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HB 631

HUNTING: Establishes a nonresident landowner bear hunting license (EN INCREASE SD RV See Note)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Neil Riser

Louisiana HB 631 creates a specialized bear hunting license for nonresident landowners to hunt bears on their own property.

Effective date: 08/01/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 631

Legislative bill overview

HB 631 creates a new hunting license category in Louisiana specifically for nonresident landowners to hunt bears. The bill would allow out-of-state property owners to pursue bear hunting on their Louisiana land without requiring full nonresident hunting licenses or meeting standard residency requirements. This represents a targeted regulatory change to bear hunting access provisions in Louisiana's wildlife management framework.

Why is this important

Bear hunting regulations directly affect wildlife population management, hunting revenue for the state, and land-use rights. Nonresident landowners represent a distinct stakeholder group—they own property but live out-of-state—and this bill would give them special hunting privileges that could influence bear population dynamics and generate licensing revenue. The policy also signals a potential shift toward accommodating out-of-state property owners in Louisiana's hunting regulations.

Potential points of contention

  • Revenue impact: Whether a specialized nonresident landowner license generates adequate revenue compared to standard nonresident licenses, or if it underprices hunting access
  • Wildlife management: Whether allowing additional nonresident hunters affects bear population sustainability and whether this creates conflicts with established hunting seasons or bag limits
  • Fairness concerns: Whether granting special privileges to nonresident landowners is equitable compared to Louisiana residents or other nonresident hunters, and whether property ownership alone should determine hunting rights

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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