RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 272 (HB 802) 2024 Regular Session Dewitt
Prior law required a dog to be leashed and provided that a leashed dog may be used to trail
and retrieve wounded or unrecovered deer during legal hunting hours. Additionally, required
the tracking dog to have a collar with the owner's name, address, and phone number.
Prohibited a person from possessing a firearm while accompanying a dog after legal hunting
hours. New law removes the requirement for a dog to be leashed to track a wounded deer,
provided the dog has a GPS tracking collar.
New law authorizes a licensed hunter to pursue a mortally wounded deer and dispatch the
deer if it is found alive.
New law authorizes a hunter tracking a mortally wounded deer to use lights and a tracking
dog, except in a wildlife management area.
New law provides for handgun requirements used for the dispatch of a wounded deer,
discovered alive after legal hunting hours, by a licensed hunter or tracker.
New law specifies that a licensed hunter or tracker may pursue a mortally wounded deer onto
private property if he has received verbal or written permission from the landowner.
Effective August 1, 2024.
(Amends R.S. 56:116.3(G))