By mid to late September, the majority of white-tailed deer fawns have hit the ground in Louisiana and other areas of the Southeast. The exact time frame corresponding to this occurrence varies according to the breeding dates for various deer populations, which undergo an average gestation period of 202 days. Individuals responsible for managing deer herds in our state look at the success of pregnant does in giving birth and weaning healthy offspring as the first step in the management process. A measure often considered to increase this success involves predator control programs, often targeting what is perceived as the No. 1 predator on white-tailed deer outside of man — the coyote. Coyote
Running a family business can be a challenge, but it’s a rewarding one that third generation logger Randy Wilson wouldn’t have any other way. Strong family ties make for a strong business and, in Wilson’s case, helped Randall Wilson Logging Inc. become the Outstanding Louisiana Logger for 2018. “It’s really exciting to have both of my sons (Chase and Zachary) working with me,” Wilson said while on a job not too far from his home in Effie. “They’re completely, 100 percent in on everything.” It seems to be a family tradition. Wilson has been logging ever since he graduated high school in 1983. He started out with his father, Winston Wilson, who logged for almost 50 years. An entrepreneurial sp
We need to do a better job of storytelling if people are going to start making a stronger set of positive connections to our forests, the people responsible for managing them and how they make our lives better. Research shows that there is an alarming disconnect when it comes to understanding how and why different forests are managed for different benefits, the roles and responsibilities of forest stewards and the sustainability of forest products. With great challenges, though, comes great opportunity to not only dispel these myths, but show how our forests are providing solutions to some of the biggest challenges we face as a society today. Challenges like living with wildfire, protecting
Three speakers were featured in the annual seminar of the Louisiana Logging Council held in Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino in Shreveport on Aug. 28. They talked about police jury issues, rapidly developing drone technologies and developing markets for loggers. Malcolm Sibley, president of the Louisiana Logging Council, thanked the sponsors: Lott Oil, McGriff Insurance, Sabine State Bank and Southern Loggers Co-op. He introduced Guy Cormier first. Cormier has served in various positions in police juries and the legislature; currently, he is assistant executive director of the Louisiana Police Jury Association. He gave an update from the parish police jury perspective. On Nov. 6, there will be six
