LDWF Focus on Opening of Dove Season Nets 100 Citations

While opening weekend of dove season in Louisiana has come and gone for some, many still await their court date to put that weekend behind them.

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Each year in Louisiana, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents hit the dove fields in droves looking for those who might be breaking the law in regards to these migratory game birds.

In all truth, it's kind of like their "kickoff" to hunting season. A few weeks ago, I reminded hunters of this fact when we discussed preparing for the upcoming season opener.

Game wardens don't have a sense of humor -- ever!   And it's up to us to play by their rules.

Or get out your check book and prepare to spend a day with the Federal Magistrate.  Trust me, that's about as much fun as hemorrhoid surgery.

Apparently, dozens of Louisiana dove hunters either didn't read that memo, or just didn't think it applied to them.  They were wrong.

LDWF just announced that enforcement agents cited 75 subjects resulting in 100 citations for alleged dove hunting violations on the opening weekend of the 2024-25 dove hunting season that took place from Sept. 7-8.

Agents seized a total of 285 doves in connection with these cases and donated them to local charities.

Agents made the following dove cases in these parishes on opening weekend:

• Livingston: Agents cited seven subjects each for hunting migratory game birds over a baited area and wrote one citation for placing bait to hunt migratory game birds.
• St. Helena: Agents cited four subjects each for hunting migratory game birds over a baited area and wrote one citation for aiding and abetting others in taking migratory game birds over a baited area.
• Tangipahoa: Agents cited one subject for hunting migratory game birds with an unplugged gun.
• Washington: Agents cited one subject for hunting migratory game birds over a baited area.
• East Feliciana: Agents cited 12 subjects each for hunting migratory game birds over a baited area.
• Beauregard: Agents cited one subject for hunting migratory game birds with an unplugged gun.
• Evangeline: Agents cited two subjects each for hunting migratory game birds with an unplugged gun.
• Acadia: Agents cited one subject for hunting migratory game birds with an unplugged gun.
• Calcasieu: Agents cited one subject for hunting migratory game birds with an unplugged gun.
• Avoyelles: Agents cited 10 subjects each for hunting migratory game birds over a baited area, wrote two citations for hunting migratory game birds with an unplugged gun and wrote two citations for aiding and abetting others in taking migratory game birds over a baited area.
• Pointe Coupee: Agents cited six subjects each for hunting migratory game birds over a baited area and wrote another citation for placing bait to hunt migratory game birds.
• Natchitoches: Agents cited four subjects and wrote two citation for hunting migratory game birds over a baited area, one citation for aiding and abetting others in taking migratory game birds over a baited area and three citations for hunting migratory game birds with an unplugged gun.
• Concordia: Agents cited 10 subjects and wrote nine citations for hunting migratory game birds over a baited area, five citations for aiding and abetting others in taking migratory game birds over a baited area and one citation for hunting migratory game birds with an unplugged gun.
• Claiborne: Agents cited eight subjects each for possessing over the limit of doves and untagged doves.
• Red River: Agents cited one subject for over the limit of doves.
• Richland: Agents cited one subject for hunting migratory game birds from a moving vehicle.
• Franklin: Agents cited three subjects and wrote one citation for hunting migratory game birds from a baited area, one citation for aiding and abetting others in taking migratory game birds over a baited area, one citation for placing bait to hunt migratory game birds and two citations for hunting migratory game birds from a moving vehicle.
• Allen: Agents cited one subject for hunting migratory game birds with an unplugged gun.
• Bienville: Agents cited one subjects for hunting migratory game birds over a baited area and for aiding and abetting others in taking migratory game birds over a baited area.

All migratory game bird baiting cases are filed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution in Federal Court.