HCR 79

ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 79
BY REPRESENTATIVES BUTLER, AMEDEE, BOUDREAUX, BROUSSARD, ROBBY
     CARTER, COATES, DEWITT, ECHOLS, HORTON, MIKE JOHNSON, OWEN,
     SCHAMERHORN, AND WYBLE AND SENATORS ALLAIN, BARROW, BASS,
     CATHEY, CLOUD, EDMONDS, FESI, HENRY, MCMATH, MIGUEZ, OWEN,
     AND WOMACK
  A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To memorialize the United States Congress and to urge and request the United States Forest
       Service to take such actions as are necessary to allow the use of dogs for deer
       hunting in the Kisatchie National Forest and to urge and request the Department of
       Wildlife and Fisheries to work with the United States Forest Service to ensure the
       safe and sustainable use of dogs for hunting in the Kisatchie National Forest.
       WHEREAS, the Kisatchie National Forest, spanning approximately six hundred four
thousand acres across seven parishes in central and northern Louisiana, provides valuable
wildlife habitat and public access for outdoor recreation, including hunting; and
       WHEREAS, deer hunting is a long-standing tradition in Louisiana, and the use of
trained dogs for deer hunting has been an important part of that tradition in many rural
communities; and
       WHEREAS, the use of dogs for hunting, training, and retrieval is a longstanding
tradition among hunters in Louisiana and throughout the United States; and
       WHEREAS, properly managed hunting with dogs assists in the effective and humane
harvesting and recovery of game and reduces wounded-animal loss thus supporting wildlife
population objectives consistent with federal and state conservation laws; and
       WHEREAS, current federal regulations and management policies of the United
States Forest Service restrict or prohibit the use of dogs for deer hunting in the Kisatchie
National Forest; and
       WHEREAS, Louisiana sportsmen and sportswomen believe that allowing the use of
dogs for deer hunting in Kisatchie would promote hunter participation, preserve hunting
heritage, and provide additional wildlife management benefits; and
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HCR NO. 79  ENROLLED
       WHEREAS, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has the capacity and expertise
to work collaboratively with the United States Forest Service to establish clear, reasonable
rules, seasons, and management practices to ensure safe and sustainable use of dogs for deer
hunting within the Kisatchie National Forest consistent with conservation and public-safety
objectives; and
       WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislature recognizes the cultural, recreational, and
economic benefits of hunting in Louisiana and seeks to restore opportunities for the lawful
use of dogs in deer hunting on federal lands within the state.
       THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
memorialize the United States Congress and urges and requests the United States Forest
Service to take all necessary and appropriate actions to allow the use of dogs for the hunting
and retrieval of deer in the Kisatchie National Forest.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge
and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to work with the United States Forest
Service to establish clear, reasonable rules, seasons, and management practices to ensure
safe and sustainable use of dogs for deer hunting within the Kisatchie National Forest
consistent with conservation and public safety objectives.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
President of the United States, the speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
the majority leader of the United States Senate, the secretary of the United States
Department of Agriculture, the chief of the United States Department of Agriculture Forest
Service, the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and each member of the
Louisiana Congressional Delegation.
  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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