Louisiana – The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission has approved a Declaration of Emergency (DE) and Notice of Intent to expand the Chronic Wasting Disease Control Area in northeast central Louisiana. The action was taken during the commission’s April 3 meeting following the confirmation of a CWD-positive case in a wild, hunter-harvested deer in Catahoula Parish.
Effective May 1, the expanded CWD Control Area will cover a 25-mile radius from the location of the Catahoula index case. This includes portions of Caldwell, Richland, La Salle, and Catahoula parishes.
The expanded area also includes all of Tensas Parish, as well as parts of East Carroll, Madison, Franklin, and Concordia parishes. The extension in Franklin and Concordia parishes marks a significant update to the original control area.
As part of the DE, baiting and supplemental feeding of deer within the control area will be prohibited. Additionally, transporting deer carcasses out of the control area will be forbidden unless for specific parts listed or by permit for taxidermy purposes.
The boundary of the control area will be clearly defined using recognizable landmarks such as roads, waterways, or parish lines, adhering to the 25-mile radius from the confirmed CWD detection.
The DE will be in effect for 180 days or until the NOI becomes final. The NOI, which also expands the CWD Control Area, introduces a smaller mitigation area, restricting baiting and supplemental feeding within a 15-mile radius of any CWD-positive case. Outside of this radius, supplemental feeding and baiting will be allowed using mechanical broadcast from non-stationary implements.
The NOI will be open for public comment before final adoption, and it could be amended based on feedback. The final rule is expected to replace the current DE once adopted, with the earliest possible implementation in August 2025. Hunters are reminded that the NOI is still in its proposed stage and will not take effect until finalized by the LWFC.