LDW.F providing public dove hunting opportunities Sept. 1
By: Ray Doughty
Updated: August 31, 2012
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will provide public dove hunting opportunities for the Sept. 1 season opening on leased private land and state wildlife management areas around the state. All hunting sites listed below are subject to closure however, due to Tropical Storm Isaac impacts on habitat which will have to be determined once the storm has moved through the state.
The 2012-13 dove season opens Saturday, Sept. 1 in the north and south zones and hunters have multiple options available. LDWF has leased private land in the following parishes for Sept. 1 only, from noon to sunset:
*Beauregard Parish, DeRidder -- 500 acres harvested corn and milo. Directions: Take Hwy190 West from DeRidder. The field is approximately 5 miles West of DeRidder on the North side of Hwy 190 just past Hwy 3226. Check in will be at the rice dryers. Contact Kori Legleu at 337-491-2575 for more information. Maps will be available at the Lake Charles Office.
*Franklin Parish -- 110 acres harvested milo. East of Gilbert at the intersection of Hwy 4 and Hwy 572. No ATV's.
*Grant Parish -- 180 acres harvested milo. Directions: 5 miles north of Boyce on La. Hwy 8. No ATV's.
*Jefferson Davis Parish, Welsh -- 290 acre harvested rice field. Directions: Take I-10 to Exit 59 (Roanoke). Head North on Hwy 395, then turn West (left) on Blanchard Rd. Follow Blanchard Rd to Compton Rd. Field located on Southwest corner of Blanchard and Compton roads. Contact Kori Legleu at 337-491-2575 for more information. Maps will be available at the Lake Charles Office.
*Rapides Parish - 90 acres harvested milo. Directions: 2 miles east of Lecompte on Hwy 457. No ATV's.
The leased fields will be open to public dove hunting on Sept. 1 only and LDWF personnel will be present at the field to issue permits and monitor the hunt. Hunters 16 years of age and older are charged $10 to hunt, while hunters 15 years of age and younger hunt for free. All hunters are required to obtain a permit on site. Permits will be issued at each site on a first come, first serve basis until each field is filled.
Hunters 16 years of age and older must also have an appropriate hunting license with HIP certification. HIP certification is available from hunting license vendors at no charge.
Additionally, LDWF provides public dove hunting opportunities on state wildlife management areas including: Bayou Pierre WMA, northwest Red River Parish; Big Colewa WMA, West Carroll Parish; Boeuf WMA, Caldwell Parish; Clear Creek WMA, Vernon Parish; Elbow Slough WMA, southeastern Rapides Parish; Floy McElroy WMA, Richland Parish; Fort Polk WMA, Vernon Parish; Loggy Bayou WMA, Bossier Parish; Red River WMA, Concordia Parish; and West Bay WMA, Allen Parish.
For more information about public dove hunting opportunities, go tohttp://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/dove or contact Jeff Duguay at 225-765-2353 or jduguay@wlf.la.gov .
