Sicily Island Hills

For many years botantists have roamed the Sicily Island Hills to document the plant life there. The first known recording of plant life here is that of Clarendon Peck. See my Photos/Map page for his observations

Later, scientists from NLSC, later known as NLU  and now ULM, plus others from LSU and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries detailed their findings. Much of that work is displayed on the lower half of my Geography page on this site, see Geography tab.

Now, the latest to journey across these hills is Chris Reid of the Louisiana Natural Heritage Program. And even though his investigation of plant life here is a work in progress, Chris was kind enough to share his preliminary information for use on this website. The following spread sheet is rather lengthy and will be growing as new data is acquired.

The Sicily Island Hills are a great place to go camping but you will be more comfortable if you bring an RV.  Primitive camp sites with no facilities await the visitor. So if you want a bathroom, electricity or water, you must bring your own. Travelers within this wildlife management area (wma) encounter generally good gravel roads. Due to seasonal heavy down pours road conditions are subject to change but that is not a reflection on the wma staff.  Rather, the soils and the climate of these hills are game changers.

The southern entrance off of LA 8 to the area is quite different and the situation limits the size of your RV. After entering the wildlife management area, the driver will soon find a moderately steep hill with a curve. Additionally, the gravel is loose making travel difficult, so larger RV’s are not advised. I do not know a hard-and-fast rule for how large a rig you can take into this wma. To suggest a size would be speculation. Personally, I have visited these hills dozens of times and never seen a vehicle larger than a full-size pick up truck. If you visit the Sicily Island Hills for the first time it might be wise to come in a pick up and evaluate the roads yourself. Should you be coming from a great distance, you might call the staff ahead of time to inquire about road conditions.

The north side entrance to the Sicily Island Hills WMA provides better access for motor homes and trailers.

The Sicily Island Hills did not receive the same kind of winter precipitation that occurred in February of 2010. Only a little freezing rain was reported in early February by Clyde Thompson the LDWF technician at SIHWMA.

Soon turkey hunting will be in full swing,  check the LDWF website for details on turkey hunting at Sicily Island Hills Wildlife Management Area.

A storm system moved through the Sicily Island Hills today bringing heavy rain and strong winds.

I spoke to Lowery Moak today and he reported a quiet month within the Sicily Island Hills. The main upcoming event will be turkey hunting season. Contact your local LDWF office for details on turkey hunting within Sicily Island Hills Wildlife Management Area.

A more peaceful place could not be found than the Sicily Island Hills. The rest of the world should be so fortunate…

Peace on Earth. Live it, don’t just pay it lip service.

Lack of rain, warm temperatures and later a hard freeze eliminated opportunities for vibrant fall foliage in the Sicily Island Hills in 2010. Like they say, there is always next year…

Extraordinarily dry, hot weather has made difficult hiking in the Sicily Island Hills even more treacherous. Deep leaf litter on slopes and trails will cause the visitor to be extra cautious with footing.

On the Big Creek Hiking Trail snakes appear at least to be more noticeable or numerous around the diminished streams. Fallen trees across the trail form unexpected obstacles. This 7 mile trail is usually strenuous due to the steep terrain, but given the current conditions the trail should not be taken alone or haphazardly, as the potential for injury is enhanced.

Given the extreme terrain within the Sicily Island Hills, it would seem that this would be a mountain bikers paradise. Alas, the very soil that provides the steep slopes also is very prone to damage and erosion. In checking with Lowery Moak the biologist in charge of SIHWMA, I learned that mountain bikes used within the wildlife management area are only allowed on the gravel roads and atv trails (in season only) and are never allowed on the hiking trails.

If you are wishing to ride bicycles within the Sicily Island Hills Wildlife Wildlife Management Area, your options are the existing gravel roads and the all terrain vehicle trails (subject to the regulations governing atv trails). The gravel roads that traverse the Sicily Island Hills vary from level to moderately steep by Louisiana standards, so there are some possibilities.

There is a place within the Sicily Island Hills but outside the wildlife management area that is open to the idea of mountain bikes. Check out Catahoula Recreation by clicking on the ATV link along the left margin. Primarily for motorized vehicles, contact them before you travel there and discover the potentialities,prices and rules involved with mountain biking there.

When visiting a state wildlife management area it might not even cross your mind that permits are required to enter. However, such areas don’t manage themselves, it takes people and resources. In other words it takes money. One way to manage and measure the need for funding is to understand the number of visitors and the activities in which they engage.

Visitors to any Louisiana state wildlife management area, including Sicily Island Hills WMA, must be in possession of several permits and/or licenses. Those required to have a permit includes anyone entering the WMA, whether you are a biker, birder, fisherman, hiker, hunter, or walker. First, you must possess one of the following, a current Louisiana hunting or fishing license, or a Wild Louisiana Stamp.  Each of these items provides funds to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. One thing I might add is that the Wild Louisiana Stamp funds are specifically directed to the Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, which is the non-game division of LDWF.

Secondly, it is a requirement while at the state wildlife management area to pick up and fill out a Self-Clearing Permit form at the Self-Clearing Permit Station.One of these stations is located near the primitive campground on the south side of the WMA and there are two such stations on the north side of the refuge.

Perhaps you are asking yourself, first they want me to spend my money to buy a license and then once I arrive they want me to fill out a form, carry it around with me and then before I leave drop it off in the box at the Self-Clearing Station  ?  The answer is YES.

Why should I spend my money to visit a state owned area and why should I waste my time filling out a stupid permit form? The answers to those two questions are interconnected. First, it is required and is part of your visitor responsibility. Second, by filling out the form you are shaping your own future visits because you are providing crucial statistical information. Without these data the state has little to go on for deciding how the wildlife management area is funded or managed.

So you spent $5.50 per person (if you are over 15 years old or younger than 60 years old) to enter the wildlife management area? That is money well spent because from the day you purchase your Wild Louisiana Stamp you are allowed to visit all the state WMA’s for an entire year. One small fee per year per person seems like a deal to me.

Filling out a form each visit is not a great burden if you think of the wildlife management area as a gift of nature and not as an entitlement. Your future visits will be enhanced because when the LDWF understands your activities at the wma, it can tailor its efforts to meet those needs.

Become part of the history of the Sicily Island Hills by becoming a participant, not just a bystander.