ENROLLED
ACT No. 272
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 802
BY REPRESENTATIVE DEWITT
1 AN ACT
2 To 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.
5 Be 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. A licensed hunter or tracker may pursue a deer that was legally shot and
11 mortally wounded and dispatch the deer if the deer is found alive. Except in wildlife
12 management areas, the licensed hunter or tracker pursuing the mortally wounded
13 deer may utilize lights and a blood-trailing or tracking dog. No more than one dog
14 may be used per tracking party in pursuit of the wounded deer, however a second
15 dog may be utilized for the purpose of deer retrieval training. Tracking dogs shall
16 be on a handheld leash or utilize a GPS tracking collar. Any mortally wounded deer,
17 discovered alive after legal hunting hours, may be dispatched by the licensed hunter
18 or tracker by using a centerfire handgun with a barrel no longer than six inches,
19 caliber no larger than .45 or smaller than .25. The licensed hunter or tracker may
20 pursue a mortally wounded deer onto private property only if he has received verbal
21 or written permission from the landowner. Except in wildlife management areas, a
22 leashed dog may be used to trail and retrieve wounded or unrecovered deer during
23 legal hunting hours. Any dog used to trail or retrieve wounded or unrecovered deer
24 shall have on a collar with the owner's name, address, and phone number. In
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 802 ENROLLED
1 addition, a leashed dog may be used to trail and retrieve unrecovered deer after legal
2 hunting hours; however, no person accompanying a dog after legal hunting hours
3 may carry a firearm of any sort.
4 * * *
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.