Applications are now being accepted for an opening day lottery dove hunt on the Bayou Pierre Wildlife Management Area (WMA) the first Saturday of the September 2006 dove season. 

The opening day hunt is limited to 75 hunters who are selected by a random drawing.  Dove hunters wanting to apply for the drawing can obtain an application from any Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries regional office or Web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov.

Hunters may apply individually or as a group with no more than five applications per group.  Group applications should be stapled together and will be drawn as a group.

A $5 non-refundable administrative fee will be charged for each applicant regardless of age.  Applications must be accompanied by a check or money order made payable to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.  All applications must be returned to the address listed on the application by July 7, 2006.  Successful applicants will be notified by mail. 
 
Last year's lottery hunters enjoyed a successful hunt on a cooler than normal early September afternoon as 68 of the 75 hunters selected in the 2005 lottery participated.  A total of 545 doves were harvested with 22 hunters bagging a limit on the opening day lottery hunt. 

After the opening day lottery hunt, Bayou Pierre WMA is open to all hunters wanting to participate in the September hunting tradition.  The first three days of the 2005 dove season on Bayou Pierre WMA resulted in hunters putting in 135 hunting efforts and bagging 647 doves and 24 pigeons which was an increase from the 576 doves harvested during the first three days of the 2004 season.

Don Carpenter, Bayou Pierre WMA supervisor in a recent report on the condition of the dove fields commented:  "The spring planted fields are developing according to plans.  The winter wheat fields are the best ever with the wheat maturing earlier than past years.  Mowed strips in the fields are already attracting resident doves." 
 
Bayou Pierre WMA is located in Red River and Desoto parishes approximately 20 miles south of Shreveport.  The WMA encompasses 2,212 acres with approximately 100 acres managed for doves.  Applications can be obtained by going to www.wlf.louisiana.gov, under the "Hunting-WMAs/Refuges-Lottery Hunts" drop down menu.  For additional information contact Steve Hebert at (318) 371-3050 or shebert@wlf.louisiana.gov.

For more information, contact Steve Hebert at 318-371-3050 or shebert@wlf.louisiana.gov.
2006-161