A harmful bill has passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee and is now headed to the House floor. House Concurrent Resolution 4 (HCR 4) would suspend rules related to chronic wasting disease (CWD), specifically those governing baiting and supplemental feeding within CWD Control Areas, for eighteen months, effective immediately.
The National Deer Association (NDA) opposes this legislation due to the clear and well-documented risks that baiting and feeding sites pose to deer populations in areas where CWD is present, particularly their role in exacerbating the spread of disease.
While baiting and supplemental feeding involve cultural, ethical, and ecological considerations, the science is clear: these practices alter deer behavior, degrade habitat around feeding sites, increase vulnerability to predation, and significantly elevate the risk of disease transmission.
Research conducted in Wisconsin and elsewhere has demonstrated strong scientific support for restricting or banning baiting and feeding as a means to reduce disease risk, especially for CWD, which is why prohibiting the use of bait in known infected areas is a critical tool in combating CWD.
Why This Matters
CWD spreads both directly and indirectly. It can be transmitted between animals through saliva, blood, urine, and feces, and it can persist in the environment through contaminated soil, food, and water. Researchers have documented concentrations of infectious prions at bait sites in CWD-affected areas, confirming that the disease is both highly contagious and capable of sustaining itself within deer populations.
Bait and feed sites concentrate deer in unnaturally high densities and encourage repeated use of the same small areas. These conditions significantly increase the likelihood of infected deer coming into contact with healthy ones.
For these reasons, it is critical to maintain existing regulations, particularly within designated CWD Control Areas where the disease is already present. These measures are designed to slow its spread and protect the long-term health of Louisiana’s deer herd.
Suspending these safeguards, even temporarily, risks accelerating the spread of CWD into currently unaffected areas and could have lasting consequences for the future of deer hunting in the state.
Wildlife management decisions should remain in the hands of professional wildlife managers. We urge lawmakers to uphold science-based policies and maintain current regulations to protect Louisiana’s deer herd.
Contact your House Representative today and urge them to vote “NO” on HCR 4!