Integrated Natural Resources Management Program

Louisiana is known as a “Sportsman’s Paradise” and Fort Polk is dedicated to providing outdoor recreation opportunities for our community and responsibly managing the land and natural resources entrusted to us. The ecological management of Army-owned land at Fort Polk is mandated through the Sikes Act, which is the main driver for the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP). The Fort Polk INRMP is a required 5 year plan prepared by the installation in coordination and agreement with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).  The plan consists of mutually agreed upon conservation, protection, and management of fish and wildlife resources on Fort Polk military lands. 

The natural ecosystem of Fort Polk generally consists of longleaf pine, hardwood ridges, riparian stream-sides, bogs and baygalls that support a diversity of species.  Fort Polk is home to 237 avian, 50 reptilian, 22 amphibian, 44 mammalian, 69 butterfly species, over 1,400 vascular plants, 23 vegetative community types, and many other macro and microorganisms important to ecosystem health.  Examples of some rare and sensitive animals are the alligator snapping turtle, the Kisatchie painted crawfish, and the monarch butterfly.  The Fort Polk INRMP provides for programs designed to facilitate various land management concentrations to support ecosystem health and diversity while keeping the military mission at the forefront.

Fort Polk has a unique agreement with LDWF that allows installation property to serve as a Wildlife Management Area, furthering Fort Polk’s commitment to providing outdoor recreational opportunities for our community.  When training permits, Fort Polk is open to hunting, fishing, bird watching, and nature viewing.  Examples of commonly harvested game animals are white-tailed deer, Northern bobwhite quail, and the Eastern wild turkey.  Through proactive and collaborative management, fish and wildlife populations have flourished on Fort Polk lands and will continue to provide many generations of outdoor enthusiasts the joy and excitement of the Louisiana outdoor experience. 

For more information on how to obtain a hunting license and Louisiana Wildlife Management Areas, please visit www.wlf.louisiana.gov.

For more information regarding Fort Polk and Peason Ridge WMA access and regulations, please visit home.army.mil/polk/index.php/about/fort-polk-huntin.

For more information on outdoor recreation opportunities on Fort Polk, please visit polk.armymwr.com/categories/outdoor-recreation.