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Home > Missions > Recreation > Atchafalaya Basin

This project encompasses 595,000 acres of the largest contiguous tract of bottomland hardwoods in the United States. The Atchafalaya Basin is a scenic semi-wilderness area of hardwood forests, cypress stands, marshes and bayous. It is one of the last great river swamps left in the nation. The Atchafalaya River and hundreds of miles of bayous bring life to this wilderness area.

Recreational Activities

Sherburne Wildlife Management Area

The Corps has approximately 17,000 acres of lands and waters incorporated into the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area and managed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).  These Corps lands are known as Bayou des Ourses, North Farm and South Farm.

In addition to the regular open public hunting seasons in the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area, special lottery hunting opportunities are available on the North and South Farm properties.  These lottery hunts are managed by LDWF.  Each of them has their own application, restrictions and due dates.

The applications and more information are available on the LDWF website.

Indian Bayou Area

Indian Bayou Brochure

An annual permit is required to hunt on the Indian Bayou Area. Permits have changed this year. Permits are now located as a cut-out on page 3 of the 2016-2017 Hunting Guide to Indian Bayou. The brochure will be maintained on all informational bulletin boards throughout the project. They may also be downloaded from this webpage or picked up at the project office. The Project office is located at 112 Speck Lane Port Barre, LA 70577. Office hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Phone (337) 585-0853

Special Hunting Lottery Information:

               Youth & Physically Challenged Turkey Lottery:

This special hunt is for youths 17 or younger and mobility impaired physically challenged hunters. The dates for this hunt are March 19 and 20 of 2016. Applications are due by the close of business on February 12, 2016. The application is available here:

       2016 Indian Bayou Youth & Physically Challenged Turkey Lottery

                Turkey Hunt Lottery:

The dates for these hunts are March 26 and 27 and April 2 and 3 of 2016.  Applications are due by the close of business February 19, 2016.  The application is available here:

      2016 Indian Bayou Turkey Lottery

Youth Deer Lottery:

This special hunt is for youths between the ages of 10 and 17. The dates for these special hunts are: November 19, 2016, November 21, 2016, December 17, 2016, and December 19, 2016. The application is available here:

2016 Youth Deer Application

                Wounded Warrior Lottery Hunt:

The Corps of Engineers has partnered with Mr. Darryl Moore of Wounded War Heroes to schedule 2 wounded warrior lottery deer hunting dates. For information on the wounded warrior lottery deer hunts, please visit the Wounded War Heroes website http://wwhft.net or contact Mr. Moore at dmo61@reagan.com.

 
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