| Esler Field Wildlife Management Area | |
|---|---|
| Esler Field WMA | |
  Location within Louisiana | |
| Location | Rapides Parish andGrant Parish, Louisiana |
| Nearest city | Alexandria |
| Coordinates | 31°26′15″N92°17′24″W / 31.43750°N 92.29000°W /31.43750; -92.29000 |
| Area | 12,500 acres (51 km2) |
| Governing body | Louisiana Army National Guard through theLouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries |
Esler Field Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is aprotected area of 12,500 acres (5,100 ha) inRapides andGrant parishes in the state ofLouisiana.
TheLouisiana Army National Guard (LANG) announced in March 2023 that Camp Beauregard would be renamed the Louisiana National Guard Training Center-Pineville. The WMA was renamed Esler Field Wildlife Management Area.[1]
The WMA is located approximately 8 miles (13 km) northeast ofAlexandria with access fromLA 116 andUS-165.
The primary use is for the National Guard training facility. There are many areas marked with DO NOT ENTER signs, as either the area may be an impact area (when Compartment I & J are closed) or "off limits" at all times marked with "Danger: Unexploded Ordinance (sic) Area".[2]
The Louisiana Army National Guard signed a Management Agreement with theNature Conservancy in 1996 covering 2,672 acres (1,081 ha) as part of theLower West Gulf Coastal Plain ecoregion.
WMA Access Permits are required on any lands administered by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. This includes not only wildlife management areas butwildlife refuges, wildlife conservation areas (WCAs),[3] and LDWF shooting ranges and education facilities.[4]
Any person using LDWF administered lands must use a Self-Clearing Permit, either from a self-clearing Permit Station or by checking in and out electronically through the LDWF Self-Clearing Permit app or on an internet Web portal.
The upland overstory is primarily apine plantation. In the creek bottoms, the overstory is predominantlywater oak,post oak,hickory,red oak andsweetgum. Approximately 800 acres (320 ha) of the Flagon Creek bottom flood. The primary overstory in this area iscypress,overcup oak andbitter pecan.[5]
When the understory is good, it consists ofFrench mulberry,blackberry,greenbrier,yaupon,trumpet creeper, andrattan. In the creek bottom, the common understory isswamp privet,water elm,mayhaw, andswamp snowbell.[6]