L.D.W.F. to hold alligator lottery hunts

This perennial Black Bay hotspot is producing big trout and reds.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will conduct alligator lottery hunts on four Coastal & Nongame Resources (CNR) Division Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), 11 Wildlife Division WMAs and 16 public lakes for the 2009 alligator harvest season in order to increase alligator harvest opportunities for the public.

The CNR Division WMAs include: Atchafalaya Delta WMA, St. Mary Parish; Pass A Loutre WMA, Plaquemines Parish; Pointe Aux Chenes WMA, Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes; and Salvador/Timken WMAs, St. Charles Parish.

The Wildlife Division WMAs include: Big Lake WMA, Tensas Parish; Boeuf WMA, Caldwell Parish; Buckhorn WMA, Tensas Parish; Elm Hall WMA, Assumption Parish; Grassy Lake WMA, Avoyelles Parish; Joyce WMA, Tangipahoa Parish; Sherburne WMA – State and Sherburne WMA – U.S. Army Corps of Engineer lands, Iberville, Pointe Coupee and St. Martin parishes; Pearl River WMA, St. Tammany Parish; Red River WMA, Concordia Parish; and Three Rivers WMA, Concordia Parish.

The public lakes include: Lake Bistineau, Webster, Bossier and Bienville parishes; Lake Wallace, Caddo Parish; Black/Cypress Lake, Bossier Parish; Cross Lake, Caddo Parish; Kepler Lake, Bienville Parish; Bayou Desiard North, Ouachita Parish; Caney Lake, Jackson Parish; Bayou Bartholomew, Ouachita and Morehouse parishes; Kincaid Lake, Rapides Parish; Saline Lake, Winn Parish; Toledo Bend, Desoto and Sabine parishes; Lake Bruin, Tensas Parish; Lake Concordia, Concordia Parish; Lake St. John, Tensas Parish; Lake St. Joseph, Tensas Parish; and Anacoco Lake, Vernon Parish.

Interested participants may either request an application by phone or print out an application from LDWF’s Web site. Please review the following contact information concerning application requests.

CNR Division WMA application requests – call 337/373-0032 or go to Web site address http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/2009%20LOTTERY%20WMA%20ALLIGATOR%20HARVEST%20APPLICATION%20-%20CNR%20WMAS.pdf

Wildlife Division WMA application requests – call 225/765-2346 or go to Web site address http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/2009%20RECREATIONAL%20WMA%20ALLIGATOR%20HARVEST%20APPLICATION%20-%20WILDLIFE%20WMAS.pdf

Public Lake application requests – call 225/765-2346 or go to Web site address http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/2009%20RECREATIONAL%20PUBLIC%20LAKES%20ALLIGATOR%20HARVEST%20APPLICATION%20-%20WILDLIFE%20PUBLIC%20LAKES.pdf

Applications must be submitted to the address indicated on corresponding applications by July 22, 2009, and will be restricted to one application per person.

The lottery harvests will be conducted between Aug. 26 and Oct. 1. Exact harvest dates will vary by location and will be specified at the time selected hunters are notified.

Each applicant must be a legal Louisiana resident and 16 years of age or older. Any applicant born on or after Sept. 1, 1969 must also provide a valid hunter safety certification number. A non-refundable $5 application fee is required.

All applicants meeting the application requirements will be entered into a randomized computer drawing, which will take place in August 2009. Selected hunters will be notified by mail.