Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 76 - WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES › Part III - Game and Fish Preserves and Sanctuaries › Chapter 3 - Particular Game and Fish Preserves, Wildlife Management Areas, Refuges and Conservation Areas › Section III-323 - State Wildlife and Paul J. Rainey Refuges

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. Visitor Regulations for State Wildlife
				Refuge
1. Use of the refuge will be allowed
				from official sunrise to official sunset. This includes access routes through
				the refuge.
2. Overnight camping is
				prohibited.
3. Hunting, pursuing,
				killing, molesting or intentionally disturbing any type of wildlife by the
				public is prohibited. This does not prohibit the Department of Wildlife and
				Fisheries from carrying out harvest programs for certain types of wildlife as
				specified in the deed of donation.
4. Commercial and recreational trawling on
				the refuge is prohibited. Recreational trotlines, jug lines, trammel nets, gill
				nets, hoop nets and fish and crab traps are prohibited. All commercial fishing
				and use of any commercial fishing gear on the refuge is prohibited. Twenty-five
				pounds of shrimp (heads on) per boat or vehicle per day is allowed during the
				inside open shrimp season as established by the Wildlife and Fisheries
				Commission. Ten pounds of shrimp (heads on) for bait purposes may be caught
				during the closed season. Shrimp may be harvested only by cast net on the
				refuge and only for sport fishing or home consumption use. Containers are
				required to receive cast net catches to prevent littering and for safety
				purposes.
5. Crawfish may be
				harvested from the open portion of the refuge and 100 pounds per boat or
				vehicle is allowed per day. Set nets may be used but must be attended and
				removed from the refuge daily. No commercial harvest is allowed.
6. Crabs may be harvested from the open
				portion of the refuge; and 12 dozen crabs are allowed per boat or vehicle per
				day. A maximum of 12 crab nets is allowed per boat or vehicle. No commercial
				harvest is allowed.
7. Oysters may
				be harvested by tonging (properly licensed) or by hand collection from the
				natural reefs. One gallon per boat or vehicle per day is allowed and oysters
				must be opened at the reef and the shells returned to the reef. Taking of
				oysters on the reef is dependent upon Department of Health and Hospitals'
				approval and may be closed at any time by the Department of Wildlife and
				Fisheries.
8. The burning of the
				marsh by the public is prohibited. Water control structures shall not be
				tampered with or altered by anyone other than employees of the Department of
				Wildlife and Fisheries.
9. Bringing
				firearms, bows and arrows, liquor and controlled dangerous substances (drugs)
				onto the refuge is prohibited. Personal companion animals (e.g., dogs) are
				restricted to boats or vehicles unless prior approval is obtained from the
				refuge supervisor. Upon probable cause a violation has occurred, all boats and
				vehicles are subject to search by all authorized employees of the Department of
				Wildlife and Fisheries.
10. Speed
				boat racing, airboats, hovercraft, jet skis, and water skiing are prohibited.
				All boat traffic shall honor no wake zones and shall keep wave wash to a
				minimum. Pulling boats over or around levees, dams or water control structures
				is prohibited. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries may further restrict
				specified areas of the refuge from public access or use.
11. No littering is allowed. Visitors must
				remove their litter or place litter in appropriate litter disposal sites.
				Damage to or removal of trees, shrubs and wild plants without prior approval is
				prohibited.
12. Commercial fishing
				gear or trawls shall not be permitted in possession while participating in
				sport fishing on the refuge. Commercial fishing gear may be in possession for
				nonstop access directly across refuge or for safe harbor only.
13. Department officials and enforcement
				officers shall have the duty and the right to restrict access to the refuge,
				even for the purpose herein enumerated, whenever the circumstances exist that
				such access may impair the primary purpose of the refuge as a wildlife refuge
				and sanctuary.
14. Violation of any
				part of this Subsection constitutes a Class 2 violation.