As we are responding more and more to this thread......I am coming to the realization of how I think this proposal has evolved.

I could be wrong, but I just about have myself convinced, this is a crowd problem, and a people problem, and not a MM problem.

Why do I say this? because in all these public areas, there are a set # of ducks, sometimes jammed into certain areas. Joe who has been hunting his favorite spot for 20 years has his blind all fixed up and ready for opening day. All is well, the table is set, he's been hearing alot of boats come and go, sees the headlight come in and he shines his light and they flare off. 10 minutes to go, starting to see some birds in the twilight, mallards flying over high, whistling wings all around. here comes another boat, this time he's not turning. here he comes. This dude is setting up 60 yards from my spread. He sees my light but continues setting up. Words are exchanged ;tempers flare. Neither guys backs down and what ensues is just an unpleasant and unsuccessful hunt.

This happens every day on these WMA's. The problem is someones sets up on you because there is no other real estate to go on. Whereever a guy goes; someone is already there.

People probably went and complain about the above described problem, and therefore they will propose something new. The limited access area might work, it might not. Probably you will just have a bunch of guys in pirogues jam each other up, and do the same thing I just described. Its not a mud motor problem...Its a too many people problem at one time.

It don't know what the fix is.....but it's not this. Every body has an opinion. Some people say there are too many pirogues because they are the ones that have too much access. Every year on these management areas, the crowds grow bigger and bigger, yet the hunting according to many is not that stellar.

Now we gittin' somewheres !!!!!

Good Post and Good Thot process !!!!

AND .... fo the record ..... I agree with a StateWide "No Shootin'" after 1 P.M. too ....... on all waters .... Public or Private !!!! 'Course this is fo WaterFowlin' only ....

I think da best solution would be for da state to purchase more land for public huntin and drop da limit down to 3 birds per hunter per day.

Below is the information I received via email from one of the commissioners Mike Voisin.


Atchafalaya Delta WMA Limited Access Area

For the 2010-2011 hunting season, LDWF is proposing two “limited access areas” on Atchafalaya Delta WMA (ADWMA) (as well as one area on Pass a Loutre, Salvador and two areas on Pointe aux Chenes WMAs). One area on ADWMA will be at the Wax Delta (2,100 acres) and the other at the Main Delta (1,150 acres). The total acreage for these areas is 3,250 which is 2.4% of the total WMA and approximately 6.1% of the WMA’s habitat that is suitable for duck hunting.

Hunting would be permitted in the limited access areas but with the following restrictions:

► No internal combustion engines allowed during the months of September, October, November, December, and January
► Areas are accessible via pirogue, canoe, etc. or foot (wade/walk in)
► Trolling motors are permitted

The area would be posted with boundary signs stating “Limited Access Area”. Hunters would be allowed to access the perimeter of the area, but prohibited from driving a boat powered by internal combustion engine through it. This would mainly prohibit the use of boat blinds that are powered by surface drive motors in these areas.

The areas are being proposed primarily to provide exclusive primitive style hunting opportunity for the public (i.e., walk-in, pirogue only, or paddle in areas) which has been requested by multiple users of the WMA. It will also allow LDWF staff to evaluate the effect of shallow drive traffic on waterfowl utilization of the WMA and determine if limited access areas improve the quality of hunting on portions of the WMA. As a by-product of this regulation, portions of the limited access areas may also provide resting/foraging areas for waterfowl when water levels are low and access is difficult.

During the 2009-2010 waterfowl season, 146 hunters at Atchafalaya Delta WMA were surveyed to obtain public opinion concerning this regulation change. The results of the survey indicated that 78% of hunters supported the limited access areas. The survey included hunters that operate surface drive vessels on the WMA.

Below is a description and map of Atchafalaya Delta WMA limited access areas. The areas are represented as red polygons on the map.

Description:
Main Delta: Between Community Pass and the western finger of Horseshoe Island, south of Horseshoe and Community Islands approximately four miles to open bay (south of the finger tips of Horseshoe Island).

Wax Delta: Between Pintail Pass and Greg Pass, south of the tip of Greg Island approximately 3.75 miles to open bay.

We'll be talking about this tonight on MMT Radio!

Call in and voice your opinion!
(347) 308-8133

8pm don't miss it!

basin......good work. Sending you a pm.

Now that I've thought about it I don't think it is legal for restrictions to be put on any navigable water ways according to da US Supreme Court and it's previous rullings.

This past year the bioligist were doing a survey with all the hunters on several ocasions (this wasnt something that they just thought of they actually asked the regular hunters and this is what they came up with) that was one of the questions they were asking along with a few others. I kinda have a mixed opinion on this subject. One something deff. needs to be done out there, from a week before the season opens till it closes there is always somebody riding around the marsh scaring ducks to see them fly (scouting) . Everyone in my groups both times was all for the pirougue only area, even had a guy that has been hunting there since before the wax was the wax who was all for it. But with all that said in back my mind im thinking like the rest of you, if they start this whats next?? There is simply too many people and not enough area. Everyone I know that used to hunt the basin are now hunting the wax or the delta simply because its almost pointless to hunt the basin anymore cept for a few woodies. The marsh is one of the last places around here that you can actually kill a descent number of ducks and thanks to the la sportsman everyone and there momma knows that. But If you are completly against this what do you sugest to have better hunting? this pirougue thing just might work?

Basinhunter, You are right on related to the birds not getting a rest. I hunt the Wax and I hear boats running, not only all afternoon, but sometimes all night. The birds have nowhere to go. I think a change in hunting and joy ridin times to eliminate some afternoons there will help alot more than the pirogue only area. My 2 cents.

Good job last night Brooks and Tony. Good show.

After reading the proposal and tossing things around a bit there is alot I could say, and will to the Commission.

Several things stand out about this proposal, and one of them you have already covered. A sound management plan is needed or any proposal won't help. The current rules aren't being enforced. I don't sleep down there, but I can only imagine what goes on. You have guys coming on here saying there is riding around all night long. WTF? WMA rules clearly state that you have to be out off the area after dark. Riding all night? No wonder the birds leave. I personally know of two younger (kids) that have gone frogging down there during hunting season this year. WTF? Where is enforcement. No wonder there are no birds. They don't rest during the day, and they don't obviously rest at night. There is a pink elephant in the room and no body wants to talk about it.

What really got my blood to boil on this, was in the proposal there was no hidden agenda. They clearly stated to keep mudmotors and pop up blinds off. I expected some hidden veil at least.

I still stand by my original statement. Just too many people jammed into an area. The prigoue/kayak crew is going to really get the screaming red-ass when they paddle a mile in, and some joker still sets up on them. That'll be interesting.

One last think that makes me go HMMMMMMM? My brother and I hunted down there 4 times this past year. Each time we were met and checked by a biologist in the Cut and we talked to them at length every time. You can't shut my bro up once he gets to talking. Not once were we surveyed about the LAA area. But we were in my mudboat. HMMMMMM?

Thanks dpd. I am by no means good at public speaking but when it comes to stuff like this I will do my best to get my point out there.

I think if they make a good management plan and follow it the hunting will improve on the delta. What throws people off on this proposal is they don't just give out the info I posted last night so alot of people don't realize what is really invloved in the proposal. I've been talking to alot of people about this and they all say what is 3,000 acres when the delta is 140,000 acres? The thing they aren't looking at is yes it's 140k acres BUT it's only 27K of vegeted land. First they'll take 3k then the following year it will be 6k then it's all over after that. They are also claiming that the LAA is to provide a primitive style of hunting, that is bs. If you want to hunt the primitive way then go for it, there isn't any rules stating you can't.

I also believe the survey they conducted was some what "unfair" because I'm sure they talked to the people that was bitching about the mm's. Everyone needs to get involved and voice their opinion on this issue.

Another thot .... We also have WMA's here in Texas. What was thay be-fo thay was WMAs????????

Alot of 'em were just plain public lakes ... one I know was a private member huntin' club that the Great State of Texas put the purchace on.

My point is .... WMA's charge ... sumwhat a moderate ... price to use these area's. Thay continue to oversee them with a educated indivual that enforces the rules along with the aid of GameWarden. Each WMA have thay own rules and we need to make efforts to abide by these laws.

But !!!!!! ~ Who sets the rules ? Some amuture bioligits inventin' thangs to maintain his/her job with the state ? Who really owns the WMA ? It just seems to me that when somethin' as large as inisations of limit access ... it should go befo the folks that actually own the WMA and not to a small minority group that have claimed the fame of Wildlife Biolgist.

Not really bashin' them Wildlife folks with mines post ... just wantin' to know who thay workin' fo and do thay have a sho-nuff plan of interest in "OUR" WMA with the best interest in the land in the first place !!! A Mission Statement if you will thats made avaliable fo all to see and partake in the governence of said such .....

Sometimes I don't even make since to mineself ......

I've been reading and it sounds like ya'll need to get pirogues. I got to try one of those kayak only areas this year. The birds were rediculous. We shot limits in 30 minutes. If they limit it to just a specific portion of the WMA it may not be all that bad. Buy a small paddle boat, get in shape, paddle your A$$ in there and have a jam up shoot. We tried it and although a little more work was a hell of a lot better than sitting in our usual spots watchin' blackbirds.

First of all the big issue for the entire state, as previously mentioned, has been over crowding the limited available/huntable land for several years now. It gets more crowded every year. The only way to help is to increase space or limit numbers........ We would all vote for an increase in available land but we know that will not happen. The state is broke again. So it comes down to limiting hunter numbers. Would you vote for that???? Do you have the right to tell others they can not partake in the sport we love and are fighting about to begin with???? I think this may be a good thing but only time will tell. Just means folks may not be able to drive right up to hunt and will have to work a little harder.

PS: What yall should be protesting as far as coastal hunters is the fact that the White Lake tract is not open for all comers like the other WMAs and the state is charging big $$$$$$ for folks to hunt it. That is a rather large piece of property that belongs to the residents of LA as far as I know.

does anyone know the boundaries of the proposed area for pass a loutre

I know cuttdown has said this for years, but a few seasons of 30/3 might filter out alot of the rip-raff and reduce competition for waterfowling spots. As a result, it would likely also improve the quality as well and bring back some of the joy of the sport, instead of fighting every Tom, ****, and Harry for the only "good spot". Not to mention all the yahoo's out skybusting and joyriding during the peak hours of the morning.

I will say that if they drop the season to the 30/3 again it will reduce the pressure drastically. I hunted before,during and after the 30/3 seasons and the differance was night and day. Before the 30/3 it was just the same ole huntin but after the 30/3 the marshes would have people for the first weekend and then they were empty. The hunting was great just hard to justify the work at times for 3-4 guys to shoot for 10 minutes and then go home, but we did it everyday we could.

Then the limit went to 4 or 5 I don't remember and there was alot of people back in it,but when we hit the 60/6 limits you could not count to 5 without hearing shots going off. So the 30/3 would only be a short term/quick fix. The year they move the limit up they will be back.

My land was behind a gated canal and all other entry points were blocked off. We never had a bad season, yet talking to JD who did not hunt but a mile or two from me had bad years while we had great years. All of the land owners behind the gate had MM's and the area was hunted in the am only,sometimes folks did make an occasional late hunt but it was not often. I firmly believe that the lack of pressure is what made our area better than the surrounding areas. While the surrounding areas always had ducks they rested more in our area and would come to it everyday. The area was hunted everyday but by limited hunters.

But I'm just stating the obvious with this post.

So when a dad, his two kids, and dog get stranded cause thy can't paddle thir pirogue against the current while the tide is falling out and they wind up out by the rigs, is LADWF gonna be prepared to "rescue" them?

I am done with this whole deal. I have talked to many people about this over the last couple of weeks and this whole thing might just be set in motion. Everything can be stopped, but this one is a train coming down the track.

The people that I know hunt down there with regularity all want this. Most people know it won't help, but its what the majority seems to want.

It will be 2 years in May that I have owned the mudboat and motor on my avatar. Unfortunately, my days may be becoming limited on where I will be running this thing on public land...IF AT ALL. Things certainly have not panned out like I thought. I have done more frogging and bass fishing out this rig than anything; which has been great. If all this catches is on, unless you own your marsh land, your leasor can tell you what to use , run, or not run. And then big brother may have something to say about that.

Apparently the mud motor craze has caught on.....and alot of people don't like it. I can smell something cooking....and I have to say I don't like the smell.

Here is food for thought and what I have been wondering.........Due to unexpected intervention/legislation......WILL THE MUD MOTOR CRAZE BE REACHING IT'S PEAK SOON?

the delta already had restricted areas on the out side of log island.

Had this kinda thing happen where I'm from in VA a couple of years ago. The DGIF blocked off a swamp that was accessible from the main lake. They drained all the water out and planted wild rice and all sorts of other chit in there, then tore down 3 of our blinds for no reason and never pumped water back into it. It's huntable now but only with paddles or if you want to walk a few miles.

Oh yeah, and they limited the hunting to only tuesdays, thursdays, and saturdays which doesn't make much sense to me at all.

If the limit is 6 ducks what difference does it make what type of watercraft
I use to get to them or what time of the day I shoot them??
The Government is already WAY to involved in my life!!
Just sayin'....

I am from texas and they r restricting motors to 25HP or less in some areas which i think is crap. My whole family was raised duck hunting, hell thats how most of my family made there living was off of their hunting Resorts. LaBove's shooting Resort was the main one here in south east texas that my family ran for years. MY dad ran a mudd boat for years hauling hunters to and from the marsh. If anything these mudd motors keep the ditches flowing with good water and make them accessible every year. We were hit hard with two hurricanes and they brought in lots of sand and mudd. With most people down here running air cooled motors we have opened these ditches back up for access. Banning small combustion engines is not right. Write the people tickets that abuse them but don't punish us that use them for what they are intended for and aid in the sport that I love the most. Fight this thing tooth and nail guys, if you get enough people together then you can make it happen. Good Luck from a fellow duck hunter.

Another thing to keep in mind, if they section off alot of your land for bird resting and people don't get to hunt them then basically the whole gulf coast is going to end up that way because it is starting to happen over here in texas too and when the birds do decide to migrate north then the hunters up there will be having a ball while us as hunters down here just read and watch TV shows on how all the guys up north shoot limits of mallards and specific species and not once thank us down here for that.

This just FLAT OUT SUCKS ALL THE WAY AROUND!

We have a Federal WMA in our part of the state. Over 16000 acres is off limits. Then another large part is paddle in only(can not even use trolling motors). Also you can only hunt Wed, Thurs, Sat and Sunday and this is only till noon. Also you have to take blind down each day. The hunting is good but the last few years we have been fighting the same crowding problems. What is bad here there is still plenty of room. But alot of young hunters had no hunting ethics. They will pushpole in on you and set up right next to and just sky bang all morning. Most can not even blow a duck call and some do not even take time to fix a blind. You can hear them laughing and cutting up all morning. Makes it realy hard to call birds in. Now having to pushpole farther out ever year to get away from them. If they hear you shooting alot you can bet they will try and beat you to that spot the next day. But what can you do it is just public hunting.

This is exactly right. If they would just cut out evening hunts I strongly believe it would help along with management of the whole delta by WLF keeping people off the area after the morning hunt or 12:00pm. I don't see how closing one section to MM's is going to allow birds to rest when people are going to ride all around it looking for birds in MM's. They WILL stay offshore if they continue to be pressured in the evenings.