HCR 54

ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 54
BY REPRESENTATIVES FONTENOT, AMEDEE, BEAULLIEU, BOUDREAUX,
     BROUSSARD, BUTLER, CARRIER, DEWITT, ECHOLS, FIRMENT, HORTON,
     OWEN, SCHAMERHORN, AND ST. BLANC
  A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To urge and request the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to conduct a
       study on the impact of flooded corn on migratory waterfowl behavior and to reinstate
       the enforcement mechanism that restricted the growth of hunting over intentionally
       flooding standing crops.
       WHEREAS, migratory waterfowl are an important natural resource in the state of
Louisiana, contributing to the state's ecology, economy, and outdoor heritage; and
       WHEREAS, recent reports indicate that certain hunting practices, such as the
flooding of standing crops to attract ducks, may influence migratory patterns and reduce the
number of waterfowl reaching southern states, including Louisiana; and
       WHEREAS, the long-term sustainability of waterfowl populations is essential for
Louisiana's hunting community, local economies, and conservation goals; and
       WHEREAS, the USFWS is the federal agency responsible for protecting migratory
birds and their habitats; and
       WHEREAS, the Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act, enacted by Congress in 1998,
eliminated the strict liability standard that had previously governed federal waterfowl baiting
violations; and
       WHEREAS, in 1999, the USFWS promulgated a final rule that codified the Act and
reaffirmed broad exemptions for areas classified as "normal agricultural planting" which
include certain flooded crop fields where standing crops are intentionally flooded; and
       WHEREAS, this action by the USFWS removed the enforcement mechanism that
previously restricted the growth of hunting over intentionally flooded standing crops; and
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HCR NO. 54  ENROLLED
       WHEREAS, concerns have been raised that the practice of flooding standing crops
may alter natural waterfowl migratory patterns and reduce the number of ducks reaching
Louisiana, potentially impacting both wildlife populations and the state’s hunting economy;
and
       WHEREAS, in January 2026, United States Senator John N. Kennedy formally
requested that the USFWS study the effects of these hunting practices on waterfowl
migration and populations, emphasizing the need for scientific evaluation and habitat
protection; and
       WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana recognizes the importance of providing input to
federal wildlife agencies to ensure that management practices reflect the needs of both
wildlife and the communities that depend on them; and
       WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana finds it necessary to formally urge and
request the USFWS to study and, if appropriate, adjust hunting regulations and management
practices to protect waterfowl populations, preserve migratory patterns, and support
sustainable hunting and conservation in the state.
       THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a comprehensive
study on the impacts of crop-flooding and other hunting practices on waterfowl migration
and population levels, particularly in Louisiana and the Mississippi Flyway, and to evaluate
potential adjustments to hunting regulations and habitat management strategies that would
support sustainable waterfowl populations.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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