Printable VersionDeer hunters harvested over 3,000 deer on either-sex managed deer hunts on state owned Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) during the 2007-08 hunting season.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife Fisheries (LDWF) reports a total of 28,813 hunter efforts recorded on managed hunts. Those efforts resulted in 3,094 total deer taken for an average of about one deer for every 9.3 hunter efforts.
"WMA managed hunts were excellent across the state this hunting season with several great deer harvested," said LDWF's Deer Study Leader Scott Durham. "We're happy with the results and the fact you can have a quality hunting experience on many of our WMAs."
The total number of harvested deer is on par with last year's total of over 3,000 deer taken during the managed hunts. LDWF collects harvest data on deer taken during managed hunts on about 800,000 acres. Collection of these data is the primary method used by LDWF deer managers to monitor herd health conditions on WMAs.
Durham points out that hunter turn out on the Sherburne WMA managed hunt this year may have been lower than usual due to the closure of Interstate 10, which created slow travel on Highway 190.
"Deer hunting on WMAs is one of the ways for families to spend vacations and holidays together by hunting and putting up their annual venison supply. These managed hunts are a big tradition across the state," said Durham. "This low-cost hunting opportunity is important for many Louisianans."
The following shows the final managed WMA either-sex hunts data for the 2007-08 season:
WMA Hunter efforts Harvest Efforts
Per deer
Loggy Bayou 450* 67 6.7*
Jackson Bienville (17-18 Nov) 933 123 7.6
Tunica Hills (muzzleloader) 279 14 19.9
Ben's Creek 369 22 16.8
Sandy Hollow 105 2 52.5
Maurepas Swamp(selfclearing) 512 66 7.8
Pearl River 318 8 39.8
Attakapas 351 38 9.0
Attakapas (30 Nov -2 Dec) 299 26 10.0
Grassy Lake 1,111 87 13
Pomme de Terre 363 33 11
Sherburne 1 1179 138 8.0
Sherburne (14-16 Dec) 1531 118 12.9
Spring Bayou 371 35 11.0
Thistlewaite (1-2 Dec) 867 51 17.0
Thistlewaite 787 62 13.0
Peason Ridge 600 37 16.0
Clear Creek(27-28 Oct) 1727 92 10.0
Clear Creek 654 37 18.0
West Bay (27-28 Oct) 1155 119 10.0
West Bay 438 14 26.0
Peason Ridge 27-28 Oct) 147 14 10.0
Fort Polk 1337 79 17.0
Fort Polk (27-28 Oct) 941 193 5.0
Union (18 days managed either sex) 1775 238 7.5
Ouachita 355 80 4.4
Bayou Macon (18-19 Nov) 293 39 7.5
Russel Sage 535 83 6.4
Red/Three Rivers 1538 253 6.1
Buckhorn 534 89 6.0
Big Lake 720 122 5.9
Sicily Island 203 45 4.5
Sabine 207 24 8.6
Alexander State Forest (20-21 Oct) 121 12 10.0
Alexander State Forest (3-4 Nov) 103 7 14.7
Dewey Wills (16-17 Dec) 1695 168 10.1
Camp Beauregard (23-24 Nov) 433 90 4.8
Camp Beauregard (15-16 Dec) 265 23 11.5
TOTALS: 28813 3094 9.3
1=I-10 closed due to gas well fire
*=estimate
For more information, contact Scott Durham at 225-765-2351 or sdurham@wlf.louisiana.gov.
2008-032