Hunting Rules | Louisiana Nutria Fest

Tournament Entry

Tournament Entry Fee is $300 per team through February 1. This includes 1 vessel, 1 captain and 4 hunters. There will be a $50 late fee per teams, beginning February 2. Payment of the entry fee constitutes a representation by each entrant that he/she has read and fully understands the tournament rules that he/she will abide by such rules and decisions of the Tournament Director and/or Committee. The Louisiana Nutria Fest is a hunting tournament where participants agree to compete in a fair and ethical manner. Once the tournament starts, there are no refunds or rollovers for entry fees.

Permits and Licenses

All teams must abide by Louisiana State and Local laws. Click here for State Guidelines https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations.

Tournament Start, Hunting & Scale Hours

Each team will be eligible to hunt a maximum of 2 days, Friday and Saturday. You may begin hunting at 12:01 am on Friday. Your team must return to the official weigh station (or Venice Marina property) by 8pm on Friday and 6pm on Saturday. Teams are allowed to hunt overnight into their second day but must return to the weigh station by 6pm on that second day. Nutria rats cannot be transferred to and from any vessel or captured before tournament competition hours begin. Teams are allowed to weigh up to 9 rats per hunting day. Teams are not allowed to weigh 18 on Day 2.

Tournament Awards

BIGGEST RAT

The winner is determined by the heaviest rat weighed, and you can place more than once.

1st $3,000

2nd $2,000

3rd $1,000

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MOST RATS

There are two divisions of vessels competing for the most rats accumulated, Airboat & Non-Airboat. You may only compete in the divisions in ONE vessel. Rats CANNOT be transferred from one vessel to another. In the event of a protest, the participants being challenged may be subject to a polygraph.

Airboat:

1st $2,500

2nd $1,000

3rd $500

Non-Airboat:

1st $2,500

2nd $1,000

3rd $500

Optional Awards

This is a separate entry and is not required to compete for Tournament Awards. Participants may pay an Optional Entry fee in one or more to the following:

Biggest

$100

$250

$500

Aggregate

$100

$250

$500

Payout amounts will be the total amount of the monies received, less 10% deducted for administration fees with the remaining 90% to be awarded. Biggest and Aggregate will pay 1st, 2nd, and 3rd with a 50%, 30%, 20% split. In the event of limited participation in any category listed above, the payouts will be modified as follows: One team entered will be refunded in full, 2-5 teams will be winner-take-all, 6-9 teams will be 60/40 split, and 10 or more teams will be the standard 50/30/20 split. Participants who wish to pay an Optional Betting Fee, may submit a credit card, cashier’s or business check made payable to the Louisiana Nutria Fest by 11:00 p.m. of registration day, or make payment arrangements with the Tournament Director. Optional Awards for Rats are determined by weight according to Tournament Rules. If no qualifying Rats are weighed by an Optional Entry participants in each Division eligible for an Optional Award, 90% of the Optional Entry Fees collected for that division are returned to the participant(s) who paid Optional Entry Fees for that division.

Biggest

Entry cost for the category is $100, $250 and $500

Winner is determined by the heaviest rat

You can place more than once

Aggregate

Entry cost for the category is $100, $250, and $500

Winner is determined by your combined weight of 3 biggest rats

You can place more than once

Tournament Start, Hunting & Scale Hours

Payment for Cash Awards

Prior to hunting, each tournament teams must designate a representative payee to receive payment of all cash awards. Payment of cash awards is by check. A single check will be written to the team’s representative payee for the combined total of tournament cash awards and optional cash awards. Check will be written after the Awards Ceremony on Saturday night. Louisiana Nutria Fest accepts no responsibility for the division of any cash awards between the members.

Mechanical/Weather

You may substitute a boat once if the substitute boat is not registered in the tournament. All teams and participants should make their decision to hunt based solely on their own judgement. Hunt at your own risk.

Tie Breakers

For rats weighed in, any category of species brought to the scales, placement is determined by the order of weigh in at the scales. The recorded time of weigh-in determines placement.

Protest

Any protests relating to the tournament must be submitted in writing along with $500 deposit by the team captain to the tournament committee no later than 15 minutes after the last rat is weighed on the final day of the tournament. All entrants agree to abide by tournament rules and regulations. All disputes are decided by the Tournament Director and Committee. Their decision is final. Poor sportsmanship will be grounds for disqualification from the Louisiana Nutria Fest. Any violations of these rules resulting in disqualification will result in forfeiture of entry fee and prize money.

Waiver/Disclaimer

It is understood that all participants in the Louisiana Nutria Rodeo enter at their own risk, and that the officers, committee members, sponsors, directors, tournament venue and all persons connected directly or indirectly with the operations of said tournament, shall be exempt from liability for libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury or death suffered by any participant, entrant, hunter, hi/her companions, boat captains, mates, crew members, vessels and equipment which may occur during or in conjunction with the tournament. By tournament entry, the captain consents that the Louisiana Nutria Rodeo may use without payment of restriction, any photographs in which he/she or any of their crew may appear for any purpose whatsoever: including, but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial or promotional material. The captain and his crew further release the Louisiana Nutria Fest, officers and directors, and all persons from injury, loss or damage which may result. All state record winners must submit to a pass in a conclusive manner, a polygraph examination administered by a licensed polygraphist provided by tournament officials. All entrants are to submit to polygraph examination at the request of the tournament committee if there is conflict involving said entrant. Failure to submit to such an examination will result in disqualification of the entrant at the sole discretion of the tournament committee.

ALL DECISIONS OF THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AND COMMITTEE WILL BE FINAL.

Hunting Rules & Regulations

Before you hit the gates and join the action, make sure you know the rules of the bayou. Louisiana Nutria Fest is wild fun with a purpose — and a few simple entry rules keep the good times rolling for everyone. Check them out, gear up, and get ready to celebrate Cajun style.

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