Registration for Escambia County Youth Dove Hunts

Registration will open on Tuesday, November 18, for the two remaining youth dove hunts of 2014. The hunts will take place in Escambia County on December 6 and 13. The hunts are hosted by the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) and participating landowners. To register, visit https://youthhunts.dcnr.alabama.gov/dove.

Online registration is encouraged. However, participants without Internet access may register by calling the WFF District 5 office at 251-626-5474 or the Montgomery WFF headquarters at 334-242-3469. WFF staff will complete the electronic registration form for you over the phone.

To participate in the hunts, youth hunters must be age 15 or younger and accompanied by an adult at least 25 years old (or a parent) who holds a valid state hunting license and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) stamp. Hunters should obtain their license and HIP stamp before the hunt since they will not be available on-site. Before each hunt, a short welcome session with reminders on hunting safety will be conducted. All hunters are encouraged to wear eye protection and earplugs.

Alabama’s youth dove hunting events are staffed by WFF personnel, which encourage a safe, secure environment for both parents and participants. The program also makes use of private lands and fields opened for use by community members, thus fostering good relationships between hunters and private landowners.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit http://www.outdooralabama.com.

Mississippi’s Duck Season Starting Soon

JACKSON- Mississippi’s duck hunting season opens Thursday, November 27, 2014. Many waterfowl hunters are anxiously waiting, due to record breeding population estimates last spring. However, hunters should remember that winter severity and local habitat availability also play a major role in how many ducks make their way to Mississippi.

The hunting season for ducks, mergansers, and coots will be November 27, 2014 – January 25, 2015. The duck daily bag limit is a total of six ducks, which may include four mallards (no more than two of which may be females), three wood ducks, three scaup, two redheads, two pintail, one canvasback, one mottled duck, and one black duck. The merganser daily bag limit is five mergansers, only two of which may be hooded mergansers. Coots have a 15-bird daily bag limit. The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit for ducks, mergansers, and coots.

Mississippi offers numerous public waterfowl hunting opportunities in a variety of habitats. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) have both open access and limited draw hunting areas with intensively managed habitat for Mississippi waterfowl hunters to enjoy.

Hunters ages 16 to 64 must obtain a hunting license and be Harvest Information Program (HIP) registered for Mississippi. All hunters over the age of sixteen are required to have both a state and federal duck stamp. If hunting on a WMA, hunters will also need a WMA User Permit. Hunters should carefully read the regulations for all public lands prior to hunting to ensure they are in compliance.

For more information regarding waterfowl in Mississippi, visit our website at http://www.mdwfp.com/waterfowl or call us at (601) 432-2199.

Louisiana: Dead Cougar Found in Calcasieu Parish

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) responded to a report of a dead cougar along LA Hwy. 12 in Calcasieu Parish west of Dequincy. The animal was found late afternoon on Friday, Nov. 7.

A necropsy performed by LDWF staff determined that the cougar was a 70-pound adult that had been declawed on all four paws. Decomposition made the immediate exact age and cause of death more difficult to determine. However, the cause of death remains under investigation. The origin of the cougar is unknown at this time.

There are no personal captive cougar permits currently issued in the state due to public safety concerns, therefore it is unlawful for anyone to possess a cougar in Louisiana, other than a certified zoo.

The mountain lion, cougar, panther or puma are names that refer to the same animal. Their color ranges from lighter tan to brownish grey. Cougars in Louisiana are protected under state and federal law.

Anyone convicted of killing a cougar in Louisiana could face civil restitution of up to $4,351 and federal citations with additional fines and penalties.

To report information related to the dead cougar found Nov. 7, contact LDWF’s Enforcement Division Lake Charles office at 337-491-2580.

Anyone with any information regarding persons owning a pet cougar should call LA Operation Game Thief, inc. at 1-800-442-2511. Callers may remain anonymous and may receive a cash reward.

To report verifiable sightings of cougars with photos, tracks or scat, please call Maria Davidson at 225-931-3061, or contact Robert Gosnell at 225-763-5448 or rgosnell@wlf.la.gov .