Forest Service Lifts Ban On Deer Dogs

PINEVILLE, La. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service has lifted its proposed ban of using dogs to hunt deer on the federal forest lands of Kisatchie National Park in Louisiana.

The Town Talk reports (http://townta.lk/VhRjM3 ) the ban was to start with the eight-day dog-deer season that begins Thursday and lasts through Dec. 13.

The Forest Service's decision to retreat was announced by Katherine Vincent, an assistant U.S. attorney, who appeared at a hearing in Alexandria federal court.

U.S. Judge Dee Drell was to rule Monday on if the ban should be temporarily halted. After Vincent's announcement, Drell said the motion filed by deer-dog hunters seeking a preliminary injunction on the ban was moot at this point.

The Louisiana Sportsman Alliance had filed a lawsuit against the federal officials and entities that oversee federal land.