On November 2, Corporal Justin Greer of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) was the guest speaker at the Minden Lions Club.
Greer outlined the training that LDWF officers receive during their 26-28 weeks at the academy including completing the same POST certification that is required of other law enforcement agencies, search and rescue, boating laws, traffic laws, tracking, water survival, and identifying different species of duck and fish.
Greer said that working in Wildlife and Fisheries is really a calling, and that you need to like people to do the job well. He also has found this career eye-opening as far as the prevalence of crimes that take place.
“We run into a lot of great people while we’re doing our job,” said Greer. “But there is that percentage of people that aren’t so great. I didn’t realize there were that many drugs in a boat wagon. I didn’t realize there were that many people driving impaired or doing drugs out on the water. It opened my eyes to a lot of things.”
A big part of LDWF officers’ job is monitoring the compliance of hunting laws. With deer season currently in session, there are some new laws in effect that Greer would like people to know about.
One major change is that hunting licenses are now valid for 365 days from purchase. This means that, depending on when you bought your license, it may expire in the middle of the season.
E-tags are now available, though paper tags are still in use. E-tags are available through the Louisiana Wallet app. Officers are required to seize any untagged deer, so tagging them immediately is important. Keep possession tags on deer while the animals are being transported. Unlike many other branches of law enforcement, LDWF officers can enter homes without a warrant, needing only probable cause.
“The motto is ‘tag before you drag,’ and you can do it now all electronically, as long as you have service. That’s the way I prefer it, because you can literally tag your animal while you’re sitting on the stand.”
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an ongoing problem in deer populations throughout the United States. This neurodegenerative disease is found in most deer species. It is infectious, always fatal, and there is no treatment. The pathogens that cause the disease are found in the brain and spinal tissues of the animals, but they will also live on indefinitely in the soil where the diseased animal decomposed. For these reasons, certain laws are in place.
Baiting, placement of bait, or hunting over bait is prohibited within a LDWF designated CWD control area. It is the hunter’s responsibility to check their hunting area for bait prior to each hunt. Also, the import of deer carcasses or parts of the carcasses from outside Louisiana is prohibited except for under certain conditions. The idea is that no part of the brain or spinal tissues is transported, since this is where the pathogens reside. For more details on CWD or any other hunting laws, see the LDWF Hunting & WMA Regulations.
The Lions Club, whose motto is “We Serve,” has interesting speakers every Thursday at noon. They meet at the American Legion Memorial Hall located at 119 Pine Street, and they welcome new members who share the mission of community service in Minden.