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

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.

1. All visitors must be accompanied by a representative of the National Audubon Society.

2. Trespassing, hunting, pursuing, killing, molesting, fishing or intentionally disturbing any type of wildlife by the public is prohibited. This does not prohibit the National Audubon Society from carrying out harvest programs for certain types of wildlife as specified in the Deed of Donation.

3. Possessing firearms, bows and arrows, liquor and controlled dangerous substances (drugs) on the refuge is prohibited.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Violation of any part of this Subsection constitutes a Class 2 violation.