Environmental Assessment for the 2021-22 Hunt Package for the Hunting of Migratory Game Birds, Upland Game, and Big Game at Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay National Wildlife Refuges
Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, Washington, and West Feliciana Parishes Louisiana and Pearl River County, Mississippi
April 2021
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex 61389 Highway 434 Lacombe, LA 70445
Estimated Lead Agency Total Costs Associated with Developing and Producing the Environmental Assessment: $22,075
Section B. Environmental Assessment for 2021 Draft Hunt Plans for Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay National Wildlife Refuges, Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, Washington, and West Feliciana Parishes, Louisiana and Pearl River County, Mississippi
Table of Contents Proposed Action ...... 1 Background ...... 12 Purpose and Need ...... 17 Alternatives ...... 17 Alternative A – Continue Current Management (No Action Alternative) ...... 18 Alternative B – Implement 2021 Hunt Plans for Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs (Proposed Action Alternative) ...... 20 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ...... 25 Hunted Migratory Game Birds: Duck, Teal, Coot, Gallinule, Light and Dark Geese, Rail, Snipe, Dove, and Woodcock (with incidental take of nutria) ...... 29 Affected Environment Description ...... 29 Environmental Trends and Planned Actions Descriptions ...... 29 Anticipated Impacts ...... 30 Hunted Upland Game Species: Rabbit, Squirrel, and Quail (with incidental take of coyote, armadillo, opossum, raccoon, beaver, and feral hog) ...... 31 Affected Environment Description ...... 31 Environmental Trends and Planned Actions Descriptions ...... 31 Anticipated Impacts ...... 32 Hunted Big Game Species: Turkey and White-tailed Deer (with incidental take of coyote, armadillo, opossum, raccoon, beaver, and feral hog) ...... 33 Affected Environment Description ...... 33 Environmental Trends and Planned Actions Descriptions ...... 33 Anticipated Impacts ...... 34 Non-Target Wildlife and Aquatic Species ...... 35 Affected Environment Description ...... 35 Environmental Trends and Planned Actions Descriptions ...... 35
Anticipated Impacts ...... 36 Threatened and Endangered Species and Other Special Status Species ...... 36 Affected Environment Description ...... 36 Environmental Trends and Planned Actions Descriptions ...... 37 Anticipated Impacts ...... 39 Habitat and Vegetation (including vegetation of special management concern) ...... 40 Affected Environment Description ...... 40 Environmental Trends and Planned Actions Descriptions ...... 40 Anticipated Impacts ...... 40 Visitor Use and Experiences ...... 40 Affected Environment Description ...... 40 Environmental Trends and Planned Actions Descriptions ...... 41 Anticipated Impacts ...... 41 Monitoring ...... 42 Summary of Analysis ...... 42 Alternative A – Continue Current Management (No Action Alternative) ...... 42 Alternative B – Implement 2021 Hunt Plans for Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs (Proposed Action Alternative) ...... 43 List of Preparers ...... 43 State Coordination ...... 44 Tribal Consultation ...... 45 Public Outreach ...... 45 Determination ...... 45 Signatures ...... 46 References ...... 47
SECTION B. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR 2021-22 HUNT PACKAGE FOR BAYOU SAUVAGE, BAYOU TECHE, BIG BRANCH MARSH, BOGUE CHITTO, CAT ISLAND, DELTA, AND MANDALAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES, SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA REFUGES COMPLEX, ORLEANS, PLAQUEMINES, ST. MARY, ST. TAMMANY, TERREBONNE, WASHINGTON, AND WEST FELICIANA PARISHES, LOUISIANA AND PEARL RIVER COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI
This Environmental Assessment (EA) is being prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, USFWS) to evaluate the effects associated with the Proposed Action (Alternative B) compared to the No Action Alternative (Alternative A) and to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in accordance with Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] §§1500-1509) and United States (U.S.) Department of the Interior and Service regulations and policies (including 43 CFR Part 46, 516 Department Manual [DM] 8, 550 Fish and Wildlife [FW] 3, 603 FW 2, and 605 FW 2). NEPA requires examination of the effects of proposed actions on the human environment, including natural and cultural resources. Other applicable statutes, executive orders, and regulation compliance are addressed in Appendix A.
Proposed Action In accordance with the existing Comprehensive Conservation Plans (CCPs) and the EAs and Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSIs) for the CCPs, the Service is proposing Alternative B to update and replace the existing hunt plans and existing compatibility determinations (CDs) for seven of the nine national wildlife refuges (NWRs) in the Southeast Louisiana NWR Complex (Refuge Complex): Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs (Figure 1) (USWFS 1984, 1994a, 1999, 2001a-b, 2007a-c, 2007e, 2008a-b, 2009a-f, 2011a-c, 2015a-b). While all seven NWRs are located in Louisiana (LA), Bogue Chitto NWR is also located in Mississippi (MS). Upon a final decision approving the Proposed Action, each of the existing hunt plans and associated CDs for the above listed seven NWRs would be updated and replaced by the proposed hunt plans (Section A) and proposed CDs (Appendix B). For all seven NWRs, the Proposed Action would expand hunting hours for some existing hunts and open hunting for some species not previously open to hunting, while individual refuges would see changes through the addition of youth hunts, the opening of new hunt units, the clarification of approved weaponry and ammunition, and the elimination of a lottery (see Table 1). Table 1 presents a summary of the existing hunt programs (Alternative A) and proposed changes (Alternative B) by species/species group, while Table 2 lists related refuge management goals, objectives, and strategies and tables 3 and 4 provide an overall summary of the existing (Alternative A) and proposed (Alternative B) hunt programs, including acreages. Appendix B includes the proposed hunting CDs. The figures in Appendix C present the existing and proposed hunt units for the seven NWRs. Appendix D provides additional information regarding the active acquisition programs for Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, and Bogue Chitto NWRs, which are included in this analysis. For 2021-22, the Proposed Action would open an additional 4,032 acres to hunting (see Table 3 and Appendix D). Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, and Bogue Chitto NWRs currently have active acquisition programs; under Alternative B over time as properties were to be acquired under these active acquisitions, an additional 25,873 acres would be added to the hunt programs (see Table 4 and Appendix D). (See the Alternatives section for a more detailed description of Alternative A [Continue Current Management, No Action Alternative] and Alternative B [Implement 2021 Hunt Plans for Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs, Proposed Action].)
Environmental Assessment for Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex 2021-22 Hunt Package Section B-1
Figure 1. Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex
Species and species groups included in this proposed hunt opening package are listed. • Migratory Game Birds – duck (including mergansers), teal (Anas discors, A. crecca carolinensis, A. cyanoptera), coot (Fulica americana), gallinule (Gallinula galeata, Porphyrio martinicus, Gallinula chloropus), light and dark geese (Anser caerulescens, A. rossii, A. albifrons, Branta canadensis, B. bernicla), rail (Rallus elegans, Porzana carolina, R. limicola, R. crepitans), snipe (Gallinago delicata), dove (Zenaida macroura, Z. asiatica, Streptopelia decaocto, S. risoria), and woodcock (Scolopax minor) o With incidental hunting of nutria (Myocaster coypus), coyote (Canis latrans), feral hog (Sus scrofa), beaver (Castor canadensis), armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), opossum (Didelphis virginiana), and raccoon (Procyon lotor) • Upland Game - rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus, S. aquaticus), squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis, S. niger), and quail (Colinus virginianus) o With incidental hunting of coyote, feral hog, beaver, armadillo, opossum, and raccoon • Big Game - turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) o With incidental hunting of coyote, feral hog, beaver, armadillo, opossum, and raccoon
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Table 1. Summary of the Existing [Alternative (Alt) A] and Proposed (Alt B) Hunt Programs by Species/Species Group for Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs, Southeast Louisiana NWR Complex Existing Species / (Alt A) / Bogue Chitto NWR Bayou Sauvage NWR Bayou Teche NWR Big Branch Marsh NWR Cat Island NWR Delta NWR Mandalay NWR Species Group Proposed (LA and MS) (Alt B) Duck (including Youth hunt (accompanying Daily during state season Wednesdays, Thursdays, Daily during state season Wednesdays, Saturdays and Wednesdays, Thursdays, Youth hunt (accompanying mergansers) Existing adult can hunt); Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays of Sundays of state season Saturdays, and Sundays of adult can hunt); Wednesday (Alt A) Thursdays, Saturdays, and state season state season and Saturdays until noon of Sundays of state season state season Duck (including Extend close of hunt days Extend close of hunt days Extend close of hunt days Extend close of hunt days Extend close of hunt days Extend close of hunt days Extend close of hunt days mergansers) from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm; from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm; Proposed extend days to daily during (Alt B) add Thursday and Sunday; the state season eliminate the lottery
Teal Youth hunt (accompanying No hunting Wednesdays, Thursdays, Daily during state season No hunting Wednesdays, Thursdays, No hunting adult can hunt); Saturdays, and Sundays of Saturdays, and Sundays of Existing Wednesdays, Thursdays, state season state season (Alt A) Saturdays, and Sundays of state season Teal Extend close of hunt days Add hunt; ½ hour before legal Extend close of hunt days Extend close of hunt days Add hunt; until 2:00 pm; Extend close of hunt days Add youth hunt from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm sunrise – 2:00 pm; daily from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm daily during the state season from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm (accompanying adult can Proposed during state season hunt); until 2:00 pm; (Alt B) Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays of state season Coot Youth hunt (accompanying No hunting Wednesdays, Thursdays, Daily during state season Wednesdays, Thursdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Youth hunt (accompanying Existing adult can hunt); Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays of Saturdays, and Sundays of Saturdays, and Sundays of adult can hunt); Wednesdays, (Alt A) Thursdays, Saturdays, and state season state season state season and Saturdays until noon, of Sundays of state season state season Coot Extend close of hunt days Add hunt; ½ hour before Extend close of hunt days Extend close of hunt days Extend close of hunt days Extend close of hunt days Eliminate the lottery; add Proposed from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm legal sunrise to 2:00 pm; from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm; from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Thursday and Sunday; extend (Alt B) daily during state season extend days to daily during close of hunt days from 12:00 the state season pm to 2:00 pm Gallinule No hunting No hunting Wednesdays, Thursdays, Daily during state season No hunting No hunting Youth hunt (accompanying Saturdays, and Sundays of adult can hunt); Wednesdays, Existing state season; From 1⁄2 hour and Saturdays, until noon of (Alt A) before legal sunrise until 2 state season pm Gallinule Add youth hunt Add hunt; ½ hour before No change Extend close of hunt days Add hunt; until 2:00 pm; Add hunt; until 2:00 pm; Eliminate the lottery; add (accompanying adult can legal sunrise to 2:00 pm; daily from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm daily during the state season Wednesdays, Thursdays, Thursday and Sunday; extend Proposed hunt); until to 2:00 pm; during state season Saturdays, and Sundays of close of hunt days from 12:00 (Alt B) Wednesdays, Thursdays, state season pm to 2:00 pm Saturdays, and Sundays of state season
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Existing Species / (Alt A) / Bogue Chitto NWR Bayou Sauvage NWR Bayou Teche NWR Big Branch Marsh NWR Cat Island NWR Delta NWR Mandalay NWR Species Group Proposed (LA and MS) (Alt B) Light and Dark Youth hunt (accompanying No hunting Wednesdays, Thursdays, Daily during state season Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Wednesdays, Thursdays, Youth hunt (accompanying Geese Existing adult can hunt); Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays of Sundays of state season Saturdays, and Sundays of adult can hunt); Wednesdays, (Alt A) Thursdays, Saturdays, and state season state season and Saturdays, until noon of Sundays of state season state season Light and Dark Extend close of hunt days Add hunt; ½ hour before Extend close of hunt days Extend close of hunt days Extend close of hunt days Extend close of hunt days Eliminate the lottery; add Geese from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm; legal sunrise to 2:00 pm; daily from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm; from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm; from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm; from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm; Thursday and Sunday; extend Proposed add Conservation Season during state season; add add Conservation Season add Conservation Season extend days to daily during add Conservation Season close of hunt days from 12:00 (Alt B) days Conservation Season days days days the state season; add days pm to 2:00 pm; add Conservation Season days Conservation Season days Rail No hunting No hunting Wednesdays, Thursdays, No hunting No hunting No hunting No hunting Saturdays, and Sundays of Existing state season; from 1⁄2 hour (Alt A) before legal sunrise until 2 pm Rail Add youth hunt Add hunt; state season No change Add hunt; state season Add hunt; state season Add hunt; until 2:00 pm; Add youth hunt (accompanying adult can Wednesdays, Thursdays, (accompanying adult can Proposed hunt); until 2:00 pm; Saturdays, and Sundays of hunt); until 2:00 pm; (Alt B) Wednesdays, Thursdays, state season Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays of Saturdays, and Sundays of state season state season Snipe No hunting No hunting Wednesdays, Thursdays, No hunting No hunting No hunting No hunting Saturdays, and Sundays of Existing state season; from 1⁄2 hour (Alt A) before legal sunrise until 2 pm Snipe Add youth hunt Add hunt; state season No change Add hunt; state season Add hunt; state season Add hunt; until 2:00 pm; Add youth hunt (accompanying adult can Wednesdays, Thursdays, (accompanying adult can Proposed hunt); until 2:00 pm; Saturdays, and Sundays of hunt); until 2:00 pm; (Alt B) Wednesdays, Thursdays, state season Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays of Saturdays, and Sundays of state season state season Dove Existing No hunting No hunting No hunting No hunting No hunting No hunting No hunting (Alt A) Dove Add youth hunt Add hunt; state season Add hunt; enter after 4:00 Add hunt; state season Add hunt; state season Add hunt; hunters may enter Add youth hunt (accompanying adult can am, hunt from ½ hour before the refuge no earlier than (accompanying adult can hunt); until 2:00 pm; legal sunrise to 2:00 pm; 4:00 am and may hunt from hunt); hunters may enter the Wednesdays, Thursdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, 1/2 hour before legal sunrise refuge no earlier than 4:00 Proposed Saturdays, and Sundays of Saturdays, and Sundays of to 2:00 pm; Wednesdays, am and may hunt from 1/2 (Alt B) state season state season Thursdays, Saturdays, and hour before legal sunrise to Sundays of state season 2:00 pm Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays of state season
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Existing Species / (Alt A) / Bogue Chitto NWR Bayou Sauvage NWR Bayou Teche NWR Big Branch Marsh NWR Cat Island NWR Delta NWR Mandalay NWR Species Group Proposed (LA and MS) (Alt B) Woodcock No hunting State season on refuge, State season ½ hour before State season State season No hunting No hunting Existing except no hunting on the legal sunrise to 2:00 pm (Alt A) Franklin Unit Woodcock Proposed No change Add hunt on the Franklin No change No change No change No change No change (Alt B) Unit, state season Turkey Existing No hunting No hunting No hunting State season No hunting No hunting No hunting (Alt A) Turkey Proposed No change No change Add limited hunt; Proposed No change No change No change No change (Alt B) lottery White-tailed Deer No hunting Archery; 5-day gun hunt; Archery; state season Specific days listed in hunt Archery; state season Archery bucks only from Youth archery hunt state season brochure within state season October 1 to 15; archery (accompanying adult can either sex from October 16 to hunt); state season Existing 31 and from the day after (Alt A) close of state duck season through end of state archery season White-tailed Deer Add youth archery hunt Add the Franklin Unit No change No change Add 2-day primitive firearms Add shotgun on Saturday and No change Proposed (accompanying adult can hunt (generally November Sunday after the first split of (Alt B) hunt); state season 14-15) during state season the regular waterfowl season Coyote Existing No hunting No hunting No hunting No hunting Incidental to all refuge hunts No hunting No hunting (Alt A) Coyote Add youth hunt incidental to Add hunt incidental to all Add hunt incidental to all Add hunt incidental to all No change Add hunt incidental to all Add youth hunt incidental to all refuge hunts refuge hunts refuge hunts refuge hunts refuge hunts all refuge hunts Proposed (accompanying adult can (accompanying adult can (Alt B) hunt) hunt)
Nutria Existing No hunting No hunting No hunting No hunting Incidental to all refuge hunts No hunting No hunting (Alt A) Nutria Add youth hunt incidental to Add hunt incidental to Add hunt incidental to Add hunt to be incidental to Add hunt incidental to Add hunt incidental to Add youth hunt incidental to Proposed all waterfowl hunts waterfowl hunts waterfowl hunt waterfowl hunts waterfowl hunt waterfowl hunt waterfowl hunt (Alt B) (accompanying adult can (accompanying adult can hunt) hunt) Feral Hog No hunting No hunting Incidental during refuge Incidental during all refuge Incidental to all refuge hunts Incidental to all refuge hunts Youth archery hunt during Existing archery deer season hunts first split (October 1-15) (Alt A) (accompanying adult can hunt) Feral Hog Add youth hunt incidental to Add hunt incidental to all Change hunt to be incidental No change No change No change Change youth hunt to be Proposed all refuge hunts refuge hunts to all refuge hunts incidental to all refuge hunts (Alt B) (accompanying adult can hunt) Beaver Existing No hunting No hunting No hunting No hunting Incidental to waterfowl hunts No hunting No hunting (Alt A) Beaver Proposed No change No change No change No change Incidental to all refuge hunts No change No change (Alt B)
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Existing Species / (Alt A) / Bogue Chitto NWR Bayou Sauvage NWR Bayou Teche NWR Big Branch Marsh NWR Cat Island NWR Delta NWR Mandalay NWR Species Group Proposed (LA and MS) (Alt B) Armadillo Existing No hunting No hunting No hunting No hunting No hunting No hunting No hunting (Alt A) Armadillo Add youth hunt incidental to Add hunt incidental to all Add hunt incidental to all Add hunt incidental to all Add hunt incidental to all Add hunt incidental to all Add youth hunt incidental to Proposed all refuge hunts refuge hunts refuge hunts refuge hunts refuge hunts refuge hunts all refuge hunts (Alt B) (accompanying adult can (accompanying adult can hunt) hunt) Opossum Existing No hunting No hunting No hunting State season No hunting No hunting No hunting (Alt A) Opossum Add youth hunt incidental to Add hunt incidental to all Add hunt incidental to all Change hunt to be incidental Add hunt incidental to all Add hunt incidental to all Add youth hunt incidental to all refuge hunts refuge hunts refuge hunts to all refuge hunts refuge hunts refuge hunts all refuge hunts Proposed (accompanying adult can (accompanying adult can (Alt B) hunt) hunt)
Rabbit No hunting State season State season State season, no hunting State season Opens the day after state No hunting during deer gun and refuge waterfowl season closes and Existing primitive firearm hunts continues through the (Alt A) remainder of state rabbit season; shotgun only Rabbit Add youth hunt Add the Franklin Unit Clarify weapons to allow use No change No change No change Add youth hunt during state Proposed (accompanying adult can of air rifles season (accompanying adult (Alt B) hunt); state season can hunt) Raccoon No hunting No hunting Same as state rabbit season; In Mississippi – State season Incidental to all refuge hunts No hunting No hunting Existing state shooting hours until end of November; in (Alt A) Louisiana – October season only Raccoon Add youth hunt incidental to Add hunt incidental to all Add hunt incidental to all Change hunt to be incidental No change Add hunt incidental to all Add youth hunt incidental to all refuge hunts refuge hunts refuge hunts to all refuge hunts refuge hunts all refuge hunts Proposed (accompanying adult can (accompanying adult can (Alt B) hunt) hunt)
Squirrel Existing No hunting State season State season State fall season, including State season No hunting No hunting (Alt A) youth Squirrel No change Add the Franklin Unit; add Clarify weapons to the use of Add spring season Add spring season No change Add only spring season youth Proposed spring season .22 rimfire ammunition or hunt during state season (Alt B) smaller; allow use of air rifles (accompanying adult can hunt) Quail Existing No hunting No hunting State season ½ hour before No hunting No hunting No hunting No hunting (Alt A) legal sunrise to 2:00 pm Quail No change No change No change Add during state season, ½ No change No change No change Proposed hour before legal sunrise (Alt B) until 2:00 pm
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Table 2. Related refuge management goals, objectives, and strategies for Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs, Southeast Louisiana NWR Complex
Refuge Related Refuge Management Goals, Objectives, and/or Strategies (USFWS 2007b, 2008b, 2009b, 2009d, 2009f, 2011b, 2011c, 2015b)
Bayou Implementing: Sauvage • CCP Goal 3. Provide public use opportunities consistent with the Refuge System mission that capitalize on the unique urban proximity of Bayou Sauvage NWR. NWR • CCP Objective 3.6. Evaluate the feasibility of opening up the marshes outside the hurricane protection levee to limited hunting. Also Supporting: • CCP Goal 1. Identify, conserve, manage, and restore populations of native fish and wildlife species with emphasis on migratory birds and threatened and endangered species. • CCP Objective 1.1. Over the 15-year life of the CCP, increase monitoring of waterfowl and other migratory birds in order to assess and adapt habitat management strategies/actions. • CCP Objective 1.4. Over the 15-year life of the CCP, participate in the state of Louisiana Nutria Control program. Actively promote the nutria control program and seek assistance from area trappers to reduce nutria populations on refuge lands consistent with the state’s Nuisance Animal Control Plan. • CCP Objective 1.5. Over the 15-year life of the CCP, increase monitoring of endemic wildlife species in order to assess and adapt habitat management strategies/actions. • CCP Goal 3. Provide public use opportunities consistent with the Refuge System mission that capitalize on the unique urban proximity of Bayou Sauvage NWR. • CCP Objective 3.8. Where possible, over the 15-year life of the CCP, increase public outreach to emphasize resource management practices and promote public use opportunities. • 2011 Hunt Plan Objectives • Provide the public with a quality, wildlife oriented recreational opportunity. • Provide for the utilization of a renewable resource by the public. • Maintain wildlife populations at sustainable levels and at levels compatible with the maintenance and protection of refuge habitats. Bayou Implementing: Teche • CCP Goal 3. Provide opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation and environmental education and interpretation in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. NWR • CCP Objective 3.2. Provide opportunities for hunting and fishing on the refuge in a manner which minimizes conflicts between consumptive and non-consumptive user groups. Also Supporting: • CCP Goal 1. Identify, conserve, manage, and restore populations of native fish and wildlife species representative of the Lower Atchafalaya Basin, with emphasis on Louisiana black bears (Ursus americanus luteolus), migratory birds, and other threatened and endangered species. • CCP Objective 1.2. Monitor species of concern, targeted species, and species of Federal responsibility in order to assess management goals. • CCP Objective 1.3. Monitor resident and other species utilizing habitat on the refuge. • CCP, Visitor Services, Project 3 – Improve and enhance hunting and fishing opportunities while minimizing conflicts between consumptive and non-consumptive users. • CCP, Visitor Services, Project 5 -Increase public outreach and environmental education to emphasize resource management practices. Big Branch Implementing: Marsh • CCP Goal 3. Provide opportunities for environmental education, interpretation, and wildlife-dependent recreation in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. NWR • CCP Objective 3.2. Provide opportunities for hunting and fishing on the refuge in a manner which minimizes conflicts between consumptive and non-consumptive user groups. • CCP Strategy: Upon implementation of the plan, and, where appropriate, continue and/or improve current programs for quality hunting and fishing, seeking opportunities to increase capacity for these activities without adversely affecting wildlife populations. • Visitor Services Plan Strategy • Standard 3. 5. Annually evaluate new refuge lands for inclusion as huntable lands within the refuge, and when appropriate, develop an updated hunt plan and associated NEPA documents. Also Supporting: • CCP Goal 1. • CCP Objective 1.2. Monitor species of concern, targeted species, and species of Federal responsibility in order to assess management goals. • CCP Goal 2. Restore, improve, and maintain a mosaic of forested and wetland habitats native to the Lake Pontchartrain Basin in order to ensure healthy and viable plant and animal communities, with an emphasis on threatened and endangered species. • Objective 2.7. Review public use programs, such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, to determine impacts on refuge resources. • CCP Goal 4. Protect the natural and cultural resources of the refuge to ensure their integrity and to fulfill the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. • CCP Objective 4.3. Provide for visitor safety, protect resources, and ensure the public’s compliance with refuge regulations. • CCP Objective 4.4. Acquire those lands identified in the approved acquisition boundary.
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Refuge Related Refuge Management Goals, Objectives, and/or Strategies (USFWS 2007b, 2008b, 2009b, 2009d, 2009f, 2011b, 2011c, 2015b)
• Visitor Services Plan Strategies • Standard 3.2. Ensure refuge resources are not being negatively impacted from overuse by the public and/or if additional hunter access points are needed. • Standard 3.6: Annually evaluate huntable populations of non-native wildlife (i.e. feral hogs) to determine the need for public control measures. Bogue Implementing: Chitto • Goal A. Fish and Wildlife Population Management. Protect, manage, enhance, and restore healthy and viable populations of migratory birds, resident wildlife, fish, and native plants, including all Federal and state NWR threatened and endangered species found within the Pearl River Basin. • Objective A-7. Game species: Continue to participate in browse and necropsy surveys for white-tailed deer. Also continue to monitor herd health through collections and hunter harvests. Annually monitor other game species through hunter bag checks. Opportunistically conduct turkey poult surveys in coordination with LDWF. Work in coordination with the southeastern branch of the National Wildlife Health Center and improve harvest surveys to better determine population index. • Objective A-13. Nuisance animals: Reduce population levels of feral hogs with increased harvest by hunters, trapping, and any other available methods to control hog populations within 3 years of completion of the CCP. • CCP Goal D. Visitor Services: Provide compatible hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation. Public use will provide visitors a greater understanding and enjoyment of fish, wildlife, and their habitats on the refuge and in the Pearl River Basin. • CCP Objective D-2. Hunting. Provide safe, quality hunting opportunities in appropriate areas consistent with the refuge’s established purposes and to meet wildlife and habitat objectives. Also Supporting: • Goal A. Fish and Wildlife Population Management. Protect, manage, enhance, and restore healthy and viable populations of migratory birds, resident wildlife, fish, and native plants, including all Federal and state threatened and endangered species found within the Pearl River Basin. • Objective A-1. Forest Breeding Birds. Bottomland hardwood associated species: Actively participate in forest bird base-line surveys to support priority forested wetland-associated species by 2025: Swainson’s warbler (5 pairs/100 acres), Kentucky warbler (5 pairs/100 acres), hooded warbler (10 pairs/100 acres), wood thrush (10 pairs/100 acres), and American woodcock (non-breeding). Cat Island Implementing: NWR • CCP Goal A. Fish and Wildlife Population Management. Manage and protect migratory and native wildlife populations on Cat Island NWR to contribute to the purposes for which the refuge was established as well as to fulfill the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. • CCP Objective A.1. Waterfowl. During the next 15 years, contribute to the population goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan by providing 10,473 acres of forested wetland habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl and breeding wood ducks. • CCP Strategies: Provide periods of sanctuary for migratory waterfowl by maintaining a limit of hunting days per week. Maintain areas closed to hunting and ATV/UTV usage to provide areas of solitude for wildlife. • CCP Objective A.4. American Woodcock. Contribute to American woodcock population by developing and implementing a habitat management plan that provides moist midstory and understory vegetation (thickets) for daytime cover on actively managed forested portions of the refuge and foraging habitat and open nocturnal foraging habitat in grassland areas. • CCP Objective A.5. Resident Game Species. During the next 15 years, management of bottomland hardwood forests on Cat Island NWR will support resident game species health and diversity and quality hunting opportunities by providing high-quality habitat for game species. • CCP Strategies: Continue to collect biological harvest data at self-check stations during all hunts in order to collect an adequate data set to make inferences about the deer population. Establish deer browse surveys to be conducted during appropriate low-water periods. Coordinate with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) to conduct a deer herd health check and repeat approximately every 5 years. Conduct turkey poult surveys, when possible, in years when little or no flooding occurs during the late-spring nesting season. Continue to allow the hunting of small game. • CCP Goal B. Habitat Management. Habitats for migratory and native resident wildlife on Cat Island NWR will contribute to the purposes for which the refuge was established as well as fulfill the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. • CCP Objective B.3. Invasive Exotic and Nuisance Species. During the next 15 years, provided that sufficient resources are available for refuge management, exotic invasive plants such as Chinese tallow, Chinaberry, and Japanese climbing fern will not be allowed to significantly impact native bottomland hardwood habitat. Exotic invasive animals, particularly feral swine, will not have a significant impact on refuge habitats or on native wildlife populations. Nuisance animals, particularly beaver, will not be allowed to significantly impair road condition or damage forest health. • CCP Goal D. Visitor Services. Provide opportunities for compatible wildlife-dependent public uses that promote an understanding and appreciation of fish, wildlife, habitat conservation, and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System. • CCP Objective D.1. Hunting. Each year of the planning period covered by this CCP, Cat Island NWR will provide safe, compatible public hunting opportunities.
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Refuge Related Refuge Management Goals, Objectives, and/or Strategies (USFWS 2007b, 2008b, 2009b, 2009d, 2009f, 2011b, 2011c, 2015b)
• CCP Strategies: Maintain a current, accurate refuge Hunt Plan. Promote hunting on the refuge by ensuring that information about hunting season dates and regulations is prominently featured in written and verbal communications from the tourism office, on the refuge website, and at refuge entry points and kiosks. Maintain and improve access via refuge roads and trails. Maintain data collection to evaluate wildlife health, harvest rates, and visitor use. Delta Implementing: NWR • CCP Goal 2. Manage, preserve and protect coastal fish and wildlife species with special emphasis on migratory birds and threatened and endangered species. • CCP Objective 2.1. Protect and monitor Federal trust species and targeted species of management concern and interest. • CCP Strategies: Continue monthly waterfowl surveys during November through February, and the mid-winter waterfowl survey. Continue to maintain a closed area “sanctuary” to provide protection and rest for wintering and migrating waterfowl. Provide nesting, brood rearing, and molting habitat for mottled ducks with material from dedicated dredging and protect nests from predators. Partner with LDWF in surveying, monitoring nesting and broods, and banding mottled ducks. Continue to monitor bird rookeries. Initiate secretive marsh bird surveys. Initiate predator control to protect nesting birds. Monitor shorebirds and other neotropical migratory birds during peak migration periods. Continue monitoring and research projects on alligators, deer, and other endemic species. Continue to monitor exotic species such as nutria and assess any related environmental damage. • CCP Goal 3. Provide the public with quality recreation activities, environmental education, interpretation, and outreach opportunities that lead to enjoyment and greater understanding of and appreciation for the fish, wildlife, cultural resources, and natural systems of the Mississippi River delta system. • CCP Objective 3.1. Offer visitors fresh and salt water recreational fishing, recreational crabbing, wildlife observation and photography, and hunting for waterfowl, deer, rabbit, and hogs. (Hogs may be taken with bow and arrow during deer archery season.) • Revised CCP Objective 3.1. Offer visitors fresh and salt water recreational fishing; recreational crabbing; wildlife observation and photography; and hunting for migratory birds, upland game, and big game. (See Appendix G for the Minor CCP Revision Memo to update this list of huntable species.) • CCP Strategies: Continue waterfowl hunting on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings; archery deer hunting; marsh bird harvest; and rabbit hunting. Review and update hunt plans as required. Mandalay Implementing: NWR • CCP Goal 3. Provide opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation, environmental education, and interpretation in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Act of 1997. • CCP Objective 3.2. Provide opportunities for hunting and fishing on the refuge in a manner which minimizes conflicts between consumptive and non-consumptive user groups. • CCP Strategies: Evaluate user groups on a yearly basis. Maintain harvest records and make evaluations of harvest on a yearly basis. Manage hunt/fish program to achieve population management and wildlife habitat objectives Also Supporting: • CCP GOAL 1. Identify, conserve, manage, and restore populations of native fish and wildlife species representative of the Barataria-Terrebonne Basin, with emphasis on migratory birds and threatened and endangered species. • Objective 1.3. Monitor species of concern, targeted species, and species of Federal responsibility in order to assess management goals. • CCP Objective 1.4. Monitor resident and other species utilizing habitat on the refuge. • CCP Strategies: Conduct forage surveys for white-tailed deer, herd density (browse surveys), and monitor harvest. Explore possibility of surveys for squirrel and rabbit abundance. Survey densities of other fur-bearer species using habitat on the refuge.
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Table 3. Summary of the Existing (Alternative A) and Proposed (Alternative B) Hunt Programs, including estimated acreages and numbers of huntable species/species groups, for Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs, Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex for the Proposed 2021-22 Hunt Opening Net Net Proposed # Species Change Existing Proposed Change # Species Acres / Species in # Acres of Acres in Acres / Species Open to Groups Species / Refuge the Open to Open to Groups Hunting Open to Species Refuge Hunting Hunting Open to (Alt A) Hunting Groups (2020)+ (for Hunting (Alt B) Open to 2021-22) (Alt A) (Alt B) Hunting Bayou Sauvage 24,651 11,095 11,095 0 4 16 +12 NWR Bayou Teche 10,999 5,428 9,028 3,600 4 18 +14 NWR*^ Big Branch 19,407 18,915 19,347 432 14 20 +6 Marsh NWR*@ Bogue Chitto 36,386 36,298 36,298 0 13 20 +7 NWR* Cat Island NWR 10,890 9,796 9,796 0 12 19 +7 Delta NWR 50,260 18,146 18,146 0 7 16 +9 Mandalay NWR 4,620 4,386 4,386 0 6 17 +11 Total for the 7 NWRs’ 2021-22 157,213 104,064 108,096 4,032 19 21 +2 Hunt Opening Notes: * In the current 2021-22 hunt package, the Service would add 3,600 acres to the Bayou Teche NWR hunt program and 432 acres to the Big Branch Marsh NWR hunt program. ^ In late 2019 and during 2020, the Service closed on additional properties for Bayou Teche NWR totaling 1,924.89 acres. @ For Big Branch Marsh NWR, minor boundary corrections are underway for existing properties under Service management, which would update the acres currently open to hunting under Alternative A. The MOU with the state of Louisiana for the St. Tammany State Wildlife Refuge has a 349-acre discrepancy that is anticipated to be addressed in 2021. As such, these 349 acres would correct the refuge’s management boundary to 19,756 acres. A total of 409 acres would remain closed to hunting. Recent acquisitions of 85 acres and a 2-acre divestiture are already included in the refuge’s management boundary. + Total acres are current as of December 31, 2020.
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Table 4. Summary of the Existing (Alternative A) and Proposed (Alternative B) Hunt Programs, including estimated acreages, for Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs, Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex for Proposed Hunt Openings Post 2021-22 Proposed Existing and Acres Open to Net Change in Proposed Acres Acres Open to Acres Open to Refuge Hunting of the Refuge Hunting Hunting (post (Alt A) (Post 2020)+ (Alt B) 2021-22) Bayou Sauvage NWR 24,651 11,095 11,095 0 Bayou Teche NWR^ 11,831 5,428 11,666 2,638 Big Branch Marsh NWR^ 30,049 18,915 29,640 10,293 Bogue Chitto NWR^ 49,328 36,298 49,240 12,942 Cat Island NWR 10,890 9,796 9,796 0 Delta NWR 50,260 18,146 18,146 0 Mandalay NWR 4,620 4,386 4,386 0 Total for the 7 NWRs’ Post 181,629 104,064 133,969 25,873 2021-22 Hunt Openings Notes: ^ Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, and Bogue Chitto NWRs currently have active acquisition programs; these future acquisition properties are included in this analysis. As these properties are added to the refuges, they would be rolled into the hunt programs. After the 2021-22 hunt opening, the acres open to hunting would increase over time with additional future acquisitions. See Appendix D for additional information and figures that provide context for these properties. • Bayou Teche NWR – The Service would add an additional 2,638 acres to the Bayou Teche NWR hunt program through future hunt package(s). • Big Branch Marsh NWR – The Service would add an additional 10,293 acres to the Big Branch Marsh NWR hunt program through future hunt package(s). • Bogue Chitto NWR – The Service would add an additional 12,942 acres to the Bogue Chitto NWR hunt program through future hunt package(s). ~ Key recent and planned acquisitions at Bayou Teche NWR would include additional areas to be opened to hunting. Phase I (480.4 acres) would include 361 acres to be opened to hunting in the future (this property was acquired in August 2019). Phases II (330.47 acres) (this property was acquired in August 2020), III (1,114.02 acres) (this property was acquired in December 2020), and IV/mitigation (832.92 acres) would all be opened to hunting in the future. + Future total acres would include proposed future acquisitions under the active acquisition programs for Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, and Bogue Chitto NWRs.
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A proposed action may evolve during the NEPA process as the agency refines its proposal and gathers feedback from the public, Native American Tribes, and other governmental agencies. Therefore, the final proposed action may be different from the original. Barring the need for additional analysis, the final decision on the Proposed Action would be expected to be made through a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) after the conclusion of the public comment period for the EA, draft hunt plans, draft CDs, and the Draft 2021-2022 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations, which would be anticipated later in 2021.
Background National wildlife refuges are guided by the mission and goals of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), the purpose(s) of an individual refuge, Service policy, and laws and international treaties. Relevant guidance includes the NWRS Administration Act (NWRSAA) of 1966, as amended by the NWRS Improvement Act (NWRSIA) of 1997, Refuge Recreation Act of 1962, and selected portions of the CFR and Fish and Wildlife Service Manual. The establishing authorities and related purposes of the seven NWRs are listed in Table 5.
The mission of the NWRS, as outlined by the NWRS Administration Act (NWRSAA), as amended by the NWRSIA (16 United States Code [USC] §668dd et seq.), is: “... to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans”
Additionally, the NWRSAA mandates the Secretary of the Interior in administering the NWRS (16 USC §668dd(a)(4)) to: • Provide for the conservation of fish, wildlife, and plants, and their habitats within the NWRS; • Ensure that the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of the NWRS are maintained for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans; • Ensure that the mission of the NWRS described at 16 USC §668dd(a)(2) and the purposes of each refuge are carried out; • Ensure effective coordination, interaction, and cooperation with owners of land adjoining refuges and the fish and wildlife agency of the states in which the units of the NWRS are located; • Assist in the maintenance of adequate water quantity and water quality to fulfill the mission of the NWRS and the purposes of each refuge; • Recognize compatible wildlife-dependent recreational uses as the priority general public uses of the NWRS through which the American public can develop an appreciation for fish and wildlife; • Ensure that opportunities are provided within the NWRS for compatible wildlife-dependent recreational uses; and • Monitor the status and trends of fish, wildlife, and plants in each refuge.
It is a priority of the Service to provide for wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities, including hunting, when those opportunities are compatible with the purposes for which a refuge was established and the mission of the NWRS.
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Table 5. Establishing and Acquisition Authorities and Refuge Purposes for Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs, Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex Refuge Refuge Purposes - Establishment and Acquisition Authorities (Year Established) Bayou Sauvage Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986, 16 USC §3901(b) (Public Law 99-645, Title V, Section 502) NWR • To enhance the populations of migratory, shore, and wading birds within the refuge (1990) • To encourage natural diversity of fish and wildlife species within the refuge • To protect the threatened and endangered species and otherwise to provide for the conservation and management of fish and wildlife within the refuge • To fulfill the international treaty obligations of the United States respecting fish and wildlife • To protect the archaeological resources of the refuge • To provide opportunities for fish and wildlife-dependent public uses and recreation in an urban setting North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989, 16 USC §4401(b) • To protect, enhance, restore, and manage an appropriate distribution and diversity of wetland ecosystems and other habitats for migratory birds and other fish and wildlife in North America • To maintain current or improved distributions of migratory bird populations • To sustain an abundance of waterfowl and other migratory birds consistent with the goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the international obligations contained in the migratory bird treaties and conventions and other agreements with Canada, Mexico, and other countries Bayou Teche NWR Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 USC §1534 (2001) • “...to conserve (A) fish or wildlife which are listed as endangered species or threatened species… or (B) plants...” Note: The entire Bayou Teche NWR, except for the Centerville unit (only unit north of U.S. Highway 90), has been officially proposed as critical habitat for the Louisiana black bear by the Service (USFWS 2008, CFR, 73 FR 25354). Big Branch Marsh Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986, 16 USC §3901(b) NWR • “...the conservation of the wetlands of the Nation in order to maintain the public benefits they provide and to help fulfill international obligations contained in various migratory bird treaties and conventions” (1994) North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989, 16 USC §4401(b) • To protect, enhance, restore, and manage an appropriate distribution and diversity of wetland ecosystems and other habitats for migratory birds and other fish and wildlife in North America • To maintain current or improved distributions of migratory bird populations • To sustain an abundance of waterfowl and other migratory birds consistent with the goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the international obligations contained in the migratory bird treaties and conventions and other agreements with Canada, Mexico and other countries 1994 Final Land Protection Plan • To provide habitat for natural diversity of wildlife associated with Big Branch Marsh • To provide wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl • To provide nesting habitat for wood ducks • To provide habitat for non-game migratory birds • To provide opportunities for public outdoor recreation, such as hunting, fishing, hiking, bird watching, and environmental education and interpretation, whenever they are compatible with the purposes of the refuge Bogue Chitto NWR National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act of 1966, 16 USC §§668dd-668ee (Public Law 96-288, 94 STAT 603) (1980) • “The Secretary shall administer all lands, waters, and interests therein, acquired under this Act in accordance with the provisions of the National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd- 668ee). The Secretary may utilize such additional statutory authority as may be available to him for the conservation and development of wildlife and natural resources, the development of outdoor recreation opportunities, and interpretive education as deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act.” Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986, 16 USC §3901(b) • “...the conservation of the wetlands of the Nation in order to maintain the public benefits they provide and to help fulfill international obligations contained in various migratory bird treaties and conventions...” Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, 16 USC §742f(a)(4) and §742f(b)(1) • “...for the development, advancement, management, conservation, and protection of fish and wildlife resources ..." 16 USC §742f(a)(4) • "... for the benefit of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in performing its activities and services. Such acceptance may be subject to the terms of any restrictive or affirmative covenant, or condition of servitude ..." 16 USC §742f(b)(1) National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act of 1966, 16 USC §668dd(a)(2) • “...for conservation, management, and ... restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats ... for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans..."
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Refuge Refuge Purposes - Establishment and Acquisition Authorities (Year Established) Cat Island NWR National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act of 1966, 16 USC §§668dd-668ee (Public Law 106-369, 114 STAT 1417) (2000) • To conserve, restore, and manage habitats as necessary to contribute to the migratory bird population goals and habitat objective [sic] as established through the Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture • To conserve, restore, and manage the significant aquatic resource values associated with the area’s forested wetlands and to achieve the habitat objectives of the ‘‘Mississippi River Aquatic Resources Management Plan” • To conserve, enhance, and restore the historic native bottomland community characteristics of the lower Mississippi alluvial valley and its associated fish, wildlife, and plant species • To conserve, enhance, and restore habitat to maintain and assist in the recovery of endangered, and threatened plants and animals • To encourage the use of volunteers and facilitate partnerships among the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, local communities, conservation organizations, and other non-Federal entities to promote public awareness of the resources of the Refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge System and public participation in the conservation of those resources Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929, 16 USC §715d and §715i • “...for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds...” 16 USC §715d • “…to conserve and protect migratory birds..., including species that are listed...as endangered species or threatened species, and to restore or develop adequate wildlife habitat.” 16 USC §715i Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986, 16 USC §3901(b) • “...the conservation of the wetlands of the Nation in order to maintain the public benefits they provide and to help fulfill international obligations contained in various migratory bird treaties and conventions” North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989, 16 USC §4401(b) • To protect, enhance, restore, and manage an appropriate distribution and diversity of wetland ecosystems and other habitats for migratory birds and other fish and wildlife in North America • To maintain current or improved distributions of migratory bird populations • To sustain an abundance of waterfowl and other migratory birds consistent with the goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the international obligations contained in the migratory bird treaties and conventions and other agreements with Canada, Mexico, and other countries. Delta NWR Executive Order 7229, November 19, 1935 (1935) • As a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife Executive Order 7383, June 5, 1936 • As a migratory waterfowl refuge, is subject to use for quarantine purposes Executive Order 7538, January 19, 1937 • For waterfowl refuge purposes is subject to use…with the improvement of navigation in the Mississippi River and the uses thereof, and the administration of the area for wildlife conservation purposes shall be without interference with any existing or future uses or regulations of the War Department (Army Corps of Engineers) Executive Order 8517, August 16, 1940 and Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929, 16 USC §715d and §715i • “...for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds...” 16 USC §715d • “…to conserve and protect migratory birds..., including species that are listed...as endangered species or threatened species, and to restore or develop adequate wildlife habitat.” 16 USC §715i Mandalay NWR Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929, 16 USC §715d (1996) • “...for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds...” 16 USC §715d Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 USC §1534 • “...to conserve (A) fish or wildlife which are listed as endangered species or threatened species… or (B) plants...”
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In accordance with the NWRSIA, the Proposed Action would outline high quality, wildlife-oriented recreation, utilizing a renewable natural resource; it is designed to serve the purposes, goals, and objectives of the seven NWRs and the mission of the NWRS, while providing more consistency across the Refuge Complex and additional alignment of these hunt programs with the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.
Bayou Sauvage NWR: Following development of the 2009 CCP, the Bayou Sauvage NWR Recreational Hunt Plan was approved in 2011; public hunting on the refuge was determined to be compatible with only 45% of the refuge open to hunting (USFWS 2011c). As summarized in Table 1, the Proposed Action would extend youth waterfowl (duck, merganser, teal, and coot) hunting hours from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday; add the incidental take of nutria during the youth waterfowl hunt on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday; extend the light and dark goose season on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, while also allowing take during the light goose conservation season, youth only; add the take of gallinule, rail, snipe, and dove in state season until 2:00 pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, youth only; add a youth, archery only, white-tailed deer hunt during the state season; add a youth only rabbit hunt during the state season; and allow the incidental take of coyote, feral hog, armadillo, opossum, and raccoon during all refuge youth hunts.
Bayou Teche NWR: Public hunts on the Bayou Teche NWR began in 2001 (USFWS 1999a); public hunting on the refuge was most recently determined to be a compatible wildlife-dependent recreational use based on the draft CCP and EA (USFWS 2009c) and the final CCP and FONSI (USFWS 2009d). As summarized in Table 1, the Proposed Action would extend the hunting time for ducks (including mergansers) from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm in the Bayou Sale, Centerville, Franklin, Garden City, and North Bend East and West units; add a teal, coot and gallinule hunt until 2:00 pm in the Bayou Sale, Centerville, Franklin, Garden City, and North Bend East and West units; add light and dark geese hunting until 2:00 pm on the Geese Conservation Days in the Bayou Sale, Centerville, Franklin, Garden City, and North Bend East and West units; add hunting of rail, snipe, and dove during the state season in the Bayou Sale, Centerville, Franklin, Garden City, and North Bend East and West units; add woodcock hunting to the Franklin Unit (which was previously closed for birdwatchers and hikers); add the white- tailed deer archery hunt to the Franklin Unit (which was previously closed for birdwatchers and hikers); add a rabbit hunt to the Franklin Unit (which was previously closed for birdwatchers and hikers); add spring squirrel hunting to the Franklin Unit (which was previously closed for birdwatchers and hikers); allow the incidental take of nutria during the waterfowl season in the Bayou Sale, Centerville, Franklin, Garden City, and North Bend East and West units; allow the incidental take during all refuge hunts of coyote, feral hog, armadillo, opossum, and raccoon in the Bayou Sale, Centerville, Franklin, Garden City and North Bend East and West units.
Big Branch Marsh NWR: Recreational hunting has been allowed on Big Branch Marsh NWR since refuge establishment under the refuge’s 1996 Hunt Plan which covered the 3,660 acres of refuge owned lands and 1,168 acres of leased lands from The Conservation Fund to hunt big game (archery), some migratory game birds (waterfowl, coots, woodcock, and snipe), and upland game (squirrel and rabbit) (USFWS 1996). The 1996 hunt plan for Big Branch Marsh NWR was amended in 1998 (USFWS 1998a), and a revised existing hunt plan was created in 2007 to add hunting of rail, gallinule, raccoon, and quail (USFWS 2007c). Public hunting on Big Branch Marsh NWR was determined to be a compatible wildlife- dependent recreational use based on the draft CCP and EA (USFWS 2007a) and the final CCP and FONSI
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(USFWS 2007b). As summarized in Table 1, the Proposed Action would expand hunt hours for duck (including merganser), teal, coot, and light and dark geese; open new species and new units to hunting, including dove and turkey, and incidental hunting of coyote, nutria, armadillo, opossum, and raccoon; open additional hunt opportunities for veterans; and clarify approved ammunition at Big Branch Marsh NWR.
Bogue Chitto NWR: Public hunting on Bogue Chitto dates back to 1985 (USFWS 1985). Most recently, hunting was determined to be a compatible use in the Bogue Chitto NWR draft CCP and EA (USFWS 2011a) and final CCP and FONSI (USFWS 2011b). As summarized in Table 1, the Proposed Action would expand hunt hours and open new species and new units to hunting at Bogue Chitto NWR, including extending waterfowl hunting (including duck, merganser, teal, coot, and light and dark geese) and gallinule hunting from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm; adding armadillo and coyote take incidental to all hunts; adding nutria take incidental to waterfowl hunts; changing opossum and raccoon hunting to be incidental to all refuge hunts; adding a spring season for squirrel; and adding dove, rail, snipe, and quail hunting under state seasons.
Cat Island NWR: Hunting has occurred on Cat Island NWR since 2001 (USFWS 2001a-b). Most recently, hunting was determined to be a compatible use in the Cat Island NWR draft CCP and EA (USFWS 2015a) and final CCP and FONSI (USFWS 2015b). As summarized in Table 1, the Proposed Action would expand hunt hours and days and open new species to hunting at Cat Island NWR, including extending waterfowl hunting (including mergansers, light and dark geese, and coots) from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm and expanding to seven days a week; adding hunting of teal, gallinule, rail, snipe, and dove; adding a two- day primitive firearms hunt for white-tailed deer; changing incidental take of nutria to be during waterfowl hunts; changing beaver hunting to be incidental to all refuge hunts; adding incidental hunting of armadillo and opossum; and adding a spring squirrel season.
Delta NWR: Public hunting on Delta NWR dates back to 1935. The most recent Hunt Plan for the refuge is from 1994 (USFWS 1994a). Most recently, hunting was determined to be a compatible use in the Delta NWR draft CCP and EA (USFWS 2008a) and final CCP and FONSI (USFWS 2008b). As summarized in Table 1, the Proposed Action would expand hunting at Delta NWR, including expanding hours and opening new species, including extending waterfowl hunting (including teal, mergansers, light and dark geese, and coots) from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm; adding hunting of gallinule, rail, snipe, and dove; adding incidental hunting of nutria during waterfowl hunts; adding incidental hunting of coyote, armadillo, opossum, and raccoon to all refuge hunts; and adding a shotgun deer hunt on the Saturday and Sunday during the first split of the regular waterfowl season.
Mandalay NWR: Recreational hunting has been allowed on Mandalay NWR since the refuge was establishment in 1996 (USFWS 1996). The most recent Hunt Plan for the refuge is from 2007 (USFWS 2007e). Most recently, hunting was determined to be a compatible use in the Mandalay NWR draft CCP and EA (USFWS 2009e) and final CCP and FONSI (USFWS 2009f). As summarized in Table 1, the Proposed Action would extended the time of the youth light and dark geese from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays; add a youth teal hunt until 2:00 pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the state season; extend the youth waterfowl (including duck, merganser, teal, coot, and light and dark geese) and gallinule hunting time from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm; eliminate the lottery; add a youth rabbit hunt during the state season; add a youth rail, snipe, and dove hunt on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with incidental armadillo on
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the same days; add a youth spring squirrel hunt during the state season; and extend incidental take to include coyote, feral hog, and opossum to all refuge youth hunts. In the Lake Hatch Unit, the Proposed Action would: add youth only incidental take of armadillo, coyote, feral hog, and raccoon; add youth only spring squirrel during state season; add youth only rabbit hunt during the state season; and add youth incidental take of nutria during the state waterfowl season.
Purpose and Need The purpose is to evaluate proposed hunting on the seven NWRs in accordance with the purposes and establishing and acquisition authorities of each refuge (see Table 5). Specifically, the purpose is to protect and conserve wildlife and natural resources, including wetlands, migratory birds, natural diversity, threatened and endangered species, and breeding grounds; provide inviolate sanctuary for migratory birds; provide opportunities for appropriate and compatible wildlife-oriented outdoor recreation; and promote public awareness of the refuges and the NWRS.
The need is to meet the requirements of the NWRSIA; evaluate compatibility of proposed uses; protect biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health; and implement the CCPs and step-down management plans of the seven NWRs (see Table 2 for related refuge management goals and objectives). The need is also to align as much as possible with state hunting regulations where compatible with refuge purposes and management through effective coordination with state fish and wildlife agencies, Native American Tribes, adjacent landowners, and the general public, while ensuring the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of the NWRs are maintained [16 USC §668dd(a)(4)]. Invasive and nuisance species continue to have adverse impacts to wildlife and habitat on the seven NWRs; part of the need is to reduce the adverse impacts associated with coyote, feral hog, and nutria. Further, the need is also to meet the Service’s priorities and mandates; implement the Service’s Secretarial Order (SO) 3347 Conservation Stewardship and Outdoor Recreation and SO 3356 Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Shooting, and Wildlife Conservation Opportunities and Coordination with States, Tribes, and Territories by expanding hunting opportunities and better aligning Service regulations with state regulations.
Alternatives Two alternatives were fully developed for review in this EA: Alternative A Continue Current Management (No Action Alternative) and Alternative B Implement 2021 Hunt Plans for Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs (Proposed Action). The proposed draft 2021 hunt plans (Section A) and draft hunting CDs (Appendix B) were developed for implementation based on the Proposed Action outlined in Alternative B. Tables 1 and 2 summarize the existing (Alternative A) and proposed (Alternative B) hunt programs for the seven NWRs, while Table 5 provides the framework of the refuges’ establishing and acquisition authorities and purposes. Appendix C provides figures of the existing and proposed hunt units. Under either alternative, all or parts of the refuges may be closed to hunting at any time if necessary for public safety, to provide wildlife sanctuary, or for administrative reasons.
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Alternative A – Continue Current Management (No Action Alternative) Under Alternative A, hunting would continue as summarized in tables 1, 3, and 4 and as outlined in the existing hunting and fishing plans, CCPs, and associated FONSIs for the seven NWRs (USWFS 1984, 1994a, 1999, 2001a-b, 2007a-c, 2007e, 2008a-b, 2009a-f, 2011a-c, 2015a-b). All seasons would continue to be coordinated with and within the framework of the LDWF and Mississippi Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (MDFWP). Some hunting regulations could be more restrictive than the regulations of the states to meet refuge purposes, goals, and objectives. All methods of approved take have been developed with the objective of humanely dispatching the animal. Approved hunts, including dates, time, and method of take, while involving the killing of individuals, are developed with humaneness and animal welfare concerns. Established hunter training, hunter ethics, and hunter responsibilities help ensure hunters continue to use good judgment related to humaneness and animal welfare. As the hunting programs on the refuges progress, harvest information is collected, and public use is evaluated, modifications could be made to refuge-specific regulations and/or the hunting programs to assure that refuge management goals and compatibility are met. The Refuge Complex is currently in the process of developing a daily/annual user access fee. Following approval of the fee (anticipated in 2021 or 2022), a refuge user brochure must be carried on person while on the refuge as part of the all user recreational access fee for Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs. If the recreational access fee is not implemented, the refuges will continue to require all hunters to possess and carry a signed refuge hunt brochure. Bayou Sauvage NWR would continue to require only the signed refuge hunt brochure.
Bayou Sauvage NWR would continue the existing youth hunt for four species/species groups (i.e., duck [including merganser], teal, coot, and light and dark geese) on 11,095 acres. Hunts would continue to occur on Wednesdays, Thursday, Saturdays, and Sundays from ½ hour before legal sunrise until 2:00 pm on the Outside Levee Unit during the state season. Annual harvest would continue to be estimated at approximately up to 4079 waterfowl; the number of hunts would continue to be up to 1457 waterfowl hunting individuals. The brochures would continue to be updated annually. No additional refuge cost would be incurred with this alternative; annual costs to administer the refuge’s hunt program are estimated at $17,500.
Bayou Teche NWR would continue hunting four species/species groups (i.e., duck [including merganser], white-tailed deer, rabbit, and squirrel) on 5,428 acres. Hunts would continue to occur during specified state seasons, dates, and times. The refuge would continue to hunt feral hogs incidental to archery white-tailed deer hunts. The estimated number of annual hunt visits would be 444 efforts harvesting 4 deer, 183 squirrels, 3 rabbits, and 28 ducks. A refuge user brochure must be carried on person while hunting. No additional refuge administration cost would be incurred to implement this additional hunt program other than what is explained in the Hunt Plan. Annual costs to implement the refuge wide hunt plan are estimated at $10,500, which includes boundary posting, law enforcement, signage, maintenance of facilities, and program administration.
Big Branch Marsh NWR would continue hunting 14 species/species groups (i.e., duck [including merganser], teal, coot, gallinule, light and dark geese, rail, snipe, woodcock, white-tailed deer, feral hog, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, and quail) on approximately 18,915 acres during the state season, while continuing to restrict hunting on an additional 409 acres of refuge lands. Hunt days for waterfowl and other migratory birds would continue to be Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays of the
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state season. Feral hog hunting would continue to be incidental to the refuge’s archery deer hunt. Quail and woodcock hunting would continue during the state season from a half hour before legal sunrise until 2:00 pm. Annual harvest would continue to be an estimated at up to 1,355 waterfowl, 28 other migratory birds (including gallinule, rail, woodcock, and snipe), up to 550 upland game individuals (including squirrel, quail, and rabbit), up to 20 raccoon, and up to 700 deer and hogs taken. The number of hunts would continue to be up to 7,400 waterfowl (duck, geese, and coots) hunts, 38 other migratory bird (rail, snipe, gallinule, and woodcock) hunts, up to 580 upland game hunts (squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, and quail), and up to 700 big game hunts (deer and hog). Refuge brochure information would continue to be updated annually. No additional hunts for turkey, dove, opossum coyote, armadillo, or nutria would occur. No additional refuge administration cost would be incurred to implement this additional hunt program other than what is explained in the Hunt Plan. Annual costs to implement the refuge wide hunt plan are estimated at $11,500, which includes boundary posting, law enforcement, signage, maintenance of facilities, and program administration. Although deer populations are considered low on Big Branch Marsh NWR, archery harvest is the only method of take that has been allowed on the refuge. Hog populations have increased since refuge establishment. Refuge management efforts to control hog populations include trapping and shooting. The refuge would continue to allow dogs to retrieve waterfowl geese, coots, snipe, gallinule, rabbit, and squirrel and to point and locate quail. The use of dogs shall be restricted to such time periods as may be designated by refuge management to minimize conflicts with other refuge programs. Such time periods would be printed in the refuge user brochure.
Bogue Chitto NWR would continue hunting 13 species/species groups (i.e., duck [including merganser], teal, coot, gallinule, light and dark geese, woodcock, turkey, white-tailed deer, feral hog, opossum, rabbit, raccoon, and squirrel) on 36,298 acres during the hunt seasons of the two states. Rabbit hunts would continue to be offered during the seasons of the two states with the restriction of no rabbit hunting during the deer gun and primitive firearm hunts. Feral hog hunting would continue to be incidental during all refuge deer hunts. In addition, the refuge offers a special dog hog hunt in February of each year. Existing visitor facilities and primitive camping support hunting activities on the refuge. The estimated current annual take of migratory birds is 150, the estimated current annual take of upland game species is estimated at up to 25, the estimated current annual deer harvest is 220, and the estimated annual feral hog take is 100; these harvest rates would be expected to continue. The estimated current annual hunters is approximately 21,700. Annual costs to implement the refuge wide hunt plan are estimated at $10,500, which includes boundary posting, law enforcement, signage, maintenance of facilities, and program administration.
Cat Island NWR would continue hunting 12 species/species groups (i.e., duck [including merganser], coot, light and dark geese, woodcock, white-tailed deer, coyote, nutria, feral hog, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, and beaver) on 9,796 acres during the state season, while continuing to restrict hunting from 1,094 acres of the refuge. Hunt days for waterfowl and other migratory birds would continue during the state season on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the state season. White-tailed deer archery hunts would continue to be limited to the dates published in the refuge user brochure. Feral hog hunting would continue to be incidental to all refuge hunts. Effects of deer and small game hunting at Cat Island NWR have also been studied. As with waterfowl, white-tailed deer will alter their behavior in response to hunting. Intensive hunting pressure can cause deer to change their home ranges and favor areas, which are not hunted (Root et al. 1988). Estimated current annual hunts is approximately 7,500. The estimated current annual take of migratory birds is 450, the estimated current annual take
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of upland game species is estimated at up to 650, the estimated current annual deer harvest is 120, and the estimated annual feral hog take is 150; these harvest rates would be expected to continue. Annual costs to implement the refuge wide hunt plan are estimated at $6,500, which includes boundary posting, law enforcement, signage, maintenance of facilities, and program administration.
Delta NWR would continue hunting seven species/species groups (i.e., duck [including merganser], teal, coot, light and dark geese, white-tailed deer, feral hog, and rabbit) on 18,146 acres during the state seasons. Hunt days for waterfowl and other migratory birds would continue to be Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays of the state season. At Delta NWR, recreational hunting of white- tailed deer with bow and arrow, and hunting of migratory game birds and rabbits would continue on the refuge. Hunters would continue to be allowed to take feral hogs incidental to all refuge hunts. While hunting is the most popular public use on the refuge, hunting pressure is not heavy at this time, which would be expected to continue. White-tailed deer harvest is limited to archery from October 1-31 and from the day after the close of the state waterfowl season until January 31, following the state limits and regulations, which would continue. No commercial hunting activities, including guiding or participating in a guided hunt, are permitted, which would continue under Alternative A. Estimated current annual hunters is approximately 7,200. The estimated current annual take of migratory birds is approximately 2,500, the estimated current annual take of upland game species is estimated at up to 120, the estimated current annual deer harvest is 10, and the estimated annual feral hog take is 5; these harvest rates would be expected to continue. Annual costs to implement the refuge wide hunt plan are estimated at $12,700, which includes boundary posting, law enforcement, signage, maintenance of facilities, and program administration.
Mandalay NWR would continue youth hunts for six species/species groups (i.e., duck [including merganser], coot, gallinule, light and dark geese, white-tailed deer and feral hog) on 4,386 acres. Hunts would continue to include deer archery hunt (bucks only) on the entire refuge, deer and hog archery in Lake Hatch Unit on Wednesdays and Saturdays until noon, youth waterfowl during state youth waterfowl days in the Hanson Unit, and waterfowl hunting in the Hanson Unit during state waterfowl season on Wednesdays and Saturdays; most hunts would continue to end at noon. The hunt lottery system would continue. The estimated number of hunt visits is 235. Annual harvests would be expected to continue to average: two deer, one hog, 50 waterfowl, 84 alligators, and 1,798 nutria by an average of 65 hunters. Annual costs to implement the refuge wide hunt plan are estimated at $10,500, which includes boundary posting, law enforcement, signage, maintenance of facilities, and program administration.
Alternative B – Implement 2021 Hunt Plans for Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs (Proposed Action Alternative) Alternative B would offer increased opportunities for public hunting and would help fulfill the Service’s mandates under the NWRSAA as amended by the NWRSIA. Under Alternative B and as summarized in the EA’s introduction and tables 1, 3, and 4, hunting on all seven NWRs would continue as outlined under Alternative A or be expanded for: duck (including merganser), teal, coot, gallinule, light and dark geese, rail, snipe, dove, woodcock, white-tailed deer, coyote, nutria, feral hog, armadillo, opossum, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, and quail. Further over time as targeted acquisitions occurred, 6,238 acres would be added to the Bayou Teche NWR hunt program, 10,725 acres would be added to the Big Branch
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Marsh NWR hunt program, and 12,942 acres would be added to the Bogue Chitto NWR hunt program, increasing the total acres available for hunting on the seven NWRs to 133,969 acres (see tables 3 and 4 and Appendix D). The refuge would also provide special opportunities during state youth and veterans hunts, as outlined in refuge user brochures. A refuge user brochure would continue to be required to be carried on person while hunting on the NWRs. The draft hunt plans in Section A, the draft hunting CDs in Appendix B, and the draft proposed changes to CFR in Appendix E were developed for implementation based on Alternative B and are incorporated herein by reference. Providing context for the EA, the figures in Appendix C outline the existing and proposed hunt units and Appendix D outlines the included acquisition programs for Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, and Bogue Chitto NWRs. The proposed additions to the hunting programs at the seven NWRs, outlined in the draft hunt plans (Section A), were designed to minimize potential conflicts with the purposes of the refuges and other priority public uses, while providing increased opportunities for a compatible priority public use. All seasons would continue to be coordinated with and within the framework of the LDWF and MDFWP. Some hunting regulations could be more restrictive than regulations of the states to meet refuge objectives. All methods of proposed take have been developed with the objective of humanely dispatching the animal. Proposed hunts, including dates, time, and method of take, while involving the killing of individuals, were developed with humaneness and animal welfare concerns. Established hunter training, hunter ethics, and hunter responsibilities help ensure hunters continue to use good judgment related to humaneness and animal welfare. As the hunting programs on the refuges progress, harvest information would continue to be collected, and public use would continue to be evaluated, modifications could be made to refuge-specific regulations and/or the hunting programs to assure that refuge management goals and compatibility are met. The refuge-specific regulations that would be imposed under the Proposed Action and published in the Federal Register as part of the 2021-22 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations are included in Appendix E, are listed in the 2021 draft hunt plans in Section A, and are incorporated herein by reference. Upon approval of a final decision to implement the Proposed Action, the existing hunt plans and CDs would be replaced by the proposed hunt plans (Section A) and CDs (Appendix B).
At Bayou Sauvage NWR, under Alternative B, on acres already open to hunting, the Service would add 12 species or species groups (i.e., gallinule, rail, snipe, dove, white-tailed deer, coyote, nutria, feral hog, armadillo, opossum, rabbit, and raccoon) for a total of 16 species or species groups in the youth hunt program at the refuge during the state season. Youth hunts would be added under Alternative B for gallinule, rail, snipe, dove, white-tailed deer, coyote, nutria, feral hog, armadillo, opossum, rabbit, and raccoon. Existing youth hunts would be expanded for duck [including merganser], teal, and coot (to extend the close of the hunt day from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm) and for light and dark geese (to extend the close of the hunt day from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm and add conservation season days). Hunting of coyote, feral hog, armadillo, opossum, and raccoon would be incidental to all refuge hunts. Hunting of nutria would be incidental to waterfowl hunts. The existing total of 11,095 acres open to hunting and the existing hunt days of the week would remain the same as Alternative A. Under Alternative B, an additional 50 hunters would be expected with an estimated take of up to 100 additional ducks and coots and up to 20 for all the other migratory bird species, zero to 20 upland game species, 25-50 deer, and up to 10 hogs. Estimated annual costs to administer the refuge’s hunt program under Alternative B would be anticipated to be $17,500, which would not be an increase from Alternative A.
At Bayou Teche NWR, under Alternative B, the Service would add the 3,600 acres of the Franklin Unit (for the hunting of woodcock, white-tailed deer, rabbit, and squirrel) and add 14 species or species
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groups (i.e., teal, coot, gallinule, light and dark geese, rail, snipe, dove, woodcock, coyote, nutria, feral hog, armadillo, opossum, and raccoon) for a total of 18 species or species groups hunted during the state season. Existing hunts would be expanded for duck (including merganser) (to extend the close of the hunt day from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm) and squirrel (to add a spring season and add the Franklin Unit). The Franklin Unit would also add hunting for woodcock, white-tailed deer, and rabbit. The proposed hunt hours for teal, coot, gallinule, and light and dark geese would be ½ hour before legal sunrise to 2:00 pm with conservation season days for light and dark geese. The proposed hunts for rail, snipe, and dove would be during the state season. Hunting of coyote, feral hog, armadillo, opossum, and raccoon would be incidental to all refuge hunts, while hunting of nutria would be incidental to waterfowl hunts. Bayou Teche NWR currently has an active acquisition program (see tables 3 and 4 and Appendix D); for this refuge, those anticipated acquisitions are included in this analysis and would be added to the Bayou Teche NWR Hunt Plan upon acquisition without the development of an additional or amended hunt plan, unless specific conditions or circumstances bar this action. Over time as properties are acquired, under Alternative B the number of acres open to hunting would increase by 6,238 for a total of 11,666 acres open to hunting (see tables 3 and 4 and Appendix D). In accordance with the approved Land Protection Plan (USFWS 1998b, 1999b), Bayou Teche NWR currently has an active acquisition program with four phase: Phase I (480.4 acres) would include 361 acres to be opened to hunting in the future, while phases II (330.47 acres), III (1,114.02 acres), and IV/mitigation (832.92 acres) would all be opened to hunting in the future. The estimated number of 444 annual hunt visits would be expected to increase by 5%-10%. Estimated total take averaging 4 deer, 183 squirrel, 3 rabbit and 28 ducks would expect to increase by 3% to 5% from Alternative A with the addition of 13 new species. Maintained trails, levee tops, roads, boardwalk, and fishing dock are considered public use areas and would have a 200-foot no hunting buffer around them to help minimize user group conflicts and maintain refuge accessibility for all visitors throughout the year; the Garden City Boardwalk public use area has an established no hunting buffer of 500 feet. Estimated annual costs to administer the refuge’s hunt program under Alternative B would be anticipated to be $10,500, which would be similar to Alternative A.
At Big Branch Marsh NWR, under Alternative B, the Service would add six species or species groups (i.e., dove, turkey, coyote, nutria, armadillo, and opossum) for a total of 20 species or species groups hunted during the state season. Existing hunt hours would be expanded from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm for duck (including merganser), teal, coot, and light and dark geese. Existing hunt hours would remain open until 2:00 pm for gallinule, snipe, woodcock, quail, and rail. Conservation season days would be added for light and dark geese. Hunting for rail, snipe, woodcock, white-tailed deer, and quail would continue as under Alternative A. Hunting would be added for coyote, armadillo, and opossum incidental to all refuge hunts, while hunting of nutria would be added incidental to all waterfowl hunts. Existing hunting of feral hogs would be expanded to be incidental to all refuge hunts. An additional turkey hunt would be added on a limited basis when populations increase to huntable population levels. Alternative B would clarify weaponry and ammunition for rabbit (allowing the use of air rifles) and squirrel (allowing .22 or smaller rimfire ammunition and air rifles). Additional hunt opportunities would be available to open for active and honorably discharged veterans. A dove season would be opened to allow take only during the same refuge waterfowl season days of the week (Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday). Areas closed to hunting would remain the same as Alternative A and would continue to be based on employee, volunteer, and public safety concerns and an effort to prevent refuge user conflicts. Hunting acres, regulations and opportunity for white-tailed deer, woodcock, quail, snipe, rail, and gallinule would remain the same. These species hunt seasons and regulations compare to nearby state wildlife management area regulations and seasons. In accordance with the approved minor expansion
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plan and FONSI (USFWS 2008), Big Branch Marsh NWR currently has an active acquisition program (see tables 3 and 4 and Appendix D); for this refuge, those anticipated acquisitions are included in this analysis and would be added to the Big Branch March NWR Hunt Plan upon acquisition without the development of an additional or amended hunt plan, unless specific conditions or circumstances bar this action. Thus, over time, the existing total of 18,915 acres open to hunting would increase from Alternative A as new lands and waters were added to the refuge, up to a new total of 29,640 acres open to hunting. Special refuge youth, physically challenged, and veteran hunts would be allowed and would be identified in the refuge user brochure. The financial cost to implement the proposed hunt plan, which includes administrative, law enforcement, posting, and facility maintenance, would be estimated at $11,500 annually. An additional two hours per day would be added to waterfowl season days on the refuge adding an additional estimated 22 ducks to be harvested. The Service would not expect any additional hunters with this extra two hours, but it would provide additional opportunity to existing hunters. Opening a dove season would be estimated to add an additional 50 doves taken on the refuge and add an expected 10 dove hunters. Adding a light goose conservation season may add up to five additional geese taken but would not be expected to increase the number of hunters. Adding the incidental take of hog, armadillo, and coyote during any open refuge season and take of nutria as incidental to waterfowl hunts would be expected to take an estimated additional 20 or less for each species but would not be expected to increase the number of hunters. Adding a limited turkey hunt would add up to 5 turkeys to be taken annually on the refuge. The alteration of raccoon season from during the same as rabbit season to incidental take during any open season would be expected to add the take of an estimated additional 20 raccoons. However, the number of raccoon hunters would not be expected to increase. Estimated annual costs to administer the refuge’s hunt program under Alternative B would be anticipated to be $11,500, which would be similar to Alternative A.
At Bogue Chitto NWR, under Alternative B, on acres already open to hunting, the Service would add seven species or species groups (i.e., rail, snipe, dove, coyote, nutria, armadillo, and quail) during the states’ seasons for a total of 20 species or species groups hunted. Existing hunt hours would be expanded from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm for duck, teal, coot, gallinule, and light and dark geese. Hunting of woodcock, turkey, white-tailed deer, and rabbit would continue as under Alternative A. Hunting of nutria would be incidental to waterfowl hunts. Hunting of coyote, feral hog, armadillo, opossum, and raccoon would be incidental to all refuge hunts. In addition, the refuge would continue to offer a special dog hog hunt in February of each year. Alternative B would add a squirrel spring season during the states’ seasons. Existing visitor facilities and primitive camping would continue to support hunting activities on the refuge. Bogue Chitto NWR currently has an active acquisition program (see tables 3 and 4 and Appendix D); for this refuge, those anticipated acquisitions are included in this analysis and would be added to the Bogue Chitto NWR Hunt Plan upon acquisition without the development of an additional or amended hunt plan, unless specific conditions or circumstances bar this action. The existing total of 36,298 acres open to hunting would increase over time from Alternative A to 49,240 acres. Under Alternative B, up to 100 additional hunters would be expected with an estimated increased take of up to 50 migratory birds, 25 upland game species, 10 turkey, 10 deer, and 10 hog. Bogue Chitto has a fairly stable hunting base; no significant increase in hunters or hunting activity would be expected under Alternative B. Estimated annual costs to administer the refuge’s hunt program under Alternative B would be anticipated to be $10,500, which would be similar to Alternative A.
At Cat Island NWR, under Alternative B, on acres already open to hunting, the Service would add seven species or species groups (i.e., teal, gallinule, rail, snipe, dove, armadillo, and opossum) during the state
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season for a total of 19 species or species groups hunted. Existing hunt hours would be expanded from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm for duck, coot, and light and dark geese. Existing waterfowl hunt days would be expanded to seven days a week during the state waterfowl season. Conservation season days would be added for light and dark geese. Hunt days for duck would be expanded from the existing four days to daily during the state season. Proposed teal and gallinule hunts would be from ½ hour before legal sunrise to 2:00 pm daily during the state season. Hunting of woodcock, coyote, feral hog, rabbit, and raccoon would continue as under Alternative A. Based on evaluation of the feasibility of a special opportunity primitive firearms white-tailed deer hunt and working with the state of Louisiana, Alternative B would add a 2-day primitive firearms hunt for white-tailed deer. Hunting of beaver would be expanded to be incidental to all refuge hunts. New hunting of armadillo and opossum would be incidental to all refuge hunts. Incidental hunting of nutria would be during refuge waterfowl hunts. Alternative B would add a squirrel spring season during the state seasons. The existing total of 9,796 acres open to hunting would remain the same as Alternative A. All or part of the refuge may be closed to hunting at any time, if necessary, for public safety, to provide wildlife sanctuary, in response to rising Mississippi River levels or other reasons. Under Alternative B, 350 additional hunters would be expected with an estimated increased take of 220 migratory birds, 30 upland game species, up to 106 deer, and up to 10 feral hog. Estimated annual costs to administer the refuge’s hunt program under Alternative B would be anticipated to be $6,500, which would be similar to Alternative A.
At Delta NWR, under Alternative B, on acres already open to hunting, the Service would add nine species or species groups (i.e., gallinule, rail, snipe, dove, coyote, nutria, armadillo, opossum, and raccoon) for a total of 16 species or species groups hunted during the state season. Existing hunt hours would be expanded from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm for duck, teal, coot, gallinule, and light and dark geese. Conservation season days would be added for light and dark geese. Proposed hunts of gallinule, rail, snipe, and dove would be Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from ½ hour before legal sunrise to 2:00 pm. A shotgun white-tailed deer hunt would be added on the Saturday and Sunday during the first split of the regular waterfowl season. Feral hog and rabbit hunting would continue as under Alternative A. New hunts for coyote, armadillo, opossum, and raccoon would be incidental to all refuge hunts, while a new hunt for nutria would be incidental to all waterfowl hunts. The existing total of 18,146 acres open to hunting would remain the same as Alternative A. Under Alternative B, 700 additional hunters would be expected with an estimated increased take of 1,400 migratory birds, up to 15 upland game species, up to 15 deer, and up to 10 feral hog. Estimated annual costs to administer the refuge’s hunt program under Alternative B would be anticipated to be $12,700, which would be similar to Alternative A.
At Mandalay NWR, under Alternative B, on acres already open to hunting, the Service would add 11 species or species groups (i.e., teal, rail, snipe, dove, coyote, nutria, armadillo, opossum, rabbit, raccoon, and squirrel) for a total of 17 species or species groups hunted. The lottery would be eliminated and the hunt hours for the existing youth hunts for duck, coot, gallinule, and light and dark geese would be extended from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Youth hunts for teal, rail, snipe, and dove would be added on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the state season from ½ hour before legal sunrise to 2:00 pm. Thursdays and Sundays would be added to the existing youth hunts for coot, gallinule, and light and dark geese. Adult hunters must have a youth hunter present for all youth hunts. Conservation season days would be added for light and dark geese. Hunting would be added for coyote, armadillo, opossum, and raccoon incidental to all refuge hunts. Nutria hunting would be added incidental to waterfowl hunting. Existing feral hog hunting would be expanded to be incidental to all
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refuge hunts. A rabbit hunt would be added during the state season. A spring squirrel hunt would be added. The existing total of 4,386 acres open to hunting would remain the same as Alternative A. Under Alternative B, it would be estimated the additional waterfowl hunt days, 11 new species added, additional hunt seasons and hours would add approximately 50% more waterfowl hunters and waterfowl take, with an additional 50% -75% increase in overall hunter use. Up to an additional 100 hunters would be expected with an additional take of up to 75 ducks and coots and up to 20 for all the other migratory bird species, 15-30 upland game species, and up to 10 hogs. Estimated annual costs to administer the refuge’s hunt program under Alternative B would be anticipated to be $10,500, which would be similar to Alternative A.
Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences This section is organized by affected resource categories, and for each affected resource discusses both (1) the existing environmental and socioeconomic baseline in the action area for each resource and (2) the effects and impacts of the Proposed Action and any alternatives on each resource. The effects and impacts of the Proposed Action considered here are changes to the human environment, whether adverse or beneficial, that are reasonably foreseeable and have a reasonably close causal relationship to the Proposed Action or alternatives. The CCPs and EAs and the existing hunt plans previously outlined and analyzed impacts, finding no significant impacts of the outline management activities, including hunting (USWFS 1984, 1994a, 1999, 2001a-b, 2007a-c, 2007e, 2008a-b, 2009a-f, 2011a-c, 2015a-b). This EA includes the written analyses of the environmental consequences on a resource only when the impacts on that resource could be more than negligible and therefore considered an affected resource. Any resources that would not be more than negligibly impacted by the implementation of the action have been dismissed from further analyses. The Section 106 process of the National Historic Preservation Act would be followed in the future in the event that any new infrastructure or improvements trigger Section 106 compliance.
The seven NWRs consist of over 157,000 acres in Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, Washington, and West Feliciana Parishes, Louisiana and Pearl River County, Mississippi (Figure 1). The CCPs/EAs for the seven NWRs outlined the affected environment (in Chapter II in the CCPs and in Chapter II in the EAs), which are incorporated herein by reference (USFWS 2007a-b, 2008a- b, 2009a-f, 2011a-b, and 2015a-b). Conditions have not changed substantially since that time. The draft hunt plans in Section A provide additional information and details, including resource descriptions, which are incorporated herein by reference. An overview is provided here, while Table 6 identifies potential impacts for key resource categories, and tables 7 and 8 summarize those resource categories with the potential for more than negligible impacts; socioeconomic information has been updated and is summarized below.
Located within the city limits of the city of New Orleans, LA, Bayou Sauvage NWR includes 24,651 acres of predominantly wetlands. It is the second largest NWR located in an urban area of the US and is one of the last remaining marsh areas adjacent to the south shores of Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne. It is bordered on three sides by water: Lake Pontchartrain to the north, Chef Menteur Pass on the east, and Lake Borgne to the south. The western side of the refuge is bordered by the Maxent Canal and fast lands that consist of bottomland hardwood habitat and exotic species such as Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) and china berry (Melia azedarach). Un-leveed portions of the refuge consist of estuarine tidal marshes and shallow water. The Hurricane Protection Levee System, along with roadbeds, created
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freshwater impoundments, which altered the plant communities as well as the fish communities within these impoundments. Small forested areas exist on the low, natural ridges formed along natural drainages and along manmade canals. Annual visitation to the refuge is 270,042. Within the refuge, 11,095 acres are open to hunting as outlined in Alternative A.
Bayou Teche NWR includes 10,999 acres of three general vegetation types: bald cypress-tupelo swamp, bottomland hardwood forest, and fresh shrub/flotant marsh. Over time with planned acquisitions, the refuge’s management boundary would be anticipated to expand to encompass 11,831 acres of similar habitats (see Appendix D). The refuge is managed to conserve and manage habitat for the Louisiana black bear, a formerly Federally threatened subspecies of the American black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) that formerly ranged from eastern Texas to southern Mississippi, including all of Louisiana. Critical habitat for Louisiana black bear was designated along the Louisiana coast from Avery Island to Morgan City, including all units of Bayou Teche NWR except Centerville. The Louisiana black bear was delisted in 2016. Annual visitation is to the refuge is 17,787. Within the refuge, 5,428 acres are currently open to hunting as outlined in Alternative A.
Big Branch Marsh NWR is currently 19,407 acres of pine savannas, flatwoods and fresh to intermediate marshes. Over time with planned acquisitions, the refuge’s management boundary would be anticipated to expand to encompass 30,049 acres of similar habitats (see Appendix D). The refuge is located all along the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain from the cities of Mandeville to east of Slidell, Louisiana (with the recent addition of 432 acres in 2020), the Proposed Action (Alternative B) would cover the entire refuge acquisition boundary of 30,049 acres. The Big Branch Marsh area is the last undeveloped large natural area on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain and contains approximately 75% marsh/open water and 25% forest lands. Habitats with the refuge’s acquisition boundary include fresh and intermediate marsh (75%) and upland pine savannas and flatwoods (25%). Annual visitation to the refuge was 334,000 visits in 2019. Within the refuge, 18,915 acres are currently open to hunting as outlined in Alternative A.
Bogue Chitto NWR is named for the Choctaw Indian “Big Stream.” The refuge is located about nine miles northeast of Slidell, Louisiana. The refuge is bisected by the Pearl River with portions of the refuge located in St. Tammany and Washington parishes in Louisiana and Pearl River County in Mississippi. On the Mississippi side of the River, the refuge is bounded by Old River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) (15,400 acres) to the north and by the state of Louisiana’s Pearl River WMA (35,031) to the south, thereby forming an 87,000-acre block of protected forested wetlands and adjacent uplands within the Pearl River Basin. Currently spanning 36,386 acres, Bogue Chitto NWR is primarily composed of bottomland hardwood habitat interlaced by the Bogue Chitto River and Pearl River systems. Numerous sloughs, bayous, and lakes are located on the refuge. More than 90 percent of the refuge can be flooded during seasonal high-river periods. Over time with planned acquisitions, the refuge’s management boundary would be anticipated to expand to encompass 49,328 acres of similar habitats (see Appendix D). Annual visitation is to the refuge is 224,879. Within the refuge, 36,298 acres are currently open to hunting as outlined in Alternative A.
Cat Island NWR includes 10,890 acres of mainly tupelo swamp and cypress swamp. The refuge is located just west of the historical community of St. Francisville, Louisiana. Lying near the southern terminus of the Mississippi River and Mississippi Flyway, the refuge is within an area designated as an “Important Bird Area” by the Audubon Society. Other than during periods of high water, annual
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visitation to the refuge is an estimated 24,000. Within the refuge, 9,796 acres are currently open to hunting as outlined in Alternative A.
Delta NWR includes 50,260 acres of Roseau cane, marsh, shallow ponds, mud flats, and open water. The refuge is located 10 miles east of Venice, Louisiana along the Mississippi River. Annual visitation to the refuge is an estimated 12,000. Within the refuge, 18,146 acres are currently open to hunting as outlined in Alternative A.
Mandalay NWR includes 4,620 acres of mainly freshwater marsh with small ridges and spoil banks supporting bottomland hardwood forests adjacent to cypress-tupelo swamps. The entire refuge is contiguous within Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, although it is bisected by the Gulf-Intracoastal Waterway, and is surrounded by private lands. Annual visitation is to the refuge is 20,600. Within the refuge, 4,386 acres are currently open to hunting as outlined in Alternative A.
Within the home Louisiana parishes (seven) and Mississippi county (one) of the seven NWRs listed above, average household income is below the national average, average percentage minorities is just below the national average, average percentage of families below the poverty line is greater than the national average, and the median age is older than the national average. The range of annual household income for these parishes and county is $34,985 to $67,706 with an average of $48,167 where all but one parish is below the national average ($60,923), four are above the Louisiana average ($47,942), and five are above the Mississippi average ($43,567). Within these parishes and county, the percentage of the population represented by minorities ranges from 18.14% to 69.38% with an average of 37.92% where three parishes exceed the national average (38.93%), Louisiana average (41.16%), and Mississippi average (43.22%). The percentages of families below the poverty line for these parishes and county range from 8.23% to 19.7% with an average of 14.9% where all but one parish have higher percentages than the national average (10.08%) and four have higher percentages above the Louisiana (14.57%) and Mississippi (15.95%) averages. Median age for these parishes and county range from 35.8 to 40.9 with an average of 38.56 where five are older than the national (37.9), Louisiana (36.6), and Mississippi (37.2) averages. (US Department of Commerce 2020)
Providing a summary of the expected level of impacts by resource category, Table 6 identifies those resources that either do not exist within the project area or would either not be affected or only negligibly affected by the Proposed Action. As such, these resources are not further analyzed in this EA. Although no or negligible impacts to cultural resources would be expected under either alternative, with the increased demand for public recreation and the economic value of artifacts, it may be necessary to increase law enforcement patrol frequency in these areas. Regular maintenance of facilities would continue to occur under either alternative with no or negligible impacts anticipated. Minimal to negligible effects on human health and safety would be expected under either alternative. Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, requires all Federal agencies to incorporate environmental justice into their missions by identifying and addressing disproportionately high or adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs and policies on minorities and low-income populations and communities. Minority and low-income populations are located within the seven home parishes and one county for the seven NWRs as outlined above. Neither alternative would be expected to place a disproportionately high, adverse environmental, economic, social, or health effect on minority or low-income persons. None of
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the potential socioeconomic and environmental effects would be localized nor be placed primarily or unequally on minority and low-income population persons who reside near the refuge.
Table 6. Potential for Adverse Impacts from Proposed Action and Alternatives No/Negligible Greater than Not Applicable: Impacts: Negligible Resources Resource does No or negligible Impacts: not exist in impacts Impacts analyzed project area anticipated in this EA Species to Be Hunted/Fished ☐ ☐ ☒
Non-Target Wildlife and Aquatic Species ☐ ☐ ☒
Threatened and Endangered Species and Other Special Status Species ☐ ☐ ☒
Habitat and Vegetation (including vegetation of special management concern) ☐ ☐ ☒
Geology and Soils ☐ ☒ ☐
Air Quality ☐ ☒ ☐
Water Quality ☐ ☒ ☐
Floodplains ☐ ☒ ☐
Wilderness ☒ ☐ ☐
Visitor Use and Experience ☐ ☐ ☒
Cultural Resources ☐ ☒ ☐
Refuge Management and Operations ☐ ☒ ☐
Socioeconomics ☐ ☒ ☐
For the potentially impacted resources, tables 7 and 8 provide: 1. A brief description of the relevant general features of the affected environment; 2. A description of relevant environmental trends and planned actions; 3. A brief description of the affected resources in the proposed action area; and 4. Impacts of the Proposed Action and any alternatives on those resources.
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Table 7. Affected Natural Resources and Anticipated Impacts of the Proposed Action and Any Alternatives
Hunted Migratory Game Birds: Duck, Teal, Coot, Gallinule, Light and Dark Geese, Rail, Snipe, Dove, and Woodcock (with incidental take of nutria) Affected Environment Description Migratory birds are managed on a flyway basis and hunting regulations are established in each state based on flyway data. Migratory bird regulations are established at the Federal level each year following a series of meetings involving both state and Federal biologists. To determine the appropriate frameworks for each species, the Service considers factors such as population size and trend, geographical distribution, annual breeding effort, the condition of breeding and wintering habitat, the number of hunters, and the anticipated harvest. After frameworks are established for season lengths, bag limits, and areas for migratory game bird hunting, migratory game bird management becomes a cooperative effort between the state and Federal governments. After Service establishment of final frameworks for hunting seasons, the states may select season dates, bag limits, and other regulatory options for the hunting seasons. States may always be more conservative in their selections than the Federal frameworks, but never more liberal. Season dates and bag limits for NWRs open to hunting are never longer or larger than the state regulations and are generally more restrictive, as is the case for these seven NWRs.
Duck (including merganser), teal, coot, gallinule, light and dark geese, rail, snipe, dove, and woodcock are all known to occur on the seven NWRs with numbers of each species varying depending on the habitats of each NWR. While wood ducks (Aix sponsa), black bellied whistling ducks (Anas arcuata), and mottled ducks (Anas fulvigula ) breed on and/or are present year-round on some of the NWRs, the bulk of the waterfowl on the seven NWRs are represented by winter migrants. Waterfowl populations on the NWRs fluctuate with habitat conditions in the marshes, including changes in vegetation and water levels. Waterfowl populations may also respond to hunting pressure and move to areas of lower disturbance/hunting pressure. Coots are also winter migrants to the refuges. Statewide, coot populations are considered adequate to support a recreational hunt program. The 2020 winter survey of Big Branch Marsh NWR surveyed only 3,000 ducks. For migratory waterfowl, an average of 35,000 (peaks of 60,000-80,000) snow geese and 80,000-90,000 (peaks of 100,000-150,000) ducks have historically used the area around Delta NWR during winter; many more ducks, especially blue-winged teal, migrate through in fall and spring. It is possible that the snow geese wintering on the Mississippi River delta are a subpopulation that may have unique morphological features and perhaps remain somewhat isolated from the large population during reproduction and migration. Hunting of these migratory birds is outlined in Table 1 and in the description of Alternative A: duck on all seven NWRs; teal at Bayou Sauvage, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, and Delta NWRs; coot and light and dark geese at all except Bayou Teche NWR; gallinule at Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, and Mandalay NWRs; rail, snipe, and dove at Big Branch Marsh; and woodcock at Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, and Cat Island NWRs.
Nutria are known to occur on all seven NWRs. Nutria is considered an invasive nuisance animal that damages and destroys native wildlife and habitat; refuge management activities, including trapping, help to control this species to minimize adverse impacts. Since nutria are almost exclusively vegetarians and can eat 2.5 to 3.5 pounds of food daily, they can be very detrimental to marsh vegetation where large populations exist. Their burrows can also damage levees and banks. Further, they are in direct competition with the native muskrat for habitat and resources. Only Cat Island NWR currently permits nutria hunting. Environmental Trends and Planned Actions Descriptions Migratory bird hunting frameworks are inherently designed to support sustainable populations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, working with partners, annually prescribe frameworks, or outer limits, for dates and times when hunting may occur and the number of migratory birds that may be taken and possessed. These frameworks are necessary to allow state selections of season and limits for recreation and sustenance; aid Federal, state, and Tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds; and permit harvests at levels compatible with population status and habitat conditions. Because the Migratory Bird Treaty Act stipulates that all hunting seasons for migratory game birds are closed unless specifically opened by the Secretary of the Interior, the Service annually promulgates regulations (50 CFR Part 20) establishing the frameworks from which states may select season dates, bag limits, shooting hours, and other options for the each migratory bird hunting season. The frameworks are essentially permissive in that hunting of migratory birds would not be permitted without them. Thus, in effect, Federal annual regulations both allow and limit the hunting of migratory birds. Hunting has been allowed on the seven refuges when and where it was found compatible with refuge purposes. Hunting occurs throughout Louisiana and Mississippi, and across the United States as every citizen has the opportunity, under law, to hunt and fish. Nationally, the number of hunters decreased 16 percent from 2011 to 2016 (DOI et al. 2016). Eleven and a half million people 16 years and older enjoyed hunting a variety of game within the United States in 2016, while in that same year it was estimated that 9,300 people hunted on the refuge (approximately 0.08% of all hunters in the U.S. that year).
Refuges, including the Refuge Complex, conduct hunting programs within the framework of state and Federal regulations. Population estimates of huntable species are developed at regional, state, and continental scales. Hunting frameworks and take limits are set based upon these estimates. The proposed refuge hunting programs’ rules would conform to regulations in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi. By maintaining hunting regulations that are the same as, or are more restrictive than the states, individual refuges ensure that they are maintaining seasons, which are supportive of management on a more regional basis. Such an approach also provides consistency with large-scale population status and objectives. The seven refuges in Southeast Louisiana are located within the Mississippi Flyway for waterfowl and the Central Management Unit (CMU) for mourning doves. Recent waterfowl numbers have declined in winter surveys, even when refuge habitats have had good food production. Total duck and goose harvest in the Mississippi Flyway from 2017 was estimated at 5,339,800 ducks harvested from 390,500 duck hunters and 1,350,000 geese harvested from 271,700 goose hunters (Raftovitch et al. 2018). Raftovitch determined that total ducks harvested in Louisiana in 2017 was 1,083,900 and in Mississippi was 259,200, harvested by 46,900 and 12,700 hunters respectively. He also estimated that in 2017, 15,500 hunters harvested 75,200 geese and in the state of Louisiana, and 8,500 Mississippi hunters harvested 32,300 geese in the state of Mississippi. Louisiana’s four-year average harvests for ducks and geese were 921,990 ducks and 72,611 white-fronted geese (USFWS 2005). There were about 279 million doves in the U.S. in 2016 and 243 million in 2018 (Seamans, M. E. 2018). Estimates for mourning dove total harvest in 2016 was 13.5 million, and 11.6 million in 2018 (Seamans, M. E. 2018). There were an estimated 838,000 dove hunters in 2016 and 709,000 active dove hunters in 2018 Seamans, M. E. 2018). In 2016, those hunters spent 2.4 million days in the field and in 2018 spent 2.1 million days in the field to harvest doves Seamans, M. E. 2018). Mourning dove harvest and hunter participation declined between the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons in the Central Management Unit but remained relatively the
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same in the Eastern Management Unit.”(Seamans 2016 and 2018). Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program estimates for mourning dove total harvest, active hunters, and total days afield in the U.S. in the CMU was 4,749,100 ±283,900 birds, 332,900 hunters, and 852,100 ±53,100 days afield (Seamans 2019).
Other than for invasive species where control and elimination are the target, hunting programs are designed to be sustainable. In a regional or statewide context, hunting on the seven refuges under either alternative would provide only a small percentage of hunting opportunities in the larger area. Visitors that use the refuges would continue to partake in non-hunting wildlife-dependent recreational activities, such as wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education and interpretation. Outdoor recreation would be expected to continue to be an important component of the lives of Americans. Wildlife-dependent recreation would be expected to continue to be a socioeconomic driver locally, regionally, and/or at the state level. Any future development of trails or access to support any wildlife dependent recreational opportunities on the refuges would not be expected to have a significant impact on the environment; as any projects are proposed, they would go through additional environmental review. Any future trail development would likely to take place where there is a focus of the Service and the state on creating more outdoor recreational opportunity. Any additional increase in trail access, mostly around urban areas, would not be anticipated to have significant impacts when combined with existing trails and access on the refuges. Further, based on the process to establish hunting frameworks, hunting at a national level would not have significant impacts on species hunted. Locally, the seven refuges represent only a small portion of that national impact. Increasing hunting opportunities on these seven NWRs would not be expected to decrease hunting opportunities on other areas near the refuge. While trends show that the number of hunters participating in the sport is declining, providing additional opportunities would potentially increase the numbers of hunters that utilize public land for hunting recreation from current levels. Private land hunting would not be impacted by the use of public land for hunting. Because of the regulatory process for harvest management in place within the Service, the setting of hunting seasons largely outside of the breeding seasons of resident and migratory wildlife, the ability of individual refuge hunt programs to adapt refuge-specific hunting regulations to changing local conditions, and the wide geographic separation of individual refuges, the Service would anticipate no significant beneficial or adverse impacts to migratory game birds by the use of hunting on the refuges.
No known changes in trends have been found on the habitat or health of the nutria have been found from factors such as disease and predation, human population increase and development, or climate change. No changes to the local population of this species have been found based on hunting or fishing elsewhere, locally or regionally. The state did not collect harvest information for nutria in the report and this species is considered an outlaw quadruped statewide. The state collects harvest numbers for nutria through the state bounty program, which is a trapping program and not a hunting program.
While concerns do exist regarding the bioavailability of spent lead ammunition, lead associated with the proposed increased hunting would not be anticipated to have significant impacts for migratory game bird species. Anticipated Impacts
Alternative A: Continue Current Management Under Alternative A, current migratory bird hunting during state seasons of Louisiana and Mississippi would continue as outlined in Table 1 and in the description of Alternative A with expected neutral impacts to these species based on the annual setting of migratory bird hunting frameworks. While the killing of individual animals through approved hunts would continue to occur under Alternative A, hunts would continue to be implemented with humaneness and animal welfare concerns. Under Alternative A, no changes would occur related to humaneness and animal welfare concerns. Incidental hunting of nutria would continue at Cat Island NWR, although refuge management control efforts of nutria would continue on all seven NWRs to minimize adverse impacts to wildlife and habitat from nutria for the public under the nutria control program only Estimated annual take of these migratory bird species is currently: Bayou Sauvage – 400 coots, 4 geese, 4,079 ducks; Bayou Teche - 28 ducks, 0 geese, and 0 woodcock; Big Branch Marsh - 28 gallinule, 7 rail, 22 snipe, 0 dove, 750 ducks, 5 geese, 600 coots, and 10 woodcock; Bogue Chitto 925 ducks, 0-5 geese, 0-5 gallinule, 0-5 rail, 10 snipe, 25 dove, and 10 woodcock; Cat Island – 450 total, Delta – 2,500 total; and Mandalay - 50 ducks, 0 geese, 75 coots, and 0 woodcock. Estimated total annual hunt visits on these refuges is currently: Bayou Sauvage – 1,457 hunt visits, Bayou Teche - 31, Big Branch Marsh - 28 combined migratory bird hunts and 7,400 waterfowl hunts (duck, geese, and coot); Bogue Chitto -925; Cat Island - 7,500; Delta - 7,200; and Mandalay - 125. These levels would be expected to continue under Alternative A. Continued implementation of an effective law enforcement program and development of site-specific refuge regulations that are reviewed annually would be expected to minimize any unauthorized take. While hunting causes some disturbance to not only the species being hunted, but also other game species as well, refuge regulations would continue to minimize incidental disturbance. Outside of take of target wildlife, potential wildlife impacts associated with migratory game bird hunting activities could include short term disturbance associated with hunter access to and use of a site (e.g., noise and human activities associated with roadways, parking areas, boat ramps, boat use, and trails). Immediate responses by wildlife to recreational activity can range from behavioral changes, physiological changes, or mortality (Knight and Cole 1995). The long-term effects are more difficult to assess. Wildlife responses to human disturbance include avoidance, habituation, and attraction (Knight and Cole 1991). A key factor in predicting how wildlife would respond to disturbance is the predictability of the activity within the habitat. The use of trails or boardwalks for wildlife viewing during predictable times will mitigate the impacts. Wildlife have a greater reaction to humans moving unpredictably (Gabrielsen and Smith 1995). Migratory wildlife tend to be more susceptible to human disturbance (Klein 1993). While managed hunting opportunities can result in both short- and long-term impacts to individual animals, effects at the population level would be expected to be negligible. Hunting regulations for both endemic and migratory game species would continue to be based on specific statewide and nationwide harvest objectives.
Alternative B: Implement 2021 Hunt Plans Under Alternative B, migratory bird hunting would be expanded on the seven NWRs as outlined in Table 1 and in the description of Alternative B with expected neutral impacts to these species based on the annual setting of migratory bird hunting frameworks. Hunting waterfowl on the refuges would reduce the total numbers of birds in the flyway, but harvest would be within allowable limits as determined by the Service annually. Hunting waterfowl on the refuge would make the birds more skittish and prone to disturbance, reduce the amount of time they spend foraging and resting, and alter their habitat usage patterns (Bartelt 1987, Madsen, J. and Fox, A.D. 1995). Waterfowl sanctuary areas limit public disturbance (including hunting) and provide areas of escape and respite from disturbances caused by all forms of public use. Disturbance to non-target birds and resident wildlife would likely occur from hunting and associated hunter activity but would be short-term and temporary. By closing the hunting at 2 pm, the refuges will continue to limit disturbance more than the state general allowable hunting times. Overall, the effects on migratory birds are expected to be minimal. As currently proposed, the known and anticipated levels of disturbance of allowing hunting are considered minimal and well within the tolerance level of known wildlife species and populations present on the
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refuges. All hunting activities would be conducted with the constraints of sound biological principles and refuge-specific regulations established to restrict illegal or questionable activities. Monitoring activities through wildlife inventories and assessments of public use levels and activities would be utilized, and public use programs would be adjusted as needed to limit disturbance. As currently proposed, the known and anticipated levels of disturbance of allowing hunting would be considered minimal and well within the tolerance level of known wildlife species and populations present on the refuge. All hunting activities would be conducted with the constraints of sound biological principles and refuge- specific regulations established to restrict illegal or questionable activities. Monitoring activities through wildlife inventories and assessments of public use levels and activities would be utilized, and public use programs would be adjusted as needed to limit disturbance. While the killing of individual animals through approved hunts would occur under Alternative B, proposed hunts were developed with humaneness and animal welfare concerns. Under Alternative B, while additional hunting opportunities would occur, no changes would occur related to humaneness and animal welfare concerns. The estimated take of these migratory bird species would be expected to increase under Alternative B: Bayou Sauvage – up to 100 additional ducks and coots and up to 20 for all the other migratory bird species; Bayou Teche – up to 50 ducks and coots, no woodcock, and up to 20 for all the other migratory bird species; Big Branch Marsh - up to 22 additional ducks and coots, up to five white-fronted geese, no additional woodcock, up to 20 dove, and up to 20 for all the other migratory bird species; Bogue Chitto - up to 50 additional ducks and no additional coots, no white-fronted geese, no additional woodcock, up to 20 dove, and up to 20 for all the other migratory bird species; Cat Island – 220; Delta – 1,400; and Mandalay – up to 75 ducks and coots and up to 20 for all the other migratory bird species. The estimated increase in the number of annual hunters on these refuges would be: Bayou Sauvage – <50, Bayou Teche – 30, Big Branch Marsh – <50 hunters, Bogue Chitto – <50, Cat Island – 350, Delta – 700, and Mandalay – 100. As under Alternative A, continued implementation of an effective law enforcement program and development of site-specific refuge regulations that are reviewed annually would be expected to minimize any unauthorized take. The Proposed Action would represent less than 1% of the total harvest of migratory birds, upland game, and white-tailed deer in Louisiana. As with Alternative A, while managed hunting opportunities can result in both short- and long-term impacts to individual animals, effects at the population level would be expected to be negligible under Alternative B. Hunting regulations for both endemic and migratory game species would continue to be based on specific statewide and nationwide harvest objectives. Under Alternative B, impacts to nutria would be neutral to minor adverse since hunting of this species would be intended to continue to support refuge management efforts to control or remove them from the refuges, with corresponding minor beneficial impacts to native wildlife and habitat.
Hunted Upland Game Species: Rabbit, Squirrel, and Quail (with incidental take of coyote, armadillo, opossum, raccoon, beaver, and feral hog) Affected Environment Description Coyote, armadillo, opossum, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, quail, beaver, and feral hog are all known to occur on the seven NWRs with numbers of each species varying depending on the habitats of each NWR. Small game animal populations generally have short reproduction cycles with population sizes limited by predation, habitat quality and food availability, disease and infection, and other environmental conditions. Coyote is considered an invasive nuisance animal that damages and destroys native wildlife and habitat; refuge management activities, including trapping, help to control this species to minimize adverse impacts. As outlined in Table 1 and described under Alternative A, current hunting varies amongst the seven NWRs during state seasons for these upland game species: no permitted hunting of armadillo on any of the seven NWRs; coyote and beaver hunting permitted at Cat Island NWR; opossum hunting permitted at Bogue Chitto; rabbit hunting permitted at Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, and Delta NWRs; raccoon hunting permitted at Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, and Cat Island NWRs; squirrel hunting at Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, and Cat Island NWRs; and quail hunting at Big Branch Marsh NWR.
Feral hog hunting currently occurs on Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs. The feral hog is an extremely invasive, introduced, non-native species that is not considered a game species by the state of Louisiana, but that is considered a game species by the state of Mississippi. Feral hogs adversely impact a variety of wildlife and habitats. Hunting of feral hogs provides the refuges with another management tool in reducing this detrimental species, while also providing an outdoor recreation opportunity widely enjoyed by local hunters. No bag limits are established for feral hogs. However, even with hunting, feral hogs are likely to always be present because they are prolific breeders. Feral hogs are capable of breeding at six months of age, while eight to 10 months is normal, depending on habitat quality. Gestation is about 115 days with an average litter size of four to six. They are capable of having two litters per year with young born throughout the year with peak production in the early spring. Feral hogs generally travel in family groups comprised normally of two sows and their young. Mature boars are generally solitary, only joining a herd to breed. Feral hogs are omnivorous, eating both plant and animal matter. Environmental Trends and Planned Actions Descriptions Gray squirrels, fox squirrels, eastern cottontails, and swamp rabbits are prolific breeders and their populations have not been adversely impacted by hunting in Louisiana. The statewide Louisiana harvest for squirrel for 2018-2019 was estimated at 703, 900 (LDWF 2019a). The LDWF estimated 14,500 rabbit hunters bagged 100,800 rabbits in the 2018-19 season (LDWF 2019a). Increased hunting of other species have not shown impacts to populations of rabbits or squirrels as these species are prolific breeders that adjust well to human presence. The state of Louisiana opened the first spring squirrel season in 2007 and no evidence has been found to show an impact on the population. Raccoons are known predators of nesting birds, including wood ducks and mottled ducks, small mammals, and reptiles and amphibians. In large numbers, they can have adverse impacts on populations of other wildlife species. Numbers of raccoon are sufficient to sustain a harvestable surplus. Populations of raccoons can be reduced and still maintain sustainable populations while also meeting refuge objectives for other wildlife species and refuge programs other than hunting. Restrictions on methods of harvest and seasons would aid in maintaining sustainable populations of all hunted species. Armadillo, opossum, beaver, and quail are not prolific breeders, but they are also not favored by hunters as game animals. Some are hunted only for sport. Armadillo, opossum, and beaver are considered nuisance quadrupeds by the state of Louisiana and are open to hunting year-round on private lands within the state.
Dr. Jonathan Sleeman, Center Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Wildlife Health Center, provided updated information on rabbit hemorrhagic disease on August 31, 2020. A large-scale outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD), caused by RHD virus 2 (RHDV2), began in the spring of 2020 in the southwestern United States and adjacent northwestern Mexico. Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture determined that RHDV2 outbreaks in some southwestern states and Washington state have reached “stable” status and has consequently disseminated virology testing procedures for RHDV2 to be conducted in additional laboratories. Specifically, the USGS National Wildlife Health Center and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study have been designated as primary laboratories for testing wild rabbits for RHDV2 in support of state, Federal, and Tribal wildlife management agencies. As of August 2020,
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RHDV2 has been confirmed in black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus), antelope jackrabbits (Lepus alleni), desert cottontails (Sylvilagus audubonii), and mountain cottontails (Sylvilagus nuttallii) in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. To date, no known infestations have occurred in swamp or cottontail rabbits. No known changes in trends have been found on the habitat or health of the coyote, armadillo, opossum, raccoon, squirrel, quail, or beaver, have been found from factors such as disease and predation, human population increase and development, or climate change. No changes to the local population of these species have been found based on hunting or fishing elsewhere, locally or regionally. The Service would not anticipate significant beneficial or adverse impacts, including to native wildlife and habitats, from existing or proposed feral hog hunting combined with existing feral hog hunting and other Service and partner feral hog control activities.
The proposal is to only allow a slight increase in hunting since many species proposed are not preferred take by the public, and only a few users would be interested to taking the incidental game proposed. The opening of spring squirrel seasons on the planned refuges would follow the already opened seasons on state WMAs and what is already allowed year-round statewide on private lands. The LDWF reported in its 2018-2019 Louisiana big and small game harvest survey that small game hunters numbered 91,900 in the 2018-2019 season, and that this number has been trending down over the last 16 hunting seasons (LDWF 2019). The LDWF also reported that 12,200 hunters harvested 27,400 coyotes during the 2017-18 hunting season (LDWF 2019). Squirrels remained the most popular small game animals in Louisiana with 703,900 harvested by 52,200 hunters that same year. The report also stated that rabbits continued to be the second most sought after resident small game animal and that rabbit hunters (14,500) bagged 100,800 rabbits in 2018-2019. Both the number of rabbit hunters (- 40.3%) and days spent hunting (-40.9%) were down significantly compared to the 2017-18 hunting season. Persons hunting wild quail numbered 600 and they harvested 1,900 birds (LDWF 2019). The number of persons hunting pen-raised quail and their harvest numerically far exceeded those hunting wild quail in the LDWF report. Wild quail harvest was estimated at 1,900 statewide. The LDWF report stated that 2,900 hunters took 15,900 raccoon in 2018-2019. The state did not collect harvest information for armadillo, opossum, or beaver in the report and all these species are considered outlaw quadrupeds statewide.
Other than for invasive species where control and elimination are the target, hunting programs are designed to be sustainable. In a regional or statewide context, hunting on the seven refuges under either alternative would provide only a small percentage of hunting opportunities in the larger area. Visitors that use the refuges would continue to partake in non-hunting wildlife-dependent recreational activities, such as wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education and interpretation. Outdoor recreation would be expected to continue to be an important component of the lives of Americans. Wildlife-dependent recreation would be expected to continue to be a socioeconomic driver locally, regionally, and/or at the state level. Any future development of trails or access to support any wildlife dependent recreational opportunities on the refuges would not be expected to have a significant impact on the environment; as any projects are proposed, they would go through additional environmental review. Any future trail development would likely to take place where there is a focus of the Service and the state on creating more outdoor recreational opportunity. Any additional increase in trail access, mostly around urban areas, would not be anticipated to have significant impacts when combined with existing trails and access on the refuges. Further, based on the process to establish hunting frameworks, hunting at a national level would not have significant impacts on species hunted. Locally, the seven refuges represent only a small portion of that national impact. Increasing hunting opportunities on these seven NWRs would not be expected to decrease hunting opportunities on other areas near the refuge. While trends show that the number of hunters participating in the sport is declining, providing additional opportunities would potentially increase the numbers of hunters that utilize public land for hunting recreation from current levels. Private land hunting would not be impacted by the use of public land for hunting. Because of the regulatory process for harvest management in place within the Service, the setting of hunting seasons largely outside of the breeding seasons of resident and migratory wildlife, the ability of individual refuge hunt programs to adapt refuge-specific hunting regulations to changing local conditions, and the wide geographic separation of individual refuges, the Service would anticipate no significant beneficial or adverse impacts to upland game species by the use of hunting on the refuges.
While concerns do exist regarding the bioavailability of spent lead ammunition, lead associated with the proposed increased hunting would not be anticipated to have significant impacts for upland game species. Anticipated Impacts
Alternative A: Continue Current Management Under Alternative A, current hunting during state seasons would continue for coyote and beaver at Cat Island NWR; opossum at Bogue Chitto; rabbit at Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, and Delta NWRs; raccoon at Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, and Cat Island NWRs; squirrel at Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, and Cat Island NWRs; and quail at Big Branch Marsh NWR at outlined in Table 1 and in the description of Alternative A. While the killing of individual animals through approved hunts would continue to occur under Alternative A, hunts would continue to be implemented with humaneness and animal welfare concerns. Under Alternative A, no changes would occur related to humaneness and animal welfare concerns. Under Alternative A, impacts to coyote would be neutral, since refuge management control efforts would continue as needed on all seven NWRs outside of public hunting to minimize impacts from coyote on wildlife and to minimize human/wildlife interactions. No hunting of armadillo would occur on any of the refuges under Alternative A. Under Alternative A, impacts to opossum, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, and quail would be neutral, since hunt programs would continue to be designed to support healthy populations and other refuges would continue not hunting these species. Where these upland games species are not currently hunted, the potential would likely increase for vehicle collisions, starvation, and diseases, such as distemper and rabies in raccoon. Estimated annual take of these upland game species is currently: Bayou Teche – 159; Big Branch Marsh – up to 500 squirrel, 50 rabbit, and 20 raccoon, 10 quail, and no coyote, armadillo, or opossum hunts; Bogue Chitto – up to 200 squirrel, 50 rabbit, and 20 raccoon, 10 quail, and no coyote, armadillo, or opossum hunts; Cat Island – 650; and Delta – 120. Estimated annual take of feral hog from these refuges is currently: Bayou Teche – 0, Big Branch Marsh – up to 10 hogs, Bogue Chitto – 100, Cat Island – 150, Delta – 5, and Mandalay – 0. Estimated annual hunts on these refuges is currently: Bayou Teche - 162, Big Branch Marsh – 5,100 squirrel and rabbit, Bogue Chitto – 6,952 squirrel and rabbit, Cat Island – 7,500, Delta – 7,200 total, and Mandalay – 0. Hunters complete multiple hunts throughout the year. These levels would be expected to continue under Alternative A. Continued implementation of an effective law enforcement program and development of site-specific refuge regulations that are reviewed annually would be expected to minimize any unauthorized take. While hunting causes some disturbance to not only the species being hunted, but also other game species as well, refuge regulations would continue to minimize incidental disturbance. Outside of take of target wildlife, potential wildlife impacts associated with upland game hunting activities could include short term disturbance associated with hunter access to and use of a site (e.g., noise and human activities associated with roadways, parking areas, boat ramps, boat use, and trails). Immediate responses by wildlife to recreational activity can range from behavioral changes, physiological changes, or mortality (Knight and Cole 1995). The long-term effects are more difficult to assess. Wildlife responses to human disturbance include avoidance, habituation, and attraction (Knight and Cole 1991). A key factor in predicting how wildlife would respond to disturbance is the predictability of the activity within the habitat. The
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use of trails or boardwalks for wildlife viewing during predictable times will mitigate the impacts. Wildlife have a greater reaction to humans moving unpredictably (Gabrielsen and Smith 1995). Migratory wildlife tend to be more susceptible to human disturbance (Klein 1993). While managed hunting opportunities can result in both short- and long-term impacts to individual animals, effects at the population level would be expected to be negligible. Hunting regulations for both endemic and migratory game species would continue to be based on specific statewide and nationwide harvest objectives.
Alternative B: Implement 2021 Hunt Plans Under Alternative B, hunting of these upland game species would be expanded or added for the seven NWRs during the state season as outlined in Table 1 and in the description of Alternative B. While the killing of individual animals through approved hunts would occur under Alternative B, proposed hunts were developed with humaneness and animal welfare concerns. Under Alternative B, while additional hunting opportunities would occur, no changes would occur related to humaneness and animal welfare concerns. The estimated take of these upland game species would be expected to increase under Alternative B: Bayou Sauvage 0-20, Bayou Teche - 25-50, Big Branch Marsh - 0-50, Bogue Chitto - 0-50, Cat Island - up to 30, Delta – up to 15, and Mandalay - 15-30. Under Alternative B, the estimated annual take of feral hog from these refuges would be estimated to increase from Alternative A up to 10 additional feral hogs annually at each NWR. The estimated increase in the total number of annual hunters on these refuges would be: Bayou Sauvage <50, Bayou Teche - 50, Big Branch Marsh - <50, Bogue Chitto - <50, Cat Island - 350, Delta - 700, and Mandalay - 20. Small game animal populations are capable of sustaining harvest because of their short reproduction cycles. Under Alternative B, impacts to coyote would be neutral to minor adverse since hunting of this species would be intended to continue to support refuge management efforts to control or remove it from the refuges, with corresponding minor beneficial impacts to native wildlife and habitat. Hunting of raccoon would support refuge management control efforts to minimize wildlife and habitat damage from this species; impacts to raccoon would be expected to be neutral to minor adverse. Impacts to the remaining upland game species would be anticipated to be neutral to minor beneficial, since hunt programs would be designed to support healthy populations of these species at or below carrying capacities. Further, the proposed hunting would help minimize the potential for vehicle collisions, starvation, and diseases, such as distemper and rabies in raccoon. Under Alternative B, impacts to the feral hog would be anticipated to be neutral to minor adverse, given the proven ability for reproduction, movement, and population increase of this species with corresponding minor beneficial impacts to native wildlife and habitat. Note: Maintaining native wildlife populations at healthy levels and controlling feral hog populations would be expected to have neutral to minor beneficial impacts to a variety of habitats and wildlife, including improved vegetation and habitat quality, decreased erosion in certain habitats, and decreased predation of snakes, ground nesting birds (including turkeys), reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals (including deer fawns). As under Alternative A, continued implementation of an effective law enforcement program and development of site-specific refuge regulations that are reviewed annually would be expected to minimize any unauthorized take. The Proposed Action would represent less than 1% of the total harvest of migratory birds, upland game, and white-tailed deer in Louisiana. As with Alternative A, while managed hunting opportunities can result in both short- and long-term impacts to individual animals, effects at the population level would be expected to be negligible under Alternative B. Hunting regulations for both endemic and migratory game species would continue to be based on specific statewide and nationwide harvest objectives.
Hunted Big Game Species: Turkey and White-tailed Deer (with incidental take of coyote, armadillo, opossum, raccoon, beaver, and feral hog) Affected Environment Description The white-tailed deer is known to occur on all seven NWRs. The white-tailed deer is a native species that is hunted as a game species in both Louisiana and Mississippi. The Service does not conduct deer surveys on these NWRs, instead relying on population numbers and estimates on nearby properties. Turkey populations have long been proven able to sustain a well-designed hunt program. Currently, turkey hunting occurs on Bogue Chitto NWR with population numbers estimated at one turkey per 75 acres. As habitat conditions improve on the Big Branch Marsh NWR, turkey numbers would be expected to increase sufficient to support hunting. (The incidental take species are described above.) Environmental Trends and Planned Actions Descriptions Recent assessments of the white-tailed deer populations show low populations of deer in southeastern Louisiana (personal communication with LDWF), expected from low food quality and continued flood events. The state estimates approximately a deer per 25 acres, depending on habitat conditions. Effects of deer hunting on deer populations are fairly well understood, and managers have long used recreational hunting as a population management tool (Giles and Findlay 2004). With appropriate monitoring and adaptive management, hunted white-tailed deer populations can be maintained at healthy levels to minimize adverse impacts to and from deer (e.g., deer health and overbrowse of vegetation). With their high reproductive potential and limited natural predators, hog populations can increase at a rapid rate. Hog numbers increasing on the refuges requires multiple efforts to control this species, including hunting. The estimated feral hog population in Louisiana alone is 700,000 (LDWF 2020b). Turkey populations continue to increase on the refuges that have bottomland hardwood and pine habitat. When estimated populations of turkeys reach harvestable numbers, the refuges would implement a limited hunt program. Populations of turkeys are determined by state poult surveys. Refuges open seasons based on coordination from affected populations within the areas of the states.
The LDWF estimated 120,800 deer were harvested throughout the state in 2018-2019 by approximately 136,000 hunters statewide (LDWF 2019). The range of annual deer harvests from 2008 to 2018 is from a low of approximately 63,000 in 2012 to a high of 116,000 in 2012 (LDWF 2019). Deer hunting does not have regional population impacts due to restricted home ranges. The average home range of a male deer in Mississippi is 1,511 ± 571 S.D hectares. (Mott et al. 1985). Therefore, only local impacts occur. The LDWF (LDWF 2003) recorded deer harvest rates on lands on a 25,000-acre management area from 1993-2003. An average of 213 deer per year was harvested during the 10-year period; average weights of deer and lactation rates of females remained stable throughout (LDWF 2003). Limited hunting of turkey would occur in coordination with LDWF population monitoring. Feral hogs are an extremely invasive, introduced, non-native species and are not considered a game species by the state of Louisiana. Hunting of feral hogs provides the refuges with another management tool in reducing this detrimental species, and at the same time, is widely enjoyed by local hunters. No bag limits are established statewide for feral hogs. Hog populations can impact deer numbers through direct competition for food resources, social stress, and disease transmission. Hogs carry infectious diseases such as Leptospirosis, brucellosis, and pseudo-rabies (LDWF 2019). Harvest and survey data confirm that decades of deer hunting on surrounding private lands (using bait and a longer season) have not had a significant adverse effect on the local or state deer populations. Limited turkey hunting would not impact sustainability of populations. Hunting of feral hogs would not be considered detrimental to the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of the refuges, would not likely create conflict with other public uses, and would within the wildlife-dependent public uses be given priority consideration on NWRs. Since hogs are invasive, they are a priority species for refuge management only in terms
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of their impacts on refuge biota and the need for eradication. The Service would not anticipate significant beneficial or adverse impacts, including to native wildlife and habitats, from existing or proposed feral hog hunting combined with existing feral hog hunting and other Service and partner feral hog control activities.
Other than for invasive species where control and elimination are the target, hunting programs are designed to be sustainable. In a regional or statewide context, hunting on the seven refuges under either alternative would provide only a small percentage of hunting opportunities in the larger area. Visitors that use the refuges would continue to partake in non-hunting wildlife-dependent recreational activities, such as wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education and interpretation. Outdoor recreation would be expected to continue to be an important component of the lives of Americans. Wildlife-dependent recreation would be expected to continue to be a socioeconomic driver locally, regionally, and/or at the state level. Any future development of trails or access to support any wildlife dependent recreational opportunities on the refuges would not be expected to have a significant impact on the environment; as any projects are proposed, they would go through additional environmental review. Any future trail development would likely to take place where there is a focus of the Service and the state on creating more outdoor recreational opportunity. Any additional increase in trail access, mostly around urban areas, would not be anticipated to have significant impacts when combined with existing trails and access on the refuges. Further, based on the process to establish hunting frameworks, hunting at a national level would not have significant impacts on species hunted. Locally, the seven refuges represent only a small portion of that national impact. Increasing hunting opportunities on these seven NWRs would not be expected to decrease hunting opportunities on other areas near the refuge. While trends show that the number of hunters participating in the sport is declining, providing additional opportunities would potentially increase the numbers of hunters that utilize public land for hunting recreation from current levels. Private land hunting would not be impacted by the use of public land for hunting. Because of the regulatory process for harvest management in place within the Service, the setting of hunting seasons largely outside of the breeding seasons of resident and migratory wildlife, the ability of individual refuge hunt programs to adapt refuge-specific hunting regulations to changing local conditions, and the wide geographic separation of individual refuges, the Service would anticipate no significant beneficial or adverse impacts to big game species by the use of hunting on the refuges.
While concerns do exist regarding the bioavailability of spent lead ammunition, lead associated with the proposed increased hunting would not be anticipated to have significant impacts for big game species. Anticipated Impacts
Alternative A: Continue Current Management Under Alternative A, hunting of turkey would continue on Bogue Chitto NWR and hunting of white-tailed deer would continue on Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs under the seasons of the two states, while hunting of feral hog would continue as an incidental species during archery deer hunts at Big Branch Marsh and as incidental to all hunts at Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, and Delta NWRs, and as a target during a dog hunt season at Bogue Chitto NWR as outlined in Table 1 and described above under Alternative A. Estimated annual take of turkey from Bogue Chitto NWR is currently 0 to 15 annually. Estimated annual take of white-tailed deer from these refuges is currently: Bayou Teche – 4, Big Branch Marsh – 11, Bogue Chitto – 220, Cat Island – 120, Delta – 10, and Mandalay – 2. Estimated total annual hunters on these refuges is currently: Bayou Teche - 50, Big Branch Marsh - 700 deer and hog hunters, Bogue Chitto – 21,700, Cat Island – 7,500, Delta – 7,200, and Mandalay – 13. While the killing of individual animals through approved hunts would continue to occur under Alternative A, hunts would continue to be implemented with humaneness and animal welfare concerns. Under Alternative A, no changes would occur related to humaneness and animal welfare concerns. While deer hunts are designed to assure healthy deer populations at or below carrying capacity, hunting of feral hogs is intended to support refuge management efforts to remove this species from the refuges. Under Alternative A, impacts to the white-tailed deer, while involving the take of individuals, would be expected to be neutral to minor beneficial. Under Alternative A, impacts to the feral hog would be anticipated to be neutral to minor adverse, given the proven ability for reproduction, movement, and population increase of this species. While hunting causes some disturbance to not only the species being hunted, but also other game species as well, refuge regulations would continue to minimize incidental disturbance. Outside of take of target wildlife, potential wildlife impacts associated with big game hunting activities could include short-term disturbance associated with hunter access to and use of a site (e.g., noise and human activities associated with roadways, parking areas, boat ramps, boat use, and trails). Immediate responses by wildlife to recreational activity can range from behavioral changes, physiological changes, or mortality (Knight and Cole 1995). The long-term effects are more difficult to assess. Wildlife responses to human disturbance include avoidance, habituation, and attraction (Knight and Cole 1991). A key factor in predicting how wildlife would respond to disturbance is the predictability of the activity within the habitat. The use of trails or boardwalks for wildlife viewing during predictable times will mitigate the impacts. Wildlife have a greater reaction to humans moving unpredictably (Gabrielsen and Smith 1995). Migratory wildlife tend to be more susceptible to human disturbance (Klein 1993). While managed hunting opportunities can result in both short- and long-term impacts to individual animals, effects at the population level would be expected to be negligible. Hunting regulations for both endemic and migratory game species would continue to be based on specific statewide and nationwide harvest objectives.
Alternative B: Implement 2021 Hunt Plans Under Alternative B, hunting of white-tailed deer would be added to Bayou Sauvage NWR such that hunting of white-tailed deer would occur on all seven NWRs as outlined in Table 1 and described above under Alternative B. Alternative B would also change existing hunting of feral hog to be incidental to all refuge hunts and would add incidental hunting of feral hog to Bayou Sauvage and Bayou Teche NWRs. Limited hunting of turkey would be added to Big Branch Marsh NWR under Alternative B with an estimated annual take of 0 to 5 turkeys. Under Alternative B, the estimated annual take of deer from these refuges would be similar to Alternative A for Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs, while the estimated annual take of deer would increase at Bayou Sauvage NWR to 25 to 50 and at Delta NWR to up to 15. The estimated increase in the total number of annual hunters on these refuges would be: Bayou Sauvage – 25, Bayou Teche – 25, Big Branch Marsh – 0, Bogue Chitto – 444, Cat Island – 350, Delta – 700, and Mandalay – 0. While the killing of individual animals through approved hunts would occur under Alternative B (as under Alternative A), proposed hunts were developed with humaneness and animal welfare concerns. Under Alternative B (as under Alternative A), while additional hunting opportunities would occur, no changes would occur related to humaneness and animal welfare concerns. While deer hunts would continue to be designed to assure healthy deer populations at or below carrying capacity, hunting of feral hogs would continue to be intended to support refuge management efforts to remove this species from the refuges. Under Alternative B with increased take, the likelihood of starvation and diseases, such as bluetongue and epizootic hemorrhagic disease in deer and distemper and rabies in raccoon, would be expected to decrease, as would deer-vehicle collisions. Under Alternative A, impacts to the white-tailed deer, while involving the take of individuals, would be expected to be neutral to minor beneficial. Under Alternative B, impacts to the feral hog would be anticipated to be neutral to minor adverse, given the proven ability for reproduction, movement, and population increase of this species with corresponding minor beneficial impacts to
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native wildlife and habitat. Note: Maintaining deer populations at healthy levels and controlling feral hog populations would be expected to have neutral to minor beneficial impacts to a variety of habitats and wildlife, including improved vegetation and habitat quality, decreased erosion in certain habitats, and decreased predation of snakes, ground nesting birds (including turkeys), reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals (including deer fawns). Based on wildlife and habitat assessments and once the turkey population on Big Branch Marsh NWR would sustain hunting, the Service would consider opening a turkey lottery program or a limited number of open hunt days within the state season on Big Branch Marsh NWR. The Proposed Action would represent less than 1% of the total harvest of migratory birds, upland game, and white-tailed deer in Louisiana. As with Alternative A, while managed hunting opportunities can result in both short- and long-term impacts to individual animals, effects at the population level would be expected to be negligible under Alternative B. Hunting regulations for both endemic and migratory game species would continue to be based on specific statewide and nationwide harvest objectives.
Non-Target Wildlife and Aquatic Species Affected Environment Description A wide variety of non-target native wildlife species occur on the diverse habitats of these seven NWRs. Multiple species could have the potential to be impacted by proposed hunting activities include those using habitats while hunting activities are underway and many would benefit from the removal of predators, including wading birds, shorebirds, songbirds, ground nesting birds, small mammals, freshwater turtles, other reptiles and amphibians, and invertebrates. Environmental Trends and Planned Actions Descriptions Because of the regulatory process for harvest management in place within the Service, the setting of hunting seasons largely outside of the breeding seasons of resident and migratory wildlife, the ability of individual refuge hunt programs to adapt refuge-specific hunting regulations to changing local conditions, and the wide geographic separation of individual refuges, the Service would anticipate no significant beneficial or adverse impacts to non-target wildlife and aquatic species by the use of hunting on the refuges. While concerns do exist regarding the bioavailability of spent lead ammunition, lead associated with the proposed increased hunting would not be anticipated to have significant impacts for non-target wildlife and aquatic species.
The trends of several non-hunted or non-target wildlife species populations are in decline. Several species of migratory birds benefit from the removal of outlaw quadrupeds, which are predators to many of these species. An encompassing research report presented in Science magazine in 2019 reported the decline of many north American avifauna. The research described population losses across much of the North American avifauna over 48 years, indicating a net loss approaching 3 billion birds, or 29% of 1970 abundance. Of the 529 species listed, a net loss of 2.9 billion breeding birds across the continental avifauna since 1970 was shown. A total of 419 native migratory species experienced a net loss of 2.5 billion individuals, whereas 100 native resident species showed a small net increase. Overall, proportional loss was greatest among species overwintering in coastal regions of North America. (Rosenberg et al. 2019)
Many shorebird populations have remained stabilized after years of large declines in the 1980s and mid-1990s (Kushlan et al. 2012). However, some shorebird populations have shown decline. Morrison and others reported in 2006 that out of 52 species of shorebirds in North America, 24 had been increasing and 15 were decreasing (Morrison et al. 2006). Although many shorebird populations listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. and Canadian governments have increasing population trends, none have reached recovery targets. Information on population trends remains virtually unknown for 25% of the shorebirds occurring in North America, and surveys are needed to determine the state of these populations (Andres et al. 2012).
North American waterbirds are also in decline. Of 210 species of waterbirds, including seabirds, coastal waterbirds, wading birds, and marsh birds utilizing aquatic habitats in the Americas, one-third are considered to be at risk of serious population loss. Eleven species of pelagic seabirds are highly imperiled, and 36 species of pelagic and coastal seabirds as well as seven species of wading birds are of high conservation concern (Kushlan et al. 2012). Kushlan et al. suggest promoting habitat and site-based actions, increasing knowledge base on monitoring, and identifying informational needs. Beyond their cultural significance, waterbirds are often useful as indicators of environmental quality and ecosystem health. As seen by the crash of the brown pelican population in the Gulf of Mexico due to contaminants, waterbirds are still at risk due to human activities. Other threats identified by Kushlan and others are: longline and gill net fisheries that kill large numbers of seabirds through entanglement and drowning, oil spills from ships and chronic bilge discharges that sicken and kill hundreds of thousands of waterbirds, and chemical impacts (e.g., declines in double-crested cormorants in the 1960s and 1970s due to chemicals). The solution to recovering these species lies in conservation of aquatic habitats through multiuse management (Kushlan et al. 2012).
Halcomb et al. 2015 and 2019 explain that Louisiana has 64 mussel species, 35 crawfish species, 140 species of reptiles and amphibians, 70 mammal species, 450+ bird species, and hundreds of inland and marine fishes. Many of these species are experiencing declines or are at risk. The state Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) provides detailed descriptions of the habitats, assessment of threats to those habitats, and conservation actions are needed to address those threats. The SWAP recognizes that over 90% of the state is privately owned, and state and Federal land management is only a small part of the conservation efforts statewide. The SWAP describes the need for limiting habitat fragmentation, degradation, and reduced conversion of habitats from development and agriculture as examples of the major stressors to populations of reptiles, amphibians, and other nongame animals in the state. The SWAP identifies Conservation Opportunity Areas where partners are needed to create opportunities for conservation in identified priority geographic areas. The refuges in this proposal are located in three of the state’s ecoregions within the SWAP: East Gulf Coastal Plain (Bogue Chitto and Big Branch Marsh NWRs), Mississippi River Alluvial Plain (Cat Island, Mandalay, and Bayou Teche NWRs), and the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes (Big Branch, Delta, and Bayou Sauvage NWRs). Priority habitats were ranked in these geographic areas to create a comprehensive opportunity area with species of greatest conservation need from threats ranging from climate change to direct human disturbance. Examples in the SWAP range based on species needs and habitat limitations. Halcomb (et al. 2019) describes examples of threats such as: “The threats posed by sand and gravel mining, transportation infrastructure, ORVs, stream modification, Feral Hogs, pollution, and climate change apply to many stream dwelling crustaceans, mollusks, and inland fisheries” and “overarching stress for many terrestrial non-crustacean arthropod SGCN is habitat destruction and alteration resulting from residential or commercial development, as well as conversion of land to agricultural use.” Some of the highly ranked bird species on the SWAP are the reddish egret (Egretta rufescens), white-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus), yellow rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis), and eastern black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis), with certain species of plovers, knots, terns, and others down the ranking list. Some species on the list are also hunted in the state, such as northern bobwhite quail, king rail, woodcock,
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mottled duck (Anas fulvigula), northern pintail (Anas acuta), canvasback (Aythya valisineria), redhead (Aythya americana), lesser scaup (Aythya affinis), and clapper rail. Hunting was not listed as a threat to these species. However, threats mentioned include habitat degradation, fragmentation, and conversion resulting from development or agriculture. For birds, habitats most in peril include barrier islands, threatened primarily by natural system modification, climate change, sea level rise and subsidence, and tropical cyclones, and coastal forests of all types. For mammals, the main threat identified by Halcomb et al 2019 was direct habitat loss and degradation resulting from development and agriculture, as discussed for other wildlife earlier and for marine mammals, threats are from oil spills and other toxic releases, and, as with birds, wind farms pose a potential threat to many bats. (Halcomb et al 2015, 2019) Anticipated Impacts
Alternative A: Continue Current Management Under Alternative A, impacts to non-target wildlife and aquatic species would range from minor adverse to minor beneficial. Wildlife in hunting areas could experience disturbance on hunt days during hunting activities, however these adverse impacts would be expected to be minor, discrete, and short lived. Continued removal of predators would result in minor beneficial impacts to target prey species, including snakes, ground nesting birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. Continued removal of feral hogs on some of the seven NWRs would have minor beneficial impacts for habitat and erosion, however, adverse impacts from feral hogs would continue on those refuges where feral hogs are not currently hunted. Under Alternative A, predator species would have the potential to become overpopulated with continued depredation of prey, including turtle and songbird nests. For example, in North Louisiana, research conducted on one population of alligator snapping turtles has shown that raccoons are responsible for depredating 93% of turtle nests (USFWS 2002). Under this alternative, feral hog populations could continue to increase despite management efforts to control them. While hunting causes some disturbance to not only the species being hunted, but also other game species as well, refuge regulations would continue to minimize incidental disturbance. Outside of take of target wildlife, potential wildlife impacts associated with hunting activities could include short-term disturbance associated with hunter access to and use of a site (e.g., noise and human activities associated with roadways, parking areas, boat ramps, boat use, and trails). Immediate responses by wildlife to recreational activity can range from behavioral changes, physiological changes, or mortality (Knight and Cole 1995). The long-term effects are more difficult to assess. Wildlife responses to human disturbance include avoidance, habituation, and attraction (Knight and Cole 1991). A key factor in predicting how wildlife would respond to disturbance is the predictability of the activity within the habitat. The use of trails or boardwalks for wildlife viewing during predictable times will mitigate the impacts. Wildlife have a greater reaction to humans moving unpredictably (Gabrielsen and Smith 1995). Migratory wildlife tend to be more susceptible to human disturbance (Klein 1993). While managed hunting opportunities can result in both short- and long-term impacts to individual animals, effects at the population level would be expected to be negligible. Hunting regulations for both endemic and migratory game species would continue to be based on specific statewide and nationwide harvest objectives.
Alternative B: Implement 2021 Hunt Plans Under Alternative B, impacts to non-target wildlife and aquatic species would be similar to or slightly more beneficial than Alternative A, ranging from minor adverse to minor beneficial. Wildlife in hunting areas could experience disturbance on hunt days during hunting activities, however these adverse impacts would be expected to be minor, discrete, and short lived, even with the proposed increases in numbers of species and areas hunted by increased numbers of hunters. Increased removal of predators would result in neutral to minor beneficial impacts to target prey species, including snakes, ground nesting birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. Continued to increased removal of feral hogs on the seven NWRs would have minor beneficial impacts for habitat and erosion, and for a variety of wildlife, including invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, deer fawns, turkeys, and small mammals. Small mammals, including bats, are inactive during winter when hunting season occurs, while many are nocturnal. Both of these qualities make hunter interactions with small mammals very rare. Hibernation or torpor by cold-blood reptiles and amphibians also limits their activity during the hunting season when temperatures are low. Hunters would rarely encounter reptiles and amphibians during most of the hunting season. Invertebrates are also not active during cold weather and would have few interactions with hunters during the hunting season. Louisiana black bears are less active in the cooler months. If bear populations fall below targeted levels established by state and Federal biologists, an adjustment to hunting seasons may be necessary. Sows giving birth and caring for yearling cubs, and males forced out of family bonds may be wandering in search of new territories. Hunting activities may increase disturbance forcing the bears to move or relocate. The largest mortality factor on coastal bears are automobile strikes. Current hunter densities on peak days would be estimated to be no more than 1 hunter per 100 acres for most areas. Refuge regulations further minimize possible disturbance by hunters to non-hunted wildlife. Vehicles are restricted to designated roadways and the harassment or taking of any wildlife other than the game species legal for the season would not be permitted. Disturbance to the daily wintering activities, such as feeding and resting of birds might occur, but would be transitory as hunters traverse habitat. Disturbance to birds by hunters would probably be commensurate with that caused by non-consumptive users. As with Alternative A, while managed hunting opportunities can result in both short- and long-term impacts to individual animals, effects at the population level would be expected to be negligible under Alternative B. The addition of the proposed expanded hunting seasons and species would not be expected to have a significant impact on the take of these non huntable species; the opportunity for illegal take of these species already exists
Threatened and Endangered Species and Other Special Status Species Affected Environment Description Multiple threatened, endangered, and other special status species occur on one or more of the seven NWRs, including 19 species listed under the Endangered Species Act: least tern (Sterna antillarum), red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus), hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), Louisiana quillwort (Isoetes louisianensis), and dusky gopher frog (Rana sevosa) (Endangered) and West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), northern long-eared bat (Myotis septerentrionailis), Atlantic sturgeon (Gulf subspecies, Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi), piping plover (Charadrius melodus), red knot (Calidris canutus rufa), loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), inflated heelsplitter (Potamilus inflatus), ringed map turtle (Graptemys oculifera), black pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi), wood stork (Mycteria americana), and Eastern black rail (Threatened). Other species of special management concern include the Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus), American kestrel (Falco sparverius), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Kentucky warbler (Geothlypis formosa), lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes), prairie warbler (Setophaga discolor), pronothotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea), swallow-tailed kite (Elanoides forficatus), wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina), brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), clapper rail (Rallus crepitans), American golden-plover (Pluvialis dominica), black skimmer (Rynchops niger), Bonaparte’s gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia), buff-breasted sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis), cerulean warbler (Setophaga cerulea), common loon (Gavia immer), common tern (Sterna hirundo), double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), dunlin (Calidris alpina),
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Henslow’s sparrow (Centronyx henslowii), herring gull (Larus argentatus smithsonianus, king rail (Rallus elegans), LeConte’s sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii), magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens), Nelson’s sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni), red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator), red pharlarope (Phalaropus fulicarius), reddish egret, ringed-billed tern (Larus delawarensis), royal tern (Thalasseus maximus), ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres), seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus), semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), short-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus), sooty tern (Onychoprion fuscatus), surf scooter (Melanitta perspicillata), white-winged scooter (Melanitta deglandi), willet (Tringa semipalmata), American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), gull-billed tern (Gelochelidon nilotica), marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa), semipalmated plover (Charadrius semipalmatus), whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), Wilson’s plover (Charadrius wilsonia), ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis), and rusty blackbird (Euphagus carolinus). Environmental Trends and Planned Actions Descriptions Because of the regulatory process for harvest management in place within the Service, the setting of hunting seasons largely outside of the breeding seasons of resident and migratory wildlife, the ability of individual refuge hunt programs to adapt refuge-specific hunting regulations to changing local conditions, and the wide geographic separation of individual refuges, the Service would anticipate no significant beneficial or adverse impacts on threatened and endangered species and other special status species by the use of hunting on the refuges. While concerns do exist regarding the bioavailability of spent lead ammunition, lead associated with the proposed increased hunting would not be anticipated to have significant impacts for threatened and endangered species and other special status species.
Endangered Species
Least Tern (Sterna antillarum) – Least terns have been observed foraging intermittently in shorebird areas on various refuges listed above. At this time no nesting activity has been documented. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the least tern in Louisiana is apparently secure and in Mississippi is vulnerable (NatureServe 2020).
Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) – Red-cockaded woodpeckers requires open, mature pine forests adapted to a fire regimen. The red-cockaded woodpecker is a habitat specialist of the Southeast’s once-vast longleaf pine stands. Its habitat consists of old pines with very little understory which was shaped by frequent lightning and Native American created fires. They also occur in stands of loblolly, slash, and other pine species. The birds dig cavities in living pines softened by heartwood rot. Once fairly common in the southeastern United States, this bird is now rare, local, and considered an endangered species. It requires precise conditions within mature pine forest, a habitat that is now scarce. Known nesting locations have been documented on Big Branch Marsh NWR. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the red-cockaded woodpecker in Louisiana is imperiled and in Mississippi is critically imperiled (NatureServe 2020).
Pallid Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) – Historic locations of the pallid sturgeon have been along the Missouri and Mississippi River, from Missouri to the Gulf Coast. Similar to Gulf sturgeon, they lack bones and scales. They have not changed much for over 70 million years; the fish takes 15 years to mature and spawns infrequently but can live up to 100 years of age. Pallid sturgeon prefer moderate to swift river currents and have been found in rivers and streams where current averages between 0.33 and 2.9 feet per second. They also prefer turbid waterways and water depths between 3 and 25 feet. River side channels with slow moving flow and gravel deposits are preferred habitat. The species is more commonly found where sandy substrates are plentiful, but also lives in predominately rocky waterways. Pallid sturgeon prefer swift river currents. Sightings have greatly diminished at the middle of the 20th century, due to loss of habitat. Channelizing and damming the Mississippi River have caused the decline of preferred habitat. Fishing has also caused a decline, due to its flavor and caviar delicacy. Expected habitat exists west of Atchafalaya NWR, but not on the refuge. Individuals are expected to use the shores of Cat Island NWR. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the pallid sturgeon in Louisiana and Mississippi is critically imperiled (NatureServe 2020).
Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) – Hawksbills are found mainly throughout the world's tropical oceans, predominantly in coral reefs. They feed mainly on sponges, sea anemones, jellyfish, squid and shrimp. Sea turtles are the living representatives of a group of reptiles that has existed on Earth and travelled our seas for the last 100 million years. Hawksbills are particularly susceptible to entanglement in gillnets and accidental capture on fishing hooks. Sea turtles need to reach the surface to breathe, and therefore many drown once caught. Known as bycatch, this is a serious threat to hawksbill turtles. Like other sea turtles, hawksbills are threatened by the loss of nesting and feeding habitats, excessive egg collection, fishery-related mortality, pollution, and coastal development. They are the most tropical of all sea turtles. Nesting occurs on undisturbed beaches, ranging from high energy beaches to very small pocket beaches, and a typical nesting site would be a sandy beach with woody vegetation near the water line Possible nesting occurs on the beaches of Breton NWR. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the hawksbill sea turtle in Louisiana is critically imperiled, while no status rank is assigned for Mississippi (NatureServe 2020).
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) – Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the smallest and most endangered sea turtles in the world, they nest on beaches across the Gulf of Mexico. They prefer shallow waters, where they dive to the bottom to feed on crabs, other shellfish, jellyfish, and occasionally munch on seaweed and sargassum and they live up to 50 years old. Their decline is mostly attributed to over-harvesting of their eggs, but ocean pollution and accidental bycatch are additional causes. Probably nesting sites are on Breton NWR. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle in Louisiana and Mississippi is critically imperiled (NatureServe 2020).
Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) – The leatherback sea turtle, sometimes called the lute turtle or leathery turtle, is the largest of all living turtles and is the fourth-heaviest modern reptile behind three crocodilians. They are the only species of sea turtle that lack scales and a hard shell and are named for their tough rubbery skin and have existed in their current form since the age of the dinosaurs. Leatherbacks are highly migratory, some swimming over 10,000 miles a year between nesting and foraging grounds. It has the widest distribution of any reptile with a global range with nesting mainly on tropical or subtropical beaches. The greatest threat worldwide is incidental capture in fishing gear (or bycatch), and hunting of adults and collection of eggs for human consumptions. The leatherback sea turtle is endangered, and it is estimated that the global population has declined 40 percent over the past three generations. Primary nesting habitats of the Eastern Pacific leatherback turtle population are in Mexico and Costa Rica, with some isolated nesting in Panama and Nicaragua. In the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico, leatherback nesting was increasing;
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however, there have been significant decreases in recent years on the Atlantic coast of Florida, which is one of the main nesting areas in the continental United States. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the leatherback sea turtle in Louisiana is critically imperiled, while no status rank is assigned for Mississippi (NatureServe 2020).
Louisiana Quillwort (Isoetes louisianensis) – Louisiana quillwort is a small bunchy stem, grass-like, seedless, aquatic herb with rounded hollow leaves. It reproduces by spores similar to ferns. It has a small population size and a restricted range (portions of Louisiana-St. Tammany and Washington Parish, fifty Mississippi and two Alabama counties), inhabiting small to medium sized shallow clear streams that travel through riparian forests. The grass grown on the silt, sand, and gravel substrates near the edges of these streams. Habitat loss from altered stream quality and dynamics, such as dredging, ditching, channelization, timber cutting, road construction, and off-road vehicles have contributed to its decline. Possible locations exist on Bogue Chitto NWR. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the Louisiana quillwort in Louisiana and Mississippi is imperiled (NatureServe 2020).
Dusty Gopher Frog (Rana sevosa) – Once found in Louisiana and still in Mississippi (Harrison and Jackson Counties), the dusty gopher frog inhabited longleaf pine forests. Dusky gopher frogs spend most of their lives underground, in burrows created by gopher tortoises and other animals. In the winter they migrate to temporary ponds to breed, and after breeding, they migrate back to the longleaf pine forests. Their disappearance from Louisiana was primarily due to habitat destruction and alteration of the frog’s longleaf pine breeding habitats. Continuing threats to the species’ habitat include fire suppression and habitat loss due to development, forestry and agriculture. Small population sizes are vulnerability to catastrophic events, such as droughts. The historical range included pinelands west of Bogue Chitto NWR and north of Big Branch Marsh NWR, which was declared as critical habitat in 2012 and upheld in a lawsuit in 2016. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the dusky gopher frog in Louisiana is possibly extirpated and in Mississippi is critically imperiled (NatureServe 2020).
Threatened Species
West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) – The West Indian manatee is a large, aquatic mammal, also known as the Florida manatee. West Indian manatees live in warm, coastal waters. They are capable of withstanding large changes in salinity and move freely between freshwater and marine habitats and are commonly found in shallow coastal areas, but can also be found in shallow rivers, estuaries, and canals. Known individuals have migrated to and forage along shores of Big Branch Marsh and Bayou Sauvage NWRs. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the West Indian manatee in Louisiana and Mississippi is critically imperiled (NatureServe 2020).
Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septerentrionailis) – The northern long-eared bat has a large range in the eastern and north-central United States and much of southern Canada; most abundant in the northern part of the range but relatively rare range-wide both in terms of hibernacula and in summer foraging and maternity areas; frequently comprises less than 10% of the bat community. Significant recent declines associated with rapidly spreading white-nose syndrome have occurred in eastern North America, and some habitat has been lost, degraded, or fragmented, primarily through the disturbance of hibernacula and land development. Mortality caused by wind turbines is expected to increase. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the northern long-eared bat in Louisiana and Mississippi is critically imperiled (NatureServe 2020).
Atlantic Sturgeon (Gulf Subspecies, Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) – The Atlantic sturgeon (ancient/primitive fish dating back over 200 million years ago) is a sub-species of the Atlantic sturgeon that can be found from Lake Pontchartrain and the Pearl River system in Louisiana and Mississippi to the Suwannee River in Florida. The fish has bony plates, or "scutes," rather than scales, a hard extended snout, are toothless but possess a vacuum-like mouth that projects from the lower surface of the head, and four whisker-like barbels. The backbone is cartilaginous, like those of sharks, as are the five rows of external scutes that protect the head and top portion of the body. Much of the river, bay and nearshore areas throughout its range are considered critical habitat in support of spawning, in-river holding, or feeding activities. Gulf sturgeon are bottom feeders, almost exclusively in brackish or marine waters of the Gulf of Mexico and its estuaries, consuming primarily macro-invertebrates. Known individuals migrate through rivers of Bogue Chitto NWR and forage along shores of Big Branch Marsh NWR. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the Atlantic sturgeon in Louisiana is no status rank and in Mississippi is critically imperiled (NatureServe 2020).
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) – Piping plovers are recognized when they run a short distance, stop, and tilt forward to pull an insect or worm from the soft sand. They tend to forage alone or in small groups sticking to the higher parts of the shoreline relative to other shorebirds. They breed along ocean shores in the Northeast and along lakeshores and alkali wetlands in the northern Great Plains and Great Lakes. However, in the winter they use coastal beaches, sandflats, and mudflats and possibly forage on the shores of Breton NWR. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the piping plover in Louisiana and Mississippi is imperiled (NatureServe 2020).
Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) – Red knots often feed by sight but can also probe into sand or mud and use their sense of touch to find invertebrates below the surface. They concentrate in huge numbers at traditional stopover points during migration, but usually along the eastern shores. Their winter migration includes the sandy/muddy shores along the entire Gulf Coast, including Breton NWR. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the red knot in Louisiana and Mississippi is imperiled.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) – Known for its large head, the loggerhead sea turtle primarily feeds on shellfish at the bottom of the ocean, but include horseshoe crabs, clams, mussels, and other invertebrates in the Atlantic Ocean. Threats to nesting habitat are due to coastal development, predation of nests, and human disturbances that cause disorientations during the emergence of hatchlings. Other threats include bycatch and pollution. Possible nesting could occur on Breton NWR. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the loggerhead sea turtle in Louisiana and Mississippi is imperiled (NatureServe 2020).
Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) – It is one of only five North American tortoise species and is the only tortoise naturally found east of the Mississippi River. Its range includes the southeastern Coastal Plain from southeastern Louisiana east to southern South Carolina, and south to Florida. They dig deep burrows for shelter and forage on low-growing plants. They require well-drained sandy soils for digging burrows and nesting, abundant herbaceous plants for
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forage, and open, sunny areas with sparse canopy for nesting and basking. Gopher tortoise burrows provide shelter for 360 other species of wildlife, making gopher tortoises a keystone species. Prescribed fire is necessary to maintain this habitat. Habitat loss is typically due to housing development, although some former danger has been from human consumption. Gopher tortoises are long-lived reptiles (up to 60 years) that occupy upland habitat throughout the Florida parishes of Louisiana and similar habitat in Mississippi in non-flooded open forests of Bogue Chitto NWR. They nest in open, sunny locations, frequently within the soft mound of sand at the entrance of their burrow. They spend most of their time within close range of their burrow. Known locations of burrows exist in pinelands of Bogue Chitto NWR. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the gopher tortoise in Louisiana is critically imperiled and in Mississippi is imperiled (NatureServe 2020).
Inflated Heelsplitter (Potamilus inflatus) – The inflated heelsplitter mussel can be found in soft, stable substratum made up of sand, mud, and sandy gravel in slow to moderate currents, endemic to eastern Gulf Coast drainages. Gravel pit mining and channelization have been primary threats to the species. No records of the species have been found in the Pearl River from 1911 until found in 1995 near the northern and southern ends of the Bogue Chitto NWR. The freshwater drum is the fish host of the mussel which are prominent in the Pearl River system. However, the mussel has a relatively long (up to 8 years) and a complex life cycle. The adults have poor dispersal and a sedentary life. There are currently probably locations of the inflated heelsplitter mussel on Bogue Chitto NWR. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the inflated heelsplitter in Louisiana is critically imperiled and in Mississippi is possibly extirpated (NatureServe 2020).
Ringed Map Turtle (Graptemys oculifera) – Also called ringed sawback turtle, this turtle is endemic to the Pearl River system in Louisiana and Mississippi. It prefers large rivers with current and abundant basking structure from downed wood within the river. Nesting occurs on exposed sandbars from May to July. Nest predation from raccoons, crows, armadillos and others are the primary loss of individuals. Their diet consists primarily of aquatic insects. Threats to habitat loss are sedimentation, loss of basking structure, and increased flooding. Known locations exist on Bogue Chitto NWR. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the ringed map turtle in Louisiana and Mississippi is imperiled (NatureServe 2020).
Black Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi) – The black pine snake historically inhabited the coastal plains from extreme southeastern Louisiana through southern Mississippi into southwestern Alabama, living in dry, fire-maintained, longleaf pine forests; having sandy, well-drained soils, usually on hilltops, ridges, and toward the tops of slopes, with open canopy, reduced midstory, and dense herbaceous understory (similar to gopher tortoise habitat). Primary prey is small mammals, some birds and bird eggs. Black pine snakes may hiss loudly when disturbed, vibrate the tail rapidly, and strike repeatedly. Habitat loss is similar to gopher tortoise, through development and conversion to agriculture fields. Historical range included Bogue Chitto NWR. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the black pine snake in Louisiana is critically imperiled and in Mississippi is imperiled (NatureServe 2020).
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) – The wood stork is North America's only breeding stork. The U.S. population is Federally listed as Threatened. Widespread and fairly common throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, the U.S. breeding populations are heaviest in Florida. However, few breeding populations exist in Louisiana, including the Atchafalaya basin. Increase of canals, irrigation, and water control projects have contributed to nesting decline and raccoons and the presence of pesticides and mercury in the environment have caused ness loss. According to NatureServe, the conservation status of the wood stork in Louisiana is vulnerable and in Mississippi is imperiled (NatureServe 2020).
Eastern Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis) – A small, secretive marsh bird, the eastern black rail lives in salt and freshwater marshes in mostly eastern portions of the United States, with some strongholds from Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas. Partially migratory, the eastern subspecies winters in the southern part of its breeding range. Along portions of the Gulf Coast, eastern black rails can be found in higher elevation wetland zones with some shrubby vegetation, weather impounded and un-impounded. Inland coastal prairies and associated wetlands may also provide habitat for the bird but are largely uninvestigated. Although Louisiana has not been listed in historical records, possible nest sites could exist on parts of Bayou Sauvage NWR. Newly listed in 2020, the Service is currently working with partners to develop a recovery plan, species status assessment, and trends. Anticipated Impacts
Alternative A: Continue Current Management The existing hunt programs were designed to minimize impacts to threatened, endangered, and other species status species. Previous Section 7 consultations occurred for the existing hunt programs on the seven NWRs, finding that the hunt programs would have no effect or would be not likely to adversely affect threatened and endangered species. Under Alternative A, impacts to threatened, endangered, and other special status species would be expected to be neutral with anticipated impacts of no effect or not likely to adversely affect. While managed hunting opportunities can result in both short- and long-term impacts to individual animals, effects at the population level would be expected to be negligible under Alternative A.
Alternative B: Implement 2021 Hunt Plans The proposed hunting programs were designed to minimize impacts to threatened, endangered, and other special status species. A draft Section 7 Intra-Service Consultation was developed during this planning process with draft determinations that the Proposed Action (Alternative B) would have no effect or would be not likely to adversely affect threatened and endangered species (Appendix F). Appendix F includes draft determinations of no effect for Eastern black rail, wood stork, West Indian manatee, Atlantic sturgeon (Gulf subspecies), pallid sturgeon, hawksbill sea turtle, Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, gopher tortoise, inflated heelsplitter, ranged map turtle, and Louisiana quillwort. Appendix F also includes draft determinations of not likely to adversely affect for red-cockaded woodpecker, piping plover, red knot, least tern, northern long-eared bat, dusky gopher frog, and black pine snake. Further, the draft Section 7 in Appendix F outlines key actions to minimize impacts, including actions such as minimizing hunting activities during nesting seasons of the red-cockaded woodpecker and wood stork, prohibiting the take of turtle and snake species, and designating hunt areas outside of the key habitats for certain listed species. As with Alternative A, under Alternative B, impacts to threatened, endangered, and other special status species would be
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expected to be neutral with anticipated impacts of no effect or not likely to adversely affect. As with Alternative A, while managed hunting opportunities can result in both short- and long-term impacts to individual animals, effects at the population level would be expected to be negligible under Alternative B.
The hunting on these refuges requires non-toxic shotgun ammunition during all open hunting seasons on the refuges. As a result, there are no anticipated adverse impacts from lead to any of the above listed species. Lead rifle shot is permitted on most of the refuges in this consultation. The amount of lead introduced to the environment as a result of this activity, however, is negligible. Many of the above listed species are plants or herbivores, are transient species, or are not present in habitats where lead shot is allowed. Many refuge hunters will choose non-lead shot methods of take such as archery. We encourage the use of non-toxic ammunition when allowed and educate hunters about lead. As a result, there are no anticipated adverse impacts to any of the above listed species.
Habitat and Vegetation (including vegetation of special management concern) Affected Environment Description Habitat and vegetation for the seven NWRs include sandy beaches, estuarine tidal marshes, nearshore grass beds, bayous, freshwater wetlands and ponds, bottomland hardwood forests, hardwood hammocks, and pine savannas. When wildlife populations are overpopulated, they over browse their habitat, which can change the structure and plant composition of the area. Young tree seedlings (one to nine years old) can be killed by over browsing. Damage can include erosion along waterways and wetlands and the loss of native plants. Environmental Trends and Planned Actions Descriptions Other than for invasive species where control and elimination are the target, hunting programs are designed to be sustainable. The Service and adjacent conservation land managers would continue conservation management activities to continue to protect and manage habitats and vegetation on the seven NWRs and in the surrounding landscape. While habitats and vegetation on the seven NWRs would be expected to continue to be impacted by outside factors, including human population increases and associated development patterns, climate change, and invasive species, the Service is unaware of any other adverse environmental trends or planned actions that would adversely impact habitat and vegetation. Anticipated Impacts
Alternative A: Continue Current Management Under Alternative A, on balance, impacts to habitat and vegetation would be expected to be neutral to minor adverse. Minor adverse impacts could occur for habitat and vegetation, including minor trampling of vegetation by people, increased soil compaction on paths and trails by people, and ongoing habitat and vegetation damage by nutria. Neutral to minor beneficial impacts to habitat and vegetation would be expected from existing hunt programs that include feral hogs. Refuge maintenance activities would continue to have minor adverse impacts to habitat and vegetation (e.g., through mulching, spraying pesticides, grading, and placing gravel); these impacts would be expected to be discrete and site-specific.
Alternative B: Implement 2021 Hunt Plans Under Alternative B, impacts to habitat and vegetation would be expected to be neutral to minor beneficial. Minor adverse habitat and vegetation impacts would be expected to continue from minor trampling of vegetation by people and increased soil compaction on paths and trails by people. The addition of nutria to hunt programs and the expansion of the opportunity to take feral hogs would be expected to remove some of the damaging individuals and could lower vegetation and habitat damage on the refuges. The hunting of each species proposed would promote plant health and diversity, reduce overpopulation, which destroys vegetation and compacts soils, and increase native plant survival. The acreage open to hunting would increase from Alternative A, which could cause increased trampling of vegetation. However, these impacts to vegetation should be minor, short-lived, and localized. Hunter density would not be expected to increase above 10% throughout all seven refuges. Refuge-regulations would not permit the use of ATVs off of designated trails, where allowed and vehicles would be confined to existing roads and parking lots, minimizing impacts to habitat and vegetation. Refuge maintenance activities would continue to have minor adverse impacts to habitat and vegetation (e.g., through mulching, spraying pesticides, grading, and placing gravel); these impacts would be expected to be discrete and site-specific.
Table 8. Affected Visitor Use and Experience and Anticipated Impacts of the Proposed Action and Any Alternatives
Visitor Use and Experiences Affected Environment Description The Bayou Lacombe Visitor Center provides a hub for visitation for the Refuge Complex. An estimated over 900,000 people annually visit the seven NWRs to participate in wildlife observation and photography, environmental education and interpretation, fishing, and hunting: Bayou Sauvage (270,000), Bayou Teche (17,800), Big Branch Marsh (334,000), Bogue Chitto (224,000), Cat Island (24,000), Delta (12,000), and Mandalay (20,600) NWRs. Notably, fishing and hunting opportunities are of great public interest in this area. Annual hunting visitation for the seven NWRs is estimated at 58,875: Bayou Sauvage (1,457) Bayou Teche (444), Big Branch Marsh (20,339), Bogue Chitto (21,700), Cat Island (7,500), Delta (7,200), and Mandalay (235) NWRs. Time and space zoning help minimize conflicts between user groups and activities. In a regional or statewide context, hunting on the refuge divisions provides only a small percentage of hunting
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opportunities. Visitors that use the refuge also partake in non-hunting wildlife dependent recreational activities such as wildlife observation, photography, environmental education and interpretation. Outdoor recreation is an important component of the lives of Americans.
Trails, roadways, waterways, and canoe and boat launches provide outdoor recreation opportunities at Bayou Sauvage NWR; in its immediate area, Bayou Sauvage NWR serves as one of the last remaining hunting sites. A Refuge Headquarters, boat ramps, roadways, waterways, trails, and a fishing platform provide outdoor recreation opportunities at Bayou Teche NWR. The Bayou Lacombe Visitor Center, Refuge Complex Headquarters, roadways, waterways, trails, an interpretive site, fishing pier, and boat ramps provide outdoor recreation opportunities at Big Branch Marsh NWR. Roadways, waterways, trails, boat ramps, Pearl River Turn Around Fishing Access Site, and primitive camping provide outdoor recreation opportunities, including hunting, at Bogue Chitto NWR. Roadways, waterways, trails, river access, fishing ponds, and a visitor kiosk provide outdoor recreation opportunities at Cat Island NWR. Outside of the Refuge Headquarters in Venice, LA, visitation to Delta NWR is restricted to boat, which can be hazardous due to rough water, fog, and the wakes caused by other large vessels, such as ships and crew boats, traveling the Mississippi River; no roadways or trails exist on the refuge. A Refuge Headquarters, nature trail, and waterways provide outdoor recreation opportunities at Mandalay NWR. During times when roads are impassible due to flood events or other natural causes those roads, parking lots, trails, and boat ramps impacted by the event will be closed to vehicular use. Environmental Trends and Planned Actions Descriptions The Service is unaware of any trends and planned actions that would impact the quality of the visitor use and experience.
Following implementation of the recreation fee proposed in 2021 for Bayou Teche, Bogue Chitto, Big Branch Marsh, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs, annual offsetting revenue could total an estimated minimum of $73,500. These funds would support the visitor programs at these six NWRs, including shared resources that would help offset hunt program costs.
Other than for invasive species where control and elimination are the target, hunting programs are designed to be sustainable. In a regional or statewide context, hunting on the seven refuges under either alternative would provide only a small percentage of hunting opportunities in the larger area. Visitors that use the refuges would continue to partake in non-hunting wildlife-dependent recreational activities, such as wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education and interpretation. Outdoor recreation would be expected to continue to be an important component of the lives of Americans. Wildlife-dependent recreation would be expected to continue to be a socioeconomic driver locally, regionally, and/or at the state level. Any future development of trails or access to support any wildlife dependent recreational opportunities on the refuges would go through additional environmental review. Any future trail development would likely to take place where there is a focus of the Service and the state on creating more outdoor recreational opportunity. Based on the process to establish hunting frameworks, hunting at a national level would not have significant impacts on species hunted on the refuges. Locally, the seven refuges represent only a small portion of that national impact. Increasing hunting opportunities on these seven NWRs would not be expected to decrease hunting opportunities on other areas near the refuge. While trends show that the number of hunters participating in the sport is declining, providing additional opportunities would potentially increase the numbers of hunters that utilize public land for hunting recreation from current levels. Private land hunting would not be impacted by the use of public land for hunting. Because of the regulatory process for harvest management in place within the Service, the setting of hunting seasons largely outside of the breeding seasons of resident and migratory wildlife, the ability of individual refuge hunt programs to adapt refuge-specific hunting regulations to changing local conditions, and the wide geographic separation of individual refuges, the Service would anticipate no significant beneficial or adverse impacts to visitor use and experience by the use of hunting on the refuges. The refuges’ hunt programs, including the proposed expanded hunt opportunities, are designed to provide high quality and safe outdoor recreational opportunities. While visitor use and experience would be expected to continue to increase with population and visitation increases, the Service would continue to evaluate uses and impacts of and to those uses, including visitor use and experience, to ensure that uses of the refuges remain compatible. As needed and in response to changing conditions, refuge uses would be modified to ensure that they remain compatible, including meeting quality and safety needs. The Service is unaware of any other adverse environmental trends or planned actions that would adversely impact visitor use and experience on the refuge, including the proposed expanded hunting opportunities. Anticipated Impacts
Alternative A: Continue Current Management On balance, impacts to visitor use and experience under Alternative A would be expected to be beneficial, but minor. With the variety of uses and activities, user conflicts could occur, but these would be expected to be minor. Time and space zoning measures would continue to help reduce the potential for conflicts between users and user groups.
Alternative B: Implement 2021 Hunt Plans As with Alternative A, on balance, impacts to visitor use and experience under Alternative B would be expected to be beneficial, but minor. Alternative B would increase opportunities for hunting on the refuges, which is important since hunting is culturally important to the local communities. Alternative B would be expected to provide increased opportunities for an estimated 1,272 additional hunters compared to Alternative A. With the variety of uses and activities, user conflicts could occur, but these would be expected to be minor. As under Alternative A, time and space zoning measures would help reduce the potential for conflicts between users and user groups.
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Monitoring The Service minimizes conflict related to biological resources by adopting a “wildlife first” principle explicitly stated in the NWRSIA. Staff monitors species population trends to ensure that target species can be hunted on the refuge without adversely affecting the species. These monitoring activities include direct observation of populations, consultation with state and Service species specialists, and review of current species survey information and research. Refuge Managers may establish specific regulations for individual species or portions of a refuge depending on conflicts with refuge management activities and/or other wildlife-dependent recreation priorities. Permanent or periodic hunting and/or fishing closures for specific species or closures of portions of a refuge may be necessary if the Refuge Manager determines that there is specific habitat, wildlife protection, and/or public safety requirements. The need to implement impact minimization measures would be evaluated annually; at this time, there is no perceived conflict and need for additional measures. All hunting would be conducted in accordance with all applicable state, refuge, and Federal regulations. Coordination with the public and refuge stakeholders, including the state departments of wildlife and fisheries, will help promote continuity and understanding of refuge and Service resource goals and objectives, and will help assure that the decision-making process takes into account all interests. Continued annual biological monitoring of both resident and migratory wildlife and their habitats would continue on the refuges in conjunction with our state partners. In addition, the refuges will stay apprised on the status of threatened and endangered species occurring on the refuges through consultation and local monitoring.
Summary of Analysis This EA briefly provides sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or a FONSI.
Alternative A – Continue Current Management (No Action Alternative) As summarized in Table 1 and described above, current refuge hunting opportunities for migratory birds, upland game, and big game would continue and remain the same across those portions of the refuges already open, continuing to provide a total of 104,064 acres open to hunting. The refuges would continue to serve as habitat for fish and wildlife, as well as continue to provide outdoor recreational opportunities for all six priority wildlife dependent public uses: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education and interpretation. Refuge management and partner activities would continue to control adverse impacts from invasive species, including nutria and feral hog. Under Alternative A, neutral impacts would be expected for Federally listed species, minor adverse to minor beneficial impacts would be expected for non-target wildlife, and neutral to minor adverse impacts would be expected for habitat and vegetation. Existing hunting activities would be expected to continue to support healthy wildlife populations. In addition, the refuge’s ability to connect with certain segments of the public would potentially be diminished since hunting for some popular game species would not be permitted. Hunters would continue to pursue these species off-refuge and thus each refuge’s ability to reach those members of the public and promote natural resources conservation, environmental education, and natural resources stewardship may be more limited. Conversely, the refuges would continue to provide hunting opportunities for the public, offering reasonable opportunities for the refuges to promote natural resources conservation, environmental education, and natural resources stewardship. Under this alternative, the public would have slightly more limited access
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to hunt certain species on public lands in the general area. As no changes would occur, existing hunt plans would continue to be implemented. All other public uses on the refuge would not change and would continue to be managed as described in current plans.
As outlined, resultant impacts from the continued implementation of Alternative A would be expected to be minor with no significant beneficial or adverse impacts anticipated.
Alternative B – Implement 2021 Hunt Plans for Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, Big Branch Marsh, Bogue Chitto, Cat Island, Delta, and Mandalay NWRs (Proposed Action Alternative) As summarized in Table 1 and described above, opportunities for hunting would be expanded under the Proposed Action on the seven NWRs through additional species, expanded hunt hours, and additional areas. An additional 4,032 acres would be opened to hunting through the 2021-22 rulemaking action with the future addition of up to 25,873 acres for a future total of up to 133,969 acres open to hunting on the seven NWRs under Alternative B. Minor beneficial impacts would be expected for visitor use and experience under Alternative B. The refuges would expect to experience neutral to minor decreases in the depredation rates of songbirds, plants, invertebrates, small mammals, deer fawn, turtles, and other reptiles and amphibians through potential decreases in invasive species and predators. While some habitat disturbance would be expected to continue, the refuges would expect to experience neutral to minor decreases in habitat disturbance and associated erosion concerns resulting from potentially fewer feral hogs and nutria. Despite refuge management and partner control efforts and the proposed addition and expansion of hunting, feral hogs would be expected to continue to be present on the refuges. Refuge management and partner activities would continue to control adverse impacts from invasive species, including nutria, beaver, coyote, and feral hog. The proposed hunting activities would be expected to support healthy wildlife populations. Further, neutral impacts would be anticipated for Federally listed species; a draft Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation was developed with the draft determination that the Proposed Action would not likely conflict with recovery and/or protection of these species. The refuges limit or exclude hunting activities where there are biological concerns. This is the case at nearby Breton NWR, which is not hunted specifically to provide a sanctuary for migratory birds; this area is off limits to all hunting. To meet the requirements of compatibility, the Service could limit or exclude hunting activities on additional portions of the refuges to avoid conflicts related to biological resources, such as threatened or endangered species. Special hunts could also be used to manage hunting pressure, provide increased opportunities, and manage overall take at appropriate levels.
As outlined, resultant impacts from the implementation of Alternative B would be expected to be minor with no significant beneficial or adverse impacts anticipated.
List of Preparers Danny Breaux, Refuge Manager, Big Branch Marsh NWR, Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex, IR2&4, US Fish and Wildlife Service Pon Dixson, Deputy Project Leader, Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex, IR2&4, US Fish and Wildlife Service Cheri M. Ehrhardt, AICP, Natural Resource Planner, IR2&4, US Fish and Wildlife Service
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Barrett Fortier, Refuge Biologist, Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex, IR2&4, US Fish and Wildlife Service Neil Lalonde, Project Leader, Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex, IR2&4, US Fish and Wildlife Service Jimmy Laurent, Refuge Manager, Cat Island and Delta NWRs, Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex, IR2&4, US Fish and Wildlife Service Brian Pember, Wildlife Refuge Specialist; Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, and Mandalay NWRs; Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex; IR2&4; US Fish and Wildlife Service Shelley Stiaes; Refuge Manager; Bayou Sauvage, Bayou Teche, and Mandalay NWRs; Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex; IR2&4; US Fish and Wildlife Service
State Coordination National wildlife refuges, including the Refuge Complex, conduct hunting programs within the framework of state and Federal regulations. Authorized hunting opportunities for the Refuge Complex are regulated by the states of Louisiana and Mississippi; however, the refuges may elect to be more restrictive to support refuge management goals. In development of this proposal, the refuges coordinated with their state partners and reviewed the operations and regulations for neighboring state wildlife management areas and other refuges to find consistency where possible. Outside of the Service Hunt Opportunity Tool coordination activities, the refuges began coordination with Louisiana and Mississippi in 2019 for the current proposal, including working with the local State Biologist and Conservation Officers. On December 30, 2019 and again on April 3, 2020, the Service emailed Mr. Jack Montoucet, Secretary of LDWF asking for state comments regarding refuges evaluating opportunities and asking for the state’s involvement in the development of these proposals to expand hunting and sport fishing to help adjust our plans to align, where possible, with state management goals. Scoping letters were sent to both states on October 1, 2020. The Service developed this EA and associated planning documents based upon earlier formal coordination with the agencies, as well as the intervening informal discussions. The Service will continue to consult and coordinate with the state agencies annually to maintain regulations and programs that align with the states as much as possible, as well as to monitor populations of game species and set harvest goals. The Service will strive to maintain consistent regulations with each state agency whenever applicable. The Service also provided both states notice of the spring 2021 public review and comment period on the EA, draft hunt plans, draft CDs, and draft regulations.
Disease management activities, including chronic wasting disease, will continue to be coordinated through the states. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Technical Report on Best Management Practices for the Prevention, Surveillance, and Management of Chronic Wasting Disease (Gillin and Mawdsley 2018) provides guidance and will help the Service and states to work jointly to implement a response plan for any other wildlife disease that surfaces in this area.
The Service will continue to work with Louisiana and Mississippi to ensure safe and enjoyable recreational hunting opportunities on these NWRs. Hunter participation and harvest data may be collected by the states or refuges. Law enforcement officers from these refuges and the states will continue to work together to patrol the refuges, safeguarding hunters, visitors, and game and nongame species.
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Tribal Consultation To develop an early understanding of any associated concerns, scoping letters were sent on October 1, 2020 to Native American Tribes with potential interest in the proposal: Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Muscogee Creek Nation, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida, and Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana. The Service also provided the Native American Tribes notice of the spring 2021 public review and comment period on the EA, draft hunt plans, draft CDs, and draft regulations.
Public Outreach As outlined above, the Service contacted two states and 10 Native American Tribes to address their concerns early in the planning process. The EA, draft hunt plans, draft CDs, and draft regulations were made available for public review and comment in the spring of 2021 nationally through the Federal Register and locally for 60 days at the Refuge Complex office, on refuge and national websites (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/big_branch_marsh/, https://www.fws.gov/boguechitto/, https://www.fws.gov/refuge/delta/, https://www.fws.gov/refuge/cat_island/, https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Bayou_Sauvage/, https://fws.gov/refuge/bayou_teche/, https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Mandalay/), and in the local newspapers. All comments received become part of the official public record. We will handle all requests for such comments in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and National Environmental Policy Act regulations in 40 CFR §1506.6(f).
Determination This section will be filled out upon completion of any public comment period and at the time of finalization of the Environmental Assessment.
☐ The Service’s action will not result in a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. See the attached “Finding of No Significant Impact.”
☐ The Service’s action may significantly affect the quality of the human environment and the Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
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Signatures
Submitted By:
Project Leader Signature ______
Date: ______
Concurrence:
Regional Historic Preservation Officer Signature ______
Date: ______
Concurrence:
Refuge Supervisor Signature ______
Date: ______
Approved:
Regional Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System Signature ______
Date: ______
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U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2015b. Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan. September 2015. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region. Atlanta, GA. 182 pp. https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/DownloadFile/162031
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2016. Adaptive Harvest Management: 2017 Hunting Season. U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC. Available online at http://www.fws.gov/birds/management/adaptive-harvest-management/publications-and- reports.php.
Environmental Assessment for Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex 2021-22 Hunt Package Section B-52