On May 27, the Louisiana House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment advanced House Bill 613 (HB 613), which allows for legislative oversight of Louisiana’s hunting seasons. The bill will be debated and voted on by the full House this Wednesday, June 3.

Under existing Louisiana law, hunting seasons are set by the Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries Commission (LWFC) after a public hearing and on the recommendations of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (LDWF). Commission members (7 members) are part of the Executive Branch, are appointed by the Governor, and serve overlapping and limited terms of 6 years. 

The LWFC was created in 1952 in an attempt to remove politics from fish and wildlife management decisions. The popular concept to achieve this was to create a bipartisan citizens’ commission to set policy and oversee the operation of the LDWF. Although the LWFC has never been able to entirely eliminate the influence of politics in resource management, it’s curtailed it substantially enough to provoke 2 governors who couldn’t get their way to try to abolish it during the 1950′s. Now, HB 613 seeks a similar outcome.

HB 613, authored by Representatives James Armes (D) of Leesville, Frank Howard (R) of Many, and Karen St. Germain (D) of Plaquemine, seeks to abolish control of the Louisiana hunting seasons suggested by the LDWF and enacted by the LWFC, thus subjecting these seasons to potential legislative wrangling and political favoritism. If approved Wednesday in the House, HB 613 will progress to the Senate and possibly to Governor Jindal, where if signed, will become law. Opponents should contact their local Representatives and voice opposition to HB 613 by clicking here.