group Hunt, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898 (Physical Address: 2000 Quail Drive, Room 422, Baton Rouge, LA 70808).

For more information on White Lake WCA waterfowl group hunts, contact Wayne Sweeney at 337-536-9400 or wsweeney@wlf.la.gov.