Why It Matters: The “Sportsman’s Paradise” has seen several different pieces of legislation and regulations cross the finish line thus far in 2025. From committing funding to revitalize one of the most historic waterfowl hunting areas in the state, to incentivizing private landowners to enhance wildlife habitat, expanding black bear hunting opportunities, modernizing primitive firearms definitions, and more, there were no shortage of wins to be had for Louisiana’s sportsmen and women.
Highlights:
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) led the effort to work with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and its Commission to successfully amend what constitutes a legal firearm during primitive firearms season in the proposed hunting regulations for the 2025 – 2027 seasons, paving the way for new technology such as the FireStick to be a legal method of take during the primitive weapons season.
- During the legislative session, CSF and partners also supported Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) Member Representative Jacob Landry’s HB 564, which established the Louisiana Conservation Incentive Program.
- CSF, along with numerous other partners, supported increased funding to the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area, which has long been considered one of the most important areas in North America for wintering waterfowl and an important destination for sportsmen and women, but has needed increased funding for infrastructure needs.
- Lastly, in another win for sportsmen, Louisiana expanded bear hunting tags from 11 to 26 this year. As previously reported, re-establishing the Louisiana black bear season has been a priority for CSF, and we have been very excited to see the success that the state has seen since re-instating the season last year.
Louisiana is known as the “Sportsman’s Paradise” for many reasons. From world class fishing opportunities along the coast, to incredible hunting opportunities throughout the state, sportsmen and women from all over the country visit Louisiana to enjoy our shared outdoor sporting traditions. The Louisiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, LDWF, Governor Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) Member Jeff Landry, and our partners in-state recognize the importance of these activities, and that has resulted in multiple wins.
Advancements in muzzleloading technology allow hunters to utilize a safer and more reliable alternative to traditional blackpowder muzzleloading while maintaining that the projectile must still be loaded down the barrel. 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 through the “user pays – public benefits” structure known as the American System of Conservation Funding.
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.
Two of the primary projects in need of funding are the Northern White Lake Shoreline Stabilization Project and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Shoreline Stabilization Project. These two projects would repair over 40 miles of shoreline that protect vital freshwater marshes from flooding events that could erode them into the lake. Flooding would also affect rice fields and other private property where habitat is managed for waterfowl and other wading shore birds if these necessary repairs are not completed soon. More than $30 million was secured for these projects through the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Master Plan thanks to the leadership of Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Jeff Landry.
Lastly, building upon the success of last year’s bear hunt, the LDWF and its Commission expanded bear hunting opportunities to include 15 additional tags. These tags will be distributed across Bear Management Areas 1, 2, and 4, a decision supported by the rebounded Louisiana black bear population.
CSF appreciates the strong relationships among our sporting conservation partners in Louisiana and will continue to advocate on behalf of the sportsmen’s community to carry this pro-sportsmen momentum into the back half of 2025 and beyond.
