- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Louisiana Waterfowl Zone changes for 2016-2021
Posted on 10/5/15 at 9:11 pm
Posted on 10/5/15 at 9:11 pm
NOLA.com Article
Looks like the Commission heard the comments from the hunters after their vote this year. I like the change. Let the rice fields have their early season.
Looks like the Commission heard the comments from the hunters after their vote this year. I like the change. Let the rice fields have their early season.
6
Posted on 10/5/15 at 9:21 pm to civiltiger07
Probably a good thing. I guess we can find out soon enough. I definitely think that the rice fields hold birds at different times then the rest of the marsh.
I'm interested to hear what Larry has to say about this
I'm interested to hear what Larry has to say about this
Posted on 10/5/15 at 9:56 pm to civiltiger07
man, I am really happy to hear of this...hopefully, mr Reynolds will come on and chat with us about it at some point... 
Posted on 10/5/15 at 10:02 pm to GumboPoBoy
quote:
I definitely think that the rice fields hold birds at different times then the rest of the marsh
Agreed, but predicting SLA is crapshoot when you factor in tropical storms/hurricanes.
Posted on 10/5/15 at 11:24 pm to GumboPoBoy
Most of these changes were discussed at the 6 public meetings held in September. However, less than 100 total people attended those meetings, and at 3 of them, attendees preferred to comment about things other than zone boundaries. Consequently, these proposed changes may be new to many hunters hearing of them for the first time.
1) The impetus for moving the east/coastal zone boundary came from the public comment last year, mostly from SE LA, that led to the season dates being moved a week later, AND the outrage this year over the season dates being moved a week earlier. I proposed re-establishing the old boundary at the Houma Navigation Canal used from 1975 - 2001, but Commissioner Dan Davis insisted it be moved even further west to the Atchafalaya River so as not to split Terrebonne Parish marshes. I don't know how many hunters in SE LA favor this arrangement, so I hope you will contact me with comments.
2) A group of rice farmers initiated discussions about moving a large portion of rice-growing acreage out of the Coastal zone and into the East Zone so they could have more time to get their second crop rice out of the field and blinds prepared for lease hunters before the season opened. Some rice-field hunters also support later season dates, so the zone boundary change you see on the map is a result of those discussions. Again, I don't have a good feel for what % of rice-field hunters in that region support that boundary change, so I hope they will contact me as well.
3) The change in NW LA is an adaptation of the proposed change in 2012 that was initially approved by the Commission but then reversed when a few hunters in the Corney Lake area objected loudly and got the attention of at least 1 Commission member. There is no justification for the zig-zag boundary in that region of the state (it is all the same habitat type), and we've received a number of requests for specific changes in that boundary, so we've proposed a slightly modified version of the 2012 boundary change.
1) The impetus for moving the east/coastal zone boundary came from the public comment last year, mostly from SE LA, that led to the season dates being moved a week later, AND the outrage this year over the season dates being moved a week earlier. I proposed re-establishing the old boundary at the Houma Navigation Canal used from 1975 - 2001, but Commissioner Dan Davis insisted it be moved even further west to the Atchafalaya River so as not to split Terrebonne Parish marshes. I don't know how many hunters in SE LA favor this arrangement, so I hope you will contact me with comments.
2) A group of rice farmers initiated discussions about moving a large portion of rice-growing acreage out of the Coastal zone and into the East Zone so they could have more time to get their second crop rice out of the field and blinds prepared for lease hunters before the season opened. Some rice-field hunters also support later season dates, so the zone boundary change you see on the map is a result of those discussions. Again, I don't have a good feel for what % of rice-field hunters in that region support that boundary change, so I hope they will contact me as well.
3) The change in NW LA is an adaptation of the proposed change in 2012 that was initially approved by the Commission but then reversed when a few hunters in the Corney Lake area objected loudly and got the attention of at least 1 Commission member. There is no justification for the zig-zag boundary in that region of the state (it is all the same habitat type), and we've received a number of requests for specific changes in that boundary, so we've proposed a slightly modified version of the 2012 boundary change.
Posted on 10/5/15 at 11:30 pm to Lreynolds
How much money do i need to filter to a politician in order to get my own zig zag line?
Overall. Im happy with the work you do.
I never saw a scheduke for the meetings or wouldve likely attended one. I have been filling out the surveys however.
I do find it odd the rice country near i10 stays in the east zone. Typically have seen the ducks dwindle later in that area.
FWIW. I gave up rice hunting based on better results in public flooded timber in east zone.
Overall. Im happy with the work you do.
I never saw a scheduke for the meetings or wouldve likely attended one. I have been filling out the surveys however.
I do find it odd the rice country near i10 stays in the east zone. Typically have seen the ducks dwindle later in that area.
FWIW. I gave up rice hunting based on better results in public flooded timber in east zone.
Posted on 10/6/15 at 6:33 am to jimjackandjose
I agree with JJJ, and I'm all for the proposed zones. I mainly hunt SELA marsh and flooded timber in the east zone. I also gave up rice fields due to better success in public spots. I hope you do the proposed zones, something needs to change.
Posted on 10/6/15 at 6:47 am to Lreynolds
I didn't see where one was held in BR. Regardless, I'm not a fan of the coastal arrangement. I guess as long as we can hunt all day and use surface drives on all WMAs these new zones won't be an issue.
Posted on 10/6/15 at 7:49 am to civiltiger07
Posted on 10/6/15 at 8:08 am to civiltiger07
I guess I'm alone in liking this years dates. I like the fact that I can hunt the east zone for two more weeks, after coastal has closed.
Posted on 10/6/15 at 8:30 am to WPBTiger
Doesn't really change anything for me since we've been in the east zone in my area. One thing that this map is saying, however, that doesn't seem to add up is:
1.) Mer Rouge rice and Venice, La marsh will be managed the same way, open and close on same day, and are essentially hunting the same birds (or at least those arriving en masse at the same time). Huh? Grays & teal will be in Delacroix/Buras/Venice in late October and first week of November, but will have to wait till week of Thanksgiving to open per usual EZ dates? NE La guys will constantly want the latest dates possible which is a terrible fit for those hunting the marsh. If anything, the Highway 90 line should have been moved UP on the east side of the state to capture more marsh on that end to be put into coastal zone. This was an option in the past that was shot down but largely because many of us on that end like to hunt both zones and extend our season. With this new line, that's out the window anyway so may as well get the timing right for the one zone we will hunt.
2.) Marshes of lower Terrebonne to lower St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes are at same latitude and general habitat type as Cameron parish marshes and other SW la coastal marshes, but will be managed differently? Huh? So we're saying birds arrive in huntable numbers to Creole, La at a different time than Venice, La? I find that difficult to believe; but I do find it easy to believe that voices lobbying for certain dates are stronger than others with those having certain interests in certain places. I applaud Mr. Courville for bucking the public outcry for wanting to hunt later (when bag checks show you're not killing much anyway), so that worked out swell for his end of the state in SW La marshes getting the earlier dates, but really it should be about the same for SE La marshes which tend to have similar timing of arrival and species thereof.
1.) Mer Rouge rice and Venice, La marsh will be managed the same way, open and close on same day, and are essentially hunting the same birds (or at least those arriving en masse at the same time). Huh? Grays & teal will be in Delacroix/Buras/Venice in late October and first week of November, but will have to wait till week of Thanksgiving to open per usual EZ dates? NE La guys will constantly want the latest dates possible which is a terrible fit for those hunting the marsh. If anything, the Highway 90 line should have been moved UP on the east side of the state to capture more marsh on that end to be put into coastal zone. This was an option in the past that was shot down but largely because many of us on that end like to hunt both zones and extend our season. With this new line, that's out the window anyway so may as well get the timing right for the one zone we will hunt.
2.) Marshes of lower Terrebonne to lower St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes are at same latitude and general habitat type as Cameron parish marshes and other SW la coastal marshes, but will be managed differently? Huh? So we're saying birds arrive in huntable numbers to Creole, La at a different time than Venice, La? I find that difficult to believe; but I do find it easy to believe that voices lobbying for certain dates are stronger than others with those having certain interests in certain places. I applaud Mr. Courville for bucking the public outcry for wanting to hunt later (when bag checks show you're not killing much anyway), so that worked out swell for his end of the state in SW La marshes getting the earlier dates, but really it should be about the same for SE La marshes which tend to have similar timing of arrival and species thereof.
Posted on 10/6/15 at 9:09 pm to Tigah D
quote:
Mer Rouge rice and Venice, La marsh will be managed the same way, open and close on same day, and are essentially hunting the same birds (or at least those arriving en masse at the same time). Huh?
That's the way it was before we had zones and for 25 years after zones were allowed. From 1975-2001, Mer Rouge rice and Venice marshes were in the East Zone and had the same season dates.
Posted on 10/6/15 at 9:10 pm to Lreynolds
Remember to contact me if you have a comment to convey. We won't be collecting comments from websites.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Posted on 10/6/15 at 11:08 pm to Lreynolds
Just a question: it appears hw14 is the boundary. How was this chosen vs say a parish line
Aka gueydan is in two zones
Aka gueydan is in two zones
This post was edited on 10/6/15 at 11:09 pm
Posted on 10/7/15 at 7:13 am to jimbeam
Hwy 14 was requested about 18 months ago by landowners, rice farmers, and some lessees that hunt those fields as an option to get a lot of rice-growing land out of the Coastal and into the East Zone to give them later dates to get the second crop out and the fields ready to hunt. In the last 3 weeks, they have made a push for the GIWW as a better boundary, but that puts a lot of marsh in the East Zone, which is not desirable. Advocates for the rice industry have argued there is more rice south of Hwy 14 than there is marsh north of the GIWW. That may be true, but we all know that one reason that part of the state is so productive for ducks is the habitat complex formed by the rice and the marsh. They aren't necessarily different birds coming at different times.
I'm not sold on the need for a change. The same rice-field people requesting the change are also the ones claiming there is so much hunting pressure in that area that the specklebelly goose limit needed to be left at 2 when the USFWS allows us to increase it to 3. They also tell me that blinds sell between $5,000 and $10,000. If that is the case; that prices are that high AND hunting pressure is so high, then there must not be a problem with rice farmers being able to lease blinds to hunters regardless of the trouble they have getting their second crop rice out. So is there any need for a change besides that it's more convenient (not needed) for the producers?
Wherever we draw a line, there will be issues for the hunters near it. In this case, because it is such a popular goose hunting area, I will push for implementing goose zones (which can be different from duck zones) so that the traditional goose season dates for that region remain the same rather than shift to the earlier dates in the East Zone.
I'm not sold on the need for a change. The same rice-field people requesting the change are also the ones claiming there is so much hunting pressure in that area that the specklebelly goose limit needed to be left at 2 when the USFWS allows us to increase it to 3. They also tell me that blinds sell between $5,000 and $10,000. If that is the case; that prices are that high AND hunting pressure is so high, then there must not be a problem with rice farmers being able to lease blinds to hunters regardless of the trouble they have getting their second crop rice out. So is there any need for a change besides that it's more convenient (not needed) for the producers?
Wherever we draw a line, there will be issues for the hunters near it. In this case, because it is such a popular goose hunting area, I will push for implementing goose zones (which can be different from duck zones) so that the traditional goose season dates for that region remain the same rather than shift to the earlier dates in the East Zone.
Posted on 10/7/15 at 8:59 am to Lreynolds
Great response thanks 
also as a rice farmer we do not face the issue of second crop running into hunting season, although we do not lease blinds either.
also as a rice farmer we do not face the issue of second crop running into hunting season, although we do not lease blinds either.
This post was edited on 10/7/15 at 9:01 am
Posted on 10/7/15 at 9:09 am to civiltiger07
Which areas have the best flyways?
Posted on 10/7/15 at 9:39 am to Lreynolds
I think hwy 14 is a horrible line to use. Still lots of rice below it. Intracoastal would be better.
Posted on 10/7/15 at 9:47 am to GonePecan
Are the game wardens in LA butthurt as the ones in Ark when they check your shotgun?
Posted on 10/7/15 at 9:55 am to civiltiger07
That would be great IMO. I would rather have a later open and also it would open Lake Bouef and PAC at the same time so the coot shoot wouldn't be such a shite show at the launch hopefully as hunters would have to decide what opener is more important
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News