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Lost & found
I don’t recall exactly who said it, but a famous outdoorsman once quipped that he had never actually been lost — but there had been times when he hadn’t known where he was for a few days. […]
Game Warden
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Working the duck beat
Working migratory game bird seasons — particularly duck seasons — was always one of my favorite parts of the job. […]
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Tips for legal, safe duck hunts
Duck, coot and merganser seasons kick off in November. Louisiana is divided into three zones: coastal, west and east. […]
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Fall hunting schedule should include emergency plan
Everything was going just fine until I felt some heartburn and a little acid indigestion. It’s rare for me but not unheard of. Then things got worse — and in a couple of days I was in the emergency room and pretty sick. […]
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The dos and don’ts of dove hunting
A good dove hunt is a lot of fun and a great way to kick off the fall hunting season. So make sure your dove hunt stays safe and legal. […]
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Handguns for personal protection
In the June column we talked about getting your rifle ready for hunting season. While I admit to spending more time with rifles nowadays, handguns have always been a part of my day-to-day routine. During my career it was as much a part of the uniform as pants and shirt, and while off-duty I was still either carrying one or had quick access to it. […]
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Toxic bait for feral hogs
Kaput is the brand name of a toxicant approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as a lethal bait for feral hogs. According to the label, the active ingredient in Kaput is Warfarin, an anticoagulant medication sold under the brand name Coumadin. […]
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Time to go sling some lead!
I readily admit to being a rifle nut. Handguns are great and a career in law enforcement provides one with a great deal of training and experience with them. But rifles are my favorite and as a hunter and shooting enthusiast, I have always found them more interesting and useful. […]
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Check the boat before going afloat
Our early spring with its warm temperatures has recreational boaters lining up at the launch in eager anticipation of fun on the water. Whether your particular brand of good time boating involves fishing, skiing, riding personal watercrafts or simply cruising down the river, proper preparation and planning are crucial to boating safely. […]
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Wanton waste regulations
Not long ago, I received a phone call from a man with a question.
“Do we have a law in Louisiana banning the waste of fish or wildlife?” […]
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Gobbler chasing
Louisiana’s spring gobbler season began on March 25 in all three areas, and the youth and physically challenged hunt weekend was March 18-19. […]
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Search and rescue in the great outdoors
Floods and hurricanes focus media attention on search-and-rescue (SAR) functions performed by state wildlife agents and local law enforcement officers. Far more frequent are SAR operations for lost or missing outdoorsmen. […]
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Hunting federal lands in Louisiana
We don’t always think about it very much, but Louisiana has an abundance of public land available for hunting. That certainly is not true in every state, so we should count our blessings. […]
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Saving the alligator in Louisiana
During my career with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, I was fortunate enough to witness and participate in a few conservation success stories. Perhaps most notable is the recovery in Louisiana of the American alligator. […]
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Chronic Wasting Disease
As I mentioned in our last installment, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is focusing on the spread of chronic wasting disease in wild deer. […]
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Feral hogs on the loose
On July 28, the Louisiana Departments of Agriculture and Forestry and Wildlife and Fisheries hosted a meeting in Mansura. […]