The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) would like to remind hunters returning from out-of-state hunts with harvested deer or other cervids about the state’s cervid carcass importation ban.
This comes after an LDWF enforcement agent recently cited three Louisiana men for violating the importation ban in the Acadiana area with deer they had allegedly harvested in Texas and transported back to Louisiana.
According to the ban, which became effective in March of 2017, no person shall import, transport or possess any cervid carcass or part of a cervid carcass originating outside of Louisiana, except :
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
· 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.
This ban is strictly for the purpose of reducing the likelihood that chronic wasting disease (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.
Illegal transportation of cervid carcasses brings a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail.
The importation ban regulation was passed by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to prevent the introduction of CWD to Louisiana’s white-tailed deer population.
To see the full regulation, go to http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/pagehunting/32522-deer-season-2016-17/cervid_carcass_importation_regulation.pdf.
LDWF has monitored and tested for CWD for more
