Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

09/05/2026

🐢🌊 𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗙𝗨𝗟 𝗦𝗘𝗔 𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗨𝗥 𝗜𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗦!

For the 𝗳𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝘄, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nest has successfully hatched on Louisiana’s Chandeleur Islands!

This year’s third documented sea turtle crawl resulted in a Kemp’s ridley laying 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗲𝗴𝗴𝘀. Of those, an incredible 𝟵𝟰 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱, with the tiny hatchlings making their way across the sand and into the Gulf of America. 🐢💙

This particular nest may look familiar! It’s the same nest featured earlier this year in 𝗢𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆, which followed efforts to document sea turtle nesting activity on the Chandeleur Islands. 🔗https://buff.ly/CKUOUJw

LDWF and our partners at the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) recently returned to the island to document this successful hatch – an encouraging milestone for sea turtles along Louisiana’s coast.

📸 Photos courtesy of CPRA/Todd Baker

09/05/2026

🎣 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗪𝗘 𝗗𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗗, 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗧𝗘 & 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘! ❤️🤍💙

Nothing says a Louisiana Labor Day weekend quite like blue skies, white boats and beautiful red snapper! ☀️🌊🐟

🎣 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥: Louisiana’s recreational Red Snapper season is open for a four-day period, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁. 𝟰-𝟳, giving anglers another chance to reel in some red over Labor Day weekend!

🚫 After Sept. 7, the recreational Red Snapper season will close until further notice.

🔗 Full details: https://buff.ly/v5IQRLq

09/04/2026

🏆🦆 Congratulations to 𝗟𝗗𝗪𝗙 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗵𝘂𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, who was recognized as the 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝘄𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 by the Mississippi Flyway Council during today’s Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting in Baton Rouge! 👏

The Mississippi Flyway Council presents this award to law enforcement officers from each state who make 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝘄𝗹.

Senior Agent Schilling of Jefferson has been an agent for four years and mainly patrols Southeast Louisiana, including Pass-a-Loutre Wildlife Management Area and Delta National Wildlife Refuge. During the 2025-26 migratory gamebird season, he led his region in waterfowl enforcement citations, enforcing bag limits, license requirements, hunting hours and other migratory gamebird regulations. 🚔🦆

Senior Agent Schilling is also an active member of Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl and was a founding member of the Ducks Unlimited chapter at Southeastern Louisiana University.

👏 Please join us in congratulating Senior Agent Schilling on this well-deserved recognition!

09/04/2026

🎉🦌 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗩𝗜𝗣𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗗𝗪𝗙 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺!

🌿 Wildlife Volunteer Instructors are trained to represent LDWF at schools, educational programs and community events, helping teach others about wildlife conservation, Louisiana’s native species and the importance of protecting our natural resources.

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

🚤 The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) has approved a Notice of Intent (NOI) to clarify and update regulations and procedures related to vessel equipment, vessel requirements and boating penalties.

The proposed changes include:

🦺 Clarifying rules and regulations associated with vessel equipment as it relates to new U.S. Coast Guard-mandated labeling procedures for personal flotation devices (PFDs) and marine fire extinguishers

⚓ Extending the mandatory wear of engine cut-off switches (ECOS) to 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵, in accordance with current federal regulations

🔗 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗡𝗢𝗜: https://buff.ly/wOOmUTM

💬 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗢𝗰𝘁. 𝟮𝟲. Comments may be submitted to LDWF Enforcement Division Capt. Jason Russo by email at [email protected] or by mail at:

P.O. Box 98000
Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000

09/03/2026

🦪 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲-𝟮𝟳 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗢𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝘁

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission has set the 2026-27 oyster season based on LDWF’s annual oyster stock assessment and input from the Louisiana Oyster Task Force.

📅 Season dates vary by area, with the first public grounds opening Sept. 14.

⚠️ 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲-𝟮𝟳 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻, including harvest and possession limits, oyster size requirements, electronic harvest reporting and other regulations.

🔗 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲: https://buff.ly/8LclsPi

09/03/2026

🎉 Congratulations to the Early Bird #2 winner, 𝗝𝗶𝗺 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁, 𝗟𝗔!

They’re taking home a 𝟱' 𝘅 𝟲' 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀! 🦌

Thank you to everyone who has purchased tickets and supported the 2026 Louisiana Conservation Raffle. Your participation helps support Louisiana’s wildlife, fisheries, habitats and conservation efforts.

And there are still more chances to win! Up next is 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱 #𝟯, featuring a Honda ATV from GN Gonzales of Baton Rouge, with the drawing on October 1st. Plus, all qualifying tickets remain in the running for the Gator Tail boat as well as the Chevy Silverado Grand Prize! 🚙

🎟️ Get your tickets and keep the chances to win going: https://www.lawff.org/2026-la-conservation-raffle

👏 A special thank you to these incredible partners for making this raffle possible: The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Super Chevy Dealers of BR, Gator-Tail Outboards, G.N. Gonzales Motorsports, The Antler Shed Deer Blinds, Bowie Outfitters, Jim's Fi****ms Inc, GUNNER, and Lamar Advertising of Baton Rouge

09/02/2026

🌿🐟 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗦𝗛 𝗛𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘-𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗢

LDWF Inland Fisheries biologists are continuing efforts to restore beneficial native aquatic vegetation throughout the 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲-𝗟𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅.

Recently, staff planted 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹, a native aquatic plant that provides important habitat for fish and other aquatic wildlife. Biologists placed the plants inside 10 protective enclosures near 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲, giving them a chance to become established without being eaten.

🌱 Healthy aquatic vegetation plays an important role in our waterways by providing:
▪️ Nursery habitat for young fish
▪️ Shelter from predators
▪️ Feeding areas for fish
▪️ Habitat for insects and other organisms that support the aquatic food chain
▪️ Additional areas for anglers to target fish 🎣

LDWF has been working to re-establish native aquatic vegetation in the Saline-Larto Complex since 2022. While recovery takes time, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀, including the continued presence of American lotus and white-water lily and the discovery of bladderwort in the Shad Lake area.

The coontail planting is another step in LDWF’s long-term effort to restore and enhance native fish habitat throughout the complex. Biologists will continue monitoring the planting sites and conducting annual vegetation surveys to track recovery. 🌿💧

09/02/2026

🦆 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧 𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗗𝗢𝗢𝗥𝗦! 🎣

Bring the whole family and join LDWF for 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟲, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲! We’re hosting 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 across Louisiana celebrating hunting, fishing, conservation and outdoor recreation.

There’s something for everyone:
✔️ Shooting & fishing demonstrations
✔️ Interactive conservation exhibits
✔️ Hands-on outdoor activities for the whole family

🤩 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲! A special thank you to our generous sponsors for making this exciting giveaway possible: Louisiana Wildlife Agents Association, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation, and Sean McGlothlin.

🍃 Come learn something new, try an outdoor activity and celebrate Louisiana’s outdoor traditions with us. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀!

📍 Choose your location and RSVP:
Baton Rouge: https://buff.ly/7jwvWHw
Bodcau: https://buff.ly/nbETDoc
Monroe: https://buff.ly/hKxIOHM
Woodworth: https://buff.ly/H5UygMx