Number 1Volume 28 Spring/Summer 2000

Conservationists Recognized

Big Creek Revisited

One That Got Away

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PAID Permit #1393 Baton Rouge, LA CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS

3 From The President and Executive Director Official Publication of 15 Conservation Line the Louisiana Wildlife Federation 38 Animal Tracks VOL. 28 Spring/Summer 2000 No.1 Editorial Creed: To create and 41 For Your Information encourage an awareness among the people 46 Tibby Sez of Louisiana of the need for wise use and proper management of those resources of the earth upon which the lives and welfare of all people depend: the soil, the air, the FEATURES water, the forests, the minerals, the plant life, and the wildlife.

4 Big Creek Revisited Magazine Staff Randy P. Lanctot: Editor 5 Conservationist Recognized Jon Barry: Contract Publisher 6 Convention Highlights/Resolutions Hoa V. Vu: Advertising Director 7 The One That “Got Away” Louisiana Wildlife Federation magazine (ISSN 10 Directors Elected 0738-8098) is the official publication of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Inc. and is 33 Federal Aid Fund Snafu published bi-monthly. The Federation office is 34 Key to a Conservation Century/Noxious Algae Blooms located at 337 South Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806. All editorial and 39 Toll From Coal subscription correspondence should be mailed to P.O. Box 65239 Audubon Station, Baton 44 Bird Habitats Rouge, LA 70896-5239 (Phone/Fax 225-344- 6707). All manuscripts submitted for 45 Wildfowl Carvers Festival publication are subject to editing or rewriting.

Postmaster: Send change of address to: Louisiana Wildlife Federation, P.O. Box 65239 Audubon Station, Baton Rouge, LA 70896-5239.

Subscription: Rates for non-members of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Inc. are: 1 year–$17.00, 2 years –$30.00, 3 years–$40.00.

On the Cover … Membership: For information, write to: Louisiana has a greater variety and Louisiana Wildlife Federation, P.O. Box 65239 abundance of fishing opportunities Audubon Station, Baton Rouge, LA 70896- than any place we can think 5239. Phone/Fax: (225) 344-6707. of....swamps, lakes, marshes, coastal email:[email protected] bays, the surf, and offshore; just some of the places in the Bayou State where Contract Publishers: Wildlife Publishers you can productively wet a line. Then P.O. Box 64620, Baton Rouge, LA 70896. there’s “country style” fishing where, like young Teddy Garitty, you can slip For Advertising, call (225) 927-5190 on old sneakers, shorts, a T-shirt, and enjoy a day on one of our many scenic streams in quest of the feisty spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus).

Page 2 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 FROM THE PRESIDENT

recognized at the 36th Conservation Awards super majority of 70 Keith Banquet held in conjunction with the conven- needed (required by the tion. Of course, everybody found time to Louisiana Constitution) Saucier have some fun while getting a lot of important to pass a fee increase, but we gave it a strong work done. effort and I know the vote was a lot closer Among the most important convention because of it. resolutions was the one that dealt with the During the Regular Legislative Session, proposed fee increases for the Louisiana several measures were introduced to generate Department of Wildlife and Fisheries revenue for LDWF including a small increase (LDWF). As soon as convention was over we in the state income tax and a small increase in What an honor and privilege it is being began working to generate support for a fee the state fuel tax. Again, the Louisiana able to serve as president of an outstanding increase package that would keep the agency Wildlife Federation was the only conservation organization like the Louisiana Wildlife afloat without significant cuts to personnel or sportsmen’s group to provide testimony in Federation. I have to admit, it’s all just a little and services. We mailed out “Action Alerts” to support of these proposals. Unfortunately, overwhelming. But the support and guidance our affiliate leaders urging them to contact neither got very far in the process. The I’m getting from those in the organization their legislators in support of reasonable fee LDWF funding crisis was temporarily who have dedicated their lives to conservation increases. We provided testimony to the resolved when the Legislature adopted a con- makes the job so much easier, and so reward- Natural Resources Committee of the servative fee increase package during the 2nd ing. Louisiana House of Representatives when the Special Session that adjourned June 25th. I’m pleased to report that our 61st fee bill was first considered during the 1st This time groups such as the Turkey Annual Meeting was well-attended with 20 of Special Legislative Session and were the only Federation, CCA, and BASS Federation our 35 affiliates and 7 of our 9 districts repre- conservation group to have members present played a more active role. Even so, the bill sented. Convention delegates adopted 24 working to pass the bill when it came up for passed the House and Senate with only the good resolutions, and some extraordinary peo- vote on the floor of the House of Continued on page 24 ple and their outstanding achievements were Representatives. The vote fell 4 short of the FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

what we achieved. We Randy fully recognize that financing the LDWF Lanctot will continue to be an issue as costs rise and responsibilities of resource steward- ship grow. We hope the agency, the gov- ernor, and members of the Legislature will work with us in the months ahead to avert another hand-wringing crisis like the one Bud Carpenter (R) opens a duck so outdoor workshop just passed. Thank you for bearing with us participants can see the gizzard, crop and other “innards” Earlier this year the Louisiana biologists examine to determine such things as food Wildlife Federation partnered with the through this communication drought. habits that provide vital wildlife management information. Unanticipated staffing issues and special legislative sessions pushed us off what was end, a package of fee adjustments was an already full and busy schedule. So adopted by the bare minimum number of without further ado, let’s catch up on votes required, but not without a lot of what’s been going on. hard work and pointed discussion con- Our 61st annual meeting and 36th cerning the administration of the agency. conservation awards presentations have Hopefully, all parties were listening and come and gone. I hope you will read improvements will be made. Much more about them in this issue, especially the could be said, and perhaps will be in a outstanding accomplishments of our hon- future column. But for now I’m proud to orees. say that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation “Big Ron” Bartels guides a blindfolded teacher through the “sensory safari” during an evening session at the So far this year the Louisiana was steadfast in its support for a reason- outdoor workshop. The objective of the exercise is to Legislature has convened 3 times. Each able fee adjustment that was acceptable to identify the animal by feeling various characteristic time, strategies for shoring up the finances the vast majority of the rate-paying sports- features represented by the specimens. of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife men and women of the state. And with and Fisheries were major items. In the the help of the Legislature, I believe that’s Executive Director:Continued on page 4

Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 3 Executive Director: Continued from page 3 BIG CREEK REVISITED Louisiana Chapter of Safari Club International, Louisiana Ducks (The following story was submitted by it. He assured me that I wouldn’t and, as Lafayette insurance executive B. E. M. “Ben” much as I liked to fish, I really needed to learn Skerrett, III in response to an article that to use one. So I thanked him and set out to appeared in the last issue. - ed.) learn by trial and error, without instruction. He left me one bait, a shimmy wiggler, It was with a great deal of interest that I which was a spoon-type bait with a single read the article in the latest Federation maga- hook that had a red and white bucktail. I

Teachers braved a chill late January afternoon for orienteering with map and compass at the outdoor workshop cosponsored by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation.

Unlimited, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Miller Brewing “Friends of the Field” to host a workshop for teach- ers at LDWF’s Outdoor Education Center near Woodworth. Twenty educators rep- resenting schools from all corners of the state dedicated their weekend to partici- pate. Activities included nature hikes, A bass like the one Ben caught in Big Creek 62 years ago. skeet shooting, orienteering, identifying and dissecting different species of ducks and geese, a “sensory safari” and presenta- zine entitled “Big Creek Saga”. practiced on the bank with little short casts tions on other outdoor skills and conser- It was on Big Creek that I caught my first until I could get it to go out without a back- vation education activities and programs black bass on artificial bait, at the age of 17. lash. Then, I tried it on water. That was 62 years ago, and I remember it as There was a large log which went across though it were yesterday. the creek from one bank to the other. I Big Creek was every bit as beautiful as it walked out on that log, and made a long cast is described in the article. It was a favorite of downstream. The water was crystal clear, people in Alexandria, where I lived at the with a white, sandy bottom. As I reeled in I time, for fishing, swimming (in Dean’s Hole), could see a dark form following my bait. I and camping. had read in OUTDOOR LIFE not to slow One day, in August of 1938, two boys down a bait to let a fish get it because the fish who lived in my neighborhood came to see can swim lots faster than you can reel. In my me. They were Gordon Stafford, and Walter excitement, I must have increased reeling, Hill. Both were 12-year-old cousins. They because the fish suddenly struck. How I did- wanted to go camping at Fishville, but their n’t fall off that log I’ll never know, but I land- parents would not let them go unless an older ed my first bass. As I remember now, it prob- boy went along. Gordon Stafford’s parents ably didn’t weigh much over a pound. But to had taken me fishing with them several times, me at that time, it was a monster. and I was glad to go along. My aunt and uncle had sent me a check Mr. And Mrs. Stafford brought us to for $10 as a high school graduation present Fishville, on the bank of Big Creek, dropped which I had set aside until something came us off with a tent and provisions for a week, along that I really wanted. That fish made my and came to get us a week later. decision. As soon as the camping trip was Before he left, Mr. Stafford came up to over, I bought a new rod and reel, a spool of United States Senators Mary Landrieu and John Breaux me with a rod and reel in his hand. He said, line, and a red and white Shimmy Wiggler – framed by the hollow of the world champion baldcypress “Ben, I appreciate your taking care of the boys all for my $10. tree. The senators were there for the announcement of this week, and would like to lend you my In view of the above, I’m 100% in favor the establishment of the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge. wife’s rod and reel to use while you’re here”. of restoring Big Creek to its former natural I replied that I had never used one, did- beauty. Executive Director: Continued on page 12 n’t know how, and was afraid I might damage

Page 4 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 Wildlife rehabilitator, Noel A. Thistlethwaite of Prairie Basse (St. Landry) for CONSERVATIONISTSCONSERVATIONISTS dedicating her life to saving injured and orphaned wild creatures and returning them to their natural habitat; RECOGNIZEDRECOGNIZED Vermilion Parish 4-H er, Marla Elizabeth Adam of Kaplan for coordinating “Operation Louisiana Wildlife Federation convened last Quackback”, a program organized by Box Turtle Advocates, 7 Others Recognized March for its 61st Annual Meeting. Louisiana rice farmers to provide winter habi- by State Wildlife Federation for “Amateur” herpetologists and students of tat for ducks, geese and other wetland-depen- Outstanding Conservation Achievement box turtle behavior, Messinger and Patton dent wildlife species; went to bat last year for Louisiana’s declining Pineville-based Cleco Corporation for Husband/wife team Martha Ann box turtle populations. Through their initia- dedicating financial and staff resources to con- Messinger and George M. Patton have tive and tireless lobbying efforts, legislation servation education efforts statewide, provid- received the Louisiana Wildlife Federation’s was enacted to prohibit the commercial har- ing industry leadership in recycling and exem- Governor’s Award. The award is presented vest of these fascinating and docile Louisiana plary stewardship of the natural resources on its land holdings; Tensas River Refuge Association Instructor Corps for bringing the wonders of the “Tensas” to students and adults in the community and educating them about wildlife, habitat, and the importance of these resources to their lives; Louisiana State Senator Robert J. Barham of Oak Ridge for sponsoring legislation to conserve the Louisiana box turtle and guiding legislative support for the conservation of Black Bayou Lake and adjacent lands which is now a national wildlife refuge near Monroe; The Louisiana Nature Center in eastern

Martha Ann Messinger and George M. Patton are presented the Governor’s Award as Conservationists of the Year by Dr. Earl B. Matthew, Region 8 Director of the National Wildlife Federation (R) and Karen Gautreaux (L) representing Governor Mike Foster at the 36th annual conservation awards banquet of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation. annually to the person(s) or organization natives, and limit their possession. Louisiana deemed to have made the most outstanding box turtles can no longer be collected and contribution toward the protection and wise sold for the international pet trade and suffer use of the state’s natural resources – air, soil the inevitable damage and trauma caused by and minerals, forests, waters, fish and wildlife shipping and relocation. The law will help during the previous year from among nomi- insure that wild box turtles will be around for nations submitted by the public. The selec- the enjoyment and wonder of future genera- tion for this and 7 other awards was made by tions. a panel of independent judges with expertise Four other individuals, two organizations in a wide range of conservation fields. and a corporation were also recognized for Messinger and Patton of Bastrop received their outstanding conservation achievement in Sandra Thompson Decoteau, holding her grandson, the award, a handsome statuette of a bald 1999. They are: receives the Professional Conservationist of the Year eagle, from Karen Gautreaux representing Atchafalaya Basin Program Director, award from Karen Gautreaux. Governor Mike Foster and Dr. Earl Matthew, Sandra Thompson Decoteau of Baton Rouge Region 8 Director of the National Wildlife for shepherding the development of the State’s New Orleans for a nationally-recognized Federation. The award was presented at the master conservation and recreation plan for nature education program providing unique 36th Conservation Achievement Recognition the Atchafalaya Basin and guiding legislation and innovative opportunities to learn about Banquet held at the Holiday Inn Convention authorizing the plan and its 15-year funding Centre in downtown Alexandria where the program through the State Legislature; Conservationists Recognized: Continued on page 13

Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 5 LWFLWF 61ST61ST CONVENTION:CONVENTION: HIGHLIGHTS/RESOLUTIONSHIGHLIGHTS/RESOLUTIONS pitality suite on Friday and Saturday ering resolutions for adoption. Twenty-four The 2000 annual meeting of the evenings, with financial support from the of the 25 resolutions submitted were finally Louisiana Wildlife Federation was held earli- Avoyelles Wildlife Federation. Convention adopted by delegates and directors present at the meeting. These dedicated conservation leaders collectively represented 20 of LWF’s 34 affiliates and 10,000 of the organization’s 14,000 members. The resolution that gener- ated the most interest and discussion con- cerned the fee proposal by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The committee hearing the resolution even had to reconvene after the board luncheon to wrap-up what turned out to be a 3-hour

LWF officers and executive committee members for the new term (L-R) Joe L. Herring, 1st V. P.; Keith Saucier, president; Smitty Smith, 2nd V. P., Dr. Earl Matthew, NWF Region 8 director; Gene Dauzat, Jr., treasurer; Dr. Bobby Fulmer, executive Perennial recipient of the LWF President’s Cup, Edgar F. committee; Jay Huner, Ph.D; executive committee. Not pictured: Virginia Burkett, secretary; Edgar F. Veillon, Veillon once again is recognized as the LWF member who representative to NWF; Kathy Wascom, past president. provided the most assistance to the LWF president during the year. The cup is presented by outgoing LWF President Kathy Wascom. er this year in Alexandria. CENLA members and clubs, including the Avoyelles Wildlife debate. The complete text of each resolution Federation, Rapides Wildlife Association, as adopted is printed at the end of this arti- Catahoula Lake Conservation Club and cle. Bayou Bassmasters of Alexandria served on At the Board Luncheon on Saturday, the Host Committee and helped arrange for directors and guests heard from Red River an outstanding meeting at the Holiday Inn Waterway Commissioner Alvin Owens who Convention Centre. As is its custom, the made a presentation describing the Red Clio Sportsmen’s League hosted a super hos- River Waterway Project and its many recre- ational features. New officers were also elect- Brents Witty, retiring from the Board after 16 consecutive ed at the luncheon. Keith Saucier of years of service, gives LWF President Kathy Wascom a Gonzales with the East Ascension hug after she surprised him with a gift presentation at the Sportsmen’s League was elected president, awards banquet. Joe L. Herring of Baton Rouge, also with EASL was elected 1st V. P., district 3 at-large format varies little from year to year, but new director Smitty Smith of New Iberia was issues, challenges and participants mingle elected 2nd V. P., past president Gene with three generations of tradition to make Dauzat of Kenner was reelected treasurer, for an interesting and productive weekend. and district 9 at-large director Virginia Although there are 3 board meetings Burkett of Many was elected secretary. Past and other activities associated with the LWF president Edgar F. Veillon of New Orleans Marc Dupuy, Jr. of Marksville (R) receives the Louisiana Outdoor Writer’s Association Arthur Van Pelt Award for a convention, the main events are the conser- lifetime of conservation achievement from LOWA member vation achievement recognition banquet on 61st Convention: Continued on page 21 Senator Joe McPherson. Saturday evening and the process of consid-

Page 6 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 The One That “Got Away”

by Elbridge A. “Smitty” Smith, III “big game”. But to a three-year-old, it portion which will receive the brunt of was a Cajun marlin. Ever since that day the punishment during a battle with a Most of my fishing adventures begin I have pursued larger and larger fish. giant fish. out of a small community on Vermilion Like a man lost in the desert whose tor- I have learned much from Shannon Bay in south central Louisiana known as rid thirst drives him forward, my quest about rigging for and catching marlin, but more importantly, he has educated me and countless others who have fished with him about conservation. He reli- giously practices “catch-and-release”. He

Author in the “hot seat” “backing down” on a blue marlin.

is always making sure we fully revive any marlin before we release it. He and I once spent more than an hour hanging upside-down in the water attempting to revive a marlin that was in distress because another boat had inadvertently Author holding on to a white marlin waiting to place a tag. released it without fully reviving it. I sometimes believe there is a kind of kin- Cypremort Point. It’s there that I was has allowed me to meet and fish with dred spirit between Shannon and the fish introduced to “big game” fishing. I was many wonderful people. After all, any- he pursues week after week. He is also a mere three years old when I first caught one who fishes cannot be all bad. one of those smarter-than-average cap- a fish larger than me. Okay, so it was a Well, this story begins like many tains that realizes the future of big game garfish, and that really doesn’t count as others; on a stifling hot July afternoon at fishing is riding on every move we make the marina on Cypremort Point. It was today. A dead billfish today could mean there that I was to meet Shannon Pecot, owner and captain of the “Fortunate Son”, a forty-foot custom sportfisher- man, for a weekend of fishing. We were headed offshore in pursuit of marlin, tuna, and anything else that would chase our baits. When I met up with Shannon on the dock, he was readying several rods and reels. I believe that one spends at least a thousand times more effort in preparing for battle with a marlin than actually Author wiring an estimated 300#+ blue marlin. fighting one. Shannon was busy tying knots and setting drags on the reels we hundreds less billfish to fight in years to were to use that weekend. There are a come. million things that can and will go Over the next three to four hours the wrong when you try to subdue a fish that crew arrived one-by-one with their gear can weigh as much as a thousand pounds and ear-to-ear smiles. The electricity was with a stick and some string. Great care in the air and confidence was high. The and much preparation goes into each wind was calm and we knew this was White marlin with tag in proper position. rod, reel, spool of line and its terminal going to be an outstanding weekend. So, Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 7 with a thousand gallons of fuel, plenty of Their large eyes, adapted for seeing in pelagics, anything in the water can fresh water, and enough food to supply the dark depths, are hindered by sun- instantly be reduced to floating remains. the “Cajun Coast” we left the dock. We light. In fact, some of our largest tuna It wasn’t until about two hours later, were headed to Southwest Pass at Marsh have been taken while pulling lures in with our bellies full and our minds Island and then the Gulf of Mexico. total darkness and most of the “bites” beginning to wander, that one of the With all the excitement in the air, every- occur when the sun is below the horizon. monarchs graced us with its presence. one was on the flying bridge; no one At last the sky started to turn, and so There was a mini-explosion in the water near one of the lures, a pause, and then the line began spooling off the reel. Michael grabbed the rod and with tremendous force set the hook by lifting the rod swiftly and firmly above his head with two slashing rips. Instantly, the water exploded and a marlin leapt free from its surface. It was a white marlin, and it had felt the hook and was trying everything in its power to throw it. (White marlin, Tetrapturus albidus, is a

Reviving the big blue wanted to go below just yet. did our excitement. With the aroma of Once through the pass, and with the breakfast coming from the cabin, we sun and excitement fading, many of the gazed at the baits with great anticipation. crew went below to watch television and Someone once wisely said that big game retire for the night. Just out of the pass fishing is hours of boredom suddenly we began to discuss where we were head- interrupted by shear chaos. Malcolm ed. This discussion was somewhat “just Migues, captain and owner of the sport- for show” because we all knew that fisher “Lickety Split” and arguably one of Shannon has his “honey hole”...Green the best “bottom” fishermen in the Gulf Canyon. The GPS and auto-pilot were of Mexico, a legacy passed on to him by set, and with over 100 miles to our des- his father, was to be the first angler up in tination everyone settled in for the long the chair that morning. However, that Bobby Broussard with 150#+ yellowfin tuna onboard “Fortunate Son”. overnight haul. The boat had been to morning we weren’t after “bottom” fish. Green Canyon so many times that the We were in pursuit of the apex predators. smaller member of the billfish clan usu- auto-pilot almost seemed unnecessary as Those few elite fish whose presence, like ally not exceeding 200 pounds.) the boat probably knew her own way. kings and queens, command everyone’s Hurriedly, Malcolm climbed into the About 4 a.m. the next morning the respect, a respect earned through millen- fighting chair, and Michael handed him GPS revealed a mere few miles to our nia of evolution. For with a slash of a the rod. At that point the marlin was destination. I began to get my second bill or the ferocious bite of any of these starting to really put on a show, doing wind. Michael Defilice, Shannon’s mate flips and head stands as if a world-class and I went below to the cockpit (back gymnast. Mary Lou Retton would envy deck) and Shannon handed down the some of the moves white marlin are capa- rods and reels from the flying bridge. ble of. But its spectacular dance was of Michael and I then attached various sizes no avail; the hooks were embedded firm- and colors of skirted plastic baits, all cus- ly in its mouth and there would be no tom made by Shannon through his store, escape today. Minutes later the fish was Cajun Guns and Tackle in New Iberia. near the boat. Michael and I prepared to With that done, we dropped the outrig- wire the fish and place a tag in it. gers, dropped back the baits, and waited for the first hint of light. It’s usually in Yellowfin tuna about to come to gaff. Got Away: Continued on page 37 these early dark hours that tuna feed. Page 8 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 District Vice-Presidents: Louisiana Wildlife Federation District 1 Jimmy Greene, 3129 Roosevelt Blvd., Kenner, LA 70065; 504 Officers: 4313 (fax) 387-1027; email- (wk) 443-1926 (St. Tammany, [email protected] President Keith Saucier, P.O. Box1795 Orleans, St. Bernard, Gonzales, LA 70707; Bobby Fulmer, M.D., P.O. Plaquemines Parishes) 225 (res.) 647-6653 (wk.) Box 99, New Roads, LA District 2 Clinton Mouser, 4428 Toby 383-7771, Ext. 1561 70760; 225 (res.) 638-8869 Lane, Metairie, LA 70003; 504 (fax) 677-7416; email- Jay V. Huner, Ph.D, 130 (res) 887-8475; email- [email protected] Ashland Ct., Lafayette, LA [email protected] (Jefferson, 1st-V. P. Joe L. Herring, 1021 Rodney 70508; 337 (res.) 234-0682 Lafourche, St. Charles, St. Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70808; (wk.) 482-5239; email- James, St. John the Baptist 225 (res.) 766-0519 [email protected] Parishes) 2nd-V. P. Elbridge A. “Smitty” Smith III Edgar F. Veillon, Rep. to District 3 Chuck Seiber, 6970 Cemetary 611 Victory, New Iberia, LA NWF, 4616 South Roman St., Rd., St. Martinville, LA 70560; 337 (res) 364-9341; New Orleans, LA 70125; 504 70582; 337 (res) 394-3393 email- [email protected] (res.) 899-4049 (wk.) 454- (Lafayette, Vermillion, St. Secretary Virginia Burkett, Ph.D, P.O. 1212 (fax) 885-4887 Martin, Terrebonne, Iberia, St. Box 1557, Many, LA 71449; Staff: Mary, Iberville, Assumption 318 (wk.) 256-5628; email- Executive Director Parishes) [email protected] Randy P. Lanctot, P.O. Box District 4 Vacant (Caddo, Bossier, Treasurer Eugene J. Dauzat, Jr., 608 65239 Audubon Station, Webster, Claiborne, Lincoln, Meursault, Kenner, LA 70065; Baton Rouge, LA 70896-5239 Bienville, Jackson Parishes) 504 (res.) 468-8408 (wk.) Office: 337 South Acadian District 5 Martha Ann Messinger, 2022 524-4444 Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA Gemini Dr., Bastrop, LA Executive Committee: 70806; 225 (wk.) 344-6762 71220; 318 (res) 281-0113 Above 5 Officers and 4 Persons Listed Below: (fax) 344-6707 (res.) 346-0752 (fax) 283-8111; email- email- [email protected] Kathy Wascom, 1255 [email protected] (Union, Aberdeen Ave., Baton Rouge, Development Director Morehouse, East Carroll, West LA 70808; 225 (res.) 344- Bill Ford, email- Carroll, Ouachita, Richland, [email protected] Madison, Caldwell, Franklin, Tensas Parishes) District 6 Francis Gautreaux, 12380 Fernand Rd., Gonzales, LA 70737; 225 (res.) 673-4991 (Washington, Tangipahoa, St. Helena, Livingston, Ascension, East Feliciana, West Feliciana, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Point Coupee Parishes) District 7 Don Clark, 208 West Spring St., Lake Charles, LA 70605; 318 (res.) 477-0370 (Beauregard, Allen, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Acadia Parishes) District 8 Ray D. Gibson, 783Hog Island Rd., Dry Prong, LA 71423; 318 (res.) 899-5501 (Grant, LaSalle, Catahoula, Concordia, Rapides, Avoyelles, Evangeline, St. Landry Parishes) District 9 Larry Kelly, 210 Hillcrest Dr., Anacoco, LA 71403; 337 (res) 386-9944; email- [email protected] (DeSoto, Red River, Sabine, Natchitoches, Winn, Vernon Parishes)

Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 9 LWF DIRECTORS ELECTED Directors of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation outdoor columns in daily newspapers and month- National Rifle Association, Billfish Foundation and are either members of an affiliated club selected by ly magazines. He is past president of the Louisiana the International Gamefish Association. Mr. that club to represent it on the LWF Board of Outdoor Writer’s Association and a former officer Smith’s hobbies include big game fishing, SCUBA Directors, or they are individual members elected of the St. Tammany Sportsmen’s League. He stays diving, bowhunting, gun collecting and weighmas- by the other Federation members in their district to ter for saltwater fishing tournaments. He says that serve on the board. The elections for district at-large he brings a unique perspective to LWF, that he was directors are held every other year in each of the 9 born and raised a Cajun and fishing and hunting LWF districts, districts 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 in odd- are a way of life for him, but that as a trained scien- numbered years and 2, 4, 6, and 8 in even years. tist he has experienced the professional and political The following district at-large directors were elected turmoil that can exist on the other side of the out- last fall and began their 2-year term on the board in door experience. January. Dr. Huner’s background is in the biological sciences and his research on aquaculture systems has District 1 led to a special interest in evaluating and resolving Barbara A. Dodds of Covington was reelected Don Dubuc conflicts between aquaculture and native wildlife and Don Dubuc of Mandeville was elected to rep- resources. He is director of the Crawfish Research resent LWF individual contributing members in involved in many issues and programs concerning Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette District 1 which includes the parishes of St. fish, wildlife, conservation and the environment and is a member of numerous professional societies Tammany, Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines. through his media work and as a volunteer. Mr. with an interest in aquaculture, fisheries manage- Mrs. Dodds is a volunteer activist/lobbyist on issues Dubuc enjoys all types of hunting and fishing and ment and crawfish. His hobbies include fishing, pertaining to public policy, government and the is a volunteer at the local high school. He would environment. She is active in the Louisiana League like to help the Louisiana Wildlife Federation to be of Women Voters and has served on the League’s more widely recognized throughout the state to get state board since 1989 as Natural the recognition it deserves, and help make other Resources/Environmental Chair. Currently she is more specialized wildlife/fishing and outdoor orga- nizations aware how being affiliated with LWF can help accomplish their goals.

District 3 Elbridge A.“Smitty” Smith, III of New Iberia Jay V. Huner was elected and Jay V. Huner, Ph.D of Lafayette was reelected to serve on the LWF board represent- hunting and bird watching. ing LWF members in District 3 that includes Dr. Huner says that agricultural systems pro- Iberville, Assumption, St. Martin, Terrebonne, St. vide invaluable habitat for game and non-game Barbara A. Dodds Mary, Iberia, Vermilion and Lafayette Parishes. Mr. wildlife and that agricultural wetlands are of partic- lobbyist at the Louisiana Legislature on environ- Smith has a degree in fisheries biology and was ular importance as habitat for resident and migra- mental issues for the League. She was recognized employed as a senior field biologist in marine fish- tory waterbirds in Louisiana as a consequence of the by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation as Volunteer eries by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and continuing loss of coastal wetlands to subsidence, Conservationist of the year for 1993. She has Fisheries for several years before joining his family’s erosion, and rising sea levels. He feels that he can served as an at-large board member of the LWF contracting business. In addition to being a mem- help facilitate the dialogue between stakeholders representing District 1 since 1996. Recently, she when conflicts between production and wildlife represented the Federation in Washington as a par- arise and that society must find ways to sustain the ticipant in Arctic Wilderness Week to encourage agricultural wetland base if future generations are to the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to cospon- enjoy the waterbirds now taken for granted in sor the Morris K. Udall Wilderness Bill. Mrs. southern Louisiana. Dr. Huner has been a District Dodds’ hobbies include wildflower gardening, 3 at-large director on the LWF Board since 1996. birding, golfing, painting, boating swimming/snor- keling and land use issue. She says that she shares District 5 many of the same values on conservation and envi- Martha Ann Messinger of Bastrop was ronmental issues as the LWF and believes that she reelected and Jim Marsh of Tallulah was elected to can be more effective in conserving and protecting Smitty Smith the LWF Board to represent individual contribut- natural resources by working with the Federation. ing members from District 5 – Madison, Tensas, Don Dubuc is an outdoor writer and broad- ber of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation where he Franklin, Caldwell, Union, Ouachita, Morehouse, caster with numerous credits including the formerly served on the board representing the Iberia Richland, West Carroll and East Carroll Parishes. “Outdoors With Don Dubuc” radio network, and Rod and Gun Club, he is a member of the Ms. Messinger, a semi-retired bookkeeper and sec-

Page 10 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 retary and her husband George M. Patton have ticipates in the refuge’s Instructor Corps Program been working with injured box turtles since 1989 which educates youth from the parishes surround- and have a rehabilitation permit for turtles and tor- ing the refuge about conservation. He is assistant toises issued by the Louisiana Department of chief of the Bear Lake Volunteer Fire Department Wildlife and Fisheries. During this time they have and a member of the Louisiana Cattlemen’s been studying reproduction and behavior of the 3- Association. He enjoys hunting and fishing, college and high school football, 4-H work and forestry/wildlife programs at Louisiana Tech. Mr. Marsh says that he’d like to see the “Sportsman’s Paradise” reborn and Louisiana first in environ- mental education with the best 4-H programs, expanded degree programs at Louisiana Tech in Forestry, Wildlife, and Tourism, and a state-of-the- art conservation education center at the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge. Lenny Hensgens

District 7 members from District 9 which includes Vernon, Jerome C. Haas, Jr. of Sulphur and Leonard Sabine, Desoto, Red River, Natchitoches and “Lenny” J. Hensgens of Crowley were elected to Winn Parishes. She is a research ecologist at the represent LWF contributing members from National Wetlands Research Center. Dr. Burkett District 7 on the Federation Board. District 7 has 24 years experience in wildlife and fisheries includes Acadia, Jefferson Davis, Allen, Beauregard, management and research, serving as deputy secre- Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes. tary and secretary of the Louisiana Department of Mr. Haas is a retired safety engineer with 43 Wildlife and Fisheries. She is presently serving on Martha Ann Messinger years experience in construction and operations in national and international panels concerned with the oil, gas and construction industries, including climate change impacts. Her hobbies include fly- toed box turtle and published a research paper in several overseas assignments. His hobbies include ing, hiking and camping. She says that she has been Herpetological Review. She frequently presents involved in activities associated with the Louisiana talks on turtles and other wildlife to local scouts and Wildlife Federation for almost 20 years and that it students. An active amateur naturalist, Ms. (LWF) is the most effective statewide conservation Messinger enjoys observing wildlife while on nature organization in the state. She especially likes the hikes and in her backyard that she maintains for Federation’s structure for conducting business on that purpose. She is a member of several several sci- behalf of all involved sportsmen and conservation- entific societies and conservation groups and repre- ists. Dr. Burkett has been an LWF District 9 at- sents the Louisiana Wildlife Federation on the large director since 1996. The other at-large state’s Reptile and Amphibian Task Force. Ms. Messinger and her husband were instrumental in having a law enacted during the 1999 Legislative Jerome Haas, Jr. Session to limit the harvest of box turtles and pro- hibit their sale. Ms. Messinger has served as a fishing, hunting, camping and other outdoor activ- District 5 at-large director since 1996. She says that ities. He says that he has worked and traveled in 31 countries and wants to keep Louisiana one of the better places to live, as he has many grandchildren. Mr. Hensgens is a farmer and member of the Board of Directors of the U. S. Rice Council. He is on the waterfowl committee of the U. S. Rice Foundation and chairman of operation Quackback, a project to provide habitat for water- fowl on agricultural fields. He is also a member of a committee promoting the use of Best Jim Marsh Management Practices to control erosion and Virginia Burkett improve water quality. His hobbies include all types her involvement has helped her be better informed of hunting, especially for waterfowl, and flying. He District 9 directorship is vacant and cannot be filled on issues confronting the state and, during her says that he would like to improve the rules and reg- until the next election in November of 2001. tenure on the LWF Board, would like to help edu- ulations for managing migratory birds and other The next elections for at-large directors will be cate the public about Louisiana’s bountiful legacy of waterfowl and game species. held in November of this year for Districts 2, 4, 6, wildlife and the need to work for its conservation to & 8. Look for a nomination form in an upcoming preserve it for future generations to enjoy. District 9 issue of this magazine. Jim Marsh, a farmer and landowner is a mem- Virginia Burkett of Many was reelected to ber of the Tensas River Refuge Association and par- serve on the LWF Board representing contributing Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 11 Executive Director: Continued from page 4 announce plans for the new refuge. It was Service. Among her many contributions a fine day to be out and, due to the incred- to education, Linda helped create the ible drought we are having in South interactive educational video “Knee Deep available to teachers. Although I was pre- Louisiana, unusually dry for a “swamp”. in Louisiana Wetlands”. The Louisiana sent, along with several other members of There’s still the not-so-small matter of get- Wildlife Federation recognized her initia- the sponsoring groups, the “ringleader” ting all the necessary funding to acquire tive a few years ago when it selected Linda was Ron Bartels with Louisiana Safari the 36,500 acres within the prospective for a scholarship to attend a National Club ably assisted by Bud Carpenter with refuge boundary, but I’m optimistic that it Wildlife Federation Conservation the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. will ultimately be accomplished. Summit. The other honoree is Bob (oth- Everyone had a great time and learned a That leads me to the Conservation erwise known as Bulldog Bob) Misso, for- lot, despite the chilly weather that kept the merly of Bossier City. Bob now works teachers bundled up for the outdoor por- with the Natural Resources Conservation tions of the workshop. The Federation Service as its National Wetlands Program was pleased to be a co-sponsor and we Leader. He received a Conservation look forward to doing it again. Achievement Award from Ducks I first learned about Cat Island Unlimited in the “federal” category last (between Bayou Sara and the Mississippi March at the 65th Annual North River in West Feliciana Parish) in the late American Natural Resources Conference. ‘70s when I was a graduate student at I miss ol’ Bob. He was one of the wildlife LSU. We periodically were assigned field professionals who stimulated our involve- missions by the late John D. Newsom who ment in the campaign to conserve the was the leader of the LSU Cooperative Atchafalaya Basin back in the 70’s when it Wildlife Research Unit at the time. was a raging controversy. Congratulations Sometimes that involved going to a hunt- to these two outstanding leaders in conser- ing lease to record information on deer vation from Louisiana. harvested. One particular assignment was The LWF, in partnership with two of to go to the West Feliciana Hunting Club our affiliates, the Louisiana and Central on Cat Island one weekend, not only Louisiana Chapters of Safari Club check out the deer harvested but to International, insured that our state would encourage the club to harvest does as well be represented at the 2000 Shooting as bucks. Back then, club members didn’t Sports Summit by sponsoring the atten- want anything to do with that idea, and dance of two hunting/shooting educators the lease was overrun with little doe deer The world record baldcypress tree in the newly- from Louisiana. Hunter Education with maybe one buck for every 40 deer established Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge deep in Coordinator for the Louisiana observed (most often a spike). A few years the Cat Island Swamp of West Feliciana Parish. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, later, I was involved with an effort to and Reinvestment Act (CARA) that is still Mark A. Roy of Deville and volunteer secure what is now the Twin Silos com- percolating in the United States Congress. hunter education instructor A. J. Doss of mercial hunting area with a conservation CARA can provide funding for refuge Houma attended the 4-day conference easement. Subsequent to that, I was a acquisitions like Cat Island, along with held in Phoenix, Arizona in June. Some of hunting guest of a landowner on Cat major dollars for coastal restoration and the topics discussed at the summit were Island and later a member of a hunting other wildlife conservation purposes. The “Recruiting and Retaining New Hunters, club there. Through these opportunities I bill has passed the House of Removing Barriers to First-Time learned that Cat Island, with its abundant Representatives but Senate committee Participation in the Shooting Sports, deer, turkey, bobcat, coyote, otter, rac- action has been delayed until later in July, Communication Strategies to Win and coon, wood duck, songbird, woodpecker, and time is running out for this term of Keep Public Confidence and Support of squirrel and other swamp and woodland Congress. There should be more to report the Shooting Sports”. The Federation is wildlife, was an exceptional and irreplace- on CARA by the next issue of this maga- pleased to have been able to make this able habitat. And its unique geography zine. investment for the benefit of hunter edu- and geology made it even moreso. When Kudos are in order for two cation in our state. the director of the Louisiana Nature Louisianians who have recently received Congratulations to all the Federation Conservancy called in late 1998 to get the national recognition for their conservation members who have been working on the Federation’s support for a willing-seller work. Lafayette educator Linda Beyt went Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife acquisition to establish the Cat Island to Washington D.C. last month to receive Refuge near Monroe. A recent acquisition National Wildlife Refuge, I wasted no the 2000 National Wetlands Award in the of 2,190 acres of forest and farm land time in acknowledging our support, out- Education/Outreach category from the adjacent to Black Bayou Lake gives the lining a number of reasons why such Environmental Law Institute, U.S. refuge control over most of the shoreline. action was imperative. Last February con- Environmental Protection Agency, Additional acquisitions will be sought to servation leaders, Senators Breaux and Natural Resources Conservation Service, include land on the northeast corner of Landrieu, and media reps met at the great U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest cypress tree in the swamp on Cat Island to Executive Director: Continued on page 14 Service and National Marine Fisheries Page 12 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 Conservationists Recognized: Continued from page 5 extremely low hatching and hatchling survival Atchafalaya Basin Division in the ‘70s, once rate that is typical of box turtles combined to again came on the scene. Working within the wetlands, wildlife, and stewardship of the paint a bleak picture of their future in the Department of Natural Resources and with environment. Bayou State. Messinger and Patton’s own the enthusiastic support of DNR Secretary research published in the Herpetological Jack Caldwell, Thompson Decoteau revital- Martha Ann Messinger & George M. Review, in itself a remarkable achievement for ized the State’s Basin role by organizing the Patton – Governor’s Award – “amateur” scientists, corroborated the turtle’s Atchafalaya Basin Advisory Committee Conservationists of the Year vulnerability to unrestricted harvesting. (Committee) and working with it to develop Messinger and Patton began their cam- the Basin Conservation and Recreation Some wild things are taken for granted, paign to bring Louisiana’s box turtles under Master Plan. This was no small accomplish- or not thought about at all; especially those protection two years ago. They succeeded in ment considering that the Committee includ- that are small, and travel close to the ground. obtaining resolutions supporting box turtle ed representation from 8 state agencies and They lose their importance as we seem to out- preservation from the Reptile and Amphibian essentially any group or organization with an grow them, forgetting too quickly how they Task Force and the Louisiana Wildlife interest in the Basin that wanted to partici- once piqued our curiosity and enriched our Federation, and rallied support from across pate. Literally hundreds of individuals have young lives – forgetting, too, that they are an the country for the legislation they worked been involved in creating the plan, including integral part of our natural heritage and the with Senator Robert Barham to pass last year. those that commented at the 9 public hearings wild legacy we owe to the future. Act 81 of the 1999 Regular Session of the held around the state to solicit input before In 1989 Martha Ann Messinger and Louisiana Legislature prohibits the sale of any the final draft was issued. George M. Patton found a box turtle in the of the three native Louisiana box turtles, and Thompson Decoteau led the backyard of their Bastrop home. Curious restricts possession to 4 turtles per person Committee to consensus, resolving “hot but- about the creature, they searched for informa- without a special permit. Thanks to George ton” issues like water management and public tion and found very little. So they started to and Martha Ann, Louisiana box turtles will no access that have been major stumbling blocks record their own observations on reproduc- longer suffer the damage and trauma of ship- in the past. And her astute understanding of tion of the three-toed box turtle, one of 3 ping and relocation, and will likely be around government processes ensured the plan’s effec- species of box turtles native to Louisiana, the for the enjoyment and wonder of future gen- tiveness by incorporating details of how the other two being the gulf coast and ornate box erations. state will partner with the Federal government turtles. In addition to last year’s legislative initia- in implementing the Multipurpose Plan As their knowledge and interest grew, tive, Messinger and Patton rehabilitate injured authorized by Congress and of the funding they became more active turtle conservation- turtles and tortoises which they return to the requirements to implement the state plan over ists. In 1995 Messinger was designated by the wild once mended; they participate in the the next 15 years. Louisiana Wildlife Federation to represent it Louisiana Amphibian Monitoring Program to Once the state plan was in hand and on the state’s Reptile and Amphibian Task track the health of the state’s frog and toad approved, legislation authorizing its imple- Force. This advisory body was established in populations; and they present an educational mentation was introduced in the 1999 1992 by the Louisiana Legislature to assist the program on Louisiana’s native turtles to local Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in devel- school children. Fortified with 24 editorial endorsements urg- oping regulations to govern the collection, ing adoption of the legislation, and numerous handling and sale of native reptiles and Sandra Thompson Decoteau – Professional resolutions of support from organizations and amphibians which, even exclusive of the alli- Conservationist of the Year local governments, legislators voted unani- gator business, is a multi-million dollar mously for this landmark conservation mea- Louisiana industry. Since joining the task Efforts have been made toward preserv- sure. force, Messinger has taken courses in biology, ing the largest remaining river swamp in the But it wasn’t quite as easy as it sounds. ecology, environmental science, herpetology, nation, the Atchafalaya Basin (Basin) since Only with Thompson Decoteau’s persistence evolutionary biology and parasitology at the 1926. And for decades, conservation of the and inclusive approach that kept her presiding local university to allow her to better con- Basin has been a top priority of the Louisiana over planning meetings day after day, and tribute to the task force’s work. Wildlife Federation and numerous other orga- speaking engagements night after night, did The more Messinger and Patton learned nizations and agencies. It has been a long the effort succeed. And still there was the last about the life history and population status of haul. minute cajoling of a reluctant senator or two Louisiana box turtles, and their popularity in Hope was ignited in 1981 with the needed to get the bill through, deftly executed the international pet trade, the more alarmed Compromise Land Use and Management as only she can. they became. Louisiana had no restrictions on Plan for the Basin negotiated by Governor But there’s no time to rest. There’s much harvest and sale. And except for a relatively Treen, and the 1985/86 authorization by the more to do. And, fortunately for the recent requirement of licensing and reporting U. S. Congress of the Atchafalaya Basin Atchafalaya Basin and all of us who cherish it, on the number of turtles bought and sold by Multipurpose Plan. But the plan languished we have the right person to lead us to do it. Louisiana dealers, no regulations. There were as the essential state partnership and cost share indications that all 3 Louisiana box turtle failed to materialize, and bickering among Noel A. Thistlethwaite – Volunteer species were declining. Although due primari- Basin interests persisted. That all began to Conservationist of the Year ly to habitat loss, the late age of first repro- change early in Governor Foster’s duction along with low egg production and Administration when Sandra Thompson Conservationists Recognized: Continued on page 42 Decoteau, executive director of the State’s Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 13 Executive Director: Continued from page 12 of Engineers. Mike received a lot of he exited and got back on I-12 headed in awards for his work. The Federation is the right direction this time. With no sun proud to have acknowledged his efforts to navigate by on that overcast, day I reck- the lake. Development of the refuge head- with the Governor’s Award in 1982. My on he had an excuse. We miss you, Mike. quarters complex, including the education last outing with Mike was when he was Thanks for all you did for the LWF and center, arboretum, pavilion and a new doing a story on creek fishing, an endeav- conservation. boat launch are continuing. This national Another outdoor journalism great wildlife refuge, just a few miles from town, died this year. Bob the “Beachcomber” is a wonderful community asset with a Scearce preceded Mike Cook in death by growing conservation and recreation only a few weeks. The Beachcomber was a value. Baton Rouge celebrity with his weekly The Louisiana Wildlife Federation outdoor show on Channel 9, and a lost a good friend last April when outdoor Louisiana pioneer in outdoor broadcast- journalist Mike Cook died. Mike was the ing. He also penned a regular column for outdoor editor for the Baton Rouge State- the Baton Rouge paper and was recog- Times and later the Morning Advocate. nized by the Federation with our He retired in 1991 but remained active Conservation Communications Award. doing freelance and participating in the And lastly, while I’m remembering Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association Mike Cook receives the LWF’s Governor’s Award as Conservationist of the year in 1982. The award is outdoor folks, I note the death of Retha and the LWF, as well as accompanying presented by the late John D. Newsom representing Murry. Mrs. Murry was married to wife Betty on trips in their motor home Governor Dave Treen. wildlife ecologist Robert Murry who died and being a good Grandpa to his 10 grand in November 1998. Robert devoted his and 2 great grand kids. Aside from being or I dearly love. When you have a dead- life to understanding Nature and sharing the best company anyone could ever imag- line to meet, you can’t always choose the his remarkable knowledge with the rest of ine, with his tolerance, good humor and best time to go. We picked a Saturday to us. He served as a wildlife biologist and amusing habits, Mike was a helluva news- head out to the upper Tangipahoa to try ecologist for both state and federal natural paper man who pursued the conservation our luck, but as luck would have it, a resource management agencies for over 40 side of covering the outdoors. More than thundershower dropped a few inches of years and was active in the Louisiana any other reporter, Mike was the eyes and rain in the watershed the evening before Wildlife Federation for 20 of those. Mrs. ears of the public in the tough-going early and I knew the river would be high and days of the campaign to save the muddy, and useless to fish. I called Mike Atchafalaya Basin. In my view, he is large- to tell him it would be fruitless to go, but ly responsible for the outcome we are he said he’d pick me up in 20 minutes, and enjoying today, where almost everyone that it was “time to stop gripin’ and start with an interest in the Basin is working fishin’.” Well, we almost got his van stuck together to conserve it for the future – in the mud. He made me walk out in that including state government and the Corps raging, muddy torrent with a canoe tied to my belt loop, and with fishing rod in hand so at least he could get a photo for his story. Mike kept his feet dry and got a good laugh at my expense. I got wet and almost washed away as the current scoured the bottom out from under me. Fishing was out of the question, so we loaded up and checked out some other creek cross- ings in rural Washington Parish, all too muddy to fish. He taped our conversation as we drove and talked about what it would be like on a good day. Once back The “Old Beachcomber” Bob Scearce with the trusty on the interstate (I-55) heading south keystone camera he used to make film for his outdoor show on Channel 9. toward Hammond, and having exhausted my repertoire of creek fishing tips and sto- Murry, herself a professional registered ries, I dozed off. I woke sometime later nurse, supported Robert’s work with her and noticed that we were on Interstate 12, loving care and good cooking. I learned but as I read the highway signs I realized about eating field peas and mustard greens that we were heading east and were nearly at the Murrys’ table and am a much better Mike Cook receiving the Louisiana Outdoor Writers in Mississippi. I asked Mike where he was person for it. Condolences to the Murry Association Arthur Van Pelt Award for a lifetime of going and he said, “home to Baton family and thanks for sharing your folks conservation achievement. Julia McSherry presented the Rouge”. I suggested that he was taking the with us for all these years. award. long way, and had a good laugh on him as Page 14 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 CONSERVATION LINE

YES! 2000 Conservation Baton Rouge and New Orleans. but high schools will find it a useful com- Leadership Program To make purchases by phone or inter- ponent of environmental science curricu- net: 1-888-765-2602; www.wlf.state.la.us la. A teacher’s guide shows how the mate- The Louisiana Youth Environmental . rials can be used to satisfy Louisiana Summit! Will be held at Chicot State Park Department of Education Contact July 27-29. Sponsored by Cleco Grass Roots Coastal Restoration Standards and also provides supplemental Corporation and the Audubon Institute’s activities and useful resources. Science Louisiana Nature Center (LNC), Do you have an idea for saving the and visitors centers will find it to be a col- Louisiana YES! Brings students with a coast? Well, if you do, then the Coalition orful and informative addition to their strong interest in the environment togeth- to Restore Coastal Louisiana may have exhibits. The CD is a collaborative effort er with representatives from education, just the program for you. Supported by among the Coastal Wetlands Planning, business, government and environmental the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Protection and Restoration Act, the groups. Pew Charitable Trusts and Restore Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary “This free program allows partici- America’s Estuaries network CRCL has Program and the U. S. Geological Survey pants, including adult sponsors, to $90,000 to do community-based estuary National Wetlands Research Center. exchange ideas and concerns, build net- habitat restoration projects. The funds Copies can be obtained on-line at: works and learn how to develop and man- will be used to help implement the Coast www.lacoast.gov/FreeStuff/cajun. age a project,” said Cindy Bouchie, a 2050 plan. CRCL is looking for innova- Louisiana YES! Coordinator for Cleco. tive or time-sensitive projects that can Hunter Education Challenge “The ultimate goal is to inspire, educate make a real difference. For more infor- and motivate students from across the mation call 1-888-LA-COAST. The 2000 Youth Hunter Education state to develop a grass roots environmen- Challenge (YHEC), a co-educational state tal project to carry out in their home com- Wildlife Agents Make competition sponsored by the Louisiana munities.” Drug/Crab Trap Theft Case Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and “We really feel that students can the Louisiana Hunter Education make a substantial impact on Louisiana’s Louisiana Department of Wildlife Instructor Association, was held May 6-7 environmental future one project at a and Fisheries enforcement agents arrested at Camp Grant Walker in Pollock. It was time,” said Bob Marye, director of LNC. Jack J. Cuccia of New Orleans on May attended by 110 youngsters from seven Louisiana YES! activities will include 6th for possession of crack cocaine, mar- areas of Louisiana: Caddo/Bossier, hands-on workshops, field trips into local ijuana, drug paraphernalia, fishing crabs Desoto, Caldwell, Rapides, Greater New habitats, role playing and team- building without a commercial license and posses- Orleans, Terrebonne and Iberia. The games, exciting guest speakers and a sion of stolen property, among other competition included eight events: rifle, healthy dose of fun and recreation. charges. They were responding to a com- muzzleloader, shotgun, archery, wildlife Participants are also eligible to compete plaint by a local fisherman whose traps identification, hunter safety trail, orien- for start up grants for their environmental had been stolen and who later located teering and a 100-question written hunter projects. them in a canal off Lake Pontchartrain. responsibility exam. Participants compet- Interested students who will be in the LDWF enforcement agents set up surveil- ed in individual and team events in two 8th through 11th grades in the fall of lance and observed Cuccia checking the age groups: junior (ages 10-14) and senior 2000 and adult sponsors are encouraged traps. When confronted, Cuccia admitted (ages 15-18). Joey Billberry of to apply as soon as possible. More infor- stealing the traps. When searched after Alexandria, a member of the 1986 state mation and applications are available being arrested for theft and fishing with- championship team, returned to the event online at www.LouisianaYES or by calling out a license, agents discovered two pill this year as coach of the newly-formed LNC at 504/246-5672. bottles containing the crack cocaine and Rapides Parish Pioneers. marijuana. Cuccia was subsequently Bill Hock of the Caddo/Bossier Youth P-O-S Recreational booked into the Orleans Parish Prison. Hunter Education Club took top honors Gear Licenses Available as overall state senior champion. Hock Recreational gear eg., shrimp trawl, “Explore Coastal Louisiana” CD-ROM took first place in four events. Chet crab trap, slat trap, etc. licenses are now Carpenter of the DeSoto Youth Shooting available through the point-of-sale elec- A newly released CD-ROM provides Team took top honors as overall state tronic licensing system as well as by tele- a multimedia approach for teaching about junior champion. Carpenter placed first phone and internet. Payment may be environmental issues in coastal parishes, in three events. made by credit card, personal check, or “Explore Coastal Louisiana with The Caddo/Bossier team was the whatever form of payment is required by Boudreaux” takes a novel approach to overall senior champion team. The the vendor. Previously, recreational gear interactive learning using a series of Terrebonne Parish Junior Deputies took licenses were available only by mail or in Cajun-narrated lessons featuring maps, second place in the competition and the person at the offices of the Louisiana videos, music, quizzes and facts. The CD- Greater New Orleans Hunters Challenge Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in ROM is designed for the general public, Club placed third. The DeSoto team was

Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 15 CONSERVATION LINE the overall junior champion team. The Written for students 8 and older, the Baton Rouge, LA 70898, or call 225/274- Caddo/Bossier team won second place in booklet has 18 colorful illustrations and 5636. the competition and the Terrebonne an extensive glossary section. It is avail- Hands On Outdoor Training Parish team placed third. able for $4 per copy from the Wildlife (HOOT) Camp will have two more ses- Colt Bothel of Caddo/Bossier took Management Institute, 1101 14th Street, sions this summer. HOOT Camp is an second place in individual senior events N. W., Suite 801, Washington, D. C. excellent opportunity for children enter- and Josh Mora of Caddo/Bossier placed 20005. Discounts are available on bulk ing 6th, 7th and 8th grades who are inter- third. Nicolas “Bud” Rains of the DeSoto purchases. Call 202/371-1808 for details. ested in the outdoors and excel in science. team took second place in individual They will learn and explore under the junior events and Brandon Henry of LDWF Offers Camps For Kids instruction of professional science teach- Terrebonne Parish placed third. ers and LDWF wildlife educators. The “This program is not just about hunt- Trying to find wholesome, education- HOOT Camp curriculum was formulated ing and shooting,” explained Jonathan al and entertaining activities for the kids by LDWF staff in conjunction with sci- Glasscock, LDWF YHEC program coor- this summer? The Louisiana Department ence educators throughout Louisiana and dinator. “It’s about teaching youngsters of Wildlife and Fisheries is sponsoring links outdoor skills with science curricu- discipline, dedication, ethics, responsibili- several camps and a few slots are still lum standards established by the ty and safety. In a time of negative nation- available. Camps offered by LDWF in Louisiana Department of Education. al news about kids and guns, the YHEC conjunction with other organizations Each session of HOOT Camp will take program is a shining light to show that include Eco Camp, HOOT Camp and place at LDWF’s Woodworth Outdoor firearms, when used safely and responsi- Outdoor Skills Camp. Pre-registration is Education Center near Alexandria. bly, can be a great recreational activity required for all sessions. Parents are Campers will stay six days (Sunday that can be pursued for a lifetime.” encouraged to act quickly. through Friday). Each session is limited Winners of the state competition will Eco Camp is offered for the first time to 25 campers, so parents wishing to reg- go on to compete at the national level. in Baton Rouge this summer. The first ister their children are encouraged to do Young hunter education course graduates session was held June 26-30. The second so quickly. The cost of the camp is $125 from all across the country will convene in session will take place July 24-28, 7:30 per child. Science activities are taught by Mansfield, Pennsylvania July 24-28 for AM to 5 PM each day. Eco Camp is a certified science teachers and LDWF staff. the National Rifle Association’s 15th week-long science day camp designed to The dates for remaining HOOT camps Annual International Youth Hunter provide students aged 10 through 12 with are July 9-14 and July 16-21. Interested Education Challenge. awareness, appreciation and understand- parents should contact Judith Heintze at ing of basic environmental concepts. 225/765-2916 New EE Guide Released Students will use hands-on activities to ([email protected]). stimulate critical and creative thinking. The first annual Outdoor Skills The Wildlife Management Institute Activities focus primarily on biodiversity, Camps will have a second session July 10- has announced the release of Living With environmental quality and ecosystem 14, 7:30 AM-5 PM each day. Outdoor Nature and Wildlife: Doing Our Part, an components. Eco Camp also stresses the Skills Camp is a week-long hunter educa- illustrated, full-color, 54-page teaching need for students to develop as responsi- tion-based day camp designed and learning guide created to explain the ble stewards of the environment. Topics to provide instruction on important processes and basic principles of nature, include predator/prey relationships, habi- outdoor skills such as wildlife manage- wildlife ecology and natural resources tat components and limiting factors, envi- ment, firearms safety, survival, hunter management. This informative manual ronmental indicators and environmental ethics and responsibility, marksmanship substantially expands and updates its pre- ethics. and tree stand safety. Students will partic- decessor publication Helping Wildlife: The fee for one week-long session is ipate in aquatic education activities: fish Working With Nature, one of America’s $75, which covers all supplies and snacks. identification, baitcasting, tying fishing most widely used environmental educa- Students must bring a sack lunch. knots and fishing. In addition, instruction tion guides for the past 20 years. Activities are conducted on the grounds of in map and compass reading, campfire Authored by Delwin Benson, a professor the LDWF Waddill Outdoor Education building, knife sharpening, wildlife track and Extension Wildlife Specialist at Center at 4142 N. Flannery Road in identification and game tracking will be Colorado State University, Living With Baton Rouge. Instruction will be provid- provided. The Central Louisiana Chapter Nature and Wildlife covers basic concepts ed by LDWF education staff and certified of Safari Club International has donated of wildlife ecology and ecological relation- science teachers. The Louisiana Wildlife equipment that students will use during ships and includes definitions and expla- Federation is providing additional the camp. nations of energy flow, food chains, the resources for the camp. The camp is designed to be skill- mineral cycle, influences of weather, habi- Registration forms and additional building as well as fun and designed for tat, ecological succession, wildlife popula- information for Eco Camp are available ages 12 through 14. Students wishing to tion characteristics and dynamics, preda- from Stacey Davis, Louisiana Department attend should have a strong interest in the tion, and the role of the wildlife manager. of Wildlife and Fisheries, P.O. Box 98000, outdoors. Space is limited to 21 students

Page 16 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 CONSERVATION LINE per camp. Preregistration is required and rized by the Louisiana Legislature in all applicants must provide copies of their State Duck Stamp Competition 1988. The program was created to gener- birth certificates. The fee for one week- ate revenues for conservation and long session is $75, which will cover The Louisiana Department of enhancement of waterfowl populations equipment, supplies and snacks and must Wildlife and Fisheries has chosen the and their habitats in Louisiana. During accompany the application form. Northern Shoveler as the species to be the last 12 years, more than $5 million has Students must bring a sack lunch. represented on the 2001 Louisiana been generated for wetland conservation. Activities are conducted on the grounds of Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Approximately $2.8 million has been the LDWF Waddill Outdoor Education (Louisiana Duck Stamp). The Northern spent on land acquisition. Private lands Center in Baton Rouge. Registration Shoveler, also known as a “spoonbill” or have also benefitted through the forms and additional information are “smilin’ mallard” is a small duck, some- Louisiana Waterfowl Program, a coopera- available from Ricky Yeldell, Louisiana what larger than a teal. It is easily identi- tive endeavor between LDWF, Ducks Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, fied by its spoon-shaped bill. The male is Unlimited and the federal Natural P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898, strikingly colorful, with a green head and Resource Conservation Service. or call 225/765-2920. neck separated from a chestnut belly by a Registration forms and activity white chest and breast. The wings are Marksville M.D. descriptions for all of the camps can also similar to a blue-winged teal with a blue Ducks Unlimited President be found on the LDWF web site shoulder patch and a green and white (www.wlf.state.la.us) under “Education speculum. The female of the species is Dr. L. J. Mayeux of Marksville was Programs.” Parents are encouraged to reg- plainer with mottled brownish plumage, a elected president of Ducks Unlimited at ister now because of limited space. large bill and large pale blue wing patch- its 63rd annual convention last May. es. Mayeux, or “Dr. Duck” as his friends Personal Watercraft Entries will be accepted from Oct. 23 know him has been a particularly passion- until 4 p.m. on Oct. 27. To enter the ate advocate of conservation education Personal Watercraft (PWCs), also competition, an artist must submit an and DU’s Greenwing and adopt-a-class- called jet skis, are becoming increasingly original, unpublished work of art, along room programs during the twenty-plus popular. A recent report by the Izaak with a signed and notarized artist agree- years he has been associated with the orga- Walton League of America stated that ment and $50 entry fee. Entries should nization. During that time he has served there are 10 times as many PWCs now in be addressed to Dave Morrison, Louisiana as Louisiana State Chairman, Senior Vice the US than there were a decade ago. The Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Program, President for the South Mississippi report also accuses them of being big pol- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Flyway and First Vice President of Ducks luters. In 7 hours of use, a PWC produces Fisheries, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Unlimited. the same amount of hydrocarbon and Rouge, LA 70808, or P.O. Box 98000, nitrogen oxide emissions as a 1998 pas- Baton Rouge, La. 70898. senger car driven 100,000 miles. PWCs Judging for the art competition will Big Colewa Bayou WMA Reforested also leak an estimated 165 million gallons be based on the following criteria: (1) of unburned fuel into America’s water- accuracy of form, size, proportion, color Approximately 400 acres of aban- ways each year. The report also states that and posture; (2) level and accuracy of doned agricultural fields have been refor- in some lakes PWCs may produce 90% of detail in plumage, eyes, feet and bill; (3) ested to bottomland hardwoods on Big certain pollutants, even though they use appropriateness, accuracy and detail in Colewa Bayou Wildlife Management Area only 10% of the gasoline burned on the depiction of bird habitat; (4) attractive- Bearskin Unit, south of Goodwill. This is lake. ness and creativity in composition, sub- the last of six units on the WMA that have PWCs are powered by inefficient 2- ject, background and lighting; (5) suit- now been reforested for long-term wildlife stroke motors. While they are similar to ability for reproduction as stamps and habitat development in West Carroll 2-strokes used by fishermen, they cause prints. Parish. The tract was obtained in 1998 much more environmental damage than The winning design will be selected from the U.S. Department of Agriculture fishing boats, according to the report. by a panel of judges with experience in without cost to the Louisiana Department The U. S. Environmental Protection waterfowl biology and/or artistic method. of Wildlife and Fisheries. Agency issued new standards in 1996 to The judging will take place on Nov. 1, Reforestation is intensive work. regulate 2-stroke emissions. These new 2000, at LDWF headquarters in Baton Seeds must first be collected from existing standards require a 70% reduction in 2- Rouge. The competition is open to artists forested lands then brought to a hard- stroke emissions by the year 2006. PWC 18 years of age and older who live in or wood nursery. When the seedlings are manufacturers are relying on new technol- are native to Louisiana. Employees of ready for planting, they are picked up ogy, such as direct fuel injection systems, LDWF and members of their immediate from the nursery and transported to the to help them meet these standards by the families are ineligible. site. Approximately half of the sites deadline. – courtesy Jerald Horst, LSU The Louisiana Waterfowl scheduled for planting at any particular AgCenter/Sea Grant Program Conservation Stamp program was autho- time are suitable for planting machines, so

Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 17 CONSERVATION LINE planting must often be done by hand. An involved in this conservation campaign. do to help, contact Andy Buchsbaum at average of 363 to 436 seedlings are plant- It is soliciting individuals and organiza- NWF’s Great Lakes Natural Resource ed on each acre. tions to sign on to a list supporting the Center, 506 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor, Over 140,000 seedlings were planted dam removal action. To participate, call Michigan 48104. Phone: 734-769-3351; on the unit, half by contract and half by 202/546-8500, ext. 128 or visit www.tax- e-mail: [email protected]. LDWF Wildlife Division personnel. payer.net . Species planted include: cherrybark oak, Range Hours on Sherburne WMA willow oak, water oak, sweet pecan, red Conservation Educator mulberry, Nuttall oak, laurel oak, cedar Paul Jackson Retires The shooting range on Sherburne elm, American elm, sugarberry, Shumard Wildlife Management Area near Krotz oak, cow oak, mayhaw, red maple and a LDWF Wildlife Education Springs is open from Noon to 6 PM hybrid bur oak. Natural establishment on Supervisor, Paul Jackson of Sulphur has Wednesday through Friday and from 10 the site by sweetgum, sassafras, persim- announced that he will be retiring later AM to 6 PM on Saturday and Sunday. mon and other lighter seeded species will this year after 33 years of service. Jackson These hours of operation are somewhat make this a tremendously diverse forest as said that he has seen many changes in the different than last year. it grows, providing a unique forested department since 1967. He noted that habitat component in a parish dominated the number of department wildlife educa- Harvesting Frogs by an agricultural landscape. tors has grown from just a handful when Additionally, being adjacent to the Boeuf he started, and the diversity of the From a frog’s point of view, June 1 is River, this reforestation project may serve agency’s education programs has greatly a grim day in Louisiana. On this first day as an important stepping stone in the increased. Among Jackson’s numerous of frog season, dozens of commercial frog- restoration of a wooded corridor along the achievements during his tenure with gers and hundreds of recreational fisher- upper reaches of the river. LDWF are the development of such pro- man move into the swamps at dusk, The reforestation project on the unit grams as Aquatic Education, Wetshop, armed with headlamps and gigs. Their was planned and developed by the LDWF Upland Wetland Workshop, and the pop- quarry are bullfrogs and pig frogs (also Wildlife Division, with cooperative fund- ular “Let’s Go Fishing” activity book. He known as lagoon frogs or grunters), the ing of the project provided by the has also been active in the Louisiana only frogs in Louisiana whose hind legs Hardwood Forestry Fund, Exxon, U. S. Environmental Educators Association and are large enough for a good meal. Bull Fish and Wildlife Service, the Louisiana an organizer of the annual EE and pig frogs may be taken in Louisiana Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Symposium. He is a longtime member of every month except April and May. The Federation and the Louisiana Wildlife the Louisiana Wildlife Federation. brief closed season allows the frogs time to Federation. These funding sources are reproduce. There are no bag limits, but provided to the LDWF for its reestablish- Public Support Needed for bullfrogs must be five inches and pig frogs ment efforts of bottomland hardwood Action on Mercury Hazard must be at least three inches in body forests in the state. WMA regulations and length. Frogs can be taken by hand, with maps can be obtained through the LDWF Unbelievably, there is no federal regu- long-poled “grabbers”and with gigs and Monroe regional office at 318/343-4045 lation of hazardous mercury emissions spears. Recreational froggers need a fish- or by contacting Kenny Ribbeck at from coal-fired power plants, the single ing license and commercial froggers are 225/765-2942. greatest source of mercury pollution in required to possess a reptile/amphibian the environment. But that free ride may collector license, which is available from Take Action For Snake River soon come to an end, and the National the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Wildlife Federation is urging its members Fisheries for $25. Help is being sought from conserva- to help make sure it does. NWF is calling During the past several years, tionists throughout the nation to restore on people both to let the Environmental Louisiana’s frog populations, along with the flow in the legendary Snake River and Protection Agency and Congress know crawfish and farmers, have had to face the save its salmon from extinction. The they want the agency to impose controls drought. The drought means less area to solution is simple. Four old dams con- on those emissions. Congress has direct- reproduce, but also limits accessibility by structed on the river years ago to aid now- ed the agency to decide by December frog hunters into some areas of swamps outmoded barge transport must be modi- 2000 whether to take action regarding and marshes. One frog buyer reported fied (partially breached) to let the salmon mercury emissions from power plants. that he has not seen a decrease in the through on their spawning runs and Mercury emitted into the air falls to availability of frogs during the past four migration back to the sea. Because it earth with precipitation and builds up in years, but believes that the results of the would actually save taxpayers money by the food chain, threatening people and drought may be delayed.- courtesy LDWF curtailing navigation and modifying the wildlife. More than 40 states have issued dams, Taxpayers For Common Sense, a fish consumption advisories because of Volunteers Sought To Help national organization advocating cutting mercury contamination. To find out Communities Create Habitat Sites wasteful government spending, is more about this issue and what you can

Page 18 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 CONSERVATION LINE

Do you have a keen interest in the cleanup programs are required by a special hunting license. Courses are available free environment and a desire to help children section of the Clean Water Act called the of charge. Young people 10 years of age and adults create or restore wildlife habi- “Total Maximum Daily Load” (TMDL) and older who attend the course will tat? If so, you may be an ideal candidate provision. TMDLs are ceilings on pollu- become permanently certified. Those to become a Habitat Stewards™ volun- tion from all sources – including polluted younger than 10 will be certified for one teer. Sponsored by the National Wildlife runoff and contaminated rain – designed year and must repeat the course annually Federation’s Backyard Wildlife Habitat™ to restore polluted waterways. By law, until reaching that age. Certification program and Wild Birds Unlimited, the states must use TMDLs to set pollution requires a 10-hour minimum of instruc- Habitat Stewards program provides train- ceilings low enough to clean up each of tion; hunters must attend all classes with- ing around the country to equip volun- their impaired lakes and streams. in a scheduled course. teers with the tools and knowledge need- Unfortunately, the law has not been Course topics include safety, outdoor ed to help homeowners, schools, business- enforced. ethics, wildlife management, habitat pref- es and communities create and restore erences of game species and selecting, habitats that qualify for NWF certifica- DU Shotgunning Guide handling and maintaining firearms. tion. Students also participate in a supervised Spring and summer training work- Ducks Unlimited has published a firing exercise after learning firearms safe- shops are planned in Arkansas, Florida, shotgunning guide written especially for ty. Currently, courses are scheduled as Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, waterfowlers: “The Ducks Unlimited follows, by parish. Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Guide to Shotgunning”. It’s the first book Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, in a generation to offer practical wing- Allen Parish Vermont, Virginia and Washington. If shoooting advice specifically for duck and Preregistration required. Sept. 25-26 you are not near a training site, you can goose hunters. The guide covers every- (25th: 6-9:30p.m.; 26th: 8a.m.-2:30p.m.) register for an on-line workshop planned thing from the grand old fowling pieces of Reeves Bible Church: Glenn Ducharme for next summer. For details on training yesterday to today’s best guns and loads, 318/666-2434. dates and locations, as well as the on- line shotgun fir and function, ballistics Bossier Parish workshop, log onto NWF’s web site at chokes, and shooting techniques. In all Preregistration required. Aug. 3-5 www.nwf.org/habitats and click on there are 43 chapters of gunning advice (3rd, 4th: 6-9p.m.; 5th: 8a.m.-12noon); “Habitat Stewards” or call NWF at from the late Don Zutz, one of the most Aug. 17-19 (17th,18th: 6-9p.m.; 19th: 703/790-4361. prolific shotgunning writers of all time. 8a.m.-12noon); Sept. 7-9 (7th, 8th: 6- The 176-page hardcover book has 60 pho- 9p.m.; 9th: 8a.m.-12noon) Bossier Parish New Report Shows Too Many of tographs and is available from DU for VFW Hall, north gate of Barksdale AFB: America’s Waterways Are Still Polluted $24.50. 318/741-0219. East Baton Rouge Parish The National Wildlife Federation has Strickland Heads OGT Preregistration required. Aug. 11-12 released a new report that reveals the con- (11th: 6p.m.-9:30p.m.; 12th: 8a.m.- tamination of our waterways and the gov- Dr. Scott Strickland has been elected 4p.m.); Aug. 14-16 (6p.m.-9:30p.m.); ernment’s stalled efforts to clean them up. president of Louisiana Operation Game Aug. 18-19 (18th: 6p.m. 9:30p.m.; 19th: The report is a sequel to NWF’s ground- Thief, the state’s volunteer reward pro- 8a.m.-4p.m.); Aug. 21-23 (6p.m.- breaking 1997 study, “Pollution Paralysis. gram for tips leading to the arrest of vio- 9:30p.m.) Waddill Outdoor Education “Our research indicates that over lators of wildlife and fisheries laws. Center, 4142 N. Flannery Rd., Baton 20,000 lakes, streams and estuaries are Strickland has supported the program Rouge; 225/765-2932. still being polluted by runoff and contam- from its inception in 1983, and has served Jefferson Parish inated rain,” said Dr. Michael Murray, on its board for many of those years. The Preregistration required. July 22-23 NWF’s staff scientist and a co-author of West Monroe dentist is also one of the (22nd: 8a.m.-4p.m.; 23rd:8a.m.- the report. “It also reveals how slow and founders of the state Wild Turkey 12noon); Sept. 9-10 (9th: 8a.m.-4p.m.; inadequate state efforts have been thus far Federation chapter and is the senior mem- 10th: 8a.m.-12noon) Kenner Police in addressing that pollution. As a result, ber of the Rosedale Hunting Club located Training Center: Jerry Hibbs 504/456- more than 218 million Americans live on legendary Davis Island in the 1520; Sept. 16-17; Sept. 30-Oct. 1; Oct. within ten miles of a polluted lake, river Mississippi River. Report outdoor out- 14-15; Oct. 28-29: Sports Authority off or coastal water.” laws by calling OGT at 1-800 442-2511. Clearview Pkwy: 504/734-7272. The NWF report reviews and ranks Jefferson Davis Parish each state’s program to identify its L.D.W.F. Hunter Preregistration required. Aug. 8-10 impaired waterways and its plans to clean Education Course Schedule (6-9:30p.m.) Welch City Hall, Elm St.: them up. More than two-thirds of the Welsh Police Dept. 337/734-2626. state watershed programs received a poor Hunter safety certification is manda- Natchitoches Parish or failing grade in their cleanup efforts; tory for persons born on or after Sept. 1, Every other week. Natchitoches none was ranked “good.” State watershed 1969, who seek to purchase a Louisiana Shooting Range: Pop Hyams 318/356-

Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 19 CONSERVATION LINE Toll From Coal: Continued from page 39

an even greater dependence on coal and 9457 for dates and times. Bow Hunter Courses discouraged investment in energy effi- Point Coupee Parish ciency. The time is ripe for ending “the Preregistration required. Aug. 11-12 Allen Parish toll from coal,” and closing the legal (11th: 6-10p.m.; 12th: 7a.m. until fin- Preregistration required. Sept. 8-9 gaps that allow it to continue. ished) Sherburne WMA: John Sturgis (Fri. 6p.m.-9:30p.m./Sat. 8a.m.- To get a copy of “The Toll from 337/948 0300. 2:30p.m.) Reeves Bible Church, Reeves: Coal,” contact Patty Glick at (202) Red River Parish Glenn Ducharme 318/666-2434. 797-6898 or: [email protected] Preregistration required. Aug. 7-9 (6- Calcasieu Parish You can make a difference by send- 9:30p.m.) Coushatta: 318/932-5753 Preregistration required. July 14-15 ing the following messages to your St. Bernard Parish (14th: 6-9:30p.m./15th: 8a.m.-2:30p.m.); public officials: (1) close the loophole Aug. 8-11 (8-10th: 6-9p.m.; 11th: 5- July 28-29 (28th: 6-9:30p.m./29th: in the Clean Air Act that allows older, 8p.m.); Sept. 1-2 (1st: 6-10p.m.; 2nd: 8a.m.-2:30p.m.) Lake Charles Archery dirtier power plants to emit more than 8a.m.-5p.m.); Oct. 10-13 (10th-12th: 6- Range, Hwy. 397 & E. Prien Lake newer, more efficient plants; (2) tough- 9p.m.; 13th: 5p.m.-8p.m.); Jackson Rd.:337/491-2579. en restrictions on sulfur dioxide and Barracks, Bldg. 222; St. Bernard Sheriff’s Livingston Parish nitrogen oxides from all power plants; Office 504/271-2504. Preregistration required. July 17-19 (3) place meaningful caps on emissions St . John Parish (6p.m.-9:30p.m.) Livingston Parish of mercury and carbon dioxide from all Preregistration required. July 18-20, Sheriff’s Office/Rifle Range, Livingston: sources, including power plants; (4) 22 (5:30-9:30p.m.); Aug. 22-24, 26 Jackie 225/686-2241. promote research and development of (5:30-9:30p.m.); Sept. 19-21, 23 (5:30- Jefferson Parish energy efficiency and renewable energy 9:30p.m.); St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office Preregistration required. Aug. 26-27 resources; (5) make environmental pro- 504/652-7058. (Sat. 8a.m.-4p.m./Sun. 8a.m.- noon) tection part of electric utility restruc- St. Martin Parish Kenner Police Training Center, Kenner: turing. Preregistration required. Aug. 19-20 Jerry Hibbs 504/456-1520. You can also help reduce the “toll (8a.m. until); Sept. 2-3 (8a.m. until); Pointe Coupee Parish from coal” by taking certain actions in Sept. 23-24 (8a.m. until); Oct. 21-22 Preregistration required. Sept. 8-9 your home or community: (1) replace (8a.m. until); Nov. 18-19 (8a.m. until) (6p.m.-10p.m.) Sherburne WMA: Frank frequently used light bulbs in your Henderson City Park: St. Martin Parish Jarreau 225/627-5027 home with energy-efficient, compact Sheriff’s Office 337/332-2131. fluorescent bulbs; (2) when purchasing Terrebonne Parish Dolphin/Wahoo Plan: Hearings a major appliance, office equipment, July 15-16 (8a.m.-4p.m.) Sheriff’s Scheduled heating or cooling equipment or even a Rifle Range, Savanne Rd., Houma: James new home, buy the most energy-effi- “Jellie” Brown504/876-2500 ext. 260; The Gulf of Mexico Fisheries cient options you can find; (3) ask your July 24-25, 27 (5p.m.-9p.m.) Top Gun Management Council will hold public electric company if it offers a “green Shooters: Jonathan LeBlanc: 504/594- hearings on a “Draft Fishery Management energy” package: for example, one that 7142 (35 slots); Aug. 5-6 (8a.m.-4p.m.) Plan” for wahoo and dolphin in the provides a significant portion of its Sheriff’s Rifle Range, Savanne Rd., Atlantic, Carribbean and Gulf of Mexico. electricity from a clean, renewable Houma: James ‘Jellie”” Brown 504/875- The plan includes measures to: define the energy source such as wind, solar, or 2500 ext. 260; Aug. 19-20 (8a.m.-9p.m.) management units; address permitting for biomass; (4) speak up! American Legion Hall, Chauvin; Aug. 26- vessels, dealers and operators; consider While the above-mentioned 27 (8a.m.-4p.m.); Sept. 16-17 (8a.m.- data reporting requirements; identify esti- actions will certainly help, moving this 4p.m.) Sheriff’s Rifle Range, Savanne Rd., mates of maxim sustainable yield, opti- country (and the world) to a clean, sus- Houma: James “Jellie” Brown 504/876- mum yields, and overfishing/overfished tainable energy future will also take 2500 ext. 260; Sept. 23-24 (8a.m.-3p.m.) criteria; and framework options to enable strong policy action. NWF research American Legion Hall, Chauvin; Oct. 10- seasonal adjustments to the management shows that the following North 12 (6p.m.-9p.m.); Oct. 14-15 (8a.m.- structure. Other potential management American species are most threatened 4p.m.) Sheriff’s Rifle Range, Savanne Rd., measures may include minimum size lim- by power plant pollution: common Houma: James “Jellie” Brown 504/876- its, bag limits, trip limits, and allocations, loon; brook trout; Florida panther; 2500 ext. 260; Oct. 23-24,26 (5p.m.- among others. Nine hearings are sched- Kirtland’s warbler; smallmouth black- 9p.m.); Nov. 11-12 (8a.m.-4p.m.); Feb. uled Gulf-wide. In Louisiana the hearing bass; American black duck; sugar 10-11 Top Gun Shooters: Jonathan will be held on Monday, August 7, 2000, maple; river otter; Jefferson salaman- LeBlanc 504/594 7142. at the New orleans Airport Hilton in der. Webster Parish Kenner, from 7:00 to 10:00 PM. Final Preregistration required for all classes. action by the Council is expected in July 22-23 (4p.m.-9p.m.) Lake Bisteneau September and written public coment on State Park, Doyline: 318/745-3503. the plan will be accepted until that time.

Page 20 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 61st Convention: Continued from page 6 mance as master of ceremonies. The con- Coleman Company vention was covered by writers Chris Berzas Imperial Schrade Corporation with the Daily World in Opelousas and Outland Sports/Feather Flex was reelected to represent LWF to the Aaron Kuriloff with the New Orleans Times- Bushnell National Wildlife Federation, district 6 at- Picayune. The participation of these profes- Joe L. Herring large director Bobby Fulmer of New Roads sional journalists was very welcome and Top Brass Tackle was reelected to the executive committee and much appreciated. Wright & McGill Company/Eagle Claw district 3 at-large director Jay Huner of The convention was supported by many Plano Molding Company Lafayette was elected to the executive com- individuals, organizations and businesses Luhr Jensen & Sons, Inc. mittee. Along with immediate past president with contributions of cash or merchandise. Bill Lewis Lures Kathy Wascom of Baton Rouge, these 8 lead- Special thanks go to the following for their Estwing Manufacturing Company ers constitute LWF’s executive committee generosity. National Wildlife Federation until the next convention. District caucuses Faulk’s Game Call Company, Inc. selected Jimmy Greene of Kenner with the Nature House, Inc. Clio Sportsmen’s League – District 1 V.P., Clio Sportsman’s League Clinton Mouser of Metairie with the Greenheads Rapides Wildlife Association Wells Lamont Jefferson Rod and Gun Club – District 2 Avoyelles Wildlife Federation D. O. A. Lures V.P., Chuck Seiber of St. Martinville with the Ron and Jackie Bartels Kwikee Kwiver Company, Inc. Iberia Rod and Gun Club – District 3 V. P., W. B. McCartney, Jr./Justiss Oil Yakima Bait Company at-large director Martha Ann Messinger of Company Bass Pro Shops Bastrop – District 5 V. P., Francis Gautreaux Ken and Cindy Dancak Mann’s Bait Company of Gonzales with the East Ascension Red River Waterway Commission Gator Grip, Inc. Sportsmen’s League – District 6 V. P., Don Wild Birds, Unlimited (Lafayette) Clark of Lake Charles with the Calcasieu Baker Manufacturing Company Rod and Gun Club – District 7 V. P., at-large Black Bass James R. Baker, Sr. Southern Eagle Sales & Service director Ray Gibson of Dry Prong – District Jimmy Marsh Cajun Injector, Inc. 8 V. P., Larry Kelly of Anacoco with the Dr. & Mrs. James T. Pate TaylorTec South Toledo Bend Civic Association – Hon W. Joe McPherson Creme Lure Company District 9 V. P. William B. Owens Nutrena Feed Mill (Lecompte) After the last convention conservation Tunica-Biloxi Tribe/Grand Casino Hummingbird, Inc. committee adjourned, Paul Davidson, Avoyelles H & R, Inc. Executive Director of the Black Bear Marc Dupuy, Jr. Acadiana Sportsmen’s League Conservation Committee, presented a gener- James L. Durham George Barisich al session talk on the proposed reintroduc- George Johnson Nursery - Forest Hill Bill Herke tion or “repatriation” of black bears to the Elmer V. Moore Smitty Smith Red River/ Three Rivers Complex in the F. Jean Pharis DeLorme Mapping Avoyelles/Concordia Parishes Area. Later Paul Stewart Innovative Chemicals, Inc. that evening, the Federation honored six Caroline G. Theus Mike Davis individuals, two organizations and a corpora- Myron Wellan DeSantis Holster and Leather Goods Co. tion for outstanding conservation achieve- Bruce Foods Corporation ment in 1999. The winners and their achievements are covered elsewhere in this Whitetails Sara L. Simmonds issue. Several other recognitions were also Patrick C. Moore/Landscape Architects RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE made at the banquet. Attorney, landowner Alexandria Neurosurgical Clinic DELEGATES TO THE 61ST ANNUAL and conservationist Marc Dupuy, Jr. of Hugh A. “Butch” Bateman MEETING OF THE LOUISIANA Marksville received the Arthur Van Pelt Jack T. Cappel, Jr. M.D. WILDLIFE FEDERATION IN Award for a lifetime of conservation achieve- Ken Carstens CONVENTION ASSEMBLED, ment from the Louisiana Outdoor Writer’s Hon. William E. Hinton MARCH 10-12, 2000 IN Association, and later in the evening, outgo- Joe Beck Payne ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA ing LWF President Kathy Wascom awarded Jeffery Seiler her “President’s Cup” to Edgar F. Veillon for his hard work on behalf of the Louisiana SUBJECT: TEMPORARY Wildlife Federation during the year. She also Sac au Lait Randy P. Lanctot ISSUANCE OF FEDERAL DUCK recognized “retiring” district 5 at-large direc- Mamie Thomas STAMP PRIVILEGES tor M. Brents Witty of West Monroe with a Paul Descant small gift for his 16 consecutive years of ser- vice to the Federation in that capacity. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• WHEREAS, several states including Once again, outdoor broadcaster and Cabelas, Inc. Louisiana have implemented or are in the media personality Don Dubuc treated ban- API Outdoors process of implementing automated hunting quet guests with another outstanding perfor- Jon Barry/Buras Pointe and fishing license issuance systems to elec- Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 21 vantages of implementing quality manage- ment rules and report its findings to the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission prior to final adoption of the rules for the upcoming deer season.

SUBJECT: BEAVER CONTROL

WHEREAS, there is an overabundance of beavers in Louisiana and they are rapidly destroying timber, and WHEREAS, prices on beaver pelts are not enough of an incentive for Louisiana trappers to adequately control the beaver population and curtail the damage they are causing, and WHEREAS, incentives for beaver con- trol are needed. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED The winners of the conservation awards for outstanding achievement in 1999. that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges that incentives be made available to aid in tronically issue every other sports license, ernment. controlling the state’s beaver population. stamp, or privilege, except the federal migra- tory bird stamp, and SUBJECT: QUALITY SUBJECT: COYOTE CONTROL WHEREAS, legislation has been draft- DEER MANAGEMENT ed for introduction in the U. S. Congress WHEREAS, there is an overpopulation which would provide each state the option of WHEREAS, throughout Louisiana the of coyotes in parts of Louisiana that is hurt- devising its own systems to issue, recognize deer population is stable or increasing and ing wild game populations, and and account for a temporary electronic fed- the species is in no danger of being depleted, WHEREAS, current methods of con- eral duck stamp privilege, and and trolling coyotes are ineffective. WHEREAS, this proposed legislation WHEREAS, other states as well as THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED provides permissive authority for a state to hunting clubs in Louisiana have implement- that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges issue temporary federal duck stamp privi- ed quality management rules to help that other means be made available to aid in leges in the same manner as other hunting improve the quality of the dear harvested. the control of the coyote population. and fishing licenses by issuance of a tempo- THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED rary confirmation number effective until the that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges SUBJECT: WILDERNESS DESIGNA- actual paper federal duck stamp is received in the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and TION FOR COASTAL PLAIN OF THE the mail by the licensee, and Fisheries to study the advantages and disad- ARCTIC NATIONAL WHEREAS, implementing such a sys- WILDLIFE REFUGE tem will provide the public with the conve- nience of “total one stop shopping” whereby they can purchase all their licences and stamps at one place, including federal duck stamp privileges, and WHEREAS, the proposed legislation imposes no obligation or mandate on any state to issue temporary federal duck privi- leges, but instead grants them permissive authority to do so. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges and requests the Louisiana Congressional Delegation and Governor Foster to support legislation in the U.S. Congress to amend the Federal Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U. S. C. A. 715, et seq.) to authorize the states to devise their own systems to issue temporary federal duck stamp privileges that will be recognized as valid by the federal gov- The Tensas River Refuge Association Instructors Corps, named Conservation Educators of the Year at the awards banquet

Page 22 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 and the General Accounting office have WHEREAS, the harvest of many Gulf issued independent reports which considered of Mexico commercial and sport fish species both geologic and economic factors, all of must be regulated in order to maintain or which indicate that there is a greater than rebuild their populations, and 50% chance that no economically recover- WHEREAS, the Gulf of Mexico able quantities of oil exist under the coastal Fishery Management Council and the plain of the ANWR, and National Marine Fisheries Service have WHEREAS, any intrusive human pres- established regulations governing the harvest ence such as that accompanying mineral of various species to accomplish this purpose, exploration and development would devas- and Red River Waterway Commission member Alvin Owens addresses the LWF Board and guests with a presentation tate the delicate ecological balance of the WHEREAS, many regulated species on the Red River Waterway and its many recreational coastal plain, and closely resemble other species that may, or opportunities. WHEREAS, the ANWR belongs to all may not, be regulated, for example greater the people of the United States, and and lesser amberjack, and members of the WHEREAS, the Louisiana Wildlife WHEREAS, only wilderness designa- snapper group, and Federation supports the conservation of tion will permanently protect the coastal WHEREAS, the regulations cannot be wildlife and its habitat, and plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. effective unless anglers and commercial har- WHEREAS, the Arctic National THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED vesters can properly identify the species so Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in the state of that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges regulated. Alaska contains the greatest variety of plant Congress to enact the Morris K. Udall THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED and animal life of any conservation area in Wilderness Bill (H. R. 1239) in the House of that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation the circumpolar north, and WHEREAS, the coastal plain of the ANWR is its biological “heart” and the cen- ter of its wildlife activity, and WHEREAS, more than 180 bird species gather on the coastal plain of the refuge for breeding, nesting, and migratory stopovers during the summer season, and WHEREAS, the coastal plain of the ANWR is the calving ground to the vast Porcupine Caribou Herd which migrates annually to this ecologically strategic loca- tion, and WHEREAS, the lives and culture of an indigenous people, the Gwich’en, have been dependent on the caribou herd for over 20,000 years, and WHEREAS, the coastal plain of the ANWR is the most important onshore den- ning area for the Beaufort Sea polar bear population, and LDWF undesecretary Jim Patton and Wildilfe Division administrator Tommy Prickett explain features of the agency’s fee WHEREAS, musk oxen have been suc- bill at the Conservation Policy, Laws and Enforcement Committee. cessfully reintroduced and a herd of approxi- mately 350 of these magnificent animals now live year-round on the coastal plain of Representatives, along with the companion requests the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries the ANWR, and Senate bill, the Arctic National Wildlife Management Council and/or the National WHEREAS, the coastal plain of the Refuge Wilderness Act (S. 867) which will Marine Fisheries Service to produce and ANWR represents only 5% of the entire designate the last 5% of the Arctic coastal make readily available an illustrated fish coastal plain and is the last 5% of the coastal plain as WILDERNESS, making it part of identification guide for all regulated Gulf of plain not yet open to oil and gas exploration the National Wilderness Preservation Mexico fish species (and any similar species and drilling; oil and gas exploration already System. with which they could be confused) that can is permitted on 95% of the Arctic Coastal BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that be easily understood by persons who are not Plain, and the LWF urges and requests members of scientists WHEREAS, the coastal plain of the Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation to co- ANWR was set aside for study (1002 Area) sponsor and support H. R. 1239 and S. 867. SUBJECT: STANDARDIZING THE when the refuge was established, and CREEL LIMITS FOR CRAPPIE ON WHEREAS, the Bureau of Land SUBJECT: MARINE FISH TOLEDO BEND LAKE Management, the U. S. Geological Survey IDENTIFICATION AID WHEREAS, Louisiana’s current creel Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 23 limit for crappie on Toledo Bend Lake is 50 December through February on the Texas largest bass fishing tournament of its kind per day, and side of the lake. held annually in the United States, and WHEREAS, crappie caught on Toledo THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, WHEREAS, the recreational fishing, Bend during the cooler months (December that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges tourist and retirement community through February) are usually taken from the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries economies that support the schools and gov- deeper depths, resulting in stress and a high Commission to adopt the same creel limit ernment services of Sabine and other parish- mortality rate for released fish, and for crappie for Toledo Bend Lake that is cur- es and counties bordering the reservoir are WHEREAS, small crappie that are rently in effect on Lake waters under the dependent on its continued productivity and thrown back are often eaten by the pelicans jurisdiction of Texas, i. e., a 50-crappie creel the quality of its shore environment to sus- and other wildlife and fish, and with a 10-inch length limit for the months of tain them, and WHEREAS, many crappie anglers keep March through November and a 50-crappie WHEREAS, the reservoir’s water level only the larger fish to count against the limit, creel and no culling of crappie of any size fluctuations and their timing can have a pro- and allowed during the months of December found effect on the fish production of the WHEREAS, the Texas Toledo Bend through February. reservoir as well as access to its waters and can adversely impact the shoreowners and recreation/tourism economy, and WHEREAS, in order to provide part of the financing for the dam and reservoir, the Texas and Louisiana Sabine River Authorities entered into a Power Sales Agreement with GSU, LP&L and CLECO (Power Companies) to provide them the entire out- put of the reservoir’s hydroelectric plant through the year 2018 with requirements to generate, based on availability of water, at least 65,700,000 KWHs during the May- Sept. period each year, and WHEREAS, since the reservoir was built in the late 1960s, much has changed in regard to the economies, industries and uses dependent on it, and WHEREAS, recently, as many as 9,000 individuals signed petitions requesting that a minimum lake level of 168’ mean sea level (msl) be established, below which power can Ken Dancak (R) counts the committee vote on the fee bill resolution. be produced only (1) to maintain the mini- mum required downriver flow, (2) to prevent Lake creel limit for crappie is a total of 50 per an imminent brownout and (3) when day with no culling allowed during the peri- SUBJECT: LIMITATION ON DRAW- ordered by the Federal Energy Regulatory od of December 1 through the last day of DOWN OF TOLEDO BEND RESER- Commission (FERC) to inspect/repair the February, and VOIR FOR POWER GENERATION dam, and WHEREAS, the Texas Toledo Bend WHEREAS, the Toledo Bend Joint Lake crappie creel limit during the balance of WHEREAS, the purposes of Toledo Operations Board, in response to growing the year, March 1 through November 30 Bend Reservoir are hydroelectric generation, local concern over low water levels, commis- when crappie fishing is usually done in shal- water conservation and improvement to nav- sioned Brown and Root Corporation to eval- lower depths, is a total of 50 with a mini- igation and recreation as stated in the feasi- uate the feasibility of changes to the mum size of 10 inches, and bility study of the development of Toledo Operating Guide to achieve reservoir water WHEREAS, both Louisiana and Texas Bend Dam and Reservoir conducted by levels that would be beneficial to fish pro- fishing licenses are recognized on Toledo Forrest and Cotton Engineers in 1958, and duction and lake access, and Bend Lake, and WHEREAS, soon after the dam was WHEREAS, the Brown and Root study WHEREAS, Louisiana anglers travel- built and the reservoir filled, Toledo Bend identified a reservoir operation option that ing/fishing on Toledo Bend Lake waters became a renown freshwater fishery and would better accommodate recreation, fish under Texas jurisdiction are subject to com- recreation lake, attracting anglers and retirees spawn, hunting, navigation and routine plying with Texas regulations and therefore from throughout the state, region and power generation that could better meet the can be ticketed for acts which are violations nation, to fish its waters and build homes overall purposes of Toledo Bend Reservoir, of Texas rules but not illegal on waters under and recreational retreats on its shores, and and Louisiana jurisdiction, eg., possession of WHEREAS, Toledo Bend Reservoir has WHEREAS, the Louisiana Attorney crappie under 10 inches in length during the hosted thousands of fishing tournaments General issued an opinion indicating that the months of March through November, or including, for the past 30 years, the reservoir operating guide can be changed to culling crappie during the months of Louisiana Top-Six Bass Tournament, the better accommodate purposes of the reser- Page 24 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 voir in addition to power generation, even al anglers to practice “catch and release” for access fishing privileges, and during the peak demand summer period. all billfish species and supports restrictions WHEREAS, it is reasonable to expect THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED on longlining activity necessary to protect that those waters traditionally used by the that, to enhance and sustain the outstanding populations of billfish, sea turtles, marine public upon which access is planned to be natural resources and related recreational mammals, sea birds and other species that are denied by the claimed owner or lessee be des- opportunities provided by Toledo Bend adversely affected by longlining activity in ignated and noticed by the claimed owner or Reservoir, the the Louisiana Wildlife Federation supports and urges establishment of a minimum reservoir level of 168’ msl below which lake waters will not be allowed to pass through the power station at the dam except (1) to prevent a brownout/blackout, (2) to maintain the required minimum flow in the Sabine River below the dam, (3) to comply with an order from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to lower the reservoir water level for dam inspection or repair. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the LWF urges the stakeholder power com- panies to work with the Toledo Bend Lake community in addressing its concerns and act in the long term best interest of the Toledo Bend region by adopting a new power agreement with affordable terms.

SUBJECT: REGULATION OF LONGLINING IN THE District V. P.s (L-R) Chuck Seiber, 3; Clinton Mouser, 2; Jimmy Greene, 1; Keith Saucier, president, Francis Gautreaux, 6; Ray Gibson, 8; Martha Ann Messinger, 5; Larry Kelly, 9. GULF OF MEXICO the Gulf of Mexico. lessee prior to gating or otherwise blocking WHEREAS, last May, the National BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that access in order to inform the public that Marine Fisheries Service, in issuing its ruling the LWF supports the development of an these areas may no longer be available to fish to implement the Fishery Management Plan effective Gulfwide strategy for regulating or navigate. for Highly Migratory Species fell short of longline activities that is science-based with THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED addressing longlining activity, and minimal impact on user groups. that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges WHEREAS, the study used by the that the state Coastal Zone Management National Marine Fisheries service in making SUBJECT: PUBLIC NOTICE PRIOR Program and the Public Land Administrator its ruling indicates that 85% of all blue mar- TO BARRICADING with the state Attorney General’s Office be lin, 95% of all white marlin, and 98% of all COASTAL WATERWAYS authorized and directed to require that all sailfish mortality reported is due to the gates and barricades that may possibly block effects of longlining activity (bycatch), and WHEREAS, it is the public’s under- commerce, trade and transportation to WHEREAS, species of both families of standing that it has the right of access on the waters previously used by the public to navi- billfish, Istiophoridae and Xiphidae, require state’s natural, navigable waterways including gate or fish be noticed through the coastal many years to become sexually mature and lakes, rivers and streams that were capable of use permit process or by some other appro- their reproductive rates cannot sustain their supporting navigation for commercial pur- priate and economical means so that the populations under the aforementioned pres- poses when Louisiana became a state in users of Louisiana’s waterways can be sure of longline bycatch mortality, and 1812, including all such bays and bayous informed of what to expect when they take WHEREAS, longlining activity has also along the coast that are subject to the ebb to our state’s coastal waters. been shown to adversely effect sea turtles, and flow of the tide, and marine mammals, and sea birds due to the WHEREAS, there have been numerous SUBJECT: RED SNAPPER indiscriminate nature of this fishing method, recent incidences where fishermen and HARVEST MANAGEMENT and anglers have been restricted, or attempts have WHEREAS, the National Marine been made to restrict them, from navigating WHEREAS, the red snapper is a prized Fisheries Service is seeking to close longlin- and/or fishing on waters that have tradition- “table” fish pursued by both recreational and ing in the western half of the Gulf of Mexico, ally been available for public use by persons commercial fishers, and from 90 degrees longitude westward from claiming that the subject waters were private- WHEREAS, red snapper is “overfished” March 1st to September 30th of each year. ly owned, and in the Gulf of Mexico according to some THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED WHEREAS, this trend is likely to con- professional fisheries managers and fish that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, in the tinue as more citizens engage in fishing and researchers, including scientists with the interest of conservation, urges all recreation- boating and demand arises for controlled- National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 25 the federal agency responsible for adminis- WHEREAS, fishing in Lake tering marine fish conservation programs, Pontchartrain has improved in response to SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR ADMINIS- and improving water quality, and TRATION AND LEGISLATIVE SUP- WHEREAS, the Magnuson-Stevens WHEREAS, Lake Pontchartrain has lit- PORT TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS Fishery Conservation Act requires imple- tle bottom structure, natural or otherwise, CAUSED BY WATER HYACINTH, mentation of plans and regulations necessary and therefore limited marine habitat, causing HYDRILLA, SALVINIA AND OTHER to recover “overfished” species within a 10- anglers to target the few structures, railroad NOXIOUS AQUATIC PLANT SPECIES year period, and and highway pilings, etc. that are available, IN PUBLIC WATER BODIES WHEREAS, in an effort to recover red and THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA snapper populations in the Gulf of Mexico, WHEREAS, habitat for marine organ- quotas have been placed on commercial and isms could be greatly improved if more WHEREAS, L. R. S. 56:328 prohibits recreational harvest along with other restric- underwater structure was strategically placed the importation of certain aquatic plants into tions such as minimum length and daily in the lake, thus increasing the abundance of the jurisdiction of the State of Louisiana, and creel (recreational) limits, and marine organisms and improving fishing WHEREAS, water hyacinth, hydrilla WHEREAS, according to calculations opportunities. and salvinia, three invasive exotic aquatic by NMFS, both recreational and commercial THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED plant species, are already present in many red snapper quotas have been exceeded prior that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges public waterways of the state, and to the end of the calendar year in past years the Jefferson Parish Marine Advisory Board, WHEREAS, the rapid and continuous making it necessary to set fishing seasons for the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation spread of these noxious aquatic plant species red snapper so the harvest doesn’t exceed the and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife has significantly restricted boating and fish- quota, and and Fisheries/state artificial reef program to ing access, contributed to the decline of WHEREAS, this has caused the loss of create new, and enhance existing, natural and native aquatic plant diversity, reduced valu- red snapper fishing during the winter artificial reefs in Lake Pontchartrain that able fish, furbearer and waterfowl habitat, months for recreational anglers, and would aid in the recovery of aquatic/marine negatively impacted drainage and flood con- WHEREAS, in an effort to further reg- species and increase the opportunities for trol capabilities, and interfered with com- ulate the harvest of red snapper in favor of recreational fishing in the Lake. mercial navigation, and maintaining a viable commercial and char- WHEREAS, if left uncontrolled, the terboat industry, consideration is being given SUBJECT: HOOPNET continuing proliferation of these noxious to implementing an individual quota system USE BY SENIORS exotic aquatic species will ultimately result in of allocating the fish within the quota, and widespread loss of access to waterbodies for WHEREAS, if a sufficient amount of WHEREAS, Act 437 of the 1999 multiple and diverse user groups, and the quota is not reserved for harvest by indi- Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department vidual recreational snapper anglers, it will repealed the recreational hoopnet license of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is charged further impact the fishing opportunity of thereby requiring anyone but a disabled per- with the responsibility for aquatic plant con- this segment of resource users that has son to have a commercial fishing license in trol in public waterbodies statewide, and already lost the winter months for catching order to fish one or more hoopnets, and WHEREAS, LDWF is not funded suf- red snapper. WHEREAS, hoopnets are efficient fish- ficiently to implement control activities that THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED catching devices that have traditionally been are adequately effective against water that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges used on a noncommercial basis by persons hyacinth, hydrilla, salvinia and other prob- the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management with low or fixed incomes to help feed their lem aquatic plant species. Council and the National Marine Fisheries families, and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED Service to fairly represent the individual red WHEREAS, commercial hoopnet fees that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges snapper angler in its allocation decisions and are too expensive for noncommercial use of and requests the Governor and Legislature of to ensure that this segment of snapper har- hoopnets, and the State of Louisiana to fund the vesters receive a fair allocation should an WHEREAS, Act 437 was passed with Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ individual quota system be implemented for little consideration given to the impact it expanded program budget request necessary red snapper. would have on noncommercial, subsistence to adequately address the problems presented hoopnet users. by invasive and noxious exotic aquatic plant SUBJECT: ARTIFICIAL REEFS IN THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED species in the state. LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges that senior citizens that have a basic recre- SUBJECT: COLLECTING FISHERY WHEREAS, Lake Pontchartrain is ational fishing license be allowed to use up to DEPENDENT INFORMATION Louisiana’s largest brackish water lake, locat- two freshwater hoopnets to take nongame ed near 2 major metropolitan areas and pro- fish for home consumption, in compliance WHEREAS, Louisiana’s fisheries are viding many hours of outdoor recreational with any existing limitations on length and both socially and economically important to activities for many people, and bag for such nongame fish, or that seniors be the State and its people, and the Nation, and WHEREAS, Lake Pontchartrain’s water given a discount on the commercial hoopnet WHEREAS, it is essential that quality continues to improve since shell- fee to use hoopnets to catch nongame fish for Louisiana’s fisheries be managed using the dredging and sewage discharge into the lake noncommercial, home-consumption pur- best available scientific data, and have been curtailed, and poses. WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department Page 26 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has imple- as a suitable site to try to repatriate bears, and WHEREAS, the game species’ popula- mented a Trip Ticket Program to gather WHEREAS, the Three Rivers/ Red tions on Kisatchie National Forest are below more comprehensive and accurate commer- River Complex contains over 100,000 acres carrying capacity, and cial fisheries statistics, and of public land, tens of thousands of acres of WHEREAS, prohibiting the running of WHEREAS, LDWF is conducting sev- privately owned forest land, and is consid- deer, fox, coyote and hog dogs during Spring eral recreational SURVEYS designed to gath- ered a conservation priority area for Wetland and Summer might increase the populations er information from recreational fishers, Reserve Program and Conservation Reserve of game species available on KNF for hunters including the Marine Recreational Fishing Program enrollments, and and other outdoor enthusiasts, and Survey, the Davis Pond Creel Survey and, in WHEREAS, local landowners are being WHEREAS, KNF would still remain cooperation with the National Marine contacted to provide input into the repatria- the only public hunting area in Louisiana Fisheries Service, a charterboat and headboat tion effort and a comprehensive outreach which allows the running of deer, fox, coyote survey to provide more comprehensive and effort has already been initiated, and and hog dogs during Fall and Winter. accurate recreational fisheries statistics. WHEREAS, there seems to be broad THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED support for this attempt to speed up the that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation con- recovery process for the Louisiana black bear. the Kisatchie National Forest to prohibit the tinues to support the Louisiana Department THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED running of dogs from March 1st through of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Trip Ticket that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation sup- September 30th each year. Program for commercial fisheries (excluding ports the cooperative effort to enhance the the price per pound, name and owner of ves- recovery of the Louisiana black bear by repa- SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF sel) and its recreational fishing SURVEYS, triating bears to the Three Rivers/Red River THE CONSERVATION AND and encourages all commercial fishers and Complex. RECREATION PLAN FOR THE seafood dealers to cooperate in providing the BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that ATCHAFALAYA BASIN information required by the Trip Ticket the recovery effort continue to be inclusive Program and further encourages all recre- and involve the general public as much as WHEREAS, the State of Louisiana has ational fishers and charterboat and headboat possible so that Louisiana citizens can share developed a comprehensive master plan operators to cooperate in providing informa- in the pride of restoring this magnificent ani- (Plan) for the Atchafalaya Basin that, in col- tion about their fishing experience to LDWF mal to viability. laboration with responsible federal agency employees when approached at boat landings partners, will conserve habitat and fish and and other points of fishing access. SUBJECT: PROHIBITING THE wildlife resources while maximizing oppor- TRAINING OF DEER HUNTING tunities for public enjoyment of the Basin’s SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR BLACK DOGS AND THE USE OF DOGS TO environment, consistent with the rights of BEAR REPATRIATION PROJECT CHASE COYOTES, FOX AND HOGS private landowners and leaseholders, and ON THE KISATCHIE NATIONAL WHEREAS, the State Master WHEREAS, the Louisiana black bear FOREST FROM MARCH 1 THROUGH Conservation and Recreation Plan for the (Ursus americanus luteolus), the official state SEPTEMBER 30 Atchafalaya Basin was developed with the mammal, is listed as threatened by the U.S. participation of a Citizens Advisory Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and WHEREAS, the Kisatchie National Committee, eight state and six federal agen- WHEREAS, the Louisiana Wildlife Forest (KNF) is the only public hunting area cies including the Corps of Engineers, local Federation has cooperated with the Black in Louisiana where dogs are allowed for the governments and essentially all other public Bear Conservation Committee (BBCC), the hunting of deer during certain periods of the and private interests which have a stake in Louisiana Department of Wildlife and hunting season, and the use and management of the Atchafalaya Fisheries(LDWF), and the USFWS to devel- WHEREAS, KNF is the only public Basin, and op a restoration plan for the black bear, and hunting area in Louisiana where the running WHEREAS, the 15-year Atchafalaya WHEREAS, the USFWS Recovery of dear-hunting dogs nearly year-round is Master Plan includes projects to provide and Plan calls for a minimum of two subpopula- allowed, and enhance public access, water management tions with a wooded corridor connecting WHEREAS, KNF is the only public and recreation, and land use easements to them before the species can be considered for hunting area in Louisiana where dogs are protect the Basin’s natural habitat, and delisting, and allowed to pursue unregulated quadrupeds WHEREAS, the implementation of this WHEREAS, recent research in (coyotes and hogs) nearly year-round, and comprehensive plan for the Atchafalaya Tennessee and Louisiana has identified a WHEREAS, the running of chase dogs Basin over the next 15 years will help pre- mechanism to move bears into unoccupied like deer dogs, fox dogs, coyote dogs and hog serve an extraordinary resource for the citi- areas with good chances of them remaining dogs during Spring can adversely impact zens of Louisiana and visitors from around in the area by moving mother bears with reproduction in various wildlife species (by the nation and the world while maintaining cubs from their winter dens to prepared dens disturbing pregnant does, nesting turkeys, the Basin’s vital flood control function and at the release sites, and etc.), and the rights of Basin landowners, and WHEREAS, the USFWS, LDWF, and WHEREAS, the running of chase dogs WHEREAS, last year the Louisiana BBCC have identified the area in northern during Summer can adversely impact repro- Legislature approved the Atchafalaya Master Pointe Coupee, eastern Avoyelles, eastern St. duction in various wildlife species (by nega- Plan and authorized its funding (up to a total Landry, and southern Concordia Parishes, tively influencing fawn survival, turkey poult of $85 million) over the next 15 years by called the Three Rivers/Red River Complex, survival, etc.), and adopting Act 920 of the 1999 Regular Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 27 Session, and further approved general fund square miles each year, representing 80% of SUBJECT: CONTROLLING INVA- appropriations and capital outlay funding for the annual coastal land loss in the continen- SION OF EXOTIC FISH SPECIES the first year of plan implementation, and tal United States, and WHEREAS, to accomplish one of the WHEREAS, Louisiana’s coastal wet- WHEREAS, Louisiana has been and Plan’s keystone projects, the visitor’s center lands are a nursery habitat for most of the continues to be invaded by exotic fish species and children’s fishing pier at the I-10 Butte estuarine dependent fish in the Gulf of released in other states; recent examples LaRose rest area on Lake Pelba, it will be nec- Mexico that support recreational and com- include grass carp, bighead carp and silver essary for the Legislature to approve a land mercial fisheries worth $billions to the state’s carp, and swap with St Martin Land Co., and economy, and provide protection to the WHEREAS, two of Louisiana’s sister WHEREAS, land has been secured infrastructure of coastal Louisiana, including states have legalized the introduction of exot- immediately north of the planned visitor’s roads, navigation channels, flood protection ic black carp, a species that will eventually center by the National Rehabilitation levees, oil and gas facilities and pipelines, invade Louisiana waters, and Resource Center for potential development waterlines and port facilities from tropical WHEREAS, invasion and establish- of an Atchafalaya Basin summer camp for storms, and ment of exotic aquatic species is often detri- physically-challenged youth, and although WHEREAS, the state has invested over mental to native species and their habitats, not originally included it is consistent with $70 million in coastal restoration efforts and the State Master Plan for the Atchafalaya since the late 1970s and the Federal WHEREAS, introduction and invasion Basin, and Act 920 of 1999 provides for the Government has invested $millions more of exotic aquatic species into Louisiana inclusion of additional projects as long as through the Breaux Act (CWPPRA), and waters should be curtailed and the pathways Plan implementation does not exceed $85 WHEREAS, the State’s commitment to of invasion closed, and million over 15 years, and coastal restoration has increased with the WHEREAS, preventative action should WHEREAS, along with the commit- adoption of Act 919 of the 1999 Regular begin now at the regional, state and local lev- ment to coastal restoration and the develop- Session of the Louisiana Legislature which els. ment of the Coast 2050 “Plan”, the develop- adjusted the formula for accruing state min- THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED ment of the State Master Conservation and eral revenue to the Coastal Restoration Trust that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges Recreation Plan for the Atchafalaya Basin is a Fund so that there would be enough money and requests the National Nuisance Species hallmark of conservation leadership for the to match Breaux Act restoration funds, and Task Force and the Invasive Species Council Foster Administration and the Louisiana WHEREAS, the State’s strategic coastal to form an interstate organization composed Legislature and demonstrates an astute restoration plan, Coast 2050 estimates a $14 of states with common watersheds and river understanding of natural resource conserva- billion price tag for halting coastal land loss basins, and that the states prepare a coopera- tion priorities and their related future eco- and recovering a substantial portion of what tive plan addressing the release, control and nomic benefits, and has been lost to erosion and subsidence, and management of exotic species. WHEREAS, even with the current dif- WHEREAS, the Conservation and ficult fiscal situation facing state government Reinvestment Act (CARA) now being con- SUBJECT: MONITORING THE it is wise to “stay the course” in implement- sidered by the U. S. Congress proposes to EFFECTS OF WATER QUALITY ing the State’s Atchafalaya Plan by continu- provide hundreds of millions of dollars more PROJECTS IN THE ing to provide the necessary modest level of to combat coastal land loss in Louisiana but ATCHAFALAYA BASIN funding required in the upcoming fiscal year. the funding is conditioned on the State not THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED diminishing its financial and policy commit- WHEREAS, the Governor and the that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges ment to coastal restoration, and Legislature have endorsed the State Master the Louisiana Legislature to (1) approve the WHEREAS, along with the commit- Plan for the Atchafalaya Basin and provided appropriation requested by the Atchafalaya ment to the State Master Conservation and funding for initial plan projects, and Basin Program to continue implementing Recreation Plan for the Atchafalaya Basin, WHEREAS, both recreational and the State Master Plan for the Atchafalaya the development of the Coast 2050 Plan and commercial fishing are the major public uses Basin for fiscal year ‘00/‘01; (2) approve the strong support for coastal restoration is a of the waters within the Atchafalaya Basin, land swap between the State and St. Martin hallmark of conservation leadership for the and Land Co. so that development of the visitor’s Foster Administration and the Louisiana WHEREAS, construction projects to center and children’s fishing pier at the Butte Legislature and demonstrates an astute improve and manage water circulation to LaRose rest area along I-10 on Lake Pelba understanding of natural resource conserva- improve water quality are an integral part of can continue as planned; (3) authorize a tion priorities, and the Atchafalaya Master Plan, and study of the proposed Atchafalaya Summer WHEREAS, even with the difficult fis- WHEREAS, monitoring fish and Camp for physically challenged youth that cal situation currently facing the State, it is important crustacean populations by the would be located north of the planned visi- vital that the State continue its commitment Louisiana Department of Wildlife and tor’s center at the I-10 Butte LaRose exit. to coastal restoration. Fisheries (LDWF) to assess the effects of THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED water quality projects is part of the master SUBJECT: FUNDING FOR that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges plan but has not yet been funded, and COASTAL RESTORATION the Louisiana Legislature to maintain the WHEREAS, it is imperative to under- funding for the State’s Coastal Restoration stand the effects of water quality improve- WHEREAS, coastal land loss in Program at the authorized levels. ment projects on fish populations so the pro- Louisiana continues at the rate of about 30 jects can be properly constructed and man- Page 28 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 aged to provide the greatest benefit to Basin trative responsibilities associated with Act Johnson/Wallop-Breaux and Pittman- fisheries, and implementation that are crucial to an effi- Robertson federal aid in sport fish and WHEREAS, the massive fish kills cient and successful coastal restoration pro- wildlife restoration programs, with approxi- resulting from water quality problems gener- gram, and mately 25 to 30 percent of LDWF’s funding ated by Hurricane Andrew is a vivid WHEREAS, the corps is undertaking a generated by recreational licenses and motor- reminder of the importance of water quality Feasibility Study of the Coast 2050 Plan boat registration fees, and to healthy fish populations and to the well- which will have major ramifications for WHEREAS, the last general increase in being of the Basin, and future coastal restoration efforts and fund- LDWF recreational license fees occurred in WHEREAS, the LDWF has historically ing, and 1987, over 13 years ago, and the costs for the conducted limited monitoring of fish popu- WHEREAS, as the Nation’s chief con- LDWF to provide services to recreational lations in the Atchafalaya Basin and has the struction agency with a role in coastal users have understandably exceeded license expertise to conduct pre and post project restoration work, the Corps of Engineers will fee revenue over this period of time, and monitoring of fish populations. garner even more coastal restoration respon- WHEREAS, the amounts generated by THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED sibilities should Congress adopt the most sources of LDWF operating revenue that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation Conservation and Reinvestment Act direct- have not kept pace with the cost of operating requests the Governor to approve and the ing more than $300 million a year to the agency and its programs, and Legislature to appropriate state general funds Louisiana for coastal impact assistance, and WHEREAS, as far back as 1995 the to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries WHEREAS, due to the frequent change Legislature recognized the need for more fre- to conduct monitoring to determine the in command at the district, and many com- quent assessment of the sufficiency of effects on fish and important crustacean peting programs, it is difficult for the Corps LDWF’s license and fee structure and direct- populations of Atchafalaya Basin Master to increase the priority for its coastal restora- ed that the agency make a biannual assess- Plan projects for improving water quality, or tion responsibilities that is warranted by the ment of its fee structure and financing needs alternatively, to dedicate a portion of any importance of the work and the funding that and report its findings to the House and fishing license fee increase that the is now and perhaps soon will be available, Senate Natural Resources Committees; the Legislature may approve to this purpose. and Legislature further authorized the Wildlife WHEREAS, considering its key role in and Fisheries Commission to set nonresident SUBJECT: RAISING THE coastal restoration it would be reasonable recreational license fees and considered, but PRIORITY OF LOUISIANA and proper for the Corps of Engineers to did not pass legislation authorizing same for COASTAL RESTORATION AT continue to raise the level of priority for the resident license fees, and THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS coastal restoration program at its district WHEREAS, recognizing the need for headquarters in New Orleans and to assign a additional financing for LDWF, particularly WHEREAS, since the 1950’s Louisiana senior-level person with primary, full-time for operation and maintenance its fish hatch- has lost about one million acres of coastal responsibility for coordinating and expedit- ery program and for aquatic weed control, wetlands to erosion and subsidence and for ing all of its coastal restoration work. the Louisiana Wildlife Federation adopted a over 20 years the State of Louisiana and the THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED resolution at its 59th Annual Meeting in Federal Government have been working on that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges Gonzales in March of 1998 suggesting mod- various plans and projects to slow coastal the U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers to raise est fishing license and motorboat registration land loss, and the priority of its coastal restoration work at fee increases that would have raised about $4 WHEREAS, Louisiana’s coastal restora- its New Orleans District and assign a perma- million for the LDWF, and offering to work tion effort got a big boost with the establish- nent executive with the primary, full-time with the agency to generate public support ment of the Coastal Restoration Trust Fund, responsibility of coordinating and expediting for fair and reasonable fee increases, and the Coastal Restoration Task Force, the all coastal restoration work. WHEREAS, leaders of the Louisiana Coastal Restoration Program and the enact- Wildlife Federation met with LDWF offi- ment by Congress of the Coastal Wetlands SUBJECT: PROPOSED NEW AND cials in October of 1998 to discuss appropri- Protection, Planning and Restoration Act, INCREASED LOUISIANA ate fee increases and offer LWF’s assistance in also known as the Breaux Act, nearly 10 years DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND developing public, legislative and adminis- ago, and FISHERIES USER FEES tration support for specific fishing license WHEREAS, in late 1998 a milestone and motorboat registration fee increases, but was reached with the publication of a strate- WHEREAS, the various programs and apparently LDWF was not able or willing to gic “plan” for coastal restoration, Coast operation of the Louisiana Department of participate in such an effort at that time, and 2050, a document developed through the Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) are support- WHEREAS, as an apparent indication collaboration of state and federal agencies, ed by revenue from a number of sources of the severity of its budget problems, last local governments, coastal scientists, and including: mineral and other royalties, year the LDWF was not able to commit to interested citizens, and bonuses, rentals, fees, licenses and permits providing its FY ‘99/‘00 share ($600,000) WHEREAS, the Corps of Engineers for use of, and extraction of resources from, toward the implementation of the State chairs a Task Force created by the Breaux Act department-owned lands and state waterbot- Master Conservation and Recreation Plan to evaluate and approve coastal restoration toms; commercial fishing and related license for the Atchafalyaya Basin despite LDWF’s projects to be built with the $40 - $50 mil- fees; recreational hunting and fishing license obvious relationship to the success of this lion provided each year by the Act, thus fees; motorboat registration fees; and federal wildly popular conservation initiative of the imposing on the Corps significant adminis- funds – primarily from the Dingell- Foster Administration, and Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 29 WHEREAS, as further evidence of its of the revenue allocated to LDWF; (7) estab- THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED financial predicament, last year LDWF had lishing an annual $25 fee for “consumptive that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation recog- legislation introduced and passed dissolving use” (hunting, fishing, camping, trail riding, nizes the need to provide additional revenue the State Wildlife Refuge and Game Preserve etc.) on wildlife management areas; (8) to the Conservation Fund for the operation Fund which freed up the fund’s nearly $3 increasing the “cane pole” license to $5, of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and million in mineral income and interest for among others, and Fisheries and conditionally supports the fol- agency operation, funds which could have WHEREAS, the LDWF has provided lowing: (1) increasing the basic, big game, been more appropriately invested in the extensive documentation and analysis of its muzzleloader and archery resident hunting acquisition of wildlife habitat or some other funding sources and the need for additional license fees provided a sufficient portion of project with long-term future conservation operating revenue but thus far has not given the new revenues generated by this increase benefit, and an accounting to its constituents, who will are dedicated to fully funding the LDWF’s WHEREAS, on several occasions in the recent past the Louisiana Wildlife Federation has proposed and/or supported measures to generate additional revenue for the LDWF including: (1) raising the age of exemption from recreational license requirements from 60 to 65 years of age; (2) dedicating ATV- related sales tax and registration fees to the Conservation Fund for acquisition and stew- ardship of state wildlife areas; (3) establishing an annual wildlife management area user “pass” for a reasonable fee dedicated to acqui- sition and stewardship of state WMAs; (4) allocating the state taxes collected on the sale of fuel used by recreational boaters, anglers and commercial fishers to LDWF to help finance boating access development, aquatic weed control, boating safety, water patrol and other related agency responsibilities; (5) dedication of a small percentage of state sales tax for habitat acquisition and other LDWF programs and functions not directly support- The last vote! The general Assembly of Delegates casts the last vote to close the 61st Annual Meeting of the Louisiana ed by user fees, and Wildlife Federation. WHEREAS, should the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) be passed by have to pay the new and increased fees if they wildlife and habitat management role in the U. S. Congress, up to $5 million will be are adopted, of what continuing and new implementing the State Master Conservation available to LDWF each year if it can provide programs and services it intends to use the and Recreation Plan for the Atchafalaya a 25% match from the Conservation or new revenue for, but has only threatened to Basin; (2) increasing the 3-year motorboat other state funds, making it even more com- lay off enforcement and fish division person- registration and renewal fees provided that pelling to boost the finances of the agency, nel and close wildlife management areas if it the new revenues so generated are dedicated and doesn’t get the funds it needs, and to the development and maintenance of WHEREAS, LDWF is now taking the WHEREAS, prior to the last general public boating access facilities, aquatic weed initiative in proposing a wide range of new increase in recreational user fees, LDWF control, boating safety and education, and and increased resident recreational user fees commissioned the Wildlife Management boating law enforcement; (3) increasing the that, if adopted, is projected to generate $10- Institute to review its budget, programs, ATV 4-year registration fee with 50% of that $12 million per year over the next 5 years; statutory authorities, accomplishments and amount dedicated to the maintenance of the proposal includes: (1) increasing the future needs; WMI issued its report to the appropriate trails, roads, and parking/camp- basic resident fishing license (which is LDWF secretary in the spring of 1985 and it ing areas on Wildlife Management Areas required to fish fresh or saltwater) and the was subsequently made public; this review (WMA), and wildlife habitat acquisition and saltwater license to $15 each; (2) increasing and report was helpful in garnering public stewardship; (4) increasing resident basic and the various hunting licences (not stamps) to and legislative support for a range of user fee saltwater fishing license fees provided that $15 each; (3) raising the age of exemption increases that the Legislature approved the the new revenues generated by these fee from licensing to 65, phased in over 5 years; following year, and increases are dedicated primarily to main- (4) establishing “senior” licenses for those 65 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Wildlife taining the LDWF hatchery program at and older at a fee of $5 for all fishing and $5 Federation has historically supported fair and capacity, fully supporting LDWF’s role in for all hunting; (5) increasing the 3-year reasonable user fees provided that their uses implementing the State Master Conservation motorboat registration and renewal fee to are dedicated to specific, appropriate purpos- and Recreation Plan for the Atchafalaya $27.50 (by mail); (6) increasing the ATV es related to the interests and activities of the Basin, marine and inland recreational registration fee to $24 for 4 years with 50% users who are being asked to pay them. fish/fisheries surveys, research and manage- Page 30 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 ment, lake management, aquatic weed con- Louisiana designated scenic streams shared Conservationists: Continued from bottom column left trol, and enforcement of laws pertinent to by the State of Mississippi, and are greatly the benefit of recreational fishing; (5) dependent for their quality on the steward- Senator Barham has sponsored bills to facili- increasing the “cane pole” license fee provid- ship practiced by the streams’ basin and tate the establishment of the Black Bayou ed that some of the increased revenue there- riparian landowners in Mississippi, and Lake Wildlife Refuge near Monroe. When from is dedicated to the development of WHEREAS, in 1999 the Mississippi not in Baton Rouge making laws, he practices appropriate bank-fishing and pier-fishing State Legislature authorized a voluntary conservation on the forest and farmland his opportunities; (6) raising the age of exemp- Scenic Streams Stewardship Program to des- family owns in North Louisiana. tion from standard recreational hunting and ignate outstanding Mississippi streams for fishing license fees to 65 phased in over 5 special conservation treatment, similar to the The Louisiana Nature Center – years and establishing “senior” hunting and protection afforded to Louisiana streams des- Conservation Organization of the Year fishing licenses to include all hunting and all ignated by the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act, fishing privileges for persons aged 65 and and The Louisiana Nature Center in Eastern over, or requiring such “senior” hunting and WHEREAS, the Mississippi New Orleans is one of the leading urban fishing licenses of persons aged 60 and over, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, nature centers in the nation. In its 20 years of with the new revenue generated from these administrator of the Mississippi Scenic operation its programs have reached over 2 fees dedicated to a special account in the Streams Stewardship Program, is soliciting million people. The Center and its staff have Conservation Fund to be used to establish nominations of streams for designation in played leading roles in promoting recycling, and sustain youth hunting and fishing pro- that program. the Christmas tree marsh restoration project grams throughout the state. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED and the establishment of the Bayou Sauvage BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges National Wildlife Refuge. In its 20 years it light of the recent consideration of raising the designation of all or appropriate seg- has grown to be a “full service” nature center the state sales tax, the Louisiana Wildlife ments of the Amite, Tangipahoa, Bogue in the broadest sense. Federation supports dedicating a portion of Chitto and Pearl Rivers in the State of Last year, the Nature Center received the any new state sales tax annually to acquisi- Mississippi for inclusion in the Mississippi Wetlands Environmental Excellence Award tion and stewardship of wildlife habitat by Scenic Streams Stewardship Program. from EPA – Region 6 in recognition of the the LDWF and the support of other general BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that quality of its wetland education program- public benefit programs and services of the the LWF requests the administrator of the ming. And its Curator of Education, Mike agency including aquatic weed control, Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System Boley, was named outstanding environmental hunter and boating safety education, fish to assist in providing the documentation to educator of 1999 by the Louisiana Science and wildlife management education, scenic nominate the Amite, Tangipahoa, Bogue Teachers Association. rivers, rare/threatened/endangered species Chitto and Pearl Rivers for designation in The Center produces the free, 3-day research and management, nongame and the Mississippi Scenic Streams Stewardship Louisiana Youth Environmental Summit with urban wildlife, natural heritage inventory Program. the help of Cleco Corporation. The Summit and registry, and boating law enforcement. brings students and mentors together to learn BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that about Louisiana environmental issues and the Louisiana Wildllife Federation implores how they can make a positive impact on the Governor and the Louisiana Legislature Louisiana’s environmental future. to acknowledge that Louisiana’s fish and Conservationists Recognized: Continued from page 43 In 1999 the Center produced and dis- wildlife resources and the habitats they tributed “Treemendous Trees”, a booklet with require are important to all people living in is illegal under the ruse that they originated in accompanying tree trunk activity boxes, to the this “Sportsman’s Paradise” and, considering Louisiana. From January 1995 through leaders in the Southeast Louisiana Girl Scout our changing demography, it is imperative December 1998 a total of 29,896 box turtles Council. The program has reached 17,000 that LDWF be allocated the necessary gener- were collected for the pet trade and shipped scouts in 11 parishes. The Center developed al fund dollars to accomplish its mandated from Louisiana, most to die within the first a program, jointly with the U.S. Fish and functions. year of capture. This law will ensure that Wildlife Service, of day-long wetland work- future generations of Louisiana’s children will shops at the Bayou Sauvage NWR that ori- SUBJECT: DESIGNATION OF be able to take a walk in the woods and view ented 700 students to the importance of wet- LOUISIANA SCENIC STREAMS IN box turtles in their native habitat. This is the lands. It collaborated with St. Bernard Parish THE NEW SCENIC first time that Louisiana has ever afforded to provide free field trips to the Nature Center STREAMS PROGRAM OF statutory protection for a kind of turtle, and for every 5th Grade student. And it provided THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI Senator Barham’s enthusiastic support in 15 free Wetland Workshops involving day- steering the bill through the legislative process long field trips that allowed inner-city stu- WHEREAS, the “Louisiana Scenic was greatly responsible for its successful enact- dents to investigate and discover the value of Rivers Act” was first enacted in 1970 and ment into law. wetlands to the environment. revised and reenacted in 1988 to protect and As a member of the Senate Natural These are just some of the “new” things conserve some of the State’s most outstand- Resources Committee, Barham has been a the Louisiana Nature Center is doing in addi- ing natural resource waters, and strong supporter of conservation initiatives. tion to delivering outstanding nature educa- WHEREAS, the Amite, Tangipahoa, In addition to the box turtle legislation, tion opportunities day in and day out. Bogue Chitto and West Pearl Rivers are Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 31 FYI: Continued from page 41 Edward Brown - Fairhope, AL Elmo Gentry - Shreveport David L. Campbell - Folsom Lyle H. Gildermaster - Ponchatoula fowl study leaders. They in turn will use the survey responses to inform the U.S. Fish & William L. Campbell - Denham Springs Howard William Gillen, M.D. - Wildlife Service concerning the ‘00/‘01 Gary L. Carmena - Slaughter Wilmington, NC waterfowl season. I took a random 200 surveys and put Michael D. Charbonnet - Metairie M. L. Godley, M.D. - Lecompte together my own “data” and thought the Pam Kaster - Zachary Constance Granger - Youngsville tabulation might interest you. Over 80% of the survey responders John B. Coast - Baton Rouge Edward D. Grant, Jr. - Baton Rouge hunted primarily on private leases and of Clifford Comeaux, Jr., D.D.S. - Baton Rouge Dr. Noel Gray - Baton Rouge those 60% hunted more than 10 times dur- Sally Cooper - New Orleans Wayne Guidry - Kaplan ing the season, 30% hunted 6-10 times and 10% less than 6 times. Thirty-two percent Nathan A. Cormie - Lake Charles Susan D. Halter - New Orleans of all responders hunted on WMA’s. Jack S. Coussons, M.D. - Shreveport Martin H. Hardy - Lake Charles When given the choice between extend- ing the season or increasing bag limits, an Gordon R. Crawford - Gonzales Wallace Hardy, Jr. - West Monroe overwhelming 98% preferred an extended Dr. Robert J. Crawley - Folsom William A. Hart - Baton Rouge season. Many people commented that the season should start later and last longer. Gene J. Cretini - Baton Rouge Mrs. David S. Hartman - Interesting to me was that most (78%) of James A. Crowell, III, M.D. - Baton Rouge Donaldsonville those surveyed also hunted big and small game and were saltwater but not freshwater Glen Daigre - Prairieville Cordell H. Haymon - Baton Rouge anglers; 28% were both. Robert J. David - New Orleans Brian A. Hebert - Lafayette Speaking of fishing...... don’t forget to renew that license and I hope the summer is David M. Davis - LaPlace William H. Herke, Ph.D - Baton Rouge productive on the water for you and yours. George B. Davis - Covington Gene Hilliard - Shreveport Remember to wear that life jacket when underway or in rough water and the little W. N. Day - Norco Senator Donald E. Hines, M.D. - Bunkie guys and gals should wear them all the time. Nellie L. Derise - Jeanerette J. Levon Hinton, Sr. - Quitman That’s it for me and thanks again to all the new members and those of you who con- Hollis H. Downs - Ruston Terry D. Hubbs - Baton Rouge tributed to our Year-End and Spring Dan Durham - Hammond Theodore Hubert - Baton Rouge Appeals. Dr. Edmund C. Dyas - Mobile, AL Rita Hummingbird - Shreveport 1999 Year End Appeal Donors E. Jay Ellington - Ruston Wesley E. Jackson - Kinder W. C. Ellis, Jr. - Metairie Kahne Jarreau - Baton Rouge Shelly Antoine - Lacombe Rodney E. Emmer - Baton Rouge Harvey L. Jordan, Jr. - Jackson, MS James R. Baker, Sr. - Pineville John E. Erffmeyer, M.D. - Baton Rouge Rodney C. Jung, M.D. - New Orleans Roy H. Baker - Houma J. L. Fairchild, Jr., M.D. - Greenwell Springs Al E. Juul, Jr. - Covington John W. Barton, Jr. - Baton Rouge Mrs. R. D. Farr - Monroe Richard Kater - Baton Rouge Pamela P. Beadle, M.D. - Baton Rouge Conway Farrell - New Orleans K. D. Kilpatrick - Ruston Edward Beckmann, Jr. - Metairie Tom A. Flanagan - Lake Charles Eddy R. Knight - Lafayette Marshall E. Belaga-Price - Pineville Dr. Henry J. Folse, Jr. - New Orleans Anita B. Knight - Franklinton Ernest Bergeron - Tooele, UT Donald D. Fontenot - Deridder Charles J. Koehl, Sr. - River Ridge Dorothy Bernard - Breaux Bridge Richard G. Fontenot - Youngsville James B. Lam, M.D. - Morgan City Dr. Alfred Bessell - Beaumont, TX Emery J. Fontenot - Baton Rouge Olin Frank Land, Jr. - Baton Rouge Ellender Daniel Bickham - Jackson Honorable J. Burton Foret - Ville Platte A. Paul Landry - Maurice J. Preston Biglow - New Orleans Gus A. Fritchie, Jr. - Slidell Leroy J. Lange, Jr. - Starks Jo Ellen M. Bourg - Hilo, HI Arthur L. Gayle, Jr. - Lake Charles Will Langlinais - New Iberia John L. Bradas - Alexandria James W. Geisler, M.D. - Monroe FYI: Continued on page 36 L.R. Brammer, Jr. - Shreveport

Page 32 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 FEDERAL AID ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS - President: Continued from bottom column to the left TOO MUCH ADO ABOUT SOMETHING Looking ahead, we will be playing “catch up” in getting our magazine publication back on schedule and ask your indulgence in bear- A good deal has been said, written and the GAO investigative findings with which it ing with us. We also are hoping to have our even more has been rumored about alleged agrees or disagrees. Public and political crow- own web site up and running soon, perhaps “misuses” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ing about this issue might subside if the Service by the end of the year. My own home club, (Service) of funds from the federal aid sport was more explicit in that regard and explained the East Ascension Sportsman’s League, is fish and wildlife accounts—best known as the actions it is taking to rectify problem areas. To planning a web site which we will ultimately Dingell-Johnson (D-J) and Pittman- its credit, the Service had begun to implement link with the Federation’s. Developing a web Robertson (P-R), respectively. Much of the vit- many federal aid program improvements even site can be relatively easy and inexpensive so it riol and innuendo is being fueled by agendas before the GAO commenced its investigation. may be a good project for local sportsmen’s that have little or nothing to do with safe- However, fully responding to identified clubs to consider. It will really increase your guarding and enhancing the delivery of essen- shortcomings GAO found may be difficult for exposure. tial wildlife and fisheries program resources to the Service, because the GAO currently has no Speaking of increased exposure, mem- the states, observes the Wildlife Management plan to release a final report, despite its July 20, bers of the Federation’s Development Institute. Those agendas are varied and almost 1999 testimony that it would “provide recom- Committee (chaired by Edgar Veillon) are impossible to comprehend fully, but one thing mendations on what we believe needs to be working on some very exciting things which is clear—the general rancor over the matter is done to correct the problems....” should boost our membership, including a beginning to undermine what collectively is A legislative fix that clearly defines public service announcement video television the world’s most successful wildlife and fish- “administer and execute” is in the works. “spot”. This is exciting news since we haven’t eries program. Conservationists widely agree that such clarifi- had any such promotional media spots in over Much of the problem of use or alleged cation is needed, but there is equally prevalent 20 years. In fact, the first time I ever heard of misuse of funds stems from lack of clarity in concern that attempts to “adjust” P-R and D-J the Federation was from a TV commercial I the original statutes. By law, the Service is per- beyond tweaking these identified shortcom- happened to see sometime back in the mid mitted to retain up to 6 percent of the D-J rev- ings could irreparably damage vital conserva- ‘70s. enues and 8 percent of the P-R revenues to tion programs nationwide. Conservationists Another idea that we are considering “administer and execute” the two programs. also agree that, in the absence of a detailed implementing is a monthly newsletter that we The remaining 94 percent and 92 percent of GAO report, the legislative fix may not actual- would send via email. In order for this to be the funds are allocated to the states. The use of ly address all the areas that need tweaking, effective and worthwhile, we will need to have these state funds are not part of the current especially the Service’s internal policies and the email address of a substantial number of controversy. procedures (or lack thereof) that led to the LWF members. If you use the internet and Unfortunately, the current law provides problem(s) at the outset. Without a final report have an email address that you have not no further qualification of what does or does there likely will be no clear remedial response already provided to our office, please send us not constitute “administer and execute.” That from the Service, and allegations of Service an email to [email protected] and include discretion has been the Service’s and therein lies indiscretions will continue to fester. Closure to your name and physical address so that we can the problem. In administering and executing this controversy is needed, and that will only correctly add it to our data base. This will be the two programs, the Service has given broad come about with a final GAO report and the a big help in determining the feasibility of an interpretation to allocation of its so-called Service’s point-by-point response. electronic newsletter. “administrative funds.” The Government For more information, contact Bob As you can see, LWF is a very dynamic Accounting Office (GAO) has determined that Byrne, WMI (202-371-1808), or Meg organization and we have a lot going on. But the Service has done a poor job of tracking the Durham there are still too many people in the state expenditures. These situations have given rise who don’t know who we are or what we do. to what the investigating GAO has described as We are making an effort to change this but we “a culture of permissive spending” by the President: Continued from page 3 need your help. We need members to let us Service. know of upcoming events or activities in their However, rumors that administrative bare minimum number of votes required. areas where organizations like ours can set up funds have been granted to an antihunting According to our executive director, Randy a display booth. If you know of any, please program are unfounded. Neither has there Lanctot, who was very involved with the call or email me or our office well in advance been any hint of individual impropriety. In whole process from beginning to end, lobby- so we can plan to be there. I would also love fact, the GAO found that “the authority to use ing by the state Sierra Club chapter and con- to hear any ideas or comments you may have funds for program execution is sufficiently tacts made by Louisiana Nature Conservancy to make this organization more effective at broad that these programs [administrative supporters, especially when the bill was in the accomplishing its mission of “conserving our grants] are not prohibited.” Senate, were able to swing the few extra votes natural resources and your right to enjoy While the Service has acknowledged needed. I’m pleased to say that our federation them”. Please let me hear from you. many of the weaknesses the GAO pointed out, was instrumental in engaging the assistance of Yours in conservation, and agrees with many of the issues that have these two important conservation groups in Keith R. Saucier been highlighted, it has not clearly identified passing this bill. President

Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 33 NOXIOUS The Key to a ALGAE BLOOMS Conservation Century by Jerald Horst Phytoplankton are tiny one-celled by Mark Van Putten, President, National values are widely shared among diverse people plants (algae) that are the basis for almost the Wildlife Federation and put into action in their daily lives. Only whole food chain in marine waters and through the commitment of ordinary citizens much of it in fresh waters. Basically, they The new millennium has focused atten- can we reduce the impacts of our global con- use the same nutrients that land plants do, tion on the new conservation questions, chal- sumer culture on wildlife and wild places, not such as nitrogen and phosphorus, to convert lenges and opportunities the future may hold, to mention on the human spirit. Only the the energy from the sun into growth of the along with speculation about new strategies and awareness and passion built on the lessons of plant. Without algae, other sea life would technologies to address them. Clearly, difficult the twentieth century will inspire us to make die. questions and challenges lie ahead, and yes, life-style changes to avoid overwhelming Earth Too much algae, on the other hand, can there are exciting opportunities too. Yet the key s natural life-support systems with global cli- also be a bad thing. Overgrowths of phyto- to a healthier planet lies not only in miraculous mate change; to navigate the social and religious planktonic algae are called blooms. Algae technology, but also in sticking with the best of complications associated with stabilizing world blooms can be either natural or caused by the understanding, commitment and direction population; to restore damaged ecosystems; and human activities. Drawing the line between humanity developed in the past 100 years in to confront the inequities in how the world’s the two is sometimes very difficult. Many what can rightly be called the “conservation natural resources (and, thus, its wealth) are researchers feel that noxious algae blooms century.” divided. are on the increase worldwide. “Noxious” is During the past 10 decades, the conserva- While these challenges are daunting, our another word for “harmful or destructive.” tion movement profoundly redefined human past successes give us hope that we can meet Algae blooms occur when some change thinking. We have come to recognize the toll them. We have developed new manufacturing in water chemistry occurs that favors algae that so-called progress exacts on the natural technologies with less pollution; we have growth. When zooplankton, the almost world. In response, we have started to embrace restored endangered wildlife such as wolves, microscopic animals that feed on the phyto- the responsibility of stewardship and to devel- alligators and bald eagles to the wild; we have planktonic algae (and are the next link in the op, in Aldo Leopold’s term, a “land ethic.” written the plan to restore the Mississippi food chain) can’t eat fast enough to control While much more needs to be done to translate Coastal Delta and the Everglades, the largest the algae, several things can happen. this ethic into practice, it has already produced ecosystem restoration projects in human histo- 1) In fresh or near-fresh waters, blue- real progress that should give us hope for the ry. These successes demonstrate that techno- green algae may multiply until their dead future. Our progress can be traced, in part, to logical innovation and visionary leadership can cells form a film that looks like bright green conservation heroes like Rachel Carson and forge a better future. They remind us of the paint on top of the water. In some cases, fish other members of the National Wildlife importance of a broad base of citizens educated from these waters develop an “off-flavor” Federation Conservation Hall of Fame. These about the natural world and committed to its making them almost inedible. A few blue- heroes inspire us by their example, and their protection and restoration. green algae release toxins (poisons) into the ideas provide guideposts for meeting the new It’s the unsung heroes, who labor every day water which can weaken or kill fish and challenges ahead. But it is the common thread for the love of wildlife and the natural world, other animals. Finally, when blue-green among their diverse lives and contributions that who must make the difference in the future. algae cells die off, their decay (which requires is the key to the future of conservation. And that’s where we come in. The National oxygen) can remove enough oxygen from All of the past century’s conservation Wildlife Federation will continue to educate, the water to kill fish. Blue-green algae were heroes believed that one passionate person can inspire and assist volunteer activists and link the phytoplankton involved in the toxic make an enormous difference. The passion and them with like-minded individuals in the cause algae bloom in Lake Ponchartrain last year. commitment to making a difference, demon- of conservation. To be sure, we will add the 2) A brown tide may occur. The algae strated by these heroes, is not, however, limited wonders of new technology and the leadership involved in brown tides Aureoumbra to them. It’s the same spirit of dedication and of new heroes in advancing common-sense lagunensis does not kill fish. It simply turns volunteerism I see manifested every day by conservation. But our vision of a modern the water into the color of tea with a little members of the National Wildlife Federation world in which people can coexist with thriving cream in it. Their effect is to shade out other and its state affiliates. It’s a commitment to a wildlife, abundant wild places and healthy nat- plant life like seagrasses, from the sun and better future, a sense of hope, and a can-do atti- ural resources will remain unchanged. So will kill them, changing the ecosystem. Brown tude shared by millions of people in the United our strategy for getting there: building on the tides have occurred for the last 7 years in the States and around the world whose portraits passion, commitment and accomplishments of Texas’ Laguna Madre, a 120 mile long sys- won’t hang in any Hall of Fame. And it’s the caring people like you. tem of bays that used to hold sparkling clear most hopeful sign that we will meet the future’s Thanks to each of you—the true conser- water. challenges; the real strength of any movement is vation heroes—as we place the capstone on one 3) A dinoflagellate outbreak may occur. not measured by the leaders who garner most of century and face the challenges of the next with Dinoflagellates are strange, having some the the recognition, but by the extent to which its commitment, passion and hope. characteristics of plants and some of ani-

Page 34 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 mals. They are also one-celled, and for the sake of this discussion will be considered algae. The first ever red-tide outbreak off of Louisiana’s coast was caused by a dinoflagel- late called Gymnodinium breve. At high concentrations, their cells turn the water a reddish color. They release a nerve toxin which kills fish and other animals including dolphins and birds. The toxin can cause res- piratory problems for beach-goers that inhale surf spray and even skin irritation to swimmers. The toxin can also cause nausea, vomiting and neurological problems for people who eat shellfish taken from affected waters. Another dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria pisci- cida, has caused large fish kills, first in North Carolina estuaries and last year in the Chesapeake Bay. This cell can change into at least 19 different forms. One very aggres- sive form kills by releasing toxins that stun fish. It then strips away the skin and feeds on the fish’s flesh. They can also feed on other algae, and their toxin has been associ- ated with neurological problems and sores on humans. 4) Finally, large algae blooms can cause hypoxic water conditions. Hypoxia is when little or no oxygen exists in layers or throughout the water column in an area. The “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico is a hypoxic zone. It occurs when otherwise “good algae” explode in numbers faster than the animals that feed on them can control. These algae have very short lives. When they die in large numbers and sink to the bottom, their decay can remove enough oxy- gen from the water to suffocate bottom fish and benthic organisms. The hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico forms in the summer months and may cover 6000 to 7000 square miles. The cause of the condition is believed to be a complicated interaction of very high nutrients carried to the Gulf by the Mississippi River, physical changes to the River such as channelization and loss of natural wetlands and vegetation along the banks, and the mixing of freshwa- ter from the River with saltwater of the Gulf. A significant portion of the nutrients coming down the River come from human activities, including discharges from sewage treatment plants, and storm water run-off from farms and city streets. Some nutrients also enter the River and the Gulf directly from the air after being released by automo- bile engines and electrical power plants. The Noxious algae: Continued on page 37

Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 35 FYI: Continued from page 32 Raceland Michael R. Robichaux, M.D. - Mathews Rucker Leake - St. Francisville Col. Alvin Sidney Rousse - New Orleans MEMORIALS Arthur J. Lebreton - Lafayette Barton Rumsey - Many Guy B. Legendre - Shreveport Sandra P. Samson - Clinton Zachary K. Lemann - New Orleans Andrew P. Schaubhut - New Orleans AND GIFTS J. G. Lindstrom - Tioga Jon V. Schellack, M.D. - Baton Rouge Kenneth K. Lo, M.D. - Baton Rouge Eric Schexnaydre - Destrehan The Louisiana Wildlife Federation John P. MacFadyen, Jr. - Colorado occasionally receives memorial and hon- Charles E. Schwing - Baton Rouge orary gifts from its members, friends, Springs, CO Rosemary Seidler - Shreveport organizations and business concerns. All William G. Madary, II - Arabi Maude S. Sharp - Hammond memorial contributions and honorary gifts so designated, unless otherwise M. W. Manny - Baton Rouge Virginia K. Shehee - Shreveport directed by the donor, are credited to the Robert L. Manuel - Lake Charles J. Stanford Shelby, M.D. - Shreveport Federation’s Conservation Education David B. Manuel - Lafayette Scholarship Fund. The interest from the Elbridge R.”Smitty” Smith, III - New Iberia Fund is used to award scholarships to Jimmie Marsh - Tallulah August Soosaar, M.D. - Pineville Louisiana educators to attend one of the Jorge A. Martinez, M.D. - Metairie National Wildlife Federation’s Herb Stathes - Houma Conservation Summits where they learn Joe T. Miller - Lake Charles Dr. Charles Stewart - Lafayette about the wonders of the natural world Wilda D. Miskimins - Lafayette and principles of resource stewardship. Herschell Stovall - Slidell This knowledge is then shared with other Robert H. Moles - Baton Rouge Ben Taylor - Hammond Louisiana educators and used in the Marion L. Moore, II - Carencro classroom. Perpetuated through the Douglas F. Thomas - Kenner learning process, your gift is a lasting J. Lee Moss, M.D. - New Orleans Dominick A. Vaccaro, Jr. - Metairie contribution to the conservation, wise W. L. Nauman - Baton Rouge use and enjoyment of our environment Hines S. Vaughan - Shreveport and its dependent fish and wildlife Richard D. Olinde, D.D.S. - C. R. Vincent, M.D. - Laurel, MS resources. Covington Robert Voorhies - New Iberia An appropriate letter is sent on the Albert J. Otto - Shreveport donor’s behalf to the family of the Vernon A. Voorhies, M.D. - New Iberia deceased or to the person honored. The James T. Pate, M.D. - Woodworth Jody Waguespack - Donaldsonville amount of the gift is not disclosed unless Joseph G. Patton, M.D. - Opelousas requested. Send your gift to: William W. Waring, M.D. - New Orleans Verdie Reece Perkins - Baton Rouge Louisiana Wildlife Federation Guyton H. Watkins - New Iberia Samuel L. Perkins - Natchitoches P.O. Box 65239 C. M. Watkins - Welsh William B. Persac - Baton Rouge Chuck Weaver, President - Houma Baton Rouge, LA 70896-5239 Patrick J. Pitre - Cut Off Eric Weiss - Shreveport Be sure to supply us with your name E. Blaine Pittman, M.D. - Shreveport and address, and the name and address Kraig Welborn - DeRidder where the acknowledgement is to be sent. Edwin W. Price, Jr. - Baton Rouge Jacquetta S. Whisner - Shreveport Indicate if it is a memorial on behalf of Brian W. Racca - Westlake someone deceased or in honor of some James W. Wiley - Ruston active person. Clinton Rasberry, Jr. - Shreveport Frank M. Wilson - Slidell Henry L. Restarick, Sr. - Metairie William D. Winston - Morganton Ms. Bobbie Reynolds - Baton Rouge Dr. H. H. Winters - Columbia Calvin W. Roberts - Annapolis, MD Paul N. Wogan - Slidell Nash C. Roberts, Jr. - New Orleans Robert A. Young - Metairie Richard E. Robichaux, M.D. -

Page 36 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 Got Away: Continued from page 8 don’t grow to over 300 pounds while my mind forever. On those tough days females can exceed 1,000 pounds.) at work, in traffic, or at the house, all I I hollered, “short bait”. It was a have to do is think back to that beautiful At last we had the leader in hand and colossal blue marlin and she was coming marlin and how free she was, how wild I put the tag in place. I reached over to for the bait we were pulling just twenty she was, and everything is better. touch the magnificent fish. It seemed to or so feet behind the boat. With her Before that day, and since that day, I glow and give off colored light. We took mouth open so wide I could have thrown have seen, caught, and tagged other bill- a few pictures and Michael released the a 55-gallon drum down it (okay, a 5-gal- fish. But for some reason this one stays bill. It swam away into the deep, cobalt lon bucket), she swam forward over the with me. It’s for that reason that I hope blue water, hopefully none the worse for bait and engulfed it like a fat man swal- all anglers and captains who target bill- the outstanding show it had just put on lowing a peanut, then turned and swam fish will practice catch-and-release. for us. After a few hoops, hollers and away. The line began to peel off slowly. There’s much talk within the marine “high fives” the baits were back in the Michael grabbed the rod from its holder fisheries scientific community about water and “smoking”. Anticipation was and struck the fish with two mighty steps to protect and manage billfish. once again high and no one would take swings of the rod. At that point, just Something must be done soon, as evi- their eyes off the baits for at least anoth- fifty feet or so behind the boat, a fish as dence suggests that billfish may be on er hour or so in hopes of seeing the next large and beautiful as any I’d ever seen the brink. Recreational and commercial strike. However, it would be a few hours rose from the water in one mighty leap. fishermen all have to do their part, even until the next chaotic outbreak. And She looked like a huge glowing bird, the if that means we never bring another what an outbreak it would be! Air Jordan of the fish world. When she marlin to the dock. Death that comes on It was just after lunch and Dwight crashed back into the sea it was as if a the end of a tournament angler’s line or Moity, a good friend and captain/owner thermonuclear detonation had occurred on the end of a commercial fisherman’s of the 38-foot Bertram “Moiteaser” was and we were at ground zero. Everyone line must stop. These majestic beasts are the next angler up in the chair. Off in aboard was awestruck, but our mouths two awe-inspiring to be lost. the distance Shannon spotted some float- weren’t open for long. Because as soon as So the next time you are lucky ing sargassum. Sargassum weed, actually she hit the water, she began a run of enough to hook a billfish and get it to a type of brown algae that floats in large prodigious proportions. The reel sound- the boat, release it. Your children and masses in the Gulf Stream, serves as a ed as if it would explode as she pulled your children’s children will be thankful haven for small fish and, in turn, larger line off of it faster and harder than if it you did. For one day they too may be fish that come to feed upon them. In were tied to a Mack truck. able to witness the spectacular exhibition other words, it’s like an offshore buffet Dwight could barely get into the put on by the offspring of the “one that line teeming with life and sometimes chair amidst the commotion in the cock- got away”. huge dolphin, tuna, wahoo, and marlin. pit. Once in the chair we joked with Anyone wishing to get involved or Shannon steered for the flotsam and him that we hoped he had eaten his learn more about billfish conservation everyone took their positions readying Wheaties because he was going to need can contact the Billfish Foundation at for a bite. On our first pass we could see them. It wasn’t long after he was P.O. Box 8787; Ft. Lauderdale, FL hundreds of small dolphin (not the strapped in and the fish had taken sever- 33310-8787 or phone 1-800-438-8247 mammalian dolphin but a highly-prized, al hundred yards of line, that the line or visit them on the Internet at www.bill- colorful gamefish of the same name), went limp. I first thought that she was fishfoundation.org . some of which came after baits that were running at the boat or had looped back, as large, if not larger than they were. In but that was not the case. She had some- fact they were so small that we were able how managed to dislodge the hook. Noxious Algae: Continued from page35 to reel them up and take them off the Just like many other big fish stories, lures without ever slowing the boat this one “got away”. I believe it’s the exact contribution of each source is not down. ones that “get away” that keep us coming known at this time. Well, with nothing happening on back for more. If we caught every fish Scientists are undecided about whether our first pass, we turned and headed back we hooked or raised into the spread, fish- to do anything about noxious algae blooms. down the patch of sargassum. I was ing would lose its appeal. The fact that Some say that algae blooms of some kind are standing at the stern watching the baits the beast wins many of the battles, keeps a natural event and that nature should be left closely when it happened. I could see man coming back for more. As it is with “hands-off”. Others claim that human something huge swim into the baits. It everything in life, it’s that which we can’t activities are causing more and larger was a tremendous fish, coming across the have that we want the most. Over the blooms, and that unless action is taken, surface so forcefully that she pushed a next two days we managed to tag and ecosystems and fisheries may be damaged. wall of water up over her head like a release another marlin. We even caught huge submarine surfacing. (I use the a few nice yellowfin tuna and dolphin. Reprinted from the Feb. 2, 1998 issue of pronoun “she” because blue marlin show The trip was very much a success and Lagniappe, a publication of the Jefferson Parish sexual dimorphism, that is, males and highly enjoyable. office of the LSU Agricultural Center females have different physical character- The reason I’m relating this story is Cooperative Extension Service and Sea Grant istics, for instance, growth potential. In because the fleeting seconds that this fish Program. the case of blue marlins, males usually spent with me will probably remain in

Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 37 KIDS’ PAGE

Adapted by Elenor Hodges from the Animal Tracks Habitat Action Pact published by the National Wildlife Federation © 1996. Animal Tracks® is a registered trademark of the National Wildlife Federation

Page 38 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 Toll from Coal Sponsor Members

New NWF Report Exposes Number Members contributing $100 or more will One Source of Pollution in the U.S. receive LWF’s unique Sponsor Plaque for their home or office. We extend our grateful appreciation to the fol- Coal is not just bad news when it comes from Santa Claus. As a major lowing Sponsor Members of the Louisiana Wildlife fuel source for America’s power plants, Federation. Their support and that of all our loyal it causes incalculable damage to our members is directly responsible for the Federation’s environment, poisoning our air and growth and success. water, and threatening the health of all living things. In a new report, “The Toll from Coal,” the National Wildlife Federation uncovers the serious effects Dean A. Aucoin, Westwego that coal-fired power plants are having Senator Robert Barham, Rayville on human health and on the wildlife Stephen C. Bell, Littleton, CO and wild places that we know and love, Gerald A. Boelte, Pearlington, MS and offers the tools needed by con- John P. Broussard, New Orleans cerned citizens to help clean up power Michael J. Caire, M.D., West Monroe plants in their own communities and R. Glynn Carver, Many across the nation. Eugene P. Cicardo, Jr., Alexandria Smog, global climate change, acid Carol Clavier, Gretna rain, mercury pollution – all of these David M. Compton, Baton Rouge problems are linked, in large part, to Clancy Dubos, New Orleans one major pollution source: emissions Dr. Clyde E. Elliott, West Monroe from coal-fired electric power plants, Freddie Fruge, Eunice the single greatest source of air pollu- August R. Gallo, Jr. - Gallo Mechanical Contractors, New Orleans tion and greenhouse gases in the Pat Giblin, Baton Rouge United States. Lamar Haddox - Soil Stabilizers, Inc., Ruston According to the EPA, coal-fired Kristine J. Harper, Minden power plants emit more than 60 per- Simonet Hebert, Jr., Kaplan cent of the nation’s sulfur dioxide and Lawrence M. Henling - Beckman Institute, Pasadena, CA 23 percent of its nitrogen oxides, Chris Killgore - Killgore’s Inc., Ruston which contribute to acid rain, smog H.D. Lanaux, New Orleans and nitrogen pollution in our soils and Lonnie Langston, Monroe waters. They are also responsible for Dr. Charles D. Lein, Lafayette more than 32 percent of total U.S. W.M. Marks, Jr. - Roberts & Eastland, Baton Rouge mercury emissions, and 31 percent of Capt. George W. McHugh, St. Martinville the nation’s carbon dioxide – the gas Frank Messinger, Bastrop chiefly responsible for global warming. Leon Miletello, Jr. - L.S.M. Gaming, Inc., Bossier City Despite this dirty trend, surpris- Henry K. Miller, Baton Rouge ingly little has been done to deal with Ken Moss, Jr., M.D. - Lake Charles the full range of environmental prob- Sherwood Ransom, Lafayette lems this pollution source creates. John F. “Jeff” Schneider, Ponchatoula Numerous coal-fired power plants Glenn Schurr - Standard Mapping Services, Covington more than 20 years old are exempt Ted R. Scurlock, Shreveport from the toughest regulations of the Andrew Sievers, Lafayette Clean Air Act, although they pollute John W. Sims, New Orleans four to ten times more than newer Donald E. Sonnier, Jr., - Atkins & Sonnier, Bossier City plants. And while 1990 amendments Raymond J. Strohmeyer, Sr. - Jefferson Sprinkler, Inc., Gretna to the law have reduced sulfur dioxide Raymond J. Strohmeyer, Jr., Gretna emissions, equally detrimental nitrogen Ronald D. Thibodeaux, Baton Rouge oxides have been largely ignored. In Mike Turner, M.D., Lake Charles addition, there are no formal controls Edwin O. Ware, Attorney at Law, Alexandria on emissions of mercury or carbon Patrick Wilson, Crown Point dioxide from power plants. And dereg- ulation of electric utilities has fostered LWF • (225) 344-6707 Toll From Coal: Continued on Page 20 P.O. Box 65239 Audubon Station • Baton Rouge, LA 70896-5239

Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 39 New LWF Members (*Partial List of LWF Members who have joined in the new millennium-to be continued in the next issue.)

YEAR 2000 New Members (thru May) Tang T. Bui - Monroe Joe C. Dye, Jr. - Mer Rouge Danny Buller - Opelousas Dean Elston - Shreveport Sustaining Members ($25 - $49): Russell H. Bulloch, M.D. - West Monroe John F. Emory - Ruston Samuel K. Abshire, M.D. - Homer Steve Bumpas - Covington Brian A. Fabre - Luling George C. Addison, Jr. - Westminster, CO Louis F. Burel - Baton Rouge Jacob P. Faulk - Abbeville Jake P. Airhart, Sr. - Slidell Charles P. Burnell - Lafayette George Adam Faulk - Winnsboro Kerry T. Albritton - Downsville Toxie L. Bush - Abbeville Kevin Faulk - Houma Herb R. Alexander, Jr., D.D.S. - Houma Benjamin L. Butler - Columbia Richard Feemster - Covington A. M. Alexander, M.D. - Alexandria Fred V. Cabaniss, D.D.S. - Minden Richard B. Feucht - Ville Platte Charles Alexander - Ruston John P. Calmes - Baton Rouge Paul E. Fish - Doyline C. Barrett Alldredge - Lafayette Mario A. Calonje, M.D. - New Orleans Maj. Darryl Fontenot, (Ret.) - Deridder Robert E. Anderson - Keithville Richard W. Campbell, D.D.S. - Minden Randy M. Fontenot - Scott John L. Arbuckle - Logansport Brett M. Candies - Luling Charles L. Fowler - Boyce Dwain D. Arceneaux - Thibodaux Martin L. Cannon - Broussard Rocky W. Fowler - Stonewall Claudette Sue Armentor - Lake Arthur David M. Carlton, III, DDS - Alexandria David Frady - Madisonville H. Paulsen Armstrong, M.D. - Baton Rouge J. H. Carmichael - Elm Grove Larry Franklin, Jr. - Shreveport Bobby Aulds - West Monroe Jerry W. Cascio - West Monroe Dennis D. French - Baton Rouge Joseph Authement - New Orleans Harry W. Case - Plaquemine William Porter Fuller - Kinder Jason Ayres - Baton Rouge D. Cavin - Baton Rouge Douglas B. Fulmer - New Roads Thomas Babin, M.D. - Metairie Steven A. Chambers - Avery Island Jim Gallion - Bossier City Randall Babineaux - Lafayette Bradley T. Chapman - Denham Springs Richard L. Gates, Jr., CLU - Alexandria Kelton Bacon - West Monroe William J. Chappetta - Ponchatoula Anthony V. Gennaro - Metairie J. A. Badeaux, III, M.D. - Alexandria John L. Chase - Metairie Jeff Gillham - Shreveport Roy H. Baker - Houma Nicole Chasson - Morgan City Shannon Gilreath - Slidell Brian H. Barber - Shreveport Louis Chevalier - Saint Rose David M. Glaviano - Kenner Carl Barfield - Carencro Michael J. Cimino - Covington Mary An Godshall - Metairie Michael Barfield - Norco Leslie & Ira Clarkston - Kemah, TX Donald William Gohmert - Pineville Michael L. Barras - Zachary Jeff Cognevich - Lafayette Raymond J. Goodrich, II - Alexandria Edward P. Barrilleaux - Harvey Willard J. Cointment - Gonzales Florence V. Gordon - Baton Rouge Scott Bean - Jonesville James R. Colvin, Sr. - Ruston Vance Gordon - Baton Rouge Andrew T. Beary - Gonzales Barry J. Comardelle - Metairie Benjamin Seth Gravolet - Metairie Bryan E. Beatty - Franklinton John Cooksey, M.D. - Monroe Walter V. Gray - Metairie Marjorie J. Belk - Baton Rouge Willie F. Corley - Denham Springs Marvin T. Green, M.D. - Ruston Jason M. Bell - Alexandria Jeffrey E. Cornelius - Brownsburg, IN Kim Grigg - Coushatta D. C. Benge - Metairie Edmond J. Cortez - Thibodaux R. C. Grolla - Houston Cheney C. Benoit - Lake Charles Roger Cotton - Logansport Michael T. Grosjean - Bossier City Bealah Bergeron - Thibodaux Daniel J. Cox - Chalmette Craig A. Guidry - Houma Huey J. Bernard - Lafayette Delmon Craft - Leesville Clyde E. Handy - Lake Charles Christopher J. Bernard - Lafayette Juanita Crawford - Oakdale Marshall D. Harrison, Jr., D.D.S. - Baton Rouge Darrell J. Berthelot - Plaquemine Surgeon A. Crosby - Cut Off Ward S. Hawkins - Colorado City, TX Gaston Bilbo - Bossier City W. Peyton Cunningham, III - Shreveport J. E. Haworth - Alexandria Greg Bimle - West Monroe Derrick Curnutte - Keithville William R. Hay - Shreveport Chester Blanchard - Morgan City Lucien J. Cutrera - Baton Rouge Thomas G. Hebert - Port Allen Brian J. Blanchard - Lafayette Edward O. Daigle - Covington Edward J. Hebert - Lafitte Mike Boley - New Orleans Harold Dantin - Raceland Michael J. Hebert - Pierre Part Brad R. Bond - Monroe Michael Dark - Jonesboro Clyde Hebert - Eunice David J. Bonin, Jr. - Lafayette David G. Darland - Ruston David Hellmers - New Orleans Philip S. Bonner, II - Baton Rouge Manuel J. David - Sulphur James E. Hendrix - Mangham Barry J. Bonnette - Ville Platte John E. Davidson - Metairie Cary A. Hernandez - Lafayette Kevin Borne - Baton Rouge Michael E. Dazet - Metairie Connor Hodge - Monroe Duane M. Boswell - Shreveport Harold E. Dearie, II - Metairie Andy J. Hodges - Shreveport Charles E. Boudousquie - Sun City, AZ Wally H. Dees - Amite Irby Hogue - Ville Platte Timothy J. Bourgeois - Sulphur Miss E. L. Deiglmayr - New Orleans Sam A. Holladay, Jr., M.D. - Springhill Keith M. Bourgeois - Ponchatoula Darrell Delome - Lafayette Wendell B. Hood - Minden Herbert Bourliea, Jr. - Charenton Patrick D. DeRouen - New Orleans John L. Hubert - Covington Eddie Bozeman, Sr. - Ruston Blaine Devillier - Eunice Charles Ben Humphries - Ruston Eleanor H. Bradford - Baton Rouge Jeffery Paul Diez - Gonzales Scott L. Hutchison - Lafayette Todd A. Bridwell - Louisville, KY Rep. Jean M. Doerge - Minden Thomas L. Ittman - New Orleans Joseph M. Brocato - Alexandria Edward L. Donaldson, Jr., D.D.S. - Pearl River Ben James - Ruston Beau Brouillette, M.D. - Shreveport Charles K. Dorhauer - Denham Springs Herb Jeane - Shreveport Deke J. Broussard - Carencro Donald W. Doucet, M.D. - New Roads Ronald J. Joachim, Jr. - Slidell Ronney & Sue Broussard - Pollock John J. Driscoll - Metairie Roland Johnson - Haughton Nolan J. Broussard, Jr. - Lafayette Philip E. Dudenhefer - New Orleans Joel Johnson - Winnfield Joshua A. Broussard - Jennings John C. Dugas - Lake Arthur Dr. Jimmy Johnston - Lafayette Richard P. Brown - Mangham Robert M. Dugas - Lafayette Ingrid Jones - Abbeville Alan Brown - Shreveport Donna G. Dunnegan - Slidell Ricky J. Judice - Lafayette Donald R. Brown - West Monroe Harold J. Duplantis - Metairie Jan C. Juncker - Metairie Jim Brown - Tallulah Rawls Dupree, Jr. - Downsville Edward T. Jurgens - West Monroe Barry G. Brunet - Houma Steven Buzz Durio - Lafayette Billy G. Keckler, Jr. - Shreveport

Page 40 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Grand Prize Winner, and he and his brother appeal are essential to the financial well- will be spending the week of July 7th being of the Federation and help fund our through the 14th with Jim Flynn of Red programs. Once again, many of you have Mountain Outfitters, horseback riding, fish- come through for us with support above and ing and camping the high country of the beyond your annual dues contribution. I Colorado Rockies. He has promised to take humbly thank each one of you and your Bill Ford plenty of pictures and we should have those families for these contributions. Following for the next issue. 1st prize winner was this article is a list of those generous mem- Bertrum Daigle of Belle Chasse and 2nd prize winner was Eugene Rills of Brusly. Both said “show me the money” and each was given a check in the amounts of $500 How time flies. Here and $300, respectively. The Year 2000 we are already half way through the Year Sweeps will be kicking off the end of July, 2000. The world didn’t end on 1/1/2000 once again offering the Grand Prize Winner and everything is pretty much the same as it a choice of a Colorado hunting trip for two, was on 12/31/99. Although here at the a high mountain summer fishing adventure Federation much has happened since the last or $2000 cash. Keep an eye on your mail- issue and the new millennium; we’ve had box for your entry tickets. our annual convention, two extra and the The convention this year was a little Dr. David Spring of Baton Rouge, one of the Federation’s regular legislative sessions are over with and hectic, especially with the last minute newest Life Members receives his Charter Member Life oh yes, the 1999-2000 hunting season is his- change of venue from Toledo Bend to Member plaque from LWF Development Director,Bill Forrd tory. Alexandria, but everything turned out well Being mid-year, I need to remember and we had good attendance and participa- bers that contributed to the 1999 Year End and remind everyone else that their ‘99/‘00 tion. Once again I want to thank the Clio Appeal. I will include the names of Spring fishing licenses expired on June 30, 2000. Appeal donors in the next issue. I’m one of those people who wants to get Retired Podiatrist Dr. David Spring every penny’s worth out of my fishing from Baton Rouge and Rena Pitts, Pitts license and always wait until the last day of Farm Management, of Ferriday are the June to get my new license. I have also been newest LWF life members. We thank them known to forget all about it and end up both for their long-term commitment to the scrambling for a place to buy a license at the Federation and their generous support. For last minute when I get asked to go on a July those of you who would like information on fishing trip. Learn from my experience and life membership, please contact the don’t let this happen to you. Federation office. The 1999-2000 hunting season was a So far this year, through May 31st, we 1999 Sweepstakes Grand Prize Winner, David Davis of good one for me. I ended up with 16 squir- LaPlace, LA is congratulated by LWF Development have gained over 500 new members. To rels, 22 ducks, 28 doves and three deer in the Director, Bill Ford. David and his brother will be spending those I extend a heartfelt welcome and freezer. I’m going to have what is left of the a week with Red Mountain Outfitters camping and fishing thanks for your support. Our membership two deer (backstraps and roasts didn’t make the Colorado high mountain lakes in July. is our strength. When we talk with legisla- it through February) ground into “burger Sportsman’s League and their wives and tors and others that have influence over con- meat” and tamales (Pete Giovenco-St. Rose friends that make up the “Kennerettes”. servation and environmental issues, they makes the best deer meat tamales! deerde- This group of ladies, especially Melodie realize that they are talking with representa- [email protected]) I’m also going to let Pete take Dauzat, are instrumental in helping me pull tives of the state’s largest and oldest conser- most of the ducks and doves and make them off the Friday night auction. Thank you, vation organization, and that our members into sausage. I understand he can make any- thank you ladies. Thanks also to our new are also their constituents. Your support thing into a great tasting sausage, including 2nd V. P. “Smitty” Smith and his wife, allows LWF to be an effective advocate for nutria. I’ll let you know how this turns out. Shawn, for their help in putting the Silent conservation. The squirrels won’t make it through the July Auction items together and just “being Many of our new members joined 4th weekend...... I’ll make a sauce picante there” when I needed an extra hand. Plus through the waterfowl surveys we have been out of them. So it looks like my freezer will Smitty supplied me with Macanudos (no, sending out since the beginning of the year. be empty by September, just in time for teal not the dance [Macarena] – they are cigars) When we have collected them all I will be season...... couldn’t have planned it any bet- throughout the convention. turning them over to the Louisiana ter! During the month of May we conduct- Department of Wildlife & Fisheries water- Our annual Sweepstakes was a huge ed the first of our two special appeals. The success. David Davis of La Place is the Spring Appeal along with the Year-End FYI: Continued on page 32

Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 41 Conservationists Recognized: Continued from page 13 and helps to cover some of the costs of med- further promote the program and enhance its ical treatment. And in 1999 she began pre- visibility. senting a Wildlife Education Series to elemen- This active young woman already has “Commitment.” That’s a characteristic tary school children using slides of her patients numerous accomplishments to her credit. But found in all of our conservation award hon- and narration tailored to the age interest of the the Louisiana Wildlife Federation is especially orees. But it applies to no individual or group audience. proud that she has invested her time and tal- more than to those who dedicate their lives to ent in educating the farming community and the care and rehabilitation of injured wildlife. Marla Elizabeth Adam – Youth doing something for wildlife. Noel A. Thistlethwaite is one such volunteer Conservationist of the Year who has made wildlife “rehab” her life’s work. Cleco Corporation – Conservation Thistlethwaite’s property where she lives Kids – oops! – I mean, young ladies do Corporation of the Year in Prairie Basse, a small community between the darndest things. And it is especially grati- Grand Coteau and Arnaudville in St. Landry fying when they put their hearts and energy For conservation to work for all of us and Parish, is enveloped by an assortment of enclo- into projects that benefit their communities, to have a quality environment to enjoy, the sures and flight cages that house a multitude wildlife resources, and the future. business community must step up to the plate “Operation Quackback” may seem like and do its share. But being “good actors” in an unlikely program for a teenager to take terms of pollution prevention and good envi- under her wing, but Kaplan High Senior, Marla Elizabeth Adam, has been a leading ambassador and organizer for this award-win- ning conservation program. “Quackback” is a volunteer, farmer-initi- ated program aimed at providing wetland habitat for waterfowl and other wetland- dependent species by flooding rice fields. It is Noel A. Thistlethwaite is recognized as LWF’s Volunteer sponsored by the Louisiana Rice Growers Conservationist of the Year. Association, the Louisiana Farm Bureau and the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. of creatures in various stages of convalescence. Cleco Corporation, represented by chairman and CEO Greg The winter moist-soil acreage it creates pro- Nesbit (CR) and David Eppler, president and COO (CL) Most of these she has built herself at her own vides a haven for ducks, geese, shorebirds and received the Conservation Corporation of the Year award. expense. She has been a licensed wildlife reha- many other wildlife species while reducing bilitator since 1994, and during that time has bothersome weeds and maintaining soil mois- ronmental practices is not enough. “rehabed” hundreds of wild animals and ture for the next growing season. Companies must reach out with their restored them to their habitat by providing “Quackback” demonstrates farmers’ concern resources and business savvy and lend a hand. them medical care, proper nutrition and hous- for conservation, and coming from a 6th gen- Power company, Cleco, has been doing ing. eration farm family, Adam is especially inter- just that. Rehab work is meticulous and time-con- ested in promoting that program aspect. Particularly, Cleco has embraced a suming. On any given afternoon Miss Adam was selected last year to chair unique environmental education program Thistlethwaite can be found dicing fruits, veg- “Operation Quackback” for her parish by the called “Louisiana YES” or Youth etables and meat for her wards, and measuring Vermilion Junior Leadership Group. In this Environmental Summit. The concept of medications and filling droppers to feed weak- capacity she took the initiative through public “YES” was developed by the staff of the ened and very young animals. Then there is Louisiana Nature Center. It brings young the process of teaching young birds of prey to people aged 14-17 together to develop skills to get their own groceries, proceeding in stages create and implement grass-roots environ- from feeding raw meat, to dead mice, to mental and conservation projects within their releasing live mice in flight cages for the birds home communities and provides exposure to to learn to hunt. On her own, Thistlethwaite “real world” environmental concerns. It also has had to learn all of the basics – what the exposes the participants to career opportuni- animals eat, their habits and means of survival. ties in conservation/environmental fields and She raises the mice and some of the other food requires follow-up reporting and presentations needed for the animals in her care, again, at of project outcomes to others in the commu- her own expense. And she barely mentions nity. the plentiful bites and scratches that come Marla Elizabeth Adam, Youth Conservationist of the Year. Not only does Cleco support “Louisiana with the territory. YES” financially, it also lends its staff to par- Last year Thistlethwaite treated dozens of speaking engagements, media releases and per- ticipate in the 3-day “YES” summits and pro- “critters”, from diminutive house wrens and sonal calls and letters to promote participation duces and distributes information to recruit hummingbirds to great-horned owls and even in the program. Thousands of people learned students to participate. Cleco has stuck with bobcats. She does her rehab work as a mem- about “Quackback” through her efforts and the program through its formative stages and ber of the organization “Wildlife in Distress”, she signed up over 25,000 acres. Many of can be proud of its involvement with this a group that coordinates wildlife rehab efforts these areas she visited to help place signs to innovative youth education program that is Page 42 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 having statewide impact. area’s natural history, woodsmanship, and how was approached by Bastrop residents and ama- In addition to supporting “Louisiana to teach both younger and older audiences teur herpetologists Martha Ann Messinger YES”, Cleco is active in retrofitting utility about the Delta’s natural bottomland hard- poles in areas frequented by bald eagles to wood ecosystem. Instructors also lead field avoid their injury; managing utility rights-of- trips on the Refuge and represent the Refuge way for wildlife habitat; sponsoring the at various meetings and public events Louisiana Environmental Education throughout the region. Currently there are 28 Symposium; and partnering with Northwood trained instructors in the ICP. High School near Boyce in the “E-Cool In 1999 the ICP reached over 20,000 School” project. “E-Cool School” involves people through programs and activities on and landscaping to promote energy conservation, off the Refuge by giving talks and/or tours and and developing an outdoor classroom. demonstrations. This involved 4600 volun- teer hours by the young instructors and their Louisiana State Senator Robert J. Barham receives the Tensas River Refuge Association volunteer mentors. The affect of this effort is LWF’s Conservation Legislator of the Year award from Karen Gautreaux and Dr. Earl Matthew. Instructors Corps – Conservation Educators that literally thousands of people are being of the Year exposed to the value of wildlife habitat and the need for stewardship of the environment. and George M. Patton, he was not aware of The vast floodplain forests of the They are learning that they are responsible for the decline of Louisiana’s 3 native box turtles Mississippi Delta are gone, victim of massive solving environmental problems, not someone or the complete lack of laws and rules to pro- clearing and conversion to cropland – victim else; that conservation serves everyone’s inter- vide for their management and protect them of “progress”. The once clean-running streams est. from extinction. Working with these two and rivers have been channelized and choked The ICP’s contribution to conservation constituents and the Louisiana Wildlife with soil-laden runoff laced with pesticides and society is enhanced by the benefits to the Federation, Barham introduced legislation to and chemical fertilizers. The change has young instructors themselves. Graduates of prohibit the sale of box turtles and limit the occurred so rapidly the landscape today, the program show a marked increase in self harvest and possession of wild box turtles for except for a relatively few tracts of mostly pub- confidence, public speaking and leadership personal pets. lic land set aside for wildlife refuges and man- skills. They inspire others to learn about the According to Senator Barham, the “turtle agement areas would not be recognized by the environment and environmental problems bill” took on a life of its own as dozens of let- youth who grew up in the Delta only 50 years that we all face. Their efforts have had a dra- ters and ago. But these remnant tracts of bottomland matic impact on the environmental awareness e-mails poured in to legislators and the hardwood forest, like the Tensas River of the people in northeast Louisiana and sur- governor, not only from Louisiana citizens, National Wildlife Refuge, are more than just rounding area – a good sign for the future of but from people all over the country and other the Delta. parts of the world. The bill became the con- The ICP includes instructors: Lega servation highlight of the legislative session, Grover, Eric Stevens, Carole Lee Brown, ultimately passing without dissent. Even Garrett Marsh, Stephen Chandler, Myra Governor Foster, not much on ceremony, Arnold, Theresa Arnold, Shawna Wyatt, Paul took the time to schedule a photo session Powers, Andy Harden, Tabatha Kelly, Pamela when he signed the bill, Act 81 of the 1999 Netterville, Brandy Wyatt, Kevin Hampton, Regular Session, in the company of Barham, David Watson, Amy Stevens, Tecia Paeth, Messinger, Patton and LWF President Kathy Tracy Weast, Brandon Laughman, Jeremy Wascom. Purvis, Matt Koestler, Amber Key, Twyla Members of the Tensas River Refuge Association Instructors Corps crowd in for the presentation of the Johnson and adult mentors Joe Walters, James Conservation Educator(s) of the Year award. Hendrix, Virginia Whittington, Bonnie Hardin, C. L. Keene, Kim Simmons, and the last stand for a legendary wild ecosystem. Mike Esters. They are a vision for a new generation of con- servationists, a vision of what once again could Senator Robert J. Barham – Conservation be. At least that’s the way the participants in Legislator of the Year the Tensas River Refuge Association Instructor Corps Program (ICP) see it. In addition to the essential role of repre- Bob Marye, director of the Louisiana Nature Center with Established in 1997, this unique program senting their constituent’s views at the State the Conservation Organization of the Year award earned consists of young people of high school age Capitol and providing leadership on state pol- by the Center. who, with the guidance of adult mentors, icy and fiscal matters, legislators have the learn about the Tensas River NWR ecosystem opportunity to introduce bills to respond to Act 81 will have far reaching impact on and, in turn, become instructors that bring the issues brought to their attention by individual box turtles in other states as well as Louisiana, message of habitat conservation and restora- citizens in their districts. Thus began the as it will no longer be possible to smuggle box tion to their home and school communities. involvement of Louisiana State Senator turtles out of states where commercial harvest Instructors complete over 100 hours of expe- Robert J. Barham of Oak Ridge in conserving Conservationists Recognized: Continued on page 31 riential training that involves learning the the state’s native box turtles. When Barham Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 43 SouthSouth LouisianaLouisiana FarmsFarms ProvideProvide HabitatHabitat ForFor BirdsBirds

where sugar cane, hay, crawfish and livestock A team of biologists led by University of – dairy and beef cattle, horses and swine – Louisiana at Lafayette’s Dr. Jay Huner have are raised. This compares very favorably to been documenting the value of south the statewide bird count of 450 species. Louisiana farms as bird habitats. Huner is All major groups of birds normally director at the ULL Crawfish Research found in Louisiana are represented in the Center located at the university’s 600-acre team’s bird list. There are more than 40 experimental farm at Cade near St. species that nest on the Cade farm. Martinville. Although all farms in the area do not include Huner’s team includes Michael J. the diversity of crops and habitats found at Crawfish ponds planted with rice for crawfish forage Musumeche, a professional ornithologist the experimental farm, Huner points out provide shallow water marsh habitat for water birds in the fall of the year. Photo by Jay V. Huner.

farm can expect to find 30-40 bird species. During fall and spring migration periods, as many as 100 bird species may be recorded. A recent inventory in early December 1999 recorded 73 species including cormorants, grebes, geese, ducks, hawks gulls, terns, shorebirds, woodpeckers, flycatchers, swal- lows, warblers, robins, wrens, sparrows, blackbirds, cardinals, mockingbirds, doves, kinglets, blue jays, bluebirds, shrikes, finch- es, crows, egrets, herons and ibises. Huner said his team is confidant that an additional 25-30 bird species will be documented this year as more effort is devoted to monitoring birds during migration periods. For further information about the ULL Agricultural Bird Project, contact Huner at 337/394-7508 or by email- at [email protected]. Little blue herons, great egret, white-faced ibises, white ibises utilize shallow water feeding habitat provided when the crawfish ponds are drained. Photo by Michael J. Musumeche. and New Iberia High School biology teacher that on a landscape basis, every section of and Bill Vermillion, wildlife biologist for the land in the area provides birds with the habi- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and tats available at the experimental farm. Fisheries Natural Heritage Program. A According to Huner, the availability of number of amateur and professional bird crawfish ponds provides artificial marsh watchers from the area have also worked habitat that attracts, during the course of a with the team. The birding project is sup- year, 70-100 different species of waterbirds. ported by the National Wetlands Research This is an especially critical consideration as Center in Lafayette and the Lafayette office thousands of acres of nearby coastal marsh- of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. land is lost each and every year. This has Financial support is also provided by the forced the waterbirds to take advantage of Louisiana Crawfish Promotion and Research the artificial wetlands provided by the state’s board. rice and crawfish farming industries, said Huner’s ornithological team has record- Huner. ed 223 species of birds on the farm property On any given day, visitors to the Cade Tricolored (Louisiana) heron feeding in one of the ULL farm crawfish ponds. Photo by Michael J. Musumeche.

Page 44 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 26TH ANNUAL WILDFOWL CARVERS FESTIVAL

The millennium finds the Louisiana Wildfowl Carvers and Collectors Guild about to field our 26th and largest ever Wildfowl Carvers Festival. This event will be one of five featured exhibitions in Competition Magazine, the number one venue for wildlife art and decoys. Located in the all new John A. Alario Center in Westwego, it is a state-of-the-art exhibit in a 21st century setting with excellent lighting and in-house food service featuring jambalaya, red beans and rice, and a superb gumbo. It’s an event you’ll never forget. The security and extensive parking area are two added pluses. It’s easy to find – just a half-mile from the Huey Long Bridge on the Westbank Expressway. You’ll be right next to Bayou Segnette State Park, a

Green-winged teal, 1999 Best In Gulf South Professional by Steve Worona of Port Hope, Canada. Pair of oldsquaw by Lionel Dwyer of Pickering, Ontario, Canada – 1999 Best In Show-Pairs. wonderful place to spend an extra day taking a swamp tour. New Orleans is the number one tourist spot in the United states. Bourbon Street, the Aquarium of the Americas, Audubon Zoo and, if you feel lucky, Harrah’s Casino are all just a hop, skip and a jump away. Y’all come pass a good time with us. - Charles W. Frank, Chairman 2000, Louisiana Wildfowl Carvers Festival

Tibby Sez: Continued from page 46

Plans for the State Duck and Goose Calling Contest which will be held on October 21st are moving very much to my liking. There will be more about this in the next issue of the magazine, but in the meantime practice up on your calling and consider entering the con- test. There will be a lot more prizes this year, including a nice shot- gun that will be drawn for by the top callers in each division. Bonne peche,

Ole Tibby Pied-billed grebe, 1999 Best In Gulf South Shooting Stool by Carl Danos of Lockport, Louisiana.

Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000, Page 45 TIBBY SEZ AFFILIATE Ole Tibby copter pilot (Viet Nam). The actor, Tom CLUBS Hanks, who starred in the movie “Saving DISTRICT 1 St. Bernard Sportsmen’s League DISTRICT 2 Clio Sportsman’s League Jefferson Rod & Gun Bass Club Jefferson Rod and Gun Club Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation DISTRICT 3 Acadiana Bay Association Iberia Rod and Gun Club Louisiana Commercial Fisherman’s Association Of Dulac DISTRICT 4 Claiborne Parish Hunting and Fishing Club Lincoln Parish Wildlife Federation DISTRICT 5 Waterways Access Association DISTRICT 6 Baton Rouge Sportsmen’s League Citizens For A Clean Environment East Ascension Sportsmen’s League Student Hannah Messina from Bellingrath Middle School interviewing Tibby about his WW II experiences for a class Hunters Against Poachers project while he recuperates from knee replacement surgery. Tibby conducts informal clinics on boating and hunting Lake Maurepas Society safety for neighborhood children who refer to he and wife Erna as “Pa and Ma Tibby”. Photo by Erna Thibodeaux. Pointe Clair Hunting Club Bon Jour Mes Amis, Central LA Chapter, Safari Club International Private Ryan” was at the dedication and he Triangle “T” Sportsmen’s League took down my name and address for a story I hope you all are surviving the unusual DISTRICT 7 he is writing. drought we are having in South Louisiana Acadiana Sportsmen’s League The blue birds using my nest boxes put and the usual heat. This Ole Ecriteur has Calcasieu Rod and Gun Club been confining himself to the house. A new out 2 coveys of young ones. I had to run the DISTRICT 8 subdivision is being built behind us and the sparrows out of one of the boxes – they were Avoyelles Wildlife Federation dust, smoke and noise is not easy on wife not paying rent! We still get woodpeckers, Bayou Bassmasters of Alexandria Erna and me. cardinals, doves, mocking birds, and blue Catahoula Lake Conservation Club I attended the D-Day World War II jays, coming to the feeder. Putting out only Rapides Wildlife Association Memorial dedication in New Orleans on sunflower seeds minimizes the attraction for June 6th. Since I do not like to drive in New starlings and English sparrows that have DISTRICT 9 Orleans I enlisted Richard Dugas, partner taken over the 2 purple martin houses in the Louisiana Toledo Bend Lake Association with Stan Blouin at the Spillway Sportsman backyard. South Toledo Bend Civic Association in Brusly, to drive. A fine friend, Richard A schoolgirl from down the street came Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance over to interview me about WW II. She drove and helped me along and paid for the STATEWIDE brought a tape recorder and a publication expenses. I was able to share with him the 3 Association of Louisiana Bass Clubs with some history on the 2nd Armored tickets which were given to me by our Army Bayou State Bowhunters Association Division. She did a good job. She reported Division Association (2nd Armored Louisiana Chapter, National Wild Turkey back later that all of her teachers and class- Division, nick-named “Hell On Wheels”). Federation mates enjoyed it and that everyone at Our unit didn’t ride in the parade as the Louisiana Safari Club International original tank and personnel carrier the Bellingrath Middle School now knew me. Louisiana Seafood Management Council Division used have metal tracks that were Presently I am recuperating from knee United Commercial Fishermen’s Association not permitted on the street. We sat in the replacement surgery (my 2nd one – the bleachers, saw the dedication, went inside other knee was replaced a few years ago) and the museum and were interviewed by it is keeping me confined, which doesn’t set Channel 6 (New Orleans). well with this Ole Cajun. I really appreciate Richard doing what he did for me that day. He is a Veteran heli- Tibby Sez: Continued on page 45

Page 46 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring/Summer 2000 Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Spring 1999, Page 47