Joyce Wildlife Management Area is a 34,520 acres protected area in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, owned by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. It is located 10 miles south of Hammond and features a boardwalk leading into the swamps on the northwest corner.
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The boardwalk at Joyce wildlife recreation center is a perfect pitstop right off the highway for anyone who needs a break or is interested in taking in Louisiana wildlife at its finest. This place has it all: fishing, birding, trapping, hunting and boating; basically anything you wanted to do in wildlife recreation.
Popular game species to hunt on Joyce WMA include white-tailed deer, waterfowl, rabbit, and squirrel, and be aware there is is a youth deer season you should double check regulations on the website before you visit.
For fishing, there are 2 boat launches nearby. One is at the North Pass at U.S. Hwy 51, Lee’s Landing, and the second is Traino Landing, south of LA Hwy 22. For fishing you'll see the usual common freshwater fish available which include largemouth bass, sunfish, and catfish. Frogging is also available for anyone who's adventurous in that sport.
At this particular boardwalk, be aware alligators and a variety of other reptiles and amphibians are common to see.
Direction, immediately off The exit you will see a sign for the park and parking spaces right in front. Just cross over the railroad tracks and you walk in to the boardwalk filled with Louisiana swamp beautiful trees and a beautiful view of Louisiana wildlife setting. "Swamp Walk” boardwalk was renovated in 1990 after Hurricane Isaac to provide visitors with a swamp interior and observe the associated wildlife and vegetation. It mainly consists of cypress-tupelo swamp. A large portion of the area is a dense shrub marsh community with red maple, wax myrtle, red bay, and younger cypress-tupelo.
I can't emphasize enough just how easy it is to exit off the interstate and stop by for a quick visit highly recommended it for anyone...
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I was so enthralled with this place, that I forgot to take pictures. It's a relatively short but interesting walk and very pretty. I think it might've been better served if the path made a loop instead of having to double back on the path. We didn't see any animals but it's definitely a possibility. One word of caution for those who may be in wheelchairs: The walkway itself is wheelchair-friendly; however, at the beginning, the walk is bisected by railroad tracks, and it's a climb over rough rocks that line each side of the tracks to get to the rest of the walkway. As a result, this walkway isn't handicapped friendly,...
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Beautiful, serene quiet place to truly enjoy the Louisiana marshland. Two Suggestions;
There is NO signage either on I 55 or Highway 51. I passed it twice and had to go out of my way 7 miles to Manchac before I finally found it off of gravel road and Highway 51 they need signage especially for people who aren't from here. No maps, services or Information. Of course I recognize the remoteness and isolation is part of the attraction but some basic information would be helpful.
Otherwise...
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