NWTF Helps Secure New Public WMA in Southeast Louisiana
Along the banks of Louisiana's Bogue Chitto River, a scenic,1,642-acre piece of the Pelican State has been conserved for wildlife and public recreation, thanks to strong partnerships.
Contributing money from its Hunting Heritage Super Fund, the Louisiana NWTF State Chapter provided critical funding for the establishment of the new Bogue Chitto Wildlife Management Area, a conservation effort led by The Trust for Public Land and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
The 1,642.5-acre parcel, along 6.5 miles of the Bogue Chitto River, is now LDWF’s 53rd WMA and the first state-owned WMA in Washington Parish, marking an important expansion of public lands and conserved habitat in southeastern Louisiana.
The Bogue Chitto WMA opened to the public July 1, 2025.
“It’s great to see the recently created Louisiana Outdoors Forever fund creating another public space like the Bogue Chitto WMA, for Louisianans to access the rich wildlife and unmatched beauty found along the iconic Bogue Chitto,” said Stacey Shankle, mid-south program director for Trust for Public Land, in a LDWF press release. “It’s truly one of those natural treasures that makes Louisiana special, and we’re proud to work together with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to ensure everyone has access."
Bogue Chitto WMA provides high-quality habitat for wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, squirrels and numerous non-game species. Moreover, the Bogue Chitto River, one of Louisiana’s most iconic and biodiverse waterways, also offers exceptional opportunities for fishing, paddling and swimming.
“We are proud to add another prime property to our WMA program while also highlighting the Louisiana Outdoors Forever program and our conservation partners,” said LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth in an agency press release. “We are excited to bring a new WMA to an area lacking in public opportunity for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation and hope that this new WMA will inspire a love for the outdoors in the Washington Parish community.”
The Louisiana Outdoor Forever Fund is a program that provides essential funding for outdoor conservation projects in Louisiana.
The Louisiana NWTF Chapter allocated funds to the project from its Hunting Heritage Super Fund, a funding model where NWTF volunteers raise money at banquets and other types of fundraisers and then allocate a significant portion of those funds back into meaningful conservation and outreach projects in their respective states and beyond.
NWTF volunteers — like those of the Louisiana NWTF State Chapter — are just as passionate about sharing the life-changing power of the outdoors as they are about conserving wild turkeys.
In addition to the NWTF, LDWF and TPL, partners include Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation, Restore the Earth Foundation, Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation, and The AES Corporation.
“We are proud to support the creation of this new WMA, expanding public access and conserving critical wild turkey habitat,” said Kacie Bauman, NWTF district biologist for Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. “Collaborative conservation efforts like these are essential to sustaining Louisiana’s wild places and our hunting heritage for future generations. We look forward to folks getting to enjoy the outdoors on this new WMA.”