L.W.F.C. Sets 2012-2013 Early Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons

July 2, 2012 -- The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission set the dates for the 2012-2013 early migratory bird hunting seasons at their July 2 meeting. These dates, recommended by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, are tentative pending U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval.

The proposed dove season is broken down into a north and south zone with each zone having three segments and includes mourning, white-winged, Eurasian collared and ringed-turtle doves. The dove season in the south zone would go from Sept. 1-9, Oct. 13 - Nov. 25 and Dec. 22 - Jan. 7. The north zone would be from Sept. 1-16, Oct. 6 - Nov. 4 and Dec. 15 - Jan. 7. The daily bag limit for mourning, white-winged and fully dressed Eurasian collared-doves and ringed-turtle doves would be 15 in aggregate and possession of 30 in aggregate. However, there is no bag limit on Eurasian collared-doves or ringed turtle-doves provided that a fully feathered wing and head remain attached to the carcass of the bird. Fully dressed Eurasian-collared doves and ringed turtle-doves (those without a fully feathered wing and head naturally attached to the carcass) shall be included in the aggregate bag.

The following boundary divides the dove season zones: Beginning at the Texas-Louisiana border on La. Hwy. 12; thence east along La. Hwy. 12 to its intersection with U.S. Hwy. 190; thence east along U.S. Hwy. 190 to its intersection with Interstate 12; thence east along I-12 to its intersection with Interstate 10; then east along I-10 to the Mississippi state line.

Blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal season would last from Sept. 15 - 30 with a daily bag limit of four (4) and a possession limit of eight (8). Federal and state waterfowl stamps are required to harvest teal.

Rail and gallinule seasons are proposed to last 70 days. The first segment would be open from Sept. 15 - 30. The other segment will be set in August with the regular waterfowl seasons. King and clapper rails would have a daily bag limit of 15 with a possession limit of 30. Sora and Virginia rails would have a daily and possession limit totaling 25. Common and purple gallinules would have a daily bag limit of 15 and possession limit totaling 30.

Under the proposal, woodcock season would last 45 days from Dec. 18 - Jan. 31, statewide. A three-bird daily bag limit and a six-bird possession limit would be allowed.

Snipe season will be set in August.

Shooting and hawking hours for dove, woodcock, rail, teal and gallinules are tentatively set for half an hour before sunrise to sunset, except for a 12 noon start time on the first day of dove season on Sept. 1, 2012.

Extended falconry mourning dove season would open from Sept. 17 - Oct. 3. Extended falconry woodcock season would open from Oct. 28 - Dec. 17 and will reopen from Feb. 1-11. The falconry daily bag limit would be three and possession limit of six birds for all permitted migratory game birds during the extended falconry and regular hunting seasons. Extended falconry seasons for ducks, rails and gallinules will be set in August with the waterfowl regulations.

Hunters are reminded that they must have a HIP permit to hunt migratory birds.  HIP permits are free and are available wherever hunting licenses are sold.

Regular waterfowl season proposal

Commissioners also proposed dates for the 2012-13 regular waterfowl season after extensive discussion.

The season would include three zones (the east/west zone boundary was changed during the meeting, and the map is not yet available; check back later to see that map), and hunting in each zone would be managed with two splits.

Each zone also would include a two-day youth hunt, if the proposal receives final approval.

Proposed dates are:

• Coastal Zone -- Nov. 3-4 (youth), Nov. 10-Dec. 2, Dec. 15-Jan. 20
• East Zone -- Nov. 17-25, Dec. 8-Jan. 27, Feb. 2-3 (youth)
• West Zone -- Nov. 3-4 (youth), Nov. 10-Dec. 9, Dec. 22-Jan. 20