Louisiana

Outdoors calendar

Published

1 year ago

September 21, 2024

Press Room

MONDAY

RED STICK FLY FISHERS FLY TYING: 7 p.m., Orvis Shop, Bluebonnet Boulevard. Website: rsff.org

WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY

LA. B.A.S.S. NATION FALL QUALIFIER: Toledo Bend. Call Kevin Gobert (504) 628-5191 or Ryan Lavigne (225) 921-9332.

THURSDAY

ACADIANA BUGS & BREWS: 6 p.m., Pack & Paddle Outpost, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Fly tying. Email “Catch” Cormier: catch@laflyfish.com. Website: packpaddle.com

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

LAKE CONCORDIA FLY FISHING TRIP: Red Stick Fly Fishers event. Lakeview Lodge. Call Thad McDonald (225) 937-6389. Website: rsff.org

SATURDAY

LOUISIANA HUNTING & FISHING DAY: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Waddill Outdoors Education Center, 4142 N. Flannery Road, Baton Rouge. Also Minden, Woodworth, Monroe. Kids fishing, fly casting, fly tying, shooting, canoeing, archery, birding, game tagging, game cooking. Free admission.

CAT 1 & GUN/NSCA REGISTERED SPORTING CLAYS: Covey Rise Club, Husser. 100 target main event, 50 targets Super Sport, 5-Stand & 12-gauge True Pair. Registration website: scorechaser.com. Call Covey Rise (985) 747-0310.

NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY: 10 a.m. two-hour, ranger-led hike, Poverty Point World Heritage Site, 6859 La. 577, Pioneer. Website: LaStateParks.com. Fees waived for all national parks and all federal public lands.

HUNTING SEASONS

DOVES: North Zone: through Sept. 28 & Oct. 5-Nov. 9. South Zone closed.

TEAL: Through Sept. 29. Season also allows for take of rails & gallinules.

DEER/ARCHERY: Oct. 1-Jan. 31, State Deer Areas 1, 2 & 4; Oct. 1-15, State Deer Areas 5, 6 & 9 (bucks only), then Oct. 16-Feb. 15; through Jan. 15, State Deer Areas 3, 7, 8 & 10; . Either-sex take allowed through except in areas with bucks-only take during archery and firearms seasons.

RABBITS/SQUIRRELS: Oct. 5-Feb. 28, private lands only. Selected state wildlife management areas listed in 2024-2025 Louisiana Hunting Regulations pamphlet.

LOTTERY HUNTS

BLACK BEAR: Sept. 25 application deadline for 10 permits in selected areas in northeast Louisiana for Dec. 7-22 season. Fee $50 with valid black bear hunting license. Application website: louisianaoutdoors.com/lottery-applications.

WATERFOWL/APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sept. 30 for physically challenged/disabled veterans & ages 10-17 on select Wildlife & Fisheries wildlife management areas. General public lottery hunts set for Sherburne & Bayou Pierre WMAs. Application website: louisianaoutdoors.com/lottery-applications. $8.50 fee. Email David Hayden: dhayden@wlf.la.gov

WHITE LAKE WATERFOWL/APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sept. 30 for Nov. 2 & Nov. 3 youth-only hunt (ages 10-17), 30 marsh hunts & 30 rice field hunts on White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area. Application website: louisianaoutdoors.com/lottery-applications. $8.50 fee. Call Lance Ardoin (337) 536-6061/Email: lardoin@wlf.la.gov

AROUND THE CORNER

SEPT. 29—SOUTH LOUISIANA HIGHPOWER CLUB MATCH: 8:30 a.m., Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Range, St. Landry Road, Gonzales. NRA match rifle or service rifle, 200-yard/50-rounds match course & Prone Match. Fee $15 members, $20 nonmembers, $5 juniors. $25 annual club (first match free)& Civilian Marksmanship Program membership (allows purchases from CMP). Call (337) 380-8120. Email Mike Burke: SouthLaHighPower@hotmail.com

OCT. 3—JUNIOR SOUTHWEST BASSMASTERS MEETING: 7 p.m., Seminar Room, Bass Pro Shops, Denham Springs. Boys & girls age-group bass tournaments for ages 7-10, 11-14 & 15-18 anglers. Call Jim Breaux (225) 772-3026.

OCT. 4—LA. WILDLIFE & FISHERIES COMMISSION MEETING: 9:30 a.m., Cotton Museum, 7162 US65-North, Lake Providence.

OCT. 4-7—COLDWATER FLY FISHING WEEKEND: White River/Buffalo River/Crooked Creek, Arkansas. Red Stick Fly Fishers event. Call Cole Miller (225) 921-9192. Email: cole.miller@theldsgroup.com

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: All inshore & outside waters open.

SPECKLED TROUT: New regulations: 15 per day measuring 13-20 inches with 2 trout more than 20 inches allowed in daily catch.

REDFISH: New regulations: 4-fish daily limit, 18-27 inches “slot” limit, no redfish more than 27 inches long.

OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Recreational, state for-hire red snapper, gray triggerfish, greater amberjack; southern flounder; lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers & wenchmen among other snapper species; all groupers except closed red, goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.

CLOSED SEASONS: Federal for-hire red snapper permit holders; gag, red, goliath & Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.

LDWF UPDATES

-Lake drawdowns: False River, Henderson, Lake D’Arbonne, Saline, Iatt, Bistineau & Lafourche (Caldwell Parish) lakes underway.

-Closed: Hope Canal Road/boat launch (Maurepas Swamp WMA, levee construction).

Email: jmacaluso@theadvocate.com

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Louisiana

Louisiana football ends transfer portal period with more losses

Published

3 hours ago

January 17, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana football ends transfer portal period with more losses

The NCAA transfer portal officially closed January 16 and it was a somewhat quiet period for Louisiana football.

After a 6-7 overall finish for the Ragin’ Cajuns, head coach Michael Desormeaux and his staff were hoping to reset and reload. This go-round, they didn’t pick up a ton from the portal, while on the flip side lost double-digit players. Among those leaving were two starting running backs, Zylan Perry and Bill Davis, and former starting quarterback Walker Howard.

On the bright side, emerging star quarterback Lunch Windfield is set to return for the 2026 season. Along with him are more young talents from last season, such as true freshman defensive back Brent Gordon Jr. and wide receiver Shelton Sampson Jr.

Retaining some talent from last year plus signing 22 players from the Class of 2026, the Cajuns are hopeful to continue to build their roster with the a long offseason to go. Here’s a final roundup as of January 17 of UL football portal pickups and losses.

Louisiana football transfer portal additions

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, Chikere was the fourth portal pickup for the Cajuns at the defensive lineman position. Last season for the Lions, he racked up 34 total tackles and a sack after appearing in 11 games. He has two years of eligibility after being rated a 3-star recruit out of high school by 247Sports.

LSU’s Prince Malbrue

The third portal pickup for the Cajuns is a local one in Lafayette Christian Academy alum Malbrue. The former LSU linebacker and will return to Lafayette after spending four years with the Tigers before two seasons at Northwestern State. This past season, he appeared in 12 games and finished with three total tackles.

Tarleton State’s Brodrick Stewart

The second addition from the portal comes out of Tarleton State in defensive lineman Stewart. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, he adds size to the line that would be lacking with the Cajuns graduating some starters from last season. He finished 2025 with six total tackles and has three years of eligibility remaining.

Tulane’s Jayce Mitchell

The first incoming transfer for the Cajuns addressed a group that needed more depth this past season on the offensive line. Former Tulane offensive tackle Jayce Mitchell announced his commitment to UL on January 5. At 6-5, 275, Mitchell was a three-star prospect according to 247Sports for the Class of 2024.

Louisiana football portal losses

Quarterback Walker Howard to Ole Miss
Wide receiver Charles Robertson
Defensive lineman Fitzgerald West
Cornerback Lorenzell Dubose
Running back Hutch Swilley to McNeese State
Offensive lineman Carter Milliron to Florida
Linebacker Trey Fite to UTSA
Running back Zylan Perry to Cincinnati
Running back Bill Davis to Virginia Tech
Offensive lineman Bryant Williams to Arkansas

Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.

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Louisiana

Two Louisiana joints among 20 best places for chicken wings in the South

Published

15 hours ago

January 17, 2026

Press Room

Two Louisiana joints among 20 best places for chicken wings in the South

Chicken wings have been a staple of American cuisine for a long time, with the smoky flavors and spicy sauces beloved by many.

While the popular delicacy of chicken wings is said to originate in New York, perhaps no one enjoys a good chicken wing quite like a southerner.

In order to find the best wings, Southern Living set out to food trucks, barbecue joints and other eateries to find the best chicken wings in the south.

Two spots in Louisiana made Southern Living’s cut.

Best chicken wings in New Orleans

Bayou Hot Wings, located at 6221 S Claiborne Ave. in New Orleans, is open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. and serves fresh chicken wings made from scratch. At this restaurant, all chicken is seasoned and brined for 24 hours, and then cooked to perfection.

There are 14 different sauces and flavors to choose from, from bayou sweet or bayou hotboy to Korean BBQ or pepper jelly. In addition to sauces and flavors, there are also four different house-made dips that accompany the wings.

Bayou Hot Wings was founded by Chef Allen Nguyen and Chef Kyle Makepeace with the intention to create a wing restaurant the city of New Orleans can be proud of, as many of the menu items are made in-house using local ingredients.

Kajun Kidd Burgers & Wings in Thibodaux named one of the best places for wings by Southern Living

Kajun Kidd Burgers & Wings, located in Thibodaux at 710 St Mary St., is open Tuesday through Sunday and serves up flavorful food prepared by Executive Chef and CEO Cardell Smith.

At this joint, there are 15 different sauce choices, including chipotle Crown Apple, habanero Crown Peach, Caribbean pineapple jerk, sweet heat Hennessey and hot honey drip, to name a few.

The 20 best spots for chicken wings in the South according to Southern Living

The Local: Atlanta, Georgia
Seoulside Wings: Houston, Texas
Ching’s Hot Wings: Memphis, Tennessee
Local Cue: Greenville, South Carolina
Howard China: Washington, D.C.
The Camp Restaurant: Natchez, Mississippi
SAW’s Juke Joint: Birmingham, Alabama
Bayou Hot Wings: New Orleans, Louisiana
Noble’s: Nashville, Tennessee
Certified Pies: Little Rock, Arkansas
Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ: Louisville, Kentucky
Smoke’N Joe Box: Sherwood, Arkansas
Nam Phuong: Atlanta, Georgia
Cricket’s: Madison, Alabama
Brother Z’s Wang Shack: Nashville, Tennessee
Moosehead Grill: Charlotte, North Carolina
Domu: Jacksonville, Florida
Fairley’s Wings & More: Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Kajun Kidd Burgers & Wings: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Track One: El Paso, Texas

Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com

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Louisiana

Will Lake Charles actually see snow this weekend?

Published

1 day ago

January 16, 2026

Press Room

Will Lake Charles actually see snow this weekend?

For over a week, rumors have been circling that southwest Louisiana will once again see snow.

While it is not going to be the type of snowstorm that Louisiana saw last January, the National Weather Service in Lake Charles is forecasting there is some potential for southwest Louisiana to see some snow Sunday morning.

“A cold front will move through the region (Friday night) into early Saturday morning accompanied by a few showers,” the forecast states. “Lingering moisture behind the cold front may produce a brief period of light snow or flurries early Sunday morning across south central Louisiana.”

Specifically, the forecast states that there is a less than 10% chance of snow with no expected accumulation or travel hazards.

The snow chances are due to a light freeze with wind chills in the low to mid-20s that is expected Saturday night into Sunday morning across the entire region away from the immediate coastline.

The forecast states that the service does not know if snow will actually happen since the precipitation chances are “very low” and that the specific areas that may see snow are unknown, but that lower Acadiana is the most likely.

“Rely on trusted, official sources for weather information, not all social media posts are trustworthy,” the forecast states. “Stay informed by monitoring the forecast for updates and changes.”

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