In October, I was asked the following questions by local sportsmen concerning the “Limited Access Area” in the Lake Salvador Management Area.
Where is the area located? Can we fish the area during hunting season? Can we use our outboard motors to go to our favorite fishing and hunting spots located in the Limited Access Area?
But it turns out, that while hunters were worried about potential problems the Limited Access Area would cause, it seems to have been successful.
The goal of the Limited Access Area was to provide a more primitive hunting experience for waterfowl hunters. Restrictions on the use of internal combustion engines provide for reduced noise in an effort to minimize disturbance of waterfowl within the LAA and improve hunter harvest success between September and January.
The La. Cypress Canal is the northern boundary of the LAA, while the West Canal is the western boundary. The Umbrella Tree Canal serves as the southern boundary, and the Bulkhead running north to south marks the eastern boundary.
Within these boundaries, 3,000 acres have been set aside to mimic a primitive atmosphere.
“The beginning of the first split of duck season had the same kill ratio as outside the LAA,” Biologist Shane Granier said. “At the end of the first split the kill ratio went up slightly inside the LAA.”
In the second split, Granier said many of the hunters were mainly after coot and poule d’eau.
“Later in the season big ducks hit the marsh and the puddle ducks stayed in the open water,” Granier said. “Basically the public loved the results of the LAA when bag limits were checked.”
Granier said that the public also adhered to the rules set aside for the LAA.
“This year we did not have many violators of motorized boats on the LAA,” Granier said. “Hunters honored the LAA and cooperated fully when stopped due to being on the LAA.
“Our numbers for our report are not out yet, but the Limited Access Area in my opinion was a huge success.”
Fishermen can begin entering the LAA on Feb. 1.
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