Louisiana Conservationist

48 Pages·1998·4.1 MB·English

by  Department of Conservation, State of Louisiana

LouisianaConservationist
ISSN0024-6778
Volume50,No.6
BatonRouge,LA 70808
M.J. "Mike"Foster,Governor
JamesH.JenkinsJr.,Secretary
ClydeW.Kimball,DeputySecretary
Comments JamesPatton,Undersecretary
JohnRoussel,Asst.Secretary
PhilBowman,Asst.Secretary
JamesJenkins,Jr.,Secretary
WildlifeandFisheriesCommissioners
elcometothebeginningofayear-longcelebra- ThomasGattle,LakeProvidence,Chairman
tion.As1998comestoaclosewerealizeweare DanielBabin,Houma
justoneyearfromthemillennium. Thismile- BillBusbice,Jr.,Lafayette
stoneforcesustolookaheadandassessourreadinessforthenextcentury.Lookingbackover GlynnCarver,Ph.D.,Many
1998IampleasedtosaytheDepartmentofWildlifeandFisherieshasalreadybegunitsprepa- JeraldHanchey,Lafayette
rationbyimplementingnewprogramstargetedattheissuesandtechnologiesof2000.There ThomasKelly,Jeanerette
arefartoomanyprogramstomentioninthisshorteditorial,butIwilltouchuponthreeareas NormanMcCall,Cameron
ofgreatimportancetoourresourcesandcitizens:advancingtechnology,wetlandrestoration
andeducation.
Bytheyear2000 a newelectronicsalessystemwillbefully implementedallowingthe DivisionAdministrators
Departmenttoissuehuntingandfishinglicensesbywayofasophisticatedcomputersystem. HughBateman,Wildlife
ThisnewPointofSaleprogramisalreadyinthelaststagesofpreparationandwaitingforfinal BennieFontenot,InlandFisheries
touches. Thisnewstepintechnologywillreplacethearchaicpapermethodwithanefficient KarenFoote,MarineFisheries
state-of-the-art process. It will also enable us to better manage our state's vast outdoor BrandtSavoie,Fur/Refuge
resourceswhilemakinglicensesmoreavailabletohuntersandfishermen. Thesystemwillbe LyleM.Soniat,Ph.D.,Information/Education
aone-stopshoppingspotforsportsmen,includingatoll-freephonelineaccessible24hoursa WintonVidrine,Enforcement
day,sevendaysaweek.
Wetlandrestorationmadesignificantstepsforwardthisyear.TheDepartment,alongwith MagazineStaff
severalpartners,forgedahead in 1998toguaranteethestabilityandgrowthofLouisiana's LyleM.Soniat,Ph.D.,ExecutiveEditor
wetlands. Three restoration projectsconducted thisyearfocused onSherburne, Boeufand MarianneM. Burke,CommunicationsDirector
BucTkhheorShneWrbMuArsne.WMAWetlandDevelopmentProjectconverted2,400acresofunproductive JAanndicreewColVlaiunsg,haEnd,itSotraffWriter
finacrlmuldainndgiangtroicpurletmuiraelrelawnidn,tebroitntgomwlaatnedrfhoawlrdhwaboiotdat.forTehsitssparnodjecmtoicsotn-stoaiilnewdetdliavnerdssethhaabtitwaitlsl ThomasGresham,StaffWriter
providehighqualityfoodresourcesforwinteringducksandgeese.
BoeufWMAWetlandRestorationProjectwascompletedinvolving9,421acresofwetland
asichnadslpelbcooiwtetsw.oamtCleoarnnvadecrrhseasiroadnnwdoofoomdnaerregpfiuonrmaeplsitaantggiroinfca.uclitlTuihrtiyaslfoplrraonmjdaescntatogeinbncogotmtwpoiamnlstasenerdidnhgtahweradctwoenorsfotodrwulbcytainordenfooarfqeusfatitav--e orWreislopdtColhinoefspreiybramlianetgdefhrotFirias1luh9sne.s9ro8ileisbc.yitTtehhdiesmLaponuuubislsciicraaintpaitosDn,epipsahrnootttomgernatphofs
tionwasalsoWaMmaAjorundertakingatBoeuf. TheLouisianaConservationistispublished
Buckhorn WetlandRestorationProjectentailedtheconstructionofa120-acrewater- bimonthlyexceptJanuary/FebruarybytheLouisiana
fowlimpoundmentandthreewatercontrolstructuresformanagingwaterlevelsforwinter- DepartmentofWildlifeandFisheries,2000Quail
ingwaterfowlandaquaticspecies. Thesethreerestorationprojectswillbenefitotherwildlife Drive,BatonRouge,LA 70808,504/765-2918.
aswellaswaterfowl,butmoreimportantlybenefitgenerationstocome. Second-classpostagepaidatBatonRouge,LA and
Wildlifeeducationtooksomefirststepsthisyearbycreatingnewprogramsbasedonpre- additionalmailingoffices.POSTMASTER:send
vailingtrendsinoursociety.Currentstatisticsshowthenumberofsingleparentfamiliesand addresschangestoLouisianaConservationist,P.O.
thegrowingneed forchildcare(duetobothparentsworking) increaseseachyear. These Box98000,BatonRouge,LA 70898.
changesinsocietymakeitincreasinglymoredifficultforparentsandchildrentospendtime RegulationsoftheU.S.Departmentofthe
togetheroutdoors.TocombatthesedilemmasFUNCampandHOOTCampweredeveloped. Interiorstrictlyprohibitunlawfuldiscriminationin
FUN(FamiliesUnderstandingNature)isaweekendcampdesignedforsingleparentfamilies, departmentalfederallyassistedprogramsonthe
dedicatedtoprovidingqualityoutdoorlearningexperiencesforbothchildandparent. Four basisofrace,color,nationalorigin,ageorhandicap.
camps were conducted throughout the year and designated as mother/daughter, Anypersonwhobelievesheorshehasbeendiscrimi-
mother/son,father/daughterandfather/son. Courseinstructionsincludedrifleandshotgun natedagainstinanyprogram,activityorfacility
shootingskills,canoeing,fishing,campingandnatureinvestigation. operatedbyarecipientoffederalassistanceshould
HOOTCamp(Hands-OnOutdoorTraining)wasdesignedforyoungstudentsinthefifth, writeto:Director,OfficeforEqualOpportunity,
sixth and seventh grades utilizing outdoor skill and activities on wildlife management, U.S.DepartmentoftheUlterior,Washington,D.C.
wildlifeecology,outdoorethics,shootingskillsandother"hands-on"training.Thesecamps 20240.
were held primarily duringsummermonths. Counselors include agency staffand science T$h5i1s.7p5u1b.l6i0c.Adpopcruomxeimnattewlays40p,u0b0l0ischoepdiesatofatnhisavdeorcaugmeenctoswteroef
teachersfromacrossthestate. publishedatanaverageprintingcostot$23,910.44.Thetotal
Newtechnologies,naturalresourcerestorationandaneweducationemphasisisonlythe dcoosctumofenatllwparsintpiunbgliosfhethdisfodroDceupmaernttmenatveorfaWgielsdli$f2e3a,9n1d0.Fi4s4h.erTiheis,s
beginningofourpreparationforthemillennium. Movinginto1999willputusontheedgeof 2000QuailDrive, BatonRouge.Louisiana.70808.byHarvey
aneweraandtheDepartmentofWildlifeandFisherieswillbeready.Theapproachingholi- Press, Inc.,toprovideinformationonoutdooropportunitiesin
dayswillcomeandgoandbeforeweknowit,we'llbehereagaintocelebratetheauspicious dLoauridssiafnoar,prTihnitsinmgabteyrisatlatweaasgepnrciinteesdeisntaacblciosrhdeadncpeurwsiutahntthteosRt.aSn.-
year2000. Let'sstartthecelebrationnowwiththeknowledgethatwearepreparedandready 43:31.Printingotthismaterialwaspurchasedinaccordancewith
forthefuture. theprovisionsofTitle43oftheLouisianaRevisedStatutes.
2 LouisianaConservationist
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LOUISIANA
f~^ * • • g
Conservationist
Contents
ATale of theTape
Recognizingtrophywhite-taildeer.
ByDavidMoreland
From the Muzzle End
Muzzleloadingisa traditionalformofhuntingthatappealstomany.
By BillFord
HuntingWildlife and Dollars in Louisiana
RecreationalopportunitiesforsportsmenandmoneyforLouisiana
ByDavidLavergne,BrianMcManusandRobinRoberts
1998 National Hunting and Fishing Day
Canoeing,shooting,archery,alligators,greatfoodandlotsmore.
—
Woodcock Denizen of theWoodlands
Anindepthprofileofthebreedingand
c/ migratinghabitsofwoodcock.
ByFredKimmel
Wildlife Forensics
Moderntechniquesimpactpotential
fishandgameviolators.
ByDon Dubuc
Louisiana Conservationist
Gift Set Offer
Education Corner
Weatherandweatherfolklore
ByLyleSoniat,Ph.D. &MaryAliceCain
GoWild in the Classroom
Supportyourlocalschool.
Law Lines
WaterfowlHuntingRegulations
ByMajorKeithLaCaze
Conservation Notes FrontCover
Whitetailbuck
WildlifeandFisheriesnewsbriefs. ByDaveMashrwski
BackCover
Lifetime Licenses
Waterspoutin
LakePonchartrain
ByAlexDemyan
Bayou Kitchen
Deliciousrecipesfortheholidays.
PublishedbytheDepartmentofWildlifeandFisheriesintheinterestofconservationofLouisiananaturalresources.
the
of
TAPE
^
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y.-V
4 LouisianaConservationist
hatdoyoumeanmydeeronly
V/v scores 138?" asked the young
woman. "It scored 154 at
Bubbas'contestand itwonfirstplace!"
" Well, theymayhavecalled ita Boone
andCrockettscore,butitwasn'tmeasured
according to the Boone and Crockett sys-
tem, " I informed the upset woman. "It
looks tomelike theydidnottakethenec-
essarydeductionsand mayhaveincluded
the total number of points in the final
score. Thenumberofpointsdoesn'tcount
intheB&Cscoringsystem."
Myexplanation was reluctantly accept-
ed but I knew she did not really under-
stand what I was talking about. In fact
there is a good bit ofconfusion about the
Boone and Crockett scoring system and
howbiggameanimalsaremeasured.
Some of this confusion stems from
sportinggood storeswhichhold anannu-
albigbuckcontestduringthedeerseason.
Many stores will advertise that deer will
bescoredbytheB&Csystem,butinactu-
ality they use a somewhat modified
method. One of the common problems
withthesecontestsarethatdeerarescored
usingtheB&Cmethod,butonlythegross
score is used. The gross score is the total
score ofthebuckwithout any deductions
beingtaken.
TheBooneandCrockettscoringsystem
is based on symmetry, the growth of the
rightbeamshouldbesimilartothegrowth
ofthe leftbeam. Ifitisn't, deductionsare
takenforthislackofsymmetry. Forexam-
ple ifthe length ofthe rightmainbeam is
25" and the length ofthe leftbeam is23",
there is a deduction of 2 from the score
because of the lack of symmetry.
Deductionsaretakenforallmeasurements
such as lengths of individual points, cir-
f
cumferencemeasurementsoftherightand
left beams, and for abnormal points that
occuronatypicalrack.
A typical rack is one that has the same
number of points on each antler beam.
The points mustarise from the top ofthe
main beam and must be at leastone Inch
long. Pointsthatarisefromotherpointsor
fromthebottomorsidesofthemainbeam
arecalled abnormalornon-typical points.
Becausewhite-tailscanproduceabnormal
lookingracks,theB&Cprogramhastwo
categories of deer. The Typical Division
November/December1998 5
includesthosedeerwiththenormallooking non-typical points will probably scorebettei
racks, eight pointers, ten pointers, etc. The intheTypicalDivision. Likewiseabuckwiti
Non-Typical Division is for those abnormal eight typical points and thirteennon-typica
rackssuchastheMcMurray Buck. Keep in pointswillnodoubtreceiveabetterscoreir
mind that the non-typical category deduc- theNon-TypicalDivision. Again,theofficia
tionsarestilltakenforlackofsymmetryfor measurer will be the one to make this deci-
beamlengths,typicalpoints,andcircumfer- sion. IfabuckwillqualifyinboththeTypica
encemeasurements. and Non-Typical Divisions, the hunter ma)
Whatdetermineswhetherarackisscored choosewhichcategoryhewantshisdeerlist-
typical or non-typical? This decision is edin.
madebytheofficialmeasurer. Sometimesa Anotherproblemwithbigbuckcontestsis
rack may have two or three abnormal thatthe storewill often useonly portions o:
points. These abnormal points will be theB&Cscoringproceduretomeasureanc
deductedfromthegrossscoreinthetypical judgeentries. Forinstancethestoremayadc
categorybutwillbeaddedtothegrossscore onlythelengthofthelongestmainbeam,the
in the non-typical category. Because the longest point and total number of point!
minimumqualifyingscorefora non-typical togethertoget contestscoreand oftencalli
rack is quite high, a deer with only a few a B & C score. Sometimes the score mayb(
small non-typical points usually doesn't multiplied by some factor. These situation
scoreveryhighintheNon-TypicalDivision. cancausealotofconfusion,especially ifth<
For instance an eleven point buck having hunteristoldthebuckscores154B&C.
eight typical points and three very small ThefollowingisabriefsummaryofhowI
TABLE
1
Louisiana Big Game Records
3rd Recognition Program 1998-2000
Minimum Entry Scores
Deer/Gun Recognition Program La. State Record* Boone & Crockett**
White-tailtypical 150 160 170
White-tail Non-typical 175 185 195
*alsoqualifiesforBoone & CrockettAwards Program
"alltime record book
Deer/Archery Recognition Program La. State Record Pope&Young Record Book
White-tailtypical 90 110 125
White-tail Non-typical 100 140 155
Deer/ Recognition Program La. State Record LonghunterSociety
Muzzleloader
White-tailtypical 110 120 130
White-tail Non-typical 130 150 160
WildTurkey Recognition Program La. State Record
40 40
Anyone having atrophythat mayscore high enoughto receive recognition fromthestate, Boone & CrockettClub, or
Pope &Young Clubshould contacttheirlocal district LDWFofficeorthe DeerStudySection in Baton Rouge.
Copiesofthe 1979-91 Louisiana Record Book, LouisianaBig Game Recognition Program 1992-1994andthe Current
State Listing of Big Game Recordsareavailablefromthe DeerStudySection.
6 LouisianaConservationist
ack is officially scored by Boone and temhaslongbeenthestandard forrecogniz-
Irockettstandards. Arackmustairdryfor ing trophy white-tailed deer. Because this
ixty consecutive days before it can be offi- standard isquitehigh,onlyaverysmallper-
iallyscored. Measurementsaretakenofthe centageofthe totalbuckharvestwill qualify
ight and left beam lengths, length of all each year. The minimum record score for
ioints on the right and leftbeams and four BooneandCrockettrecordbookis170forthe
ircumference measurements on both the TypicalDivisionand 195fortheNon-Typical
ight and left beams. The greatest inside Division. The Boone and CrockettClubcre-
pread is taken and is included in the total atedaBigGameRecognitionProgramwhich
core. The greatest outside spread and the recognizesdeerthatscore160typicaland185
pread between theantlertipsaretakenbut non-typical. Thisprogram issetupon three
hey are not included in the score. These yearcyclesandaseparaterecordbookispub-
leasurements are taken as supplemental lished foreachthreeyearperiod recognizing
:ata. Again,deductionsaretakenforlackof the trophy bucks killed during that period.
ymmetrybetweentherightandleftantlers. The Louisiana Big Game Recognition
The Boone and Crockett measuring sys- ProgramismodeledaftertheB&Cprogram,
Best Bucks, 1997-98 Deer Season
iUNTYPICALDIVISION
81 1/8 Donald Riviere Avoyelles Parish Jan. 1998
77 Glenn Feazell Rapides Parish Nov. 1997
733/8 Mike Hicks Grant Parish Dec. 1997
72 Richard Dupuy Avoyelles Parish Jan. 1998
657/8 Dean Fuselier Three RiversWMA Jan. 1998
3UN NON-TYPICALDIVISION
957/8 Shannon Stanley Webster Parish Dec. 1997
1
lilUZZLE LOADER DIVISION
685/8 Michael Willis Lake Ophelia NWR Dec. 1997
325/8 MikeCoburn Grant Parish Jan. 1998
29 1/8 Daniel Vidrine W. Feliciana Parish Jan. 1998
286/8 Paul G. Vidrine ThistlethwaiteWMA Jan. 1998
24 Tim Scanlan St.Tammany Parish Feb. 1998
ARCHERY-TYPICAL DIVISION
55 Tom Sawyer W. Feliciana Parish Dec. 1997
1
148 1/8 Hunter Lewis Washington Parish Oct. 1997
11441227//88 BRiallndDyonDduenrcoan CBoanycoourdMiaacoPanriWsMhA DDeecc.. 11999977
1323/8 Bill Dondero Concordia Parish Dec. 1997
\RCHERY- NON-TYPICAL DIVISION/No Entries
Fhe above listed deer representthetopfivedeerin each category killedduringthe 1997-98
season. All trophydeer harvested lastseasonwill be listed in the 2nd BIG GAME RECOGNI-
riON PROGRAM 1995-97 bookletthat issoonto beprinted bythe DeerSection. Thosedeer
tilled in 1998will be listed inthe 3rd BIGGAME RECOGNITION PROGRAM 1998-2000 book-
et. Hunterswho kill atrophy buckduringthe nextthree seasons should contact aqualified
neasurerand havethedeerofficiallyscoredforpossible entry intothe program. Thecom-
Dlete listing ofstate record bucks is updated each fall.
November/December1998 7
but the minimum scores are less (refer to deer quality. This conscientious effort
TableI). involves either-sex hunting to maintain a
There are two other organizations that populationthatisinbalancewiththehabitat,
basically follow the B & C scoring system selective buck harvest programs which
and recognizetrophy white-tails. ThePope allows some of the younger bucks to get
andYoungClubrecognizesdeerkilledwith older, and habitat management programs
bowandarrow. TheLonghunterSocietyrec- whichkeepsthehabitatinaproductivestate
ognizesdeertakenwithblackpowderrifles. fordeer.
The minimum qualifying scores for each With such a serious management effort
organizationislessthanB&C. Deertaken there is no need for the Department of
withbowandarroworwithmuzzleloaders WildlifeandFisheriestoestablishmandatory
can be entered in the Boone and Crockett buckrestrictionslikeMississippiorArkansas.
program iftheymeettheminimumqualify- Webelievethisvolunteereffortwillcontinue
ingscores. to expand throughout the state, keeping the
The Louisiana Big Game Recognition tapesofourofficialmeasurersquitebusy! ^
Programrecognizesdeertakenwithmodern
firearms, bows and arrows, and muzzle David Moreland an LDWFemployeefor 22
loaders. Itwascreatedin1979andhasbeen years, is thestateDeerStudyheader. Heis
on the upswing ever since. Table II shows anofficialmeasurerfortheBoone&Crockett
the trophy deer harvested during the 1997- Club, the Pope & Young Club and the
98 deer season. As shown by the table LonghunterSociety.
Louisiana is fully capable ofproducing tro-
phy class deer. Presently many hunting ChrisMorrisofNewOrleans(center
JamesMcMurray's clubsandlandownersareactivelymanaging pRhivoetro)NkWilRledwihtihsatrboopwhyabnudcakrornowTeinnsas
buck(photobelow) deer habitat and the deer population occu- 1998. Itscores1287/8andwillqualify
wasthebest pying that habitat in an effort to improve forlistinginthePopeandYoungrecord
Non-Typicalbuck book. RichardDupuy(photobelow)
harvestedinNorth killedhisdeerinAvoyellesParish
Americabetween 1992 duringthethe97-98deerseason.The
and 1994 Hekilledthe buckscores172andwillqualifyfor
buckon Big Lake listingintheBooneandCrockettrecord
WMA. book.
8 LouisianaConservationist
•
<•
*
m
•#
ROM
r THE
MUZZLE END
STORYANDPHOTOGRAPHYBYBILLFORD
November/December1998 9
FromChinese hand cannons to modern The action is where, or the meansby which,
in-line muzzleloaders, for over eight the powder that has been loaded down the
hundred years this weapon has barrel is ignited, via a small "touch" hole.
evolved in a natural state of progression in Fromflamingsticktoapieceofropeusedas
man's never ending search for "the better a fuse, to today's percussion cap, as man's
mousetrap". understanding and technology evolved, so
When the Wildlife and Fisheries did the action on the muzzleloader. Around
Commission was first petitioned foramuz- 1800theflintlockprovedtobethefirstmajor
zleloadingseason forthe89-90huntingsea- evolution.
son, LDWF responded with a initial seven When the trigger was pulled a hammer
day experimental season, and over 5,300 mechanismor"lock"wasreleasedthathelda
licensesweresold.Whentheseasonwascut pieceofflint.Theflintwouldscrapeagainsta
tofivedaysduringtheweekinthe91-92sea- piece of metal creating a spark that ignited
son,participationdroppedoffdramatically. the powder held in the "flashpan". This in
In comparison, the 93-94 season saw turn "flashed" through the touch hole and
anotherincreasetoover4,600licensesalesas ignited the powder charge. All this worked
theseasonwasonceagainextendedtoseven fineanddandyaslongasitdidn'trainoryou
daysinpartsofLouisiana.Asthepopularity didn'thaveawarinaplacewithhighhumid-
increased sodidthecommitmentby LDWF, ity such as Louisiana. Wet powder is really
withanalltimeand presenthighnowof14 hardtoburn.
days. Last year more than 12,800 muzzle- In the late 17th century a Scottish clergy-
loading enthusiasts took advantage of the manaftera laboratoryaccidentwithpotassi-
extendedseasonlastyear. umchlorate, invented what turned outtobe
As you can tell, although considered a theequivalentofthemodernday percussion
"traditional" form of hunting like archery, cap. The flintlockactionwasmodifiedsothe
muzzleloading appeals to many. Whether part that once held the flint, now wasjusta
veteranhunterormuzzleloadingnovice,this "hammer" that fell on top of the percussion
formofhuntingrequiresthehuntertopush capwhichwasplacedoverahollow"nipple".
their skills to the limit. Practice more than Thenippleactslikeapieceofpipetothebase
anything is the key to a successful hunt. ofthepowdercharge.Thehammerfellonthe
Learningtoplacethatoneshot,tomakethat percussioncap,itwentbang,sparkstraveled
one shot clean kill is still the hunters fore- down thenipple setting offthe maincharge.
mostresponsibility. And so it remains today, except for the fact
The12thcenturyChinesehadnoideathat that potassium chlorate has long since been
their original "hand cannon" would evolve replaced with modern primers, similar to
into today'smodern muzzleloaders. Ittook whatisusedinatoycapgun.
two brave souls to fire this unstable It wasn't until the last ten years that the
"fire"arm.Onetolightitthroughthe"touch next major s—tep in muzzleloading evolution
hole" withaburningstick,theothertohold was created the modern "in-line" weapon.
on to it asbest he could and aim, or rather The percussion cap and nipple were moved
point, in the general direction oftheenemy. fromthesideofthefirearmandplaceddirect-
Whether 12thcenturyhandcannonormod- lybehindthepowderchargeandthehammer
ern in-line weapon one thing remains the was replaced by a firing pin. This created a
same, they all load from the muzzle end of hotterandfasterignitionofthepowderasthe
thebarrel. firefromtheexplodedpercussioncapimme-
A carefully measured amount of "pow- diatelyignitedthepowderchargeratherthan
der" ispoured down thebarrel. Aprojectile travel down the nipple, and make a turn to
of some sort is fitted into the barrel and gettothepowdercharge.
pushed (rammed) downon top ofthepow- Anotheradvantagetothemodern"in-line'
derload.Theprojectile,today'sbullets,start- muzzleloader is that with today's modern
edoffasanythinghandy,rangingforglassto gun smithing tools, the in-line barrel is
nails until the lead ball and patch came "rifled"withmoreofatwist. Thisenablesthe
along. weapontoshootamoderndaybulletencased
Whathaschangediswhathappensatthe in a plastic sleeve (sabot), and to shoot that
otherendofthebarrel wherethe"action"is. bullet more accurately over longer distances
10 LouisianaConservationist