M & B News
National Hunting and Fishing Day Events Set for Sept . 24 in Three Louisiana Locations
The department encourages the public to attend one of the three other NHFD events that it will host across the state , including :
Bodcau Wildlife Management Area 1700 Bodcau Dam Rd . Haughton , Louisiana 71037 ( 318 ) 371-3050
Woodworth LDWF Outdoor Education Center 661 Robinson Bridge Road Woodworth , Louisiana 71485 ( 318 ) 484-2276
OPSP Public Shooting Range 357 Sheriff Fewell Road West Monroe , Louisiana 71291 ( 318 ) 343-4044
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries ( LDWF ) will host National Hunting and Fishing Day ( NHFD ) events on Sept . 24 in Haughton , Woodworth and West Monroe . This year ’ s event in Baton Rouge , however , has been cancelled .
The Baton Rouge NHFD event was set for the Waddill Outdoor Education Center . But the facility and surrounding businesses sustained damage earlier this month during the historic flood that decimated parts of southern Louisiana .
“ In addition to the flood damage , LDWF relies heavily on the generosity of volunteers from our agency and the community to host these NHFD events ,’’ said Charlie Melancon , Secretary of LDWF . “ We believe those volunteer efforts would be better focused on the recovery tasks occurring in the Baton Rouge area .’’
NHFD is a national event celebrated in all 50 states on the fourth Saturday in September . It was created in 1972 when Congress passed two bills establishing a specific day to celebrate the conservation contributions of the nation ’ s hunters and anglers .
LDWF introduced its first NHFD event in 1982 at the Monroe district office . In the following years , three more locations were added in Baton Rouge , Minden and Woodworth . Today , more than 10,000 people statewide attend the celebrations , making NHFD the biggest public event for the department .
NHFD events are free to the public . The number and types of exhibits vary at each location but all include exhibits on LDWF management programs , shooting and fishing demonstrations , exhibits from local chapters of Ducks Unlimited , Safari Club and supporting businesses from the local communities .
Attendees have the chance to try their skills at the shooting ranges , fishing ponds and boating activities , as well as learn about wildlife with live animals .
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For more information about the event , visit www . wlf . louisiana . gov / nhfd2016 .
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana ’ s abundant natural resources . For more information , visit us at www . wlf . la . gov . To receive recreational or commercial fishing email and text alerts , signup at www . wlf . la . gov / signup .
September 2016 www . marshandbayou . com