Bigtime kudos to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for its latest move: a massive expansion of the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area northwest of New Orleans.

The 29,630-acre addition to the WMA now creates 103,374 acres within driving distance for thousands who live in southern Louisiana. The WMA is located between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune is “the largest contiguous tract of wetland forest remaining in the lower Mississippi River alluvial valley.”

Louisiana is a landing point for millions of waterfowl that migrate annually along the Mississippi River Flyway. From Canada to the southern marshes of the Gulf Coast, Louisiana is the heart of the flyway as it follows the Big Muddy’s drainage through the heartland.

But as importantly, the Maurepas Swamp WMA is home to whitetail deer and small game. It provides hunters opportunities to get out of the cities and at least whet their appetite for outdoors pursuits, which in this day and time is darn sure a good thing anywhere.

Read the full report on the WMA’s expansion here: Click this link