Capt. Trey Mason, Lt. Chad Watts and Major Rick Owens
A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agent was honored by the Mississippi Flyway Council at the Oct. 7 Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting in Baton Rouge.
Lt. Chad Watts, of Lecompte, received the Louisiana Waterfowl Enforcement Officer of the Year award from the Mississippi Flyway Council. The Mississippi Flyway Council recognizes law enforcement officers from each state who make outstanding contributions to the protection of waterfowl.
At the time of the application for this award, Lt. Watts was a sergeant that mainly patrolled Grant Parish. He has since been promoted to lieutenant where he is supervisor over Catahoula, Concordia, LaSalle and Winn parishes and has been an agent for over 14 years.
Lt. Watts was honored for his participation in numerous illegal waterfowl hunting investigations. His cases have involved hunting migratory game birds during a closed season and from a moving vessel, taking over the limit of waterfowl, using lead shot and hunting without licenses. His enforcement efforts also help ensure that hunters adhere to migratory waterfowl bag limits, required licenses and hunting hours.