Outdoor Report

Hunters clear trails, gear up for opening of hunting season

Like Mardi Gras parade goers waiting for a parade to arrive, hunters have been looking forward to the upcoming season with great anticipation.

This coming weekend, resident small game hunting begins.

Trails have been cut, food plots are planted, stands built and blinds in place. It's time to head out.

On Oct. 3, rabbit and squirrel season opens throughout the state of Louisiana.

Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Daily bag limit for rabbit and squirrel is eight. The season will run through Feb. 28, 2010.

On Oct. 1, deer hunting in Area 6 opens for archery hunters. This archery season is for bucks only and runs from Oct.1. to the 15. From Oct.16 to Feb. 15, 2010, either sex is game.

Primitive arms opens Nov. 14 through 20 with the second split following Jan. 25 through 31. Gun season officially opens Nov. 21, ending Jan. 24, 2010.

Hunters be aware of the enforcement of the deer tagging procedures.

Prior to hunting deer, all deer hunters, regardless of age or license status, must obtain deer tags and have them in their possession when hunting deer.

Immediately upon harvesting a deer, the hunter must tag the deer with the appropriate carcass tag before it is moved from the kill site, and the hunter must document the kill on the harvest report card portion of the deer tag license.

The hunter must record the date of the kill and the parish of the kill on the carcass tag. The tag must remain attached to the deer while kept at camp.

Within 72 hours, the hunter must validate the kill and record the validation number on the license.

Last year, agents used the 2008-09 years for hunters to get adjusted to the tagging system. Hunters will not get a grace period this year.