In-the-know deer hunters learned many years back about how a whitetail deer sees; that these animals see in black, white and all the shades of gray in between.

Much later, biologists and those who cared to make the study, found deer see much farther into the ultraviolet part of the spectrum than the folks who are sitting in stands or ground blinds during government-approved seasons. Know here, too, that white and black aren't colors, that white is the presence of all color and black is the absence of color, and while that won't fly at the paint store nor when choosing a "color" for a new vehicle, it bears mentioning. 

So what?

After reading this month's "American Hunter" article on washing powders and liquids, and reinforcing the scientific publications on the functions of whitetail deer eyes, it's clear that buying the latest and greatest woodlands/fields camouflage — sometimes buying more than one set because you believe you need to match the changing colors of your hunting territory — might not be a 100-percent guarantee deer won't see you.

And it's because your washing your prized camo with the wrong stuff.

Most of the washing powders and liquids today promise something like "whiter whites and more colorful colors" and that means something called "brighteners."

When us baby boomers were young (a long, long time ago), our mothers used something called bluing, a blue liquid that gave a bluish cast to white sheets, shirts, blouses, tablecloths etc. and made them appear bright and whiter than white.

But it only worked on whites. Today, soap makers figured out how to make "brighteners" work on colors, and because it's so pervasive in this market, it will, when you wash camo with these products, turn your camouflage clothing into something akin to a neon sign to always wary whitetails.

That's because, as more info is published, deer can see more into the higher parts of the spectrum (infrared at the low end and ultraviolet at the upper end) and will pick up on the UV brighteners added to the laundry detergent.

Years ago, I washed hunting clothes in borax, figuring I didn't need to smell "flowery fresh" or "spring breezes" in a deer stand. It worked to clean camo, and it didn't leave a smell.

New task force

When the state House passed Concurrent Resolution 9 in this year’s session, it created the Feral Hog Management Advisory Task Force with hopes of coming up with a plan or plans to stem the increasing problems with feral hogs.

The 11-member group will meet for the first time at 9 a.m. at Wednesday in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ state headquarters on Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.

The task force is comprised of members appointed by the LDWF and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

LDWF veterinarian Dr. Jim LaCour is the contact for this new panel. LaCour can be reached at (225) 765-2346/Email: jmlacour@wlf.la.gov.

Give Bistineau time

While state Inland Fisheries’ biologists aren’t closing the areas off, fishermen might want to give about 500 acres at the Catfish Pond, between Fairview Point and the mouth of Little Red Chute Bayou, a wide berth on Lake Bistineau for a couple of weeks.

Earlier last week, Wildlife and Fisheries announced helicopters would apply aerial herbicide to combat giant salvinia in the popular north Louisiana lake.

The LDWF announcement indicated the invasive plant could take up to three weeks for it to die and sink.

While there is no restriction on fishing or other recreational activities, most fishermen know it takes about three weeks for fishing to return to normal in sprayed areas.

At Beauregard

Because the Louisiana National Guard needs to use the area, the LDWF closed gates at Mayhaw and Millcreek roads leaving access to Camp Beauregard Wildlife Management Area (Rapides Parish) to only the Buckhorn Road gate.

The LNG owns this WMA and reserves the right to block access for training schedules.

Maps at the self-clearing permit stations will list closed areas.

To plan for a hunt, you can call the LNG’s Camp Beauregard Range Control (318) 290-6300/(318) 290-6301 for closed and open areas available.

Seed bed closures

The LDWF announced closure effective last week of public oyster seed grounds east of the Mississippi River in St. Bernard Parish and the Hackberry Bay Public Oyster Seed Reservation in Jefferson and Lafourche Parishes

The oyster season maps are available on the LDWF website: www.wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/commerical-oyster-seasons.

Florida triggerfish

While the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation closed state waters throughout 2017 for gray triggerfish at its November meeting — it followed the federal closure issued by federal biologists and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council — the FWC decision will remain open for review and the panel agreed to consider a potential limited gray triggerfish season.

The FWC will take comment from staff and stakeholders to determine if state waters will be open to a gray triggerfish season later in 2017.