The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is accepting applications for lottery dove hunts on Elbow Slough Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for the opening weekend of dove season, Sept. 5-6.
The lottery dove hunt access to the WMA in Rapides Parish will provide 80 hunters the opportunity to hunt on the first Saturday and Sunday of the first season split. Hunt times each day will be from one half hour before sunrise until noon.
The deadline for applications to be submitted is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7. The application form, along with a $5 administrative fee payment, must be sent to LDWF’s Wildlife Division, Elbow Slough Lottery Dove Hunts, P. O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000. A random drawing will then select 40 hunters to participate each day. The application is available on the LDWF website at: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/lottery-hunts.
Only those selected through the lottery drawing will be allowed to attend the dove hunts at Elbow Slough WMA on opening weekend. For safety reasons, guests or other observers will not be allowed.
Starting on Wednesday, Sept. 9, Elbow Slough WMA will be open to all dove hunters, and will remain open for dove hunting by anyone on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays ONLY, through Sunday, Sept. 27. Elbow Slough WMA will again be open to anyone for dove hunting on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays ONLY, Oct. 10 through Nov. 8. Hunt times for these scheduled open days will be from one half hour before sunrise until sunset. Dove hunters are reminded that non-toxic shot is required for all hunting on Elbow Slough.
For more information, contact Jeff Johnson at (318) 371-3050 or jjohnson@wlf.la.gov .