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HB 934

WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Permits the possession of certain wildlife

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lauren Ventrella

Wildlife rehabilitators may possess white-tailed deer only within Louisiana and restricted to same CWD zone, with strict health, quarantine, and release rules to prevent disease sp

Becomes HB 1248.
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Bill Summary · HB 934

Bill Summary: HB 934 (2026, Louisiana) – Wildlife & Fisheries: Possession of White-Tailed Deer

Purpose and Intent

  • Authorizes wildlife rehabilitators (permitted under LAC 76:V.131) to possess white-tailed deer in specified circumstances.
  • Establishes detailed requirements, prohibitions, and procedures to govern possession, care, and release of deer within the state.

Key Provisions and Changes

Possession Authorization

  • Wildlife rehabilitators with the appropriate permit may possess white-tailed deer.
  • Origin restrictions: Deer originating from outside Louisiana may not be rehabilitated in Louisiana.

Origin-Specific Rehabilitation

  • Deer originating from within a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zone may be rehabilitated, but with strict geographic constraints:
    • Rehabilitated deer must be released only within the same CWD Management Zone from which the animal originated.
    • Rehabilitators must monitor the animal for health issues related to CWD and are subject to penalties and potential permit revocation for noncompliance.
    • If a deer shows abnormal neurological symptoms, it must be euthanized and a CWD sample submitted. All deer at the facility must be quarantined pending a negative CWD result.

CWD Protocols and Consequences

  • If any deer in a rehabilitation facility tests positive for CWD:
    • All live deer at that facility must be euthanized.
    • CWD samples must be collected.
    • The facility is barred from future participation in deer rehabilitation activities.

Eligibility and Health Restrictions

  • Deer displaying:
    • Open fractures, neurological symptoms, signs of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or blue tongue are ineligible for rehabilitation.
    • Habituation to humans is ineligible for rehabilitation.
  • Any animal showing signs consistent with these conditions is disqualified from rehabilitation.

Enclosure and Care Standards

  • Minimum enclosure size for a single fawn: 15 feet by 20 feet by 8 feet (with proportional size increases for additional animals).
  • Maximum of four fawns per enclosure, regardless of size.
  • Enclosures must be:
    • Constructed of wood or wire (12-gauge minimum; ≤2-inch mesh or equivalent).
    • Located out of sight of high-traffic human/pet activity.
    • If using wire mesh, privacy or shade cloth must cover all sides.
  • Feeding requirements: Once fawns are bottle-fed, they must be fed from a hanging rack.

Release Logistics

  • Predetermined release locations set by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (DWF) prior to each release.
  • Rehabilitators must notify the department’s permits coordinator at least 72 hours before a planned release.
  • No tags, collars, or other visual markers may be used on released white-tailed deer.

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Wildlife rehabilitators: Subject to new possession, care, quarantine, testing, and release requirements; potential permit revocation for noncompliance.
  • Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (DWF): Assigned duties to designate CWD zones, approve release locations, monitor compliance, and enforce penalties.
  • Public health and wildlife health considerations: Strong emphasis on preventing CWD spread, with mandatory testing and euthanasia protocols when CWD is suspected or confirmed.
  • Deer populations within CWD Zones: Rehabilitation efforts must occur only within their original zone, limiting relocation and potentially affecting rehabilitation capacity.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Prohibits rehabilitation of white-tailed deer outside Louisiana.
  • Allows rehabilitation of deer from a CWD Management Zone only within the same zone; requires ongoing health monitoring.
  • Euthanasia and quarantine procedures triggered by neurological symptoms or positive CWD results.
  • Release planning requires department-approved locations and a 72-hour advance notification.
  • No marking of released deer to aid tracking or identification.

Additional Context

  • The bill language is framed as a substitute under HB 934 proposal, adding R.S. 56:129.
  • Sponsorship: Representative Lauren Ventrella (House of Representatives), with a co-sponsor noted.
  • The Digest emphasizes that the bill adds formal licensing and operational requirements for keeping certain native wildlife (specifically white-tailed deer) by rehabilitators and outlines strict welfare, disease-control, and release standards.

If you’d like, I can provide a quick at-a-glance comparison with current law, or a section-by-section brief of each provision.

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

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