Issuu

Louisiana SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026

Country

An Unforgettable Journey

SLECA sends two local students to Washington, D.C. Page 18 Louisiana Youth Tour delegates visit the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. PHOTO COURTESY OF SLECA

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In This Issue 4

2026 Annual Meeting Awards

Louisiana Planner

The Mother Road Turns 100

20 Got a Story Idea? We Want to Hear It.

Chicago

22 Dove Hunting Primer

Joliet Wilmington Pontiac Bloomington Springfield

Your Local Co-op Pages 6-7, 9, 16, 18-19

Lebanon

Madison St. Louis Stanton Eureka Cuba Fanning St. Robert

Ash Grove Marshfield Galena Baxter Springs Joplin Springfield

Barstow Newberry Springs Oro Grande Pasadena Santa Monica

Petrified Gallup Santa Fe Forest Clinton Seligman Flagstaff & Painted Adrian Amarillo McLean Desert Sayre Hackberry Williams Groom Shamrock Grants Tucumcari Vega Oatman Holbrook Moriarty Winslow Santa Rosa Albuquerque Joseph Needles City

Kingman

San Bernardino Los Angeles

Catoosa Bristow Tulsa Arcadia Stroud Oklahoma City

El Reno

10 Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives Inc. Staff

ALEC Members

CEO/DIRECTOR OF SAFETY AND LOSS CONTROL Aarron Graham

BEAUREGARD ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC. Mike Viator Tommy Cryar

ACCOUNTING MANAGER Beth Fraser SAFETY COORDINATOR Danny Delatte

Board of Directors President Michael Heinen Vice President Roger Dale DeHart Secretary/Treasurer Richard Sitman

CLAIBORNE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC. Mike Marcotte Lane Davidson DEMCO Daniel Berthelot

Richard “Dickie” Sitman

JEFF DAVIS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC. Michael Heinen Byron Hardee SOUTH LOUISIANA ELECTRIC COOP ASSOCIATION Trevor Benoit Roger Dale DeHart WASHINGTONST. TAMMANY ELECTRIC COOP INC. Joe Jarrell Dennis Glass

Associate Member PANOLAHARRISON ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INC.

22 S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

Edwardsville

STATEWIDE NEWS

2026 Annual Meeting Awards KEVIN REEVES COOPERATIVE SPIRIT AWARDS The Louisiana Member Services Association and the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives recently recognized cooperative employees and their families for volunteer service in their communities. LMSA members permanently renamed the Cooperative Spirit Awards in 2024 to honor Kevin Reeves, a longtime Beauregard Electric Cooperative Inc. employee who died unexpectedly in June 2023. Kevin spent 33 years at BECi and was known throughout Louisiana’s electric cooperative community for his service to others. His commitment to his family, church, community and cooperative reflected the values the awards were created to recognize. Cooperative Spirit Award Individual Nominees This year’s nominees for the Kevin Reeves Cooperative Spirit Award were Jeff Lea, of DEMCO, and Tray West, of BECi. Jeff, DEMCO’s maintenance and facilities crew leader, celebrated 18 years with the cooperative in August. Outside of work, he volunteers with Rescue, Rehome, Repeat, a Livingston Parish organization that gives animals in need a second chance. Jeff helps walk dogs, clean kennels and comfort nervous animals. Through the organization, he also met Smokey, an energetic rescue dog he and his wife adopted. His volunteer work has inspired fellow employees to support animal shelters and adopt rescue animals. Tray has served as president of the Louisiana Riding Club since 2023. Under his leadership, the traditional rodeo club became a faith-based, community-focused organization centered on youth development, family involvement and Christian fellowship through Western sports. The club offers riding and speed events for participants of all ages and skill levels, including people with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. Through rodeo and Western tradition, the organization mentors young people, encourages positive 4

S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026

Kevin Reeves Cooperative Spirit Awards recipients are honored. ABOVE LEFT: DEMCO’s David Latona, left, and Louisiana Member Services Association President EmmaLee Tingle, right, present the individual award to Beauregard Electric Cooperative Inc.’s Tray West. ABOVE RIGHT: Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative CEO receives the cooperative award from David and EmmaLee for the co-op’s birthday boxes project.

lifestyles, and builds community around faith and family. Tray was named the 2026 recipient of the Kevin Reeves Cooperative Spirit Award. WSTE Employees Build Birthday Boxes Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative employees joined cooperative members, Del Sol Consulting volunteers, Court Appointed Special Advocates representatives and staff from U.S. Sen. John Kennedy’s office to assemble Brooke It Forward Birthday Boxes for children in need. Each box included supplies for an instant birthday celebration, including plates, napkins, cake mix, icing, an ice cream scoop and candles. The Brooke It Forward Foundation distributes the boxes to underserved children ages 13 and older through CASA, the Louisiana Department of Children and

Family Services, and Hope House. WSTE employees donated $1,500 out of their own pockets to support the project. Del Sol Consulting matched their contributions, providing a total $3,000 to buy supplies for 50 birthday boxes. The project reflected the cooperative principle of neighbors working together to serve their communities. Beyond party supplies, the boxes provide children with an opportunity to feel recognized and celebrated while demonstrating WSTE employees’ commitment to service and community involvement.

SAFETY AWARDS

Louisiana electric cooperatives and their employees were recognized for safety achievements during the 2026 ALEC Awards and Safety Banquet in July.

ABOVE LEFT: Claiborne Electric Cooperative CEO Michael Marcotte, center, accepts a certificate recognizing the completion of Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program inspections from Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives CEO Aarron Graham, left, and ALEC Safety Coordinator Danny Delatte. ABOVE RIGHT: ALEC’s Aarron Graham, Conley Bourgeois Wilson, Beth Fraser and Danny Delatte also completed the RESAP inspections.

ciation

Safety and training are among ALEC’s key services to member cooperatives. Because electric cooperative employees often work in hazardous environments, ALEC provides programs designed to help employees perform their jobs safely. RESAP Recognition ALEC member cooperatives may participate in the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program, which includes rigorous safety inspections every three years. Certified loss-control professionals review facilities, equipment and employee procedures as part of the inspection process. This year, Claiborne Electric Cooperative and ALEC completed their RESAP inspections and received flags to display at their headquarters in recognition of the achievement.

WSTE CEO Dane Hocott, left, is pictured with Good Samaritan Award recipient Matt Smith.

Good Samaritan Award The Good Samaritan Award recognizes a Louisiana electric cooperative employee who helps someone in need, saves a life or demonstrates exceptional kindness during an emergency. On July 29, 2025, WSTE serviceman Matt Smith responded to a trouble call on Highway 41, a heavily traveled road with a 55-mph speed limit and frequent truck traffic. As Matt rounded a curve, he saw a young girl, estimated to be between 2 and 4 years old, standing barefoot and alone in the middle of the highway. An 18-wheeler was approaching from the opposite direction. Matt immediately positioned his bucket truck across the roadway, activated its

warning lights and stopped approaching traffic. He and another bystander then ran toward the child. Matt reached the girl, helped calm her and contacted law enforcement. A short time later, a parent arrived and took the child home. Matt has worked as a WSTE serviceman for 15 years. His quick response helped protect the child from a potentially lifethreatening situation and earned him the Good Samaritan Award. Loss-Time Safety Milestones ALEC also recognized member cooperatives that reached significant milestones without a loss-time accident. South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association surpassed 4.88 million work hours without a loss-time accident, a record dating to December 1996. BECi recorded more than 981,000 work hours without a loss-time accident since November 2022, while Claiborne Electric surpassed 974,000 hours since June 2024. WSTE recorded more than 527,000 work hours without a loss-time accident since April 2024. Jeff Davis Electric Cooperative surpassed 122,000 hours since April 2025, and DEMCO recorded more than 729,000 hours without a losstime accident. Statewide Safety Award The Traveling Statewide Safety Award traditionally concludes the banquet. The award is determined using a formula that considers employee incidents, the severity of those incidents, hours worked and vehicle accidents. JDEC received the 2026 Traveling Statewide Safety Award. ALEC commends its member cooperatives and employees for their achievements and continued commitment to workplace safety.  FROM TOP: JDEC employees and trustees are joined by ALEC representatives as they accept the Traveling Statewide Safety Award. BECi receives a trophy for their many years of safety achievements. Safety awards for no loss-time milestones are presented to WSTE and SLECA. S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

Meet Your Board of Directors David Luke

District 4, President

A board member since 1981, David is a wholesale seafood processor. For more than 35 years, the Dulac native worked in seafood processing, beginning in his father’s plant, Luke Seafood. He and his wife, Elaine, are former owners of D’Luke’s Seafood Inc. in Dulac and the former St. Michael’s Fuel & Ice in Biloxi, Mississippi. A lifetime member of the VFW 4752 Rifle Team and the 2nd Marine Division Association, David is also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 7722, Grand Caillou Volunteer Fire Department and Holy Family Catholic Church Finance Council. He volunteers for Holy Family Catholic Church. David received the Bishop Hannon Award from St. Louis Cathedral and the St. Francis Co-Cathedral Bishop Award. He was inducted into the Heritage Hall of Fame in 2025 in the Industry Tradesman category, and his former Biloxi business, St. Michael’s Fuel & Ice, was inducted in the Commercial Seafood Processing Companies category. David represents Grand Caillou and Dulac. Roger Dale DeHart District 5, Vice President

The Dularge native was elected to the SLECA board in 1997. He represents SLECA as an Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives board member and serves as president on ALEC’s Executive Committee. Roger serves as a chairman of the 501(c)(3) Hurricane Relief Committee

and as a board member of 1803 Electric— SLECA’s cooperative G&T. Roger has been a member of the Terrebonne Parish School Board for 36 years and previously was a Fire District 10 commissioner. He serves Bayou Dularge and Ashland North subdivision. Roger enjoys what he does and takes all of his commitments seriously. Larry J. Daigle District 3, Secretary

The Bayou Blue native was elected to the SLECA board in 2004. He served 39 years as senior vice president of Caro Produce and nine years as president of Prime Source and Southland Distribution. He retired as a local produce buyer and grower liaison for Rouse’s Supermarket. A SLECA member since 1965, Larry serves on the finance committee and parish council for St. Louis Catholic Church and the Terrebonne Parish Council on Aging. He served as adviser to Bishop Boudreaux on the Pastoral Council, and he received the Bishop’s Award in 1988 for outstanding service. He attributes his success to his wife of 62 years, Ruby. Larry represents parts of Bayou Blue and Gray. Terry Trahan

District 7, Treasurer

Elected to SLECA’s board in 1987, the Bayou Black native retired from Trahan’s Heating and Air Conditioning after 34 years. He serves Bayou Black, Gibson, Southdown West, Ouiski Bayou and The Lakes subdivision.

Volume 43, Issue 5 Louisiana Country (USPS 473-180) is published bimonthly by the Association of Louisiana Electric Co-ops Inc., 10725 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70816, in partnership with Pioneer Utility Resources. Annual subscriptions: Members $2.59. Nonmembers $5. Postmaster: Send form 3579 to 10725 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70816. Periodicals postage paid at Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821, and at additional mailing offices.

S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026

SLECA Sweepstakes

Did you know SLECA gives away cash just for reading Louisiana Country? In each issue, four account numbers are randomly selected using a computer program and hidden in articles on SLECA’s pages (6, 7, 9, 16, 18 and 19). If you see your account number, call SLECA and win $25 cash or have the money applied to your bill. If you are not reading Louisiana Country from cover to cover, you’re missing out on great articles and the chance to win money.

SLECA Abby R. LeBlanc District 1

A Gheens native who was elected to the board in 2024, Abby has grown up in the SLECA family and is passionate about her community. Abby and her husband, Jared, have two girls and run a quality cow/ calf operation. She is a board member of the local cattlemen’s association and the carnival club, and she is active in Lafourche 4-H. Abby has been a full-time employee at Lafourche Animal Hospital for 22 years. She wants to be a voice for her community and learn how best to serve it. Sandra Tauzin Boudreaux District 2

A native of Chackbay and resident of Donner, Sandra was elected to the board in April 2024. She’s a Thibodaux High graduate. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and a degree in guidance and counseling from Nicholls State University. She taught in Terrebonne Parish for 31 years. She is the mother of J. Dennis Boudreaux IV and Lisa B Links. Sandra is a former Confraternity of Christian Doctrine teacher for St. Lawrence Church, receiving the Bishop’s Medal in 1987. She is a member of Terrebonne Retired Teachers Association, Louisiana Retired Teachers Association, and Louisiana Volunteers for Family and Community. Sandra is an artist, specializing in portraits. She enjoys photography, gardening, sewing, reading and traveling. 28363001 Betty Jean Doyle District 6

A New Orleans native, Betty Jean has been a Houma resident for 61 years. She is the mother of four boys and one girl, a grandmother of nine and greatgrandmother of two. Betty Jean was voted to the board in April 2024. She is very active in the community and has

volunteered her services over the years at various organizations. For 25 years, she was a volunteer at Terrebonne General Medical Center. When her children were young, she was a Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader and was invested in her children’s educations and outside activities. Betty Jean is honored to serve on the SLECA board. Ivan Acosta District 8

The Stephensville native graduated from Morgan City High School in 1973. Ivan began working for the local Caterpillar dealership in 1973 and retired in 2020. During his time at the dealership, he held the titles of technician, technical communicator, instructor, service manager and branch/ service manager. Ivan and his wife, Katherine, married in 1974 and have three children. He serves Stephensville, Bayou L’Ourse, Deadwood, and parts of Gibson and Morgan City.

SLECA offices will be closed Sept. 7 in observance of Labor Day. ADOBE STOCK IMAGE BY ARTBACKGROUND

Trevor Benoit District 9

The Amelia native is a semiretired mechanic who is in the hotshot trucking business, making deliveries to local, regional and national locations. Trevor was a Morgan City municipal employee in the central garage department, where he was responsible for maintaining more than 100 pieces of specialized equipment. He retired as supervisor of the department. Trevor is a Knights of Columbus member and served as deputy knight, grand knight and district deputy. He represents Amelia, Siracusaville and parts of Bayou L’Ourse. Trevor is proud to follow in the footsteps of his parents, who served on the SLECA board.

Statement of Nondiscrimination

Lloyd Gibson

for 45 years. He was Terrebonne Parish Recreation Board chairman for 20 years. He is a member of Saint Luke Baptist Church of Houma, serving as president of the building fund, and he is an associate member of St. James Baptist Church. Lloyd is concerned about his community and is involved in its development.

Adviser to the board

A Gibson resident, Lloyd is a contractor and owner of Cookie’s Construction Co. Lloyd has advised the board since 1984 and been Terrebonne Parish constable

South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association is an equal opportunity provider and employer. If you wish to file a civil rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found at usda.gov/about-usda/general-information/staffoffices/office-assistant-secretary-civil-rights or at any USDA office, or call 866-632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter by mail to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; by fax to 202-690-7442; or by email to program.intake@usda.gov.

S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

Louisiana

PLANNER MORGAN CITY

Sept. 3–7

91st Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival This event holds the distinction of being the oldest state-chartered harvest festival in Louisiana, honoring the two industries that built Morgan City. With more than five days of free, family-friendly celebration along the Atchafalaya River in downtown Morgan City, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Highlights include live music nightly in Lawrence Park, a five-day arts and crafts market with more than 100 vendors, a children’s parade Saturday morning, carnival rides, Sunday morning Mass in Lawrence Park, the traditional Blessing of the Fleet on Berwick Bay and a spectacular Sunday night fireworks display synchronized to local radio. shrimpandpetroleum.org

All ages can find something new and exciting around every corner of the state. Filled with rich history, abundant natural beauty and diverse events all year, Louisiana has fun options for everyone.

DERIDDER

Oct. 6–10

97th Annual Beauregard Parish Fair This event is a time-honored fall tradition celebrating farm living, family and fellowship at Beauregard Parish Fairgrounds. The multiday fair features agricultural exhibits, livestock shows, carnival rides, arts and crafts, live entertainment, local food and youth competitions—embodying the rural community spirit that has kept it going for nearly a century. Admission details and the full schedule of events are available online. beauregardparishfair.com

SHREVEPORT

Oct. 8–11 and 15–18

NATCHITOCHES

Sept. 18–19

Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival Held along the historic downtown riverbank on the scenic Cane River, this two-day event celebrates the flaky, richly seasoned beef-and-pork meat pie that has made this city—the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase Territory—famous. Friday runs from 5-11 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., with live music, a meat pie-eating contest, children’s activities, art vendors, a brew fest and, of course, as many meat pies as you care to eat. Admission is free, and the setting along the Cane River is one of the most beautiful in the state. meatpiefestival.com

50th Annual Red River Revel Arts Festival An expanded two-weekend format at Festival Plaza on the Red River helps commemorate this event’s milestone anniversary. The largest outdoor arts festival in North Louisiana features more than 75 juried artists, four stages of live music and performing arts, nonprofit food booths and a children’s arts education area. Thursday and Friday admission is free until 5 p.m.; admission is $10 on Saturdays and Sundays, with children 12 and younger always free. redriverrevel.com

CROWLEY

Oct. 15–18

NEW IBERIA

Sept. 24–27

Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival Iberia Parish has been celebrating its most important crop since 1937, and this festival remains one of the most beloved agricultural traditions in the state. The four-day festival runs Friday, 5-10 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Bouligny Plaza in historic downtown New Iberia. Highlights include the coronation of Queen Sugar and King Sucrose, a fais do-do, multiple parades, a blessing of the crop, a carnival street fair, a flower show, a photography contest, sugar cookery, art exhibits and live entertainment. Admission varies. hisugar.org

89th International Rice Festival Louisiana’s oldest and largest agricultural festival, downtown Crowley will once again be transformed for a four-day celebration of the crop that put Acadia Parish on the map. The free event features two stages of live music, a children’s parade, a grand parade, a classic car show, a fiddle and accordion contest, a rice-eating contest, a frog derby, a 5K run, food booths and an arts and crafts area. The festival’s music lineup is the largest of any agricultural festival in the state. ricefestival.com

MANDEVILLE

Oct. 24–25

AMITE CITY

Sept. 30–Oct. 4

Tangipahoa Parish Fair Since 1888, the fair has brought the community together at the fairgrounds in Amite City for a weeklong celebration of local culture, agriculture and history. The fair features school exhibits built around an annual theme, a Pioneer Town with live demonstrations of sawmill, gristmill and syrupmaking operations, carnival rides, live entertainment, a spelling bee, a midway, food vendors, and arts and crafts displays. It is one of the oldest parish fairs in Louisiana and a proud showcase of Tangipahoa’s heritage from north to south.

47th Annual Louisiana Wildfowl Carvers & Collectors Guild Festival Decoys become works of art each October at Castine Center. This festival draws master carvers, painters and collectors from across the country to compete in more than 75 categories spanning ducks, songbirds, fish, caricatures, wildlife sculpture, interpretive art and more. Visitors can watch live decoy carving and painting demonstrations, bid in the auction, browse arts and crafts exhibits, and shop from vendors selling carving and painting supplies. Admission is $5; children younger than 12 are free. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. lwccg.com

tangifair.org

HOW TO INCLUDE UPCOMING EVENTS

Want to share a family-friendly event with Louisiana readers? Enter details at tinyurl.com/LouisianaPlanner or scan the QR code with your smartphone camera for easy access. Make sure to submit November/December events by Oct. 1 (due to press deadline). Events are published as space allows. 8

S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026

TWO-THIRDS PAGE 4.625 X 10

5 STEPS FOR DIGGING 5 STEPS FORSAFE SAFE DIGGING

SLECA

WorkingWorking on an outdoor project? Careless digging poses a threat to on an outdoor project? Careless digging poses a threat to people, pipelines and underground facilities. call first. people, pipelines and underground facilities. Always Always call 811811 first. Here areHere fiveare easy for safe digging: fivesteps easy steps for safe digging:

1. NOTIFY

1. NOTIFY Call 811 or make a

2. WAIT

request online twoa Call 811 or make to three days before request online two your work begins. The tooperator three days before will notify your work begins. the utilities affected The by your project. operator will notify the utilities affected by your project.

Wait two to three days for affected utilities to respond to your request. They will locator mark for any Waitsend twoato threetodays underground utility lines.

2. WAIT

affected utilities to respond to your request. They will 3. CONFIRM send a locator to mark any Confirm that all affected underground utility lines. utilities have responded to

2-3

your request by comparing the marks to the list of utilities the 811 call center notified.

3. CONFIRM

Confirm that all affected utilities have responded to 4. RESPECT your request by comparing the Respect the markers marks to the list of utilities provided the by the affected 811 call center notified. utilities. The markers are your guide for the duration of your project.

4. RESPECT

Respect the markers

5. DIG CAREFULLY provided by the affected If you can’t avoidutilities. digging The markers near the markers (within are your guide for the 18-24 inches on all sides, duration depending on state laws), of your project. consider moving your project location.

5. DIG CAREFULLY

Source: call811.com If you can’t avoid digging near the markers (within 18-24 inches on all sides,

S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

Celebrations rev up America’s iconic Route 66 By Jim McCarty It’s midday at Missouri Hick Bar-B-Que along Route 66 near Cuba, Missouri. The lunch rush is almost over when the staff springs into action, moving tables together, preparing for a big gathering. Soon, the restaurant walls vibrate with the two-cylinder thump of a dozen or so Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The door opens, and the happy sounds of a group that’s experiencing the time of their lives reverberate—in Swedish. Scenes like this play out every day along what remains of the most famous highway in the world. It’s called the Mother Road, Main Street of America and the Highway That’s the Best. It once traversed eight states

Barstow Newberry Springs Oro Grande Pasadena Santa Monica

Kingman

San Bernardino Los Angeles

along 2,448 miles, stretching from the shores of Lake Michigan in Chicago to a pier at the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California. Its official name is Route 66, and it’s about to get busier than it’s been since it was decommissioned in 1985. This year, Route 66 fans from around the world will look for new kicks as the celebrated road turns 100. Springfield, Missouri, was in the spotlight in April as the site of the national kickoff of America’s Route 66 Centennial Celebration. The Queen City of the Ozarks earned that honor through a competitive process, but also due to its status as the birthplace of Route 66. On April 30, 1926, John Woodruff, a Springfield businessman, sent a telegram to Washington, D.C., requesting the new road be named U.S. Route 66. The

Seligman Flagstaff

Petrified Forest & Painted Desert

Gallup

Hackberry Williams Oatman Holbrook Winslow Joseph Needles City

idea for the road didn’t originate here, but its iconic name did. “This recognition is a testament to Missouri’s deep roots in the history of America’s most iconic highway and the vibrant spirits of the communities that keep that legacy alive today,” Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe says. The governor’s farm sits along Route 66 in Jerome. “We have some of the original roadway in Pulaski County that you can still drive on,” he says. “People come from all over the world to drive on that. This roadway is so historic, and it has made millions of memories for not just Americans but for people all over the world.” Kickoff festivities included five satellite cities: Joliet, Illinois;

Santa Fe

Adrian Amarillo McLean

Grants Tucumcari Moriarty Santa Rosa Albuquerque

Vega

I think Route 66 is on a lot of visitors’ bucket lists. And I think whenever there’s a big milestone to be celebrated, people want to be a part of that and come experience Route 66 as it’s turning 100.  NIKKI TERLESKY, HISTORIC ROUTE 66 ASSOCIATION OF ARIZONA DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 10

S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026

Clinton

Sayre Groom Shamrock

cLean

SPOTLIGHT St. Louis, Missouri; Amarillo, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Santa Monica, California. In preparation for the yearlong celebration, communities all along the historic route are sprucing up their landmarks, planning events, relighting neon signs and prepping for a major influx of visitors who plan to motor west. “I struggle to make a specific prediction, and part of that is because it’s really hard to track specific routes,” Oklahoma Route 66 Association President Rhys Martin says. “But I would be surprised if traffic didn’t double just because of the attention and the people planning their trips.” Nikki Terlesky, Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona director of operations, agrees travelers are coming in a big way. “I think Route 66 is on a lot of visitors’

bucket lists,” she says. “And I think whenever there’s a big milestone to be celebrated, people want to be a part of that and come experience Route 66 as it’s turning 100. I know a lot of Facebook groups I follow are just buzzing with people voicing their travel plans.” While Missouri can claim the creation of the name, an Oklahoma man is known as the Father of Route 66. Cyrus Avery, a Tulsa real estate developer and owner of a coal company, saw the need for a roadway from the Midwest to the West Coast, connecting small towns and cities along the way. Chicago Joliet Wilmington Pontiac Bloomington Springfield

Madison St. Louis Stanton Eureka Cuba Fanning St. Robert

Lebanon Ash Grove

Galena Baxter Springs Joplin

Clinton

Sayre m Shamrock

Edwardsville

Marshfield

Springfield

Catoosa Bristow Tulsa Arcadia Stroud Oklahoma City El Reno

Don’t Miss This! Here’s the top attraction for each of the eight states. ILLINOISGEMINI GIANT (WILMINGTON) If you only stop once before leaving Illinois, make it here. The 30-foot-tall Muffler Man is one of Route 66’s most iconic photo ops and a perfect start to the journey. MISSOURIMERAMEC CAVERNS (STANTON) A road-trip classic since the 1930s, billboards and barn roof signs for this cavern once lined the entire Mother Road, and the attraction still feels like pure Americana. KANSASCARS ON THE ROUTE (GALENA) Kansas has only 13 miles of Route 66, but this restored Kan-O-Tex gas station—home to the truck that inspired Mater in “Cars”—is its standout. OKLAHOMABLUE WHALE (CATOOSA) An absolutely essential stop is the giant, smiling blue whale beside a pond. It is one of Route 66’s most beloved and quirky landmarks. TEXASCADILLAC RANCH (AMARILLO) Ten Cadillacs sit nose-down in the desert. They’re covered in spray paint, and you’re encouraged to add your own. It’s irreplaceable Route 66 kitsch. NEW MEXICOBLUE SWALLOW MOTEL (TUCUMCARI) See the best neon on the entire route. It is a family-run motel with beautifully preserved rooms, and a true 1940s motor court experience. Even if you don’t stay, stop for photos. ARIZONAPETRIFIED FOREST AND PAINTED DESERT (HOLBROOK) This is the only national park the Mother Road drives straight through where classic roadside nostalgia meets staggering natural beauty. CALIFORNIAROY’S MOTEL & CAFÉ (AMBOY) A surreal desert time capsule features a legendary retro-futurist neon sign. Nothing captures the lonely, romantic end stretch of Route 66 like Roy’s.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY DAN ZETTWOCH

S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

Appointed in 1925 to the Joint Board of Interstate Highways, Cyrus managed to steer the route south from Illinois through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California instead of a more northern route through Nevada. Along with Missouri’s John Woodruff, Cyrus helped launch the U.S. Highway 66 Association in 1927 to encourage its use. “One hundred and thirty-seven delegates from 32 cities of the Southwest, meeting here today, organized the National Highway No. 66 Association and elected

leaders also marketed Route 66 over other transcontinental routes. One of the first efforts to popularize the road was an epic foot race that followed Route 66 from its start in California to St. Louis, then on to New York City. The distance was 3,400 miles over just three months. It started with 275 runners, but 77 dropped out on the first day. Only 55 finished. The winner was 20-year-old Andy Payne of Claremore, Oklahoma. Through publicity like this, the nation learned of the new route, and traffic grew exponentially. Truckers favored its flat Lebanon terrain, with elevations measured in hundreds of feet compared to thousands crossing the Ash Grove Rocky Mountains. Galena Springfiel

John T. Woodruff of Springfield, Mo., its first president,” read a Springfield Daily News story. “From Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico, the delegates gathered in Tulsa today determined that Highway 66, which runs from Chicago via St. Louis to Los Angeles, shall in fact become the ‘Main Street of America.’ ” At the beginning, the route joined various existing state roads, many of which were still gravel. Besides paving the highway, the association’s

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In the 1930s, Route 66 became a pathway for migrants fleeing the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, heading west in search of opportunity. When World War II gripped the nation, the route became strategic for moving troops and materials to support the war effort. This led to a major effort to rebuild the roadway for Fort Leonard Wood, an Army base in St. Robert, Missouri. The highway was no match for the heavy trucks supplying the base. So, in 1941, construction began on a four-lane divided highway between it and Rolla. A deep cut bypassed a steep grade near Devil’s Elbow. Hooker Cut became the deepest highway excavation in the nation to date, and the four-lane, divided highway was the first of its kind. The improved roadway was fully open to traffic by September 1945—ironically, the same month the war ended. Other improvements included rerouting to avoid Lebanon a series of dangerous hairpin curves in Arizona, dubbed the Ash Grove Marshfield Sidewinder. This 8-mile roadway Springfield oplin has 191 curves with no guardrails and 12% grades. Today, it is often visited by adventurous travelers.

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The Ultimate

(Ordered for the Drive) DEPARTURE: CHICAGO (WINDOWS DOWN) • Route 66 – Chuck Berry • Sweet Home Chicago – The Blues Brothers • Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones • Good Times Roll – The Cars • Real Gone – Sheryl Crow • Life Is a Highway – Rascal Flatts • Born to Be Wild – Steppenwolf • Runnin’ Down a Dream – Tom Petty • Drivin’ My Life Away – Eddie Rabbitt • On the Road Again – Willie Nelson HEARTLAND MILES: MISSOURI → OKLAHOMA → KANSAS • Missouri River Run – Chloe Hoecker • If You Wanna Get to Heaven – Ozark Mountain Daredevils • King of the Road – Roger Miller • Boys From Oklahoma – Cross Canadian Ragweed • Oklahoma Smokeshow – Zach Bryan • Carry On Wayward Son – Kansas • Dust in the Wind – Kansas • Ain’t Going Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up) – Garth Brooks • Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma – Luke Combs • Cadillac Ranch – Chris LeDoux OPEN COUNTRY AND FREEDOM • Wide Open Spaces – Dixie Chicks • Follow Your Arrow – Kacey Musgraves • Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show • Copperhead Road – Steve Earle • Midnight Rider – The Allman Brothers Band • Ramblin’ Man – The Allman Brothers Band • Blue Sky – The Allman Brothers Band • Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen DESERT STRETCH: TEXAS → NEW MEXICO → ARIZONA • Amarillo by Morning – George Strait • I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash • A Horse With No Name – America • Ventura Highway – America

Playlist

• Take Me to the River – Talking Heads • Running on Empty – Jackson Browne • Take the Long Way Home – Supertramp • Drive – The Cars DUSK, MOTELS AND LONG THOUGHTS • Fast Car – Tracy Chapman • Angel From Montgomery – John Prine • Into the Mystic – Van Morrison • Gypsy – Fleetwood Mac • Landslide – Fleetwood Mac • The Mother Road – Alan Rhody • Here I Go Again – Whitesnake • Peaceful Easy Feeling – Eagles • Take It to the Limit – Eagles CALIFORNIA ARRIVAL • Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival • California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & the Papas • Hotel California – Eagles • Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac • California Girls – The Beach Boys • Everyday Is a Winding Road – Sheryl Crow • Beverly Hills – Weezer SUNSHINE, CELEBRATION AND LETTING LOOSE • Party in the USA – Miley Cyrus • Hot to Go – Chappell Roan • Paradise City – Guns N’ Roses • Getaway Car – Taylor Swift • Good Time – Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen • Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen THE MEANING OF THE JOURNEY (CLOSING STRETCH) • This Land Is Your Land – Woody Guthrie • Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver • Kyrie – Mr. Mister • The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles • Travelin’ Thru – Dolly Parton • Running on Empty – Jackson Browne • What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong • End of the Line – Traveling Wilburys

S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

By the 1950s, Route 66 was the byway of a nation in love with the automobile. Cabins, motels, roadhouses and all manner of highway kitsch sprang up to lure motorists off the pavement. Among them was the first fast-food restaurant, believed to be Red’s Giant Hamburg in Springfield, Missouri. Route 66 came to represent everything Americans hold near and dear: freedom,

adventure, nostalgia and small-town values. Those themes were shared in the1960s TV series “Route 66,” which helped fuel today’s nostalgia for the road. Championed in songs such as Bobby Troup’s “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” and the Eagles’ “Take It Easy,” immortalized by John Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath” and introduced to a new

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generation through Pixar’s “Cars” movie, the Mother Road continues to fascinate those who prefer life in the slow lane. The demise of Route 66 came with the rise of the new Interstate Highway System— including interstates 55, 44, 40, 15 and 10. Small towns where Route 66 was the main road were bypassed, and many businesses couldn’t survive as traffic moved away. Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985. But the road never truly disappeared. Mother Nature and the wrecking ball have taken their toll, but if you know an McLe where to look, you can still find remnants of the old route. New businesses haveAmarillo k m mroc n Groo Sha Adria Fe sprung from the ashesriof those longa t n a Sa umc Vega Tuc gone oases on the road. Bagdad Café tion hip to So, as the song says, “get This filming loca maintains fan cult this timely Rtip, when you make that TEXAS us. stat a s o Santa y iarit California trip,” and make this the year Mor to get your kicks—on Route 66. 

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S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026

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Q: WHO ORIGINALLY SANG “ROUTE 66”? A: Nat King Cole, with the King Cole Trio, first

recorded the song in 1946 at Radio Recorders in Los Angeles. Capitol Records released it as a single, which reached No. 11 on Billboard’s pop chart.

Q: WHO IS CONSIDERED THE FATHER

OF ROUTE 66? A: In the early 1900s, Cyrus Avery of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a real estate developer and owner of a coal company, began acquiring oil leases. With the need to reach the barren lands around him and the need for a roadway from the Midwest to the western lands connecting cities along the way, the road became a reality. With John Woodruff of Springfield, Missouri, Cyrus promoted the idea of a highway connecting the Midwest to the West Coast.

Q: WHAT TOWN IS CONSIDERED THE BIRTHPLACE OF ROUTE 66?

A: Springfield, Missouri, is widely recognized McLean

Groom Shamrock

XAS

as the birthplace of Route 66. A passionate advocate for the “Good Roads” movement, Springfield businessman John Woodruff promoted highway development across Missouri. While the road itself did not begin in Springfield, the idea of the route was born here, making Springfield the home for the Main Street of America. John was elected the first president of the Route 66 Association.

Q: WHAT WRITER MADE ROUTE 66

FAMOUS? A: John Steinbeck proclaimed Route 66 the Mother Road in his 1939 book, “The Grapes of Wrath.”

Q: WHERE DID THE ORIGINAL ROUTE BEGIN AND END?

A: Route 66 began in downtown Chicago,

Illinois, and ended in Santa Monica, California, near the Pacific Ocean. The official start is at Adams Street and Michigan Avenue, with classic spots like Lou Mitchell’s diner nearby.

Q: HOW LONG WAS HISTORIC ROUTE 66? A: It is generally accepted that, from

beginning to end in 1926, Route 66 traversed 2,448 miles. However, as the route evolved over its 60 years of existence with new, improved alignments, the mileage varied over time.

Q: WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL NAME

FOR ROUTE 66? A: John and Cyrus also played a key role in the naming the road. It had first been named Route 60, as all main east-to-west highways at the time ended in zero. However, the pair felt Route 66 would be easier to promote, especially with the flow of having two of the same number. Thus, on April 30, 1926, a telegram was sent to the Bureau of Public Roads asking for the name to be changed to Route 66.

Q: WHAT DISTINCTION DOES RED’S

GIANT HAMBURG, A SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, ROUTE 66 RESTAURANT, HOLD? A: It is considered the first drive-in fast-food restaurant. Red’s opened in 1947 and operated until 1984. In early 2019, Red’s Giant Hamburg made a comeback, 35 years after the original restaurant’s closure. The new restaurant, on Route 413, was a re-creation of the original Route 66 location. It opened in August 2019 and operated for almost six years, closing its doors in May 2025. In 2013, a fundraising campaign was established to re-create the Red’s Giant Hamburg sign. The sign, shaped like a cross, was installed in 2015.

Q: WAS U.S. ROUTE 66 PAVED? A: When Route 66 officially opened in 1926, only 800 miles were paved, the rest being graded dirt, gravel, bricks or wood planks. It took 11 more years before the road would become the first national highway to be completely paved.

Quiz Q: WHAT STATES DOES ROUTE 66

TRAVEL THROUGH? A: Route 66 traverses eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

Q: WHEN WAS ROUTE 66 DECOMMISSIONED?

A: With the advent of the Federal Interstate

Highway System, U.S. Route 66 was gradually decommissioned, with the last segment, in Arizona, removed from the federal system June 27, 1985.

Q: WHAT STATE HAS THE MOST MILES

OF ROUTE 66? A: New Mexico has the most miles, and Kansas has the fewest—Illinois, 301; Missouri, 317; Kansas, 13; Oklahoma, 432; Texas, 186; New Mexico, 487; Arizona, 401; and California, 314, for a total of 2,448 miles.

Q: WHAT ANIMATED MOVIE IS BASED

ON ROUTE 66? A: The 2006 animated movie “Cars” tells the story of Route 66 through characters Lightning McQueen and Sally and their escapades at Radiator Springs, a fictionalized representation of all Route 66 towns. Sally liked to say, “Those were the days we traveled to have a great time, not to make great time.” In the movie, Ramone’s House of Body Art looks similar to the U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas. Other real-life locations that inspired parts of the movie include Cadillac Ranch, Wigwam Motels and Wagon Wheel Motel. ADOBE STOCK IMAGE BY ACENTO CREATIVO

S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

SLECA

SLECA Offers

SCHOOL BUS SAFETY TIPS

for Back to School Electrical dangers are everywhere, even on the school bus or at the bus stop. And South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association wants to remind students and parents that something that seems like a minor risk in the moment could end up being deadly. Children could encounter those dangers at the bus stop or on their way to school. Tell your children not to play near or around power lines or poles while waiting for the bus. They could climb up a nearby tree or electrical pole and accidentally grab a power line. This could be a fatal mistake, so make sure your children know the dangers. 219888001 Tell your children to stay away from pad-mount transformers—the big green boxes on the ground—and other electrical equipment. Children might view these green boxes as playground equipment. So, warn your children not to put their fingers, sticks or other objects through cracks in a transformer, and explain to them why they should never touch or go near areas where they see hazard stickers. Discuss as a family the different scenarios your children may find themselves in. If their school bus were ever involved in an accident involving power lines, they should assume the lines are still energized. They should remain in the bus as their bus driver calls 911. If your children must exit the vehicle, advise them to always listen to instructions from first responders or the bus driver. In an emergency, students on the bus may need to jump out of the vehicle with both feet together, avoiding contact with the bus and the ground at the same time. Then, they should shuffle away with small steps, being sure to always keep both feet together and on the ground until at least 40 feet away. This will reduce the risk of electrical shock or electrocution. 

S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY STUART MONK

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$1,000,000

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Female

Male

Female

Issue Age

Male

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Male

Female

Male

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8.60 12.67

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17.66

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36.04

88.63

7.93 10.35

9.44 13.94

12.25

21.05

17.72

30.37

23.51

55.50

38.76

8.77

8.15 10.52

9.81 14.78

12.96

21.89

19.41

33.49

24.28

60.76

8.77

8.16

11.19 10.18 15.63

13.78

23.63

20.20

36.49

25.09

9.13

8.31

11.62 10.55 16.47

14.31

24.48

21.69

39.88

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121.89

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51.32

135.58

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261.93

165.16

34.01

81.54

57.25

152.14

101.63

286.93

186.31

41 10.05

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16.75

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18.16

32.93

28.31

52.81

40.88 100.33

68.23

190.05

124.63

360.57

222.65

43 10.98

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19.75

37.90

30.94

58.71

44.61 114.29

75.40

210.49

134.77

391.94

241.24

64.59

49.08 125.27

83.64

233.74

145.34

435.97

260.67

44 11.58

9.73 15.67 14.10 24.92

21.38

40.72

33.67

45 12.17

10.15 16.86 15.16 27.03

23.23

44.52

37.06

72.24

59.65 143.07

105.55

253.50

172.80

484.22

321.07

46 12.84

10.64 17.85 15.83 29.43

24.89

48.77

39.98

79.34

64.22 158.23

129.28

287.72

187.50

546.75

351.10

47 13.43

11.16 19.03 16.68 31.68

26.58

53.20

43.40

86.85

68.11 177.24

147.66

317.88

202.37

594.72

374.91

48 13.48

11.88 20.27 17.37 34.21

28.38

57.52

47.00

71 102.45

82.60 203.10

159.34

373.07

234.59

701.44

442.89

113.68

93.16 232.46

172.23

426.44

271.99

806.74

511.27

49 13.69

12.33 21.73 18.32 36.87

30.28

62.61

51.34

50 14.36

12.98 23.00 19.82 39.63

32.49

68.64

56.25

73 127.55

106.68 267.15

188.15

492.36

318.18

936.81

595.73

51 15.37

13.75 25.30 20.65 44.27

34.96

77.37

61.14

74 142.08

119.36 303.50

204.84

561.42

366.57 1073.07

684.22

52 16.36

14.87 27.63 22.13 48.94

37.92

86.78

66.78

75 159.25

140.48 346.45

224.56

643.04

423.76 1234.11

788.80

53 17.46

15.88 30.95 24.81 53.81

41.34

97.56

72.99

76 200.03

168.51 418.29

276.67

784.08

529.52 1488.28

981.25

54 18.68

16.72 33.99 26.20 59.70

45.14 109.19

80.58

77 249.54

216.74 505.52

339.94

955.35

657.94 1796.92

1214.92

55 20.70

17.50 37.13 27.85 66.66

49.40 120.50

89.53

78 310.70

268.40 613.27

418.11 1166.92

816.58 2178.16

1503.59

56 22.69

19.48 42.01 31.07 73.22

52.91 137.43

95.90

79 374.78

322.52 726.16

500.00 1388.55

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1806.01

57 24.69

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80 450.50

386.47 816.15

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Premiums illustrated represent 10 year level term insurance with guaranteed level premiums for 10 years. $100,000 - $1,000,000 rates are Select-A-Term [policy form no. 07007] Preferred Plus Nontobacco. This coverage features a level death benefit with fully guaranteed level premiums for the first 10 years with coverage to expire at age 95. The policy may be continued on Annual Renewable Term at the end of the level premium period without evidence of insurability until the anniversary nearest the insured’s 95th birthday. The underwriting risks, financial and contractual obligations and support functions associated with products issued by American General Life Insurance Company (AGL) Houston, TX are its responsibility. AGL does not solicit business in the state of New York. All terms, conditions and limitations of any policy issued shall govern. American General Life Companies is the marketing name for a group of domestic life insurers including American General Life Insurance Company and The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York. Policies and riders not available in all states. Premium rates current as of July 2026; rates may vary by state. Premiums available for other rate classes, ages and payment plans. Premium charges depend on evidence of insurability. Premiums increase at the end of the guaranteed term if policy is renewed. Death benefit remains level. The policy may be contested for two years from the date of issue for material misstatements or omissions on the application. Death benefit is limited to return of premium paid in the event of suicide within first two years. Rates subject to change. Standard Marketing Services represents AGL and other fine insurance companies. All companies identified above are wholly owned subsidiaries of Corebridge Financial, Inc. Corebridge Financial and Corebridge are marketing names used by subsidiaries of Corebridge Financial, Inc.

YOUTH TOUR 18

S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026

SLECA sends two local students on an unforgettable journey

D.C.

SLECA

“

”

It’s a great opportunity to open your eyes and see new things.

 ASHTON PIERCE, SOUTH LOUISIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION DELEGATE

Every summer, South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association proudly sponsors two high school students to represent the cooperative on the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. Ashton Pierce and Evan Malbrough were selected as this year’s SLECA delegates. They joined other Louisiana students on an unforgettable journey to the nation’s capital, where they explored the electric cooperative business model, learned how government works and connected with fellow high schoolers from across the country. 75050003

An Eye-Opening Experience Youth Tour offers students a chance to do more than see the landmarks they learn about in school. It opens up a world of new peers, interesting conversations with those working in the Capitol and learning the history of what makes Washington, D.C., unique. “It’s a great opportunity to open your eyes and see new things,” Ashton says. This trip “opened my mind up to more opportunities.” Evan encourages others to sign up, even if it’s not an experience they would normally pursue. “Definitely take the chance,” he says. “It’s worth it 100%, even if This year’s students participated in the following: you’re shy.”  Tours of the halls of Congress and the Capitol. How to Get Involved  Conversations with congressional staff. 98282001 The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour is open exclusively to high  A visit to the Natural Bridge in Virginia. school juniors whose parents are SLECA members. To apply,  Inspirational stories from Paralympic medalist and two-time wheelchair students write an essay addressed to a local legislator, focused on basketball world champion Mike Schlappi. a topic they’re passionate about. Each year, SLECA reviews the  Visits to presidential monuments, war memorials, the Library of Congress, submissions and selects two students to attend. the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Ford’s Theatre. Interested in making the trip next summer? Email Ashley Ferrington at aferrington@sleca.com or visit your school’s  Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and National guidance office to learn more.  Museum of Natural History.

The Youth Tour Experience

TOP: Louisiana Youth Tour delegates visit the National Mall and Washington Monument. BOTTOM: Students took many tours, including a tour of Congress. OPPOSITE PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Delegates took in the historical paintings and architecture while on a tour inside the Capitol rotunda. Youth Tour attendees also saw commemorative installations around the city, such as the installation “A Prayer for the Nation,” which features President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s D-Day radio broadcast. Delegates tour the Capitol. Evan Malbrough, left, and Ashton Pierce visit the Natural Bridge in Virginia. PHOTOS BY CONLEY BOURGEOIS

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STATEWIDE NEWS

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Dove hunting offers great opportunities for entire families to get outdoors. Here, a father fires his shotgun at incoming doves while his son fires an air rifle and another son watches birds through the binoculars.

Dove Hunting Primer Louisiana offers great action for these exciting birds Story and photos by John N. Felsher For many people, the September dove season opener kicks off another fall full of hunting adventures. Once the month is over, they might forget about doves and move on to other sporting activities. However, in the Bayou State, hunters can harvest birds into January. At least seven dove species inhabit Louisiana. Hunters can bag four species of doves: mourning, white-winged, Eurasian collared and ringed turtle. To hunt doves successfully, they first must be found. In the right spot, limits can come easy for those with skill. Extremely swift and agile fliers, mourning doves can exceed 55 mph. With such twisting, erratic flight patterns, doves can provide extremely challenging sport. For the best action, look for good feeding areas. The birds ordinarily feed at first light. A dove’s diet consists of about 22

S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2026

99% seeds. The diminutive birds can eat their weight in seeds each day. They eat any cultivated grain such as corn, millet, sorghum—also called milo—and even peanuts and cotton seeds. They also eat native grass seeds, herbs and weed seeds. Look for doves in open fields or semiopen grasslands punctuated by occasional trees, brush or fencerows. Doves tend to avoid swamps and dense forests, but may stay near forest edges. Most people hunt doves by waiting in cover along a timberline or field edge to intercept birds flying from their roosting to feeding or watering areas. In a highly social atmosphere, a group of hunters can spread out along the edges of a field to wait for birds to fly over. Like in waterfowling, hunters can use decoys to bring birds into range. Popular with waterfowlers, spinning-wing decoys create a strobe effect that looks like wings flapping. Birds can see that flash for

miles. When doves spot that wing flash, they instinctively head to the place where they think their cousins found security or food. “All gregarious birds with white under their wings are attracted to that flash,” says Terry D. Denmon, president of Mojo Outdoors, in Monroe. “That’s how they find other birds.” Many people place spinning-wing decoys directly in front of them. Birds swoop down low over spinners and sometimes even land next to them. However, birds heading directly toward a spinner might also spot someone sitting behind it. Alerted birds could flare before entering shotgun range. Instead, force doves to focus their attention elsewhere. Always place spinning-wing decoys facing into the wind like landing birds, but off to one side where they present the best shots at the optimum range.

GET OUTSIDE points to watch for predators. Unless disturbed, mourning doves frequently perch there until late afternoon. Some landowners erect fake power lines to attract and hold birds in their area. Please remember to never shoot at birds on or near real power lines. By late afternoon, the birds want to feed again. The birds need to ingest small pieces of gravel or sand to help break up the hard seeds they swallowed whole. Mourning doves frequently go to grit piles or sandy patches to swallow grit or gravel, making them great places to hunt in late afternoon. After swallowing grit, doves need water to wash it down. Right before sundown, doves look for a place to drink. In late afternoon, doves commonly congregate around streams or ponds with sandy or gravel shorelines. A watering hole doesn’t mean something like Toledo Bend. A small pond or even just a tire rut filled with water on a gravel or dirt road could suffice. Ever mindful of predators, doves typically don’t go directly down to the ground to feed or drink. They normally first find a high vantage place to perch

and watch for predators before dropping to the ground. Attach a few static decoys to branches of trees or bushes overlooking the watering hole to mimic birds staging in that area. Next, add a couple decoys in an open, gritty area near water to simulate dusting or drinking birds. Perhaps place a spinner near the shoreline. Hunters can also try jumping doves. Walk through a field of low brush or along forest edges and fencerows flushing birds from cover. When flushed, a dove’s long, elegant elliptical wings make a distinctive whistling clatter. Occasionally, startled doves only fly short distances to alight in a nearby tree or bush. While most people only hunt doves for a few days in September, late season can often provide excellent action. As weather cools, more doves from states farther north migrate into Louisiana, bolstering the depleted resident population. Sometimes, the best late-season hunting occurs right before or after a strong cold front.  Visit wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations for season dates, bag limits, zone boundaries and other information.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A father points out incoming birds on a family dove hunt. A hunter uses a hay bale for cover as she fires at incoming doves. Spinning-wing decoys create flash that simulates flapping wings. A hunter waits for more action while hunting doves with his retriever.

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“In most places, doves come in from multiple directions,” Terry says. “If we want to shoot doves at 25 yards, we put a spinning-wing decoy out 25 yards.” Doves typically feed on bare ground where they can easily find seeds. Ever mindful of predators, doves commonly arrange themselves in a circle to feed so they can watch for danger in all directions. Place a few static dove decoys on the ground around a spinner to simulate feeding doves. Many static decoys come with devices to clip them onto branches or fence wires. When hunting along a fence or tree line, attach a few decoys to the fence or place them on branches on either side of hunters. “I usually add about a dozen static decoys around the spinning-wing decoy in about a 10- to 15-yard circle as if they are feeding,” Terry says. “If I’m sitting on a fencerow or tree line, I’ll scatter a few static decoys up and down the line.” After filling their bellies, the birds look for “nooning” places where they can rest and digest at midday. While nooning, they perch in tall trees, on electrical wires or other places that give them good vantage

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