Posted By:
webmaster
root
09-14-2010 14:48
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L.D.W.F. Advisory for Teal Hunters in Oil Spill Impacted Areas.
Teal season opens Saturday, Sept.11, and thousands of hunters will make their first waterfowl hunts in the coastal marshes since last winter. Although no areas in Louisiana are closed to hunting due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacts, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) advises hunters that they may encounter clean-up activities, boom protecting habitat, and possibly oiled habitat or birds. Additionally, some boat launch access points will be in use for continued clean-up activities.
Launch and Habitat Access
Boat launches serving the clean-up operation will be crowded with vehicles serving that mission. For example, launches in Hopedale, Cocodrie, Myrtle Grove and Venice are departure points for oil-spill workers, and the launch at the end of LA Hwy. 665 near Pointe-aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is closed to public use. Once on the water, hunters should expect additional boat traffic in areas near oil impacts. Like fishermen, hunters are not allowed to cross protective boom and are required to stay at least 65 feet from boom and other clean-up equipment.
The U.S. Coast Guard and oil-spill response operations personnel have agreed to minimize wildlife habitat disturbance where individuals may be hunting. Air-boat activity on WMAs will be stopped, low-level aircraft flights and other operations will be delayed until later in the morning, and clean-up crews will be briefed about potential hunting activity during the Sept.11 – 26 teal season.
LDWF asks hunters to remain aware of clean-up crews along the coast and understand the significance of their continued efforts. Oil-spill responders will be in clusters of boats and wearing white Tyvek suits. Their presence puts added emphasis on standard gun-safety procedures. Oil impacts are generally on the exterior marshes and islands, open bays and barrier islands. Any questions or issues relating to teal season hunting in areas of oil impact or cleanup activities should be reported to the Louisiana Teal Season Hotline at (985) 647-0266.
Oiled Wildlife or Habitat
In the unlikely event that hunters harvest an oiled bird, it must be kept as part of the daily bag limit, but LDWF is advising hunters NOT to eat visibly oiled ducks. Hunters are asked to report any oiled bird harvested, and any other oiled birds observed in the field, to the Oiled Wildlife Hotline at (866) 557-1401 and also to the nearest LDWF Field Office. If possible, wrap the oiled bird in aluminum foil or paper, and deliver it to the nearest LDWF Field Office or active bag check station so the bird can be analyzed and become part of the oil-spill damage assessment.
Hunters are also encouraged to report oil impacted marsh habitat to the Environmental Hotline at (866) 448-5816.
As part of the wildlife recovery and rehabilitation process, a few game birds that were recovered have been cleaned and released back into the wild. These birds have been tagged with a standard silver federal band and a red auxiliary band that says “Oil Spill Bird.” Hunters should not eat these birds, but should call the phone numbers on the band to report them.
For more information please contact Larry Reynolds, LDWF Waterfowl Study Leader, at (225) 765-0456 or lreynolds@wlf.la.gov.
Posted By:
tdaugereaux
Guest
SW LA 07-22-2010 09:50
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – Over 70 Degrees
Well its almost september and teal season is right around the corner.Hopefully it will turn out to be a good one. As usual most of my summer is spent fishing ,but even that has been hit and miss with the weather around here.
Hopefully duck season will be productive this year despite the oil spill ,and whatever other obstacles we may encounter between now and then.
Posted By:
Castille-Hebert
Guest
SW La. 06-21-2010 14:09
– – Over 70 Degrees
There is a rumor floating around that BP and USFWS are making plans to purchase food crops for the ducks North of Louisiana. This is supposedly to prevent large migrations of ducks in SE Louisiana. Hard to see how this small step would prevent this yearly migration, but only time will tell. It is fairly certain that the marshes being affected by this spill will not have recovered from this disaster!!!!
[Edited By Castille-Hebert on 2010-06-22 10:51]
Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor
La. 06-01-2010 12:06
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Seeing the wetland being mired in oil,the out of work fishermen,the businesses in your state being ruined by the oil spill,all I can do is remember your state and it’s people in my prayers.Yes,there is a God in my life,contrary to other peoples thoughts.
Posted By:
Castille-Hebert
Guest
SW Louisiana 01-29-2010 07:03
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – 50-60 Degrees
Been too quiet on this end. Too much going on. Well our season is over. Hate to sound like a broken record but same story as last year. No new ducks after Thanksgiving. The ruling on limiting mottled ducks hurt us this year but probably was a good call. The years are going by and with the declining numbers of birds, despite what the LA. Wildlife population count shows, the same sad story seems to be repeating itself. We, here in Louisiana have counted on Mother Nature to provide adequate food for ducks and geese and sadly that isn’t happening anymore. With rice planting dwindling across South Louisiana, the bird numbers are reflecting this problem. Not many people realize that the Greater Canada goose used to winter in SW. Louisiana in the 50’s and 60’s, then all of a sudden, they were gone and have never returned. The mallard is likely to follow suit. Both of these birds are hardy and can survive in extreme cold temperatures. How we, duck hunters address this issue is our job, not some agency. What course of action we take must be started quickly with the involvement of big land owners. CPR fields and other areas of food for the birds might turn this problem around but it maybe too late.
[Edited By Castille-Hebert on 2010-01-29 07:03]
[Edited By Castille-Hebert on 2010-01-29 08:42]
Posted By:
tdaugereaux
Guest
Private Club – Vinton LA 01-23-2010 20:41
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Made last hunt for season today.Had two guests and ended with 10 birds. High winds made it difficult to work birds ,but those that did we managed to kill.
Good luck to those that hunt on Sunday ,which is the last day in the west zone.
Ended the season hunting over 30 days and just over 100 birds killed from my blind. Not my best year ,but it could have been worse.Birds appear to finally be showing up ,which is typical -always get here after we are done. Hopefully next season will be better .
Posted By:
tdaugereaux
Guest
Lease near Holly Beach LA 01-22-2010 19:03
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Hunted family lease with a friend today. Bluebird day ,very little wind.We managed to kill 8 ducks- 1 teal,1 scaup,2 mottle,4 spoonbills. We should have killed our limit but was busy talking and enjoying the morning. Seeing lots of birds now ,but they are very call and decoy shy in our area.
Posted By:
tdaugereaux
Guest
Lease near Holly Beach LA 01-20-2010 21:18
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted at family lease this morning in heavy fog.Managed to kill 3 birds .Appears to be more birds in the area.
Posted By:
tdaugereaux
Guest
Private Club – Vinton LA 01-18-2010 12:38
Cloudy, Heavy Fog – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted with two guests this morning at camp. Started morning with heavy fog turning to clear skies later. Seeing more birds but not able to do much with them .Late season decoy and call shy I guess. Finished with one greenwing teal.May have done better if it was’nt as foggy .Four blinds hunting this morning killed 6 birds total.
Posted By:
tdaugereaux
Guest
Private Club – Vinton LA 01-17-2010 20:39
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted two guests at camp this morning.Was cloudy most of the morning with a strong north wind.Seeing more birds,but not able to work them at all. Ended hunt with 3 teal and 1 mallard drake. Let a couple questionable shots pass ,so best we could have done was 7 birds . Three blinds with two guests each hunted for a total of 10 birds killed .
