Why It Matters: Safeguarding the personal information of hunting and fishing license holders provides both new and experienced sportsmen and women with greater confidence and security when participating in lottery hunts administered by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). Ensuring that private biographical information remains protected until after the completion of scheduled hunts helps reduce the risk of harassment and offers applicants additional peace of mind throughout the process.
Highlights:
- Earlier this year, Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) Co-Chair and National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Executive Council member Representative Jerome Zeringue, working alongside the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), introduced HB 1177, which protects hunting and fishing license holders’ personal information from public records requests.
- On April 21, HB 1177 passed the House of Representatives on a unanimous 100-0 vote.
- On May 18, HB 1177 passed the Louisiana State Senate on a 33-0 vote, marking another major step forward in protecting the private information of sportsmen and women across the “Sportsman’s Paradise.”
As technology continues to develop, everyone’s private information becomes less secure with each passing day. For sportsmen and women in particular, hunting continues to be a hotly contested topic by a vocal minority – no matter what corner of the country they reside in. There are more anti-hunting organizations operating than ever before, and their methods of attacking hunting continue to evolve.
Making the personal information of applicants participating in LDWF-conducted lotteries accessible prior to the hunts taking place, including highly visible hunts such as the black bear hunt, could expose sportsmen and women to harassment and other harmful consequences that threaten their privacy and well-being. Public disclosure of this information also threatens the integrity of the lottery process itself, potentially impacting wildlife management efforts and the resource being managed. Without appropriate protections in place, participation in the lotteries could decline, ultimately reducing the sportsmen-generated funding provided through the American System of Conservation Funding that LDWF depends on to support conservation and fulfill its mission.
CSF will continue working proactively to safeguard the private biographical information of sportsmen and women while still upholding important transparency laws and reinforcing the role of hunting as an essential tool in effective wildlife management.
CSF thanks Representative Jerome Zeringue for his leadership in advancing HB 1177 through the Louisiana Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support. CSF also thanks the members of both chambers for recognizing the importance of protecting sportsmen and women from harassment and safeguarding the integrity of LDWF lottery hunts. We look forward to working with Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Jeff Landry to sign HB 1177 into law.