LADWF Proposes Ban to Slow Spread of CWD to Louisiana. Q&A.

Louisiana hunters are faced with a tough decision.  The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking hunters for their opinion on banning out of state cervid carcasses from crossing the border. This has been brought to the public for opinion because CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) is now taking a toll on the deer herds in 2 of our 3 neighboring states. (Texas and Arkansas) Before I answer some of your questions, here is the difference between CWD and EHD ( Hemorrhagic Disease, Blue Tongue).



Q. What does the proposed ban mean for you?

 A. It means if you kill deer, elk, moose, etc., out of state it must be de-boned, caped, and the skull cleaned or skull cap removed before crossing back into Louisiana.

Q. How is de-boning and caping your animal going to help protect our whitetails in LA?

A. CWD is a disease that attacks the nervous system and is spread from deer to deer through direct contact with bodily fluids and or remains. (Saliva, urine, feces, blood, and body parts of infected animal)

A little extra effort on the hunters part to keep any and all infected deer remains out of the state will indeed slow the spread of this deadly disease to Louisiana's deer herd.

Q. Will I still be able to mount my deer if I kill it out of state?

A. Absolutely! You only need to take the extra hour or so to cape out your trophy completely and either boil the skull if you plan on doing a European mount, or cut out the skull cap for a shoulder mount.

Q. What if I don't know how to cape out my skull?

A. YOUTUBE! Easy one word answer. Also our good friends at K&K Taxidermy in Ragley, LA and LouisianaBowhunter.com will be teaming up to do a FREE class/instructional video on how to do this process properly if the law passes.  Also ask your local taxidermist. You will be saving them some time by doing this yourself. 

 

Here is a list of the public meeting for you to get more information in person from LADWF:

Aug. 23 at LDWF Monroe Field Office, 368 Century Link Dr., Monroe, 6:30 p.m.,

Aug. 24 at LDWF Minden Field Office, 9961 Hwy. 80, Minden, 6:30 p.m.,

Aug. 25 at Woodworth Outdoor Education Center, 661 Robinson Bridge Road, Woodworth, 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 29 at St. Tammany Parish Council Chambers, 21490 Koop Dr., Mandeville, 7 p.m.

Aug. 30 at USGS National Wetlands Research Center, 700 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, 6:30 p.m.,

Further in-depth information on the disease and what other states are doing to combat it can be found on the QDMA website. Simply type in CWD in the search window.

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 until 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 26, 2016.