The 2026–2030 Louisiana waterfowl zone and split structure will remain unchanged.
At their monthly meeting on Thursday, Aug. 7, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission voted to keep the current configuration in place.
“We feel like we’ve got a good pulse on what everybody likes,” said Commissioner Johnathan Walker. “We’ve made a ton of phone calls to duck hunters.”
Walker explained that if the Commission chose a three-zone system, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would only allow one split. With two zones, however, the Commission has more flexibility to adjust season dates.
“Because the survey results were so overwhelmingly in favor of keeping the current zones, I think we can make more of an impact by alternating the dates each year rather than changing the zones,” Walker said. “The best path for our commission is to keep the current zones, as the staff recommended, but continue discussions with hunters across the state about date preferences.”
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) emailed a survey to 66,651 HIP-registered hunters. Of those, approximately 11,000 responded, with 8,952 responses used in the analysis. Non-residents and hunters who hadn’t hunted in the past five years were excluded.
One of the survey questions addressed satisfaction over the past five-year period. While there was general dissatisfaction with opening and closing dates, respondents expressed satisfaction with the geographic zones.
Public comment
Three individuals spoke at Thursday’s meeting. One of those was Ryan Lambert.
“What I’m hearing today is a lot of preferences based on the survey, but I didn’t get the survey,” Lambert said. “I’ve been a lifelong hunter, and I only know six people who received it.”
Lambert also said that tides often prevent hunters from reaching his blind.
“It’s not a matter of preference but of necessity,” he said. “We can’t hunt 26 days of the year.”
Commissioner Andy Brister responded, “If you split it north-south, you still have the same issue. The coastal zone has different views on what they want. I hear you and want to help, but I don’t see how a coastal zone solves the problem with the diverse desires of hunters.”
Thomas Cotton, a duck hunter for 50 years, advocated for simplicity.
“Duck hunting isn’t what it used to be,” he said. “We have to accept that. My only recommendation is: simplicity, please. I hate having to read a complicated rulebook just to know what I can shoot, where, and when.”
CWD control area approved
Meanwhile, commissioners gave approval to a Notice of Intent (NOI) establishing new Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) control areas.
The designated area includes two parts: the CWD Enhanced Mitigation Zone, located within the CWD area, and a CWD Buffer Zone surrounding it.
According to Johnathan Bordelon, LDWF Deer Program Manager, the zones are based on management allowances.
The NOI prohibits supplemental feeding, baiting, bait placement, or hunting over bait in the Enhanced Mitigation Zone. Hunters are responsible for ensuring no bait is present in their hunting area before each hunt.
A “baited area” is defined as any area where salt, grain, or other feed has been placed as a lure or attractant for wild quadrupeds or birds via ingestion.
In the CWD Buffer Zone, baiting is allowed but only using non-stationary, mechanical, or electronic broadcast methods. Bait not normally ingested by deer is allowed for feral hog trapping or by bear harvest permit holders during the designated baiting period.
“The goal is to prevent artificial congregation and reduce contact rates among deer,” Bordelon explained.
The economic impact
Of those who responded during the public comment period, 33 opposed the NOI, nine supported it, and 11 were neutral.
Andy Brown, representing the Louisiana Farm Bureau, opposed the measure.
“The main issue is the economic impact,” Brown said. “We don’t feel it’s been properly addressed. While this NOI does at least say it may impact the economy, which is better than previous ones, it’s still lacking.”
Brown noted that many family farms in Louisiana are struggling.
“We’ve suffered through three to four years of red ink across most commodities. Corn is the last hope this season for many farmers. It’s the only crop showing any stability.”
He urged commissioners to consider input from the CWD Task Force and to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach.
Brister responded, “It’s as bad as you say. But if we don’t act today, the emergency NOI, covering a broader area, remains in effect. More regions would be prohibited from feeding if we take no action.”
The CWD Task Force is scheduled to meet in Baton Rouge after the September Commission meeting. The meeting is open to the public.
NOI introduced: Wildlife rehab regulations
The Commission also introduced an NOI proposing changes to wildlife rehabilitation rules, sparking passionate public comments.
The proposed rules include stricter regulations for rehabilitating certain quadrupeds, such as coyotes, as well as guidelines for social media use, enclosures and public messaging.
If adopted, only licensed Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit (WRP) holders or subpermittees engaged in standard practices, like feeding, enrichment and release, may appear in media with rehab wildlife. Animals must not be given pet names, shown in common areas with domestic animals, or depicted without context.
All media featuring rehab animals must include the statement: “This animal is temporarily possessed under a wildlife rehab permit issued by LDWF.”
Carley Self, a licensed wildlife rehabber, voiced concern.
“I’m passionate about the social media aspect of this work,” Self said. “It’s a powerful tool for education and change. I think our intent was misunderstood, this isn’t about exploitation or financial gain.”
Tisha Rayferd asked the Commission not to place coyotes or armadillos on the non-rehabilitable list.
“I’ve only worked with three coyotes,” she said. “I have two little ones in rehab right now.”
Madison Plaisance, representing the Louisiana Farm Bureau, supported the NOI, especially the removal of coyotes from rehabilitation eligibility.
“Our Livestock Committee, comprising over 140 cattle producers from all 64 parishes, strongly supports this,” she said. “Coyotes pose a serious and growing threat. In 2010, USDA reported they were responsible for nearly 69 percent of cattle losses and over 81 percent of calf losses, costing producers more than $3 million that year.”