Louisiana Expanded CWD Zone Takes Effect for Archery Season

Regardless of Louisiana hunters' beliefs about the legitimacy of CWD, "Chronic Wasting Disease", it continues to cause changes to Louisiana's deer hunting landscape.

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For those unaware of this disease, first detected in Louisiana whitetail deer in 2022, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries has a perfect description. "CWD is a neurodegenerative disease of white-tailed deer and other members of the family Cervidae. It is caused by a prion, an infectious, misfolded protein particle, and is 100-percent fatal."

LDWF goes on to say, "There is no treatment or preventative vaccine for CWD. CWD infected deer may exhibit signs of weight loss and emaciation, salivation, frequent drinking and urination, incoordination, circling, lack of fear of people, and always results in the death of the animal."

Given the perceived severity of CWD and its possible spread throughout the Bayou State, LDWF's NOI (Notice of Intent) to expand the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Control Area in northeast central Louisiana, which was approved in August, and will become Rule this Saturday (Sept. 20) and be in effect for the opening of deer hunting archery season in portions of Deer Areas 1 and 2 on October 1.

The new CWD Control Area has seen the addition of portions of Caldwell, Catahoula, La Salle, Ouachita and Richland parishes. All of Tensas Parish and portions of Madison, Franklin and Concordia parishes were already included in an existing CWD Control Area. The CWD Control Area will be expanded in Franklin and Concordia parishes.

READ MORE: 32 Louisiana Dove Hunters Cited For Violations Opening Weekend

The proposed expansion was necessitated because of a CWD confirmed positive wild deer on private land in Catahoula Parish earlier this year.

The discovery was made in a hunter-harvested white-tailed buck. This is the first CWD confirmed positive in a wild deer outside of Tensas Parish. The Catahoula Parish positive brings the total number of CWD detections for Louisiana to 40.

The approved NOI, in part, reads:

• Supplemental feeding, baiting, placement of bait, or hunting over bait is prohibited within the portion of the CWD Control Area designated as the CWD Enhanced Mitigation Zone. Supplemental feeding and baiting is allowed in the portion of the CWD Control Area designated as the CWD Buffer Zone, but only by non-stationary, mechanical or electronic broadcast methods.
• The use of bait not normally ingested by deer is allowed for feral hog trapping, or by holders of bear harvest permits during the designated bear baiting period.
• The export of any deer carcass or part of a deer carcass originating within an LDWF designated CWD Control Area is prohibited, except for: meat that is cut and wrapped; meat that has been boned out; quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached, antlers, clean skull plates with antlers, cleaned skulls without tissue attached, capes, tanned hides, finished taxidermy mounts and cleaned cervid teeth. Deer heads may be transported out of the CWD Control Area solely for taxidermy purposes by waiver.

To see the current CWD Control Area regulations and approved NOI, or for maps and additional information about CWD go to wlf.louisiana.gov