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HB 1248

WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Permits the possession of white-tailed deer by wildlife rehabilitators

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lauren Ventrella

The bill lets licensed wildlife rehabilitators possess and rehabilitate white-tailed deer under strict CWD monitoring, release controls, and facility standards.

Effective date: 08/01/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 1248

Summary of HB 1248 (2026) – Louisiana

Purpose and Intent

HB 1248 would authorize wildlife rehabilitators, under existing licensing, to possess white-tailed deer. The bill sets specific conditions, prohibitions, and operational requirements to govern rehabilitation, handling, and release of deer, with emphasis on disease monitoring (notably Chronic Wasting Disease, CWD) and animal welfare.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Authorization to Possess: Wildlife rehabilitators licensed under Louisiana Administrative Code (LAC) 76:V.131 may possess white-tailed deer.

  • Origins of Deer (recovery context):

    • Deer originating from outside Louisiana may not be rehabilitated in Louisiana.
    • Deer originating from within a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zone may be rehabilitated, but with strict geographic limits: the deer must be released only within the same CWD Management Zone from which it originated.

  • CWD Monitoring and Compliance:

    • Rehabilitators are responsible for closely monitoring the deer’s health for neurological signs or other indicators of CWD.
    • Noncompliance with CWD-related requirements can lead to penalties and possible revocation of the rehabilitation permit.
    • Any deer showing abnormal neurological symptoms must be euthanized, and a CWD sample must be submitted to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (DWF). Until a negative CWD result is received, all deer at the facility must be quarantined.
    • If a deer tests positive for CWD, all live white-tailed deer at the facility must be euthanized, and the facility will be barred from future deer rehabilitation activities.

  • Health and Eligibility Restrictions:

    • Deer displaying open fractures, neurological symptoms, or signs of epizootic hemorrhagic disease or bluetongue virus are ineligible for rehabilitation.
    • Deer showing habituation to humans are ineligible for rehabilitation.

  • Enclosures and Housing Requirements:

    • Minimum enclosure size: 15 feet by 20 feet by 8 feet for a single fawn; add 50 square feet for each additional animal.
    • Maximum of four fawns per enclosure, regardless of size.
    • Enclosures must be wooden or wire with at least 12-gauge construction, no more than 2-inch mesh, and built to prevent escape or access by domestic animals/predators.
    • Enclosures should be located out of sight of high-traffic human activity; if wire mesh is used, privacy or shade cloth must cover all sides.

  • Feeding Protocols:

    • Once fawns are accustomed to bottle feeding, they must be fed from a hanging rack.

  • Release Procedures:

    • Rehabilitators must notify the DWF permits coordinator at least 72 hours before a planned release.
    • Predetermined release locations must be specified by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in advance of each release.
    • No physical markings (tags, collars, or other visual marks) may be placed on deer that are released.

  • Other:

    • The bill adds a new statute: R.S. 56:129, addressing the new prohibitions, requirements, and procedures related to the possession and rehabilitation of white-tailed deer.

Who or What is Affected

  • Wildlife rehabilitators licensed under LAC 76:V.131: They gain permission to possess and rehabilitate white-tailed deer under specified conditions.
  • White-tailed deer: Subject to strict eligibility criteria, health monitoring, and release restrictions (especially in relation to CWD zones and prohibition on certain physical markings).
  • Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (DWF): Responsible for permits coordination, monitoring compliance, CWD testing, and determining approved release sites and procedures.
  • Facilities and enclosures: Must meet defined size, construction, and confinement standards.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Implementation: The bill adds a new statute (R.S. 56:129) upon enactment.
  • Release Planning: Releasing deer requires a 72-hour advance notice to the permits coordinator and preapproved release locations provided by the Department prior to each release.
  • CWD Response Timeline: If CWD is suspected (neurological signs) or a positive result is obtained, prescribed quarantines, testing, and culling actions must be followed, with prohibition on future deer rehabilitation at the facility in cases of positive CWD.

Notes

  • The bill was introduced as HB 1248 (substituting for HB 934), sponsored by Representative Ventrella, with co-sponsor Lauren Ventrella. The action history indicates a title read on 2026-04-23.

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

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