HLS 24RS-1970 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 802
BY REPRESENTATIVE DEWITT
WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Authorizes the use of dogs to retrieve mortally wounded deer
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 56:116.3(G), relative to use of dogs while hunting; to provide
3 for use of dogs to retrieve mortally wounded deer; to provide for the use of handguns
4 on wounded deer; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 56:116.3(G) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 ยง116.3 Special provisions applicable to deer and bear; times and methods of taking;
8 penalties
9 * * *
10 G. Except in wildlife management areas, a licensed hunter or tracker may
11 pursue a deer that was legally shot and mortally wounded during legal hunting hours,
12 after legal hunting hours, and to dispatch the dog if the deer is found alive. The
13 licensed hunter or tracker pursuing the mortally wounded deer may utilize lights and
14 a blood-trailing or tracking dog. No more than one dog may be used per tracking
15 party in pursuit of the wounded deer. A second dog may be utilized for the purpose
16 of deer retrieval training. Tracking dogs shall be on a handheld leash or utilize a
17 GPS tracking collar. Any wounded deer, discovered alive, may be dispatched by the
18 licensed hunter or tracker by using a centerfire handgun with a barrel no longer than
19 six inches, caliber no larger than .45 or smaller than .25. Except in wildlife
20 management areas, a leashed dog may be used to trail and retrieve wounded or
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-1970 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 802
1 unrecovered deer during legal hunting hours. Any dog used to trail or retrieve
2 wounded or unrecovered deer shall have on a collar with the owner's name, address,
3 and phone number. In addition, a leashed dog may be used to trail and retrieve
4 unrecovered deer after legal hunting hours; however, no person accompanying a dog
5 after legal hunting hours may carry a firearm of any sort.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 802 Original 2024 Regular Session Dewitt
Abstract: Authorizes the use of dogs to retrieve mortally wounded deer.
Present law requires a dog to be leashed and provides that a leashed dog may be used to trail
and retrieve wounded or unrecovered deer during legal hunting hours. Additionally, requires
the tracking dog to have a collar with the owner's name, address, and phone number.
Prohibits a person from possessing a firearm while accompanying a dog after legal hunting
hours. Proposed law modifies present law by removing the requirement for the dog to be
leashed to track a wounded deer, provided that certain conditions are met.
Proposed law provides for handgun requirements used for the dispatch of a wounded deer
by a licensed hunter or tracker.
(Amends R.S. 56:116.3(G))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.