Addition brings wildlife management area to more than 100,000 acres, LDWF says.
Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area was expanded by nearly 30,000 acres in September, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced Sept. 30.
The 29,630-acre addition joins the old eastern and western portions of the WMA and brings the public area to more than 100,000 acres stretching across Ascension, Livingston, St. James and St. John parishes, the LDWF said.
“We continue to look for opportunities to expand public outdoor recreation options through the wildlife management program,” LDWF’s Robert Barham said. “We encourage hunters to utilize these new public hunting grounds during the 2011-12 season.”
The new acreage includes flooded cypress tupelo swamp. Prominent plant species include bulltongue, cattails, submerged aquatics, red maple, and limited oak species consisting mostly of live oak, striped (nuttall) oak, and water oak.
The perimeter boundary of the new acreage is being marked with LDWF signage to alert the public.
Primary access into the area is by boat, but there are several portions that can be accessed by foot. Major highways crossing through the area include Interstate 10, Interstate 55, US Highway 61 and state Highway 641.
Major waterways in the area include the Blind River, Dutch Bayou, Mississippi Bayou, Petite Amite and the Reserve Flood Relief Canal.
WMA users can acquire the self clearing permits required to enter the area from nine kiosks located throughout the WMA.
Game hunted within the WMA includes whitetail deer, squirrels, rabbits, waterfowl and raccoons. Freshwater fish, such as largemouth bass, perch, and crappie are favorites of anglers within the WMA.
Trapping for alligators and nutria also is allowed each year with proper permitting.
