Highlighted
Program: Wildlife Management
Areas
(LAC Title 76 Part III Chapter 1 Section 101 et seq)
The Louisiana Wildlife
Management Area Program was established
to provide the public with opportunities
for outdoor recreation while
simultaneously providing for
the protection and enhancement
of the natural resources on these
areas. The program is overseen
by the Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries. Since
its initiation in the early 1950’s,
the program has grown substantially
and is currently made up of 59
WMAs and 4 refuges throughout
the state, which combine for
a total of 1,470,295 acres. All
areas (or a portion of these
areas) are open to public hunting,
fishing or other outdoor recreation.
The program has also grown in
popularity and now furnishes
a wide variety of activities
for the state’s outdoor
enthusiasts.
Eleven of the Wildlife
Management Areas are considered
to contain substantial marine
components. These areas provide
a wide array of commercial and
recreational opportunities including
boating, hunting, fishing, hiking
and bird watching among others.
Many of the marine areas also
serve many important ecological
functions including serving as
barriers, pollution filters,
sediment traps and nurseries
for the substantial fisheries
resource.
Management activities
take place on all Wildlife management
areas to enhance and conserve
the natural resources as well
as further the recreational opportunities
on these areas. Data on user-days,
harvests and other activities
is collected by the Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
to better manage the resources
on these areas. In the future,
the goal is to put each acre
of Wildlife Management Area to
the best possible use to deliver
the maximum potential of the
wildlife resources. Wildlife
Management Areas are expected
to continue to grow in popularity
and use as population and the
demand for recreational opportunities
continue to increase. To meet
these needs, another goal of
the Wildlife Management Area
Program is to continue the expansion
and acquisition of lands best
suited to inclusion in the program.
Relevant Agencies/Programs:
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