Atchafalaya Basin deer hunting closing could come Friday due to high water

Rising flood waters in the Atchafalaya Basin could trigger an automatic deer hunting season closure in parts of Deer Area 9 as early as Friday, according to a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries release.
The High Water Benchmark Closure, enacted by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission in Title 76, will close deer hunting in an area of the Atchafalaya Basin in portions of Iberia, Iberville, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes when the flood gauge reaches 18 feet at Butte LaRose. That benchmark water level is expected to be reached either Friday or Saturday.
The area encompasses those parishes south of Interstate 10, west of the East Guide Levee, east of the West Guide Levee and north of U.S. 90.
The public is encouraged to monitor river levels this week prior to planning deer hunting in this area.
For more information, visit www.wlf.la.gov or www.FishLA.org. To receive recreational or commercial fishing email and text alerts, sign up at www.wlf.la.gov/signup.