Most Louisiana residents have their eyes set on Death Valley on Saturday nights whether they plan on heading to Baton Rouge or not.But Devin Berthelot is always anticipating the hunt.The mechanical engineering junior is one of many University students who hunts and fishes in his spare time.”Hunting to me isn’t just a hobby or a sport — I consider it more along the lines of a passion or an addiction,” he said. “I have missed parties and football games so that I can make a hunt.”SEASONSHunting seasons begin and end at different times in different regions in the state. Deer season runs from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31 in East Baton Rouge Parish, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Web site. Bow hunting is permitted throughout the entire season, but hunting with still firearms and dogs begins at different parts of the season. The seasons for migratory birds and waterfowl begin Sept. 5 and extend through January, depending on the species and region, according to the Web site. The season for resident small game like quail and rabbit begins Oct. 3 and ends Feb. 28. Turkey season is the only exclusively spring season and is yet to be announced for 2010.Specific figures on the number of licenses sold were unavailable, but the state sells the most licenses between October and January, said Roxanne Buras of LDWF sports licensing.Most hunting seasons take place during class in the fall, and some students have trouble balancing hunting and class work.”Archery deer season opened on Oct. 1, and I’ve been driving home [to Lutcher] every weekend to make a few hunts,” Berthelot said. “I try to put school first, but I have skipped out on class before to go hunting.”Harold Lohmann, construction management junior who mostly hunts in Ruston, said he would much rather hunt than go to a bar or a party.”Duck season only happens once a year, so I try to make the most out of every trip,” he said. “I’d much rather go on a duck hunting trip than going to a party.”GETTING STARTEDA hunter would need to acquire a hunter’s license to legally hunt in Louisiana. Licenses go on sale July 1 of each year and expire June 30 of the following year. Lifetime licenses are also available, Buras said.If a Louisiana resident was born after Sept. 1, 1969, he must also pass a Hunter Safety course approved by LDWF, she said. Exemptions are allowed for active or veteran members of the United States armed services and for post-certification law enforcement officers.A Basic Season hunting license permit costs $15 and allows residents to hunt small game, according the LDWF Web site. Permits for big game, bow, duck and wild turkey are available for additional fees.  A hunter would be subject to a background check to purchase a firearm, Daniel said.”If someone gets a ‘proceed,’ they can leave the same day with the firearm,” he said. “Getting a ‘delayed’ would [cause the firearm to be held] for three business days or until the ATF [The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives] gets back to you.”A small percentage of the background checks he sees completely deny the purchase of a firearm, he said. Someone can get denied for various reasons, including having a felony on his record or being dishonorably discharged from the military.AN EXPENSIVE HOBBYHunting may be a tough hobby to enjoy for students living on a budget. Brian Daniel, manager at Jim’s Firearms on Siegen Lane, said someone interested in hunting should expect to spend between $600 and 800 on all the firearms, ammunition and accessories he would need go out on a hunt.”We’ve got a few bolt-action rifles starting in the lower $300 price range,” he said. “Typical deer-hunting rifle ammunition will be between $15 and 60 for a box of 20 rounds.”Hunting apparel and other equipment can also get expensive.”We have people coming in to buy rhino-hide pants and a lot of the Beretta[-brand] clothing,” said Stewart Ross, manager at Orvis Retail Stores on Bluebonnet Drive. “We do have some good sales right now, but a lot of it is kind of high-end — some college-aged guys come in, but it is predominantly 40-year-olds on up who come in here.”Some students are finding ways to save money on guns and accessories. Tim Boesen, mechanical engineering freshman who mostly hunts in St. Francisville, said he and his dad reuse shotgun shells when they hunt duck.Berthelot, an archery technician at Cabela’s in Gonzales, said hunting costs easily add up with both gas and ammunition prices increasing.”Ammunition prices have been rising rapidly lately — I’d say a box of rifle cartridges will run close to $30,” he said. “Since I rarely shoot more than one box of shells per season and since arrows are reusable, I’d say my yearly hunting costs comes close to $200 counting gas if I don’t decide to buy anything new — and that’s hard to do.”- – – -Contact Ben Bourgeois at [email protected]