The deadline for the public to submit their comments on the Kisatchie National Forest's proposal to prohibit deer hunting with dogs is closing in, and hunters are growing anxious over the issue.
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced the deadline of October 1 for comment submission with the intent to reach a decision on the future of the sport on Kisatchie grounds by January 2010.
"The U.S. Forest Service is dedicated to providing hunting opportunities," Forest Supervisor Mike Balboni said in a released statement. "Dog-deer hunting is controversial in some areas when deer dogs cross from federal land onto private land and private leases."
The ban proposal, of course, has not been received well by the hundreds of deer-dog hunters in the area who have used the Kisatchie grounds to hunt for decades.
Irby Perkins is one of those hunters. Perkins grew up in the deer-dog hunting tradition and has been "standing by himself" since the age of 12 - a term used by hunters to describe one who stands alone, in cover, and waits for the dogs to lead a deer by for his chance to shoot it. In fact, Perkins honed his skills of hunting with dogs on Kisatchie grounds over 50 years ago.
"Deer-dog hunting is a historical sport that predates the establishment of Louisiana as a state," Perkins said. "It should be preserved."
Perkins explained that in the early years of deer hunting, the sport was nearly impossible without the aid of a pack of dogs, usually comprised of beagles, walker hounds and blue-ticks.
"In those days, deer were so scarce that if you didn't have dogs, you just couldn't find them. That's how it got started," he said.
Now, Perkins, and other hunters like him, fear that the beloved tradition may soon be a thing of the past.
Kisatchie has attributed their ban proposal to complaints being voiced by land inholders on Kisatchie grounds, and they brought up the ban last year, but the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) chose not to alienate the hunters.
According to Perkins, at a regular meeting held by the commission to hear any concerns or opinions before the beginning of hunting season, over 700 hunters appeared before the commission and expressed their concerns of losing the historic hunting grounds.
Perkins recounted that the commission considered the situation and then, in a unanimous vote, elected to give the dog hunters an eight-day season at the end of December.
Now the USFS has expressed the desire to overrule the LDWF's decision, and hunters have been forced to turn to legislation for help. Senator John Smith and Representative James Armes have both joined the fight to save the sport, and even Congressman John Fleming was called upon.
In May, Fleming sent a letter to Abigail Kimbell, the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, on behalf of the Kisatchie issue.
"In a meeting on March 12, 2009, in my Washington D.C. office, Regional Forester Liz Agpaoa assured me that the USFS was planning to defer to the state's recommendation on the dog-deer hunting season because the matter involved hunting regulations, which generally fall under the state's responsibility ... It is now my understanding that after receiving this recommendation, the USFS plans to completely close the eight day dog-deer hunting season against the state's wishes," the letter reads. "After considering all sides of this issue, I am convinced a solution exists that will satisfy all parties without eliminating the dog-deer hunting season."
It is the sincere hope of the dog-deer hunters that such a solution is found soon, as many of their local hunting grounds are disappearing.
"It's becoming very hard to find hunting leases in the area, and especially one that will allow dog hunting," explained Perkins, whose oldest son, Chip, currently hunts with his dogs on the Sandy Creek Hunting Club lease.
Another leas that allows dog hunting is located off of Kurthwood Road, near the tank trail, but it may soon be eliminated since it is within the boundaries of land that may be purchased by Fort Polk in the near future.
"It all just makes Kisatchie that much more important," Perkins said. "It's not just for me, or even my children, it's for the future generations of hunters. We want them to be able to continue the tradition."
"Deer hunting with dogs is a controversial subject," Balboni said. "I am anxious to receive comments and to look for alternatives and solutions."
Balboni has only taken over the USFS supervisor position since July of this year, and in an effort to show his concern over the dog-deer hunting issue, he has said that he personally will be reading each comment that is submitted.
"Balboni does appear to be more receptive to these concerns than the USFS supervisors of the past," Perkins commented.
Anyone wishing to submit their comment may do so by email to: comments-southern-kisatchie@fs.fed.us, or by writing to Forest Supervisor Mike Balboni, 2500 Shreveport Highway Pineville, La. 71360.
For additional information, interested parties may contact Jim Caldwell at 318-473-7168 or email him at: jcaldwell@fs.fed. us.
