Why It Matters: Louisiana becomes the latest state to recognize the advancements in muzzleloading technology, such as the Firestick, that have enhanced the safety and reliability of traditional muzzleloading firearms. With a new method of take opportunity on the table, hunters in the Sportsmen’s Paradise will have expanded access to pursue our time-honored traditions. Additionally, on the legislative front, Louisiana’s sportsmen and women are currently presented with an additional conservation funding mechanisms at the state legislature that could help bolster wildlife habitat and wildlife management for generations to come.
Highlights:
- On March 4, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted comments to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (Commission) urging them to amend what constitutes a legal firearm during primitive firearms season in the proposed hunting regulations for the 2025 – 2027 seasons.
- During the Commission’s March 6th meeting, they voted to adopt CSF’s suggested language into their hunting regulation changes Notice of Intent (NOI). On May 1, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the NOI as amended.
- On April 4, Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) Member Representative Jacob Landry introduced HB 564, which establishes the Louisiana Conservation Incentive Program.
- On April 25, CSF submitted comments in support of HB 564, and on April 28, HB 564 passed out of the House Appropriations Committee unanimously.
For many sportsmen and women, access is often front of mind when it comes to participating in our time-honored traditions. Whether that is searching for a remote piece of public hunting ground with quality wildlife habitat on the road less traveled or searching for a safe and suitable weapon of choice to take afield, ways to promote, protect, and advance access should remain front and center for the sporting-conservation community.
Recent steps by the Commission will provide hunters with new and exciting opportunities this fall. Louisiana joins other southern states such as Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee, in expanding opportunities during their primitive firearms seasons by updating primitive firearms definition. These advancements in muzzle-loading technology allow hunters to utilize a safer and more reliable alternative to traditional blackpowder muzzle-loading while maintaining that the projectile must still be loaded down the barrel. Additionally, allowing the use of new technology helps eliminate inconsistency often experienced when using muzzleloaders allowed under the previous definition while also avoiding safety concerns like double charging the propellent.
On the legislative front, there is more good news to report for Louisiana’s sportsmen and women regarding the Conservation Incentive Program, which is a voluntary program that provides incentives to private landowners in exchange for conservation actions on their property. Opportunities to fund projects through this Program would benefit wildlife through forest stand improvement, putting more water on the agricultural landscape to improve suitability for waterfowl and wetland bird species, improving wetlands, prescribed fire implementation, and increased feral hog management efforts.
Increasing access through updating primitive firearms definitions as well as investing in private lands conservation to benefit resources held in the public trust are critical for hunters and anglers in the state. These individuals contribute over $40 million per year to conservation funding through hunting and fishing licenses as well as excise taxes on sporting-related goods – the “user pays – public benefits” structure known as the American System of Conservation Funding.
CSF thanks the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and its Commission for working with CSF to update Louisiana’s primitive firearms definition, and we continue to look forward to working with the Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and our partners to advance HB 564.
