The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) approved an amendment to a cervid carcass importation ban notice of intent (NOI) which would delay implementation of the proposed rule until March 1, 2017. The action came during the commission’s monthly meeting Thursday in Baton Rouge.
The ban, which was proposed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries during the July LWFC meeting, was made to assist in preventing the introduction of chronic wasting disease (CWD) into Louisiana’s white-tailed deer population. The proposal remains in the public comment period until Oct. 6.
The NOI as amended reads in part:
No person shall import, transport or possess any cervid carcass or part of a cervid carcass originating outside of Louisiana, except: for meat that is cut and wrapped; meat that has been boned out; quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached, antlers, clean skull plates with antlers, cleaned skulls without tissue attached, capes, tanned hides, finished taxidermy mounts and cleaned cervid teeth. …Any and all bones shall be disposed of in a manner where its final destination is at an approved landfill or equivalent. Said rule shall be effective March 1, 2017.
To view the full notice of intent, visit http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/action-items.
The ban defines a cervid as animals of the family Cervidae, including but not limited to white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose, caribou, fallow deer, axis deer, sika deer, red deer and reindeer.
This proposed ban is strictly for the purpose of reducing the likelihood that CWD will enter Louisiana through carcass importation. Approved parts and meat from other states must contain a possession tag with the hunter’s name, out-of-state license number (if required), address, species, date and location (county and state) of harvest. Each state has different possession requirements for game once processed.
Public comment can be submitted in writing by mail to: Johnathan Bordelon, LDWF Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898-9000, or via email to jbordelon@wlf.la.gov .
For more information, contact Bordelon at 225-765-2344.