Youth hunting continues on select days during teal, regular duck season.
Portions of Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge will open for the first time to youth waterfowl hunting beginning Saturday (Sept. 10), allowing young hunters to take advantage of the early teal season.
This is the first hunting season opened on the refuge since its establishment in 1990, and youth hunting will be allowed throughout the rest of the teal season and the regular duck season on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
No other hunting is allowed outside youth waterfowl hunting, although supervising adults can actively participate in hunting except during state-established special youth waterfowl hunting days.
Hunting will be allowed only on designated sections of the refuge, delineated on the refuge hunting and fishing map, in accordance with state and federal regulations subject to the following conditions:
• All waterfowl and coot hunting shall be considered youth hunts.
• Supervising adults must be 21 years of age or older and must be accompanied by a youth younger than 16.
• Participating youth must be capable of and must actively participate in the hunt by possessing and/or firing a legal weapon during the hunt for the express purpose of harvesting game.
• Each adult may supervise no more than two youths; each youth may be supervised by no more than one adult during the course of any hunt.
• Adults accompanying youths on refuge hunts may participate by hunting, except during the special youth waterfowl season, and may not harvest more than their own daily bag limit.
• Waterfowl (ducks, geese) and coot hunting is permitted until 12 p.m. (noon) on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only.
• Hunting is allowed only on those portions of the refuge that are identified on the refuge hunt and fishing regulations brochure map.
All hunters must carry a valid refuge permit, found on the refuge hunting and fishing regulations.
Additional regulations, the refuge permit, and the refuge map also may be obtained at information kiosks on the refuge, from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices at 61389 Hwy. 434 in Lacombe, LA 70445. Call 985.882.2021 or 985.882.2000 for more information.
