Bear hunting applicants are selected

LWFC hears updates from biologists at monthly meeting

Six hundred forty-nine bear hunting licenses were sold during a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) lottery.

John Hanks, LDWF large carnivore program manager, reported on lottery numbers during a Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) monthly meeting Friday, Oct. 4, in Lake Providence.

The license cost was $25 and was a prerequisite before a hunter could participate in the lottery. LDWF sponsored three different lotteries: general, private owner and Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

The three different lotteries generated 973 total applications. According to Hanks, some applicants applied more than once. Of those applicants, 305 applied to the general lottery, 357 to the private landowner and 311 to the WMA lottery.

Bear research

All applicants that were picked were drawn on Sept. 26, according to Hanks. All 10 applicants have accepted their permits and are currently being vetted for proper documentation. The first bear hunting course will be Nov. 2 in Tallulah.

“We have about five (lottery winners) from north Louisiana,” Hanks said. “We have a good representation from the entire state.”

When asked where the funds from the licenses would go, Hanks answered, “All the money generated from this lottery goes back into bear research. We are spending it as fast as we can make it.”

During his report, Hanks said LDWF officials had been collaring bears last week in Pointe Coupee Parish. After Pointe Coupee Parish, they will be moving farther north into Yancy and Lake Ophelia and then to Tensas Parish.

The lottery was open to all properly licensed Louisiana hunters. Private landowner permits are transferrable. Permits, which are transferable only one time, must be arranged prior to the mandatory training session.

The season is for bear hunting Area 4 which encompasses Tensas, Madison, East Carroll, and West Carroll parishes and portions of Richland, Franklin and Catahoula parishes.

The season would begin on Dec. 7, 2024 and run through Dec. 22, 2024. WMA permits are specific for Bayou Macon, Big Lake and Buckhorn WMAs.

LWFC issued a maximum of only 10 permits to hunt the Tensas River subpopulation of black bears. Tensas River subpopulation is the largest and healthiest black bear subpopulation and has experienced significant growth and expansion beyond its core habitat area.

Bayou Macon update

Meanwhile, Wildlife Biologist Supervisor Mitch McGee gave an overview of the 6,919-acre Bayou Macon WMA located near Lake Providence.

The WMA is one of the largest remaining bottomland hardwood forest in East Carroll Parish. It is a popular deer hunting location. In 2023 there were 497 bow hunters harvesting 12 deer. Also in 2023, gun hunters harvested 104 deer.

Bayou Macon WMA was purchased in 1991 for approximately $2.7 million from West Bank Planting Timber Company. The terrain is flat and poorly drained and surrounded by mainly farmland. Brushy and Buck bayous are the major drainages.

Since purchasing the WMA, LDWF has reforested 1,150 acres with nuttall oak, willow oak and water oak trees.

Beneficial freshwater fisheries programs

Additionally, Raynie Harlan, freshwater fisheries biologist, gave a report on beneficial freshwater fisheries programs along the Lower Mississippi River. Two major programs that were reported on were the Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee (LMRCC) and Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association (MICRA).

“We will give a general map on what has been going on with inland fisheries,” Harlan said.

LMRCC is a coalition of 12 state-centered agencies from six states. The coalition focuses on fisheries and recreation and concentrates on habitat restoration, landscape planning, scientific assessment, and economic development.

“It is the only regional forum on the Lower Mississippi River for fisheries and recreational planning,” Harlan said.

Regional accomplishments of LMRCC are mapping fishing and paddling along the Lower Mississippi River, water quality data inventory, batture reforestation project, along with carp management and control.

Harlan also explained the coalition’s “signature program,” the Restoring America’s Greatest River Initiative.

The Restoring America’s Greatest River Initiative was approved in April 2015. The plan contains an introduction section and information on river modifications, habitats and land use, floodplains, species of concern, native fishes, climate adaptation, planning, accomplishments, and goals and actions.

Another major program benefiting the Lower Mississippi River region is the Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association (MICRA).

It is a 28-state, three federal, and two tribal natural resource management jurisdiction. It cooperatively manages inter-jurisdictional fish and other aquatic resources.