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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), in accordance with a Declaration of Emergency order by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC), is imposing a feeding and carcass export ban on deer in Tensas, Franklin and Madison parishes.

The ban is in response to an adult buck harvested in Tensas Parish being diagnosed with chronic wasting disease (CWD), which is always fatal to deer. The carcass export ban is effective immediately and the feeding ban would go into effect on Monday (Feb. 7).

The Commission, after receiving a report on the preliminary positive deer, issued its order on Thursday (Feb. 3), effective Friday (Feb. 4), to direct LDWF to implement its CWD Management Plan to monitor and contain the spread of disease in the state.

This Declaration will remain in effect for the maximum period allowed under the Administrative Procedure Act or until rescinded or modified by the Secretary.

To see the complete declaration of emergency, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/resources/category/commission-action-items.

“This is the best option that we have at this time,” said LDWF Secretary Jack Montoucet. “We will provide updates on our response in the coming months.”

What this order means:

• All supplemental feeding, including mineral or salt licks, is prohibited in Tensas, Franklin and Madison parishes. The purpose of this feeding ban is to reduce the potential for the spread of CWD in Louisiana by reducing the risk of exposure when deer are concentrated around feeding sites.
• The use of approved bait not normally ingested by deer for feral hog trapping will be allowed. All bait must be placed and contained within the trap itself. Backyard bird feeders are also exempt from this supplemental feeding prohibition.
• The export of cervid carcasses or part of a cervid carcass originating within Tensas Franklin and Madison parishes is prohibited, except for: meat that is cut and wrapped; meat that has been boned out; quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached, antlers, clean skull plates with antlers, cleaned skulls without tissue attached, capes, tanned hides, finished taxidermy mounts and cleaned cervid teeth.