Hunters, fishers get expanded privacy under new Louisiana laws

Hunters and fishers in Louisiana now have expanded privacy after state lawmakers approved bills to exempt information about them from public records laws. 

Gov. Jeff Landry has signed off on the laws, which take effect Aug. 1. 

House Bill 1177 by Rep. Jerome “Zee” Zeringue, R-House, exempts personal information related to certain hunting and fishing licenses from the state’s public records law. 

Anyone who applies for a hunting lottery through the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries lottery will have any “personally identifying information” such as their name, address and contact information withheld from public records requests during the season in which the lottery is held. Once the season ends, the information will be publicly available.

Wildlife and Fisheries holds lotteries to dole out hunting tags and permits for more heavily regulated species such as Louisiana black bears and alligators, where a more limited number of animals are allowed to be hunted. The department also hosts hunting and fishing opportunities in its wildlife management areas, lands owned or leased by the state and managed by Wildlife and Fisheries, and holds lotteries to give out hunting tags in these areas. 

The law does not apply for public records requests on general hunting license information. 

Fishing gear

Senate Bill 257 by Sen. Brach Myers, R-Lafayette, removes the requirement for permit applicants to provide their Social Security numbers for certain fishing gear. 

Commercial fishers use strike nets to catch saltwater fish such as pompano, black drum, sheepshead and flounder. Permits are needed for officials to keep track of who uses them in case lost nets harm protected species such as sea turtles. 

Lawmakers in favor of the bill argued that Social Security numbers are sensitive information, which can be used in identity theft. 

GPS coordinates

Wildlife will also be shielded from public records law with the passage of House Bill 858 by Rep. Neil Riser, R-Columbia. The law exempts GPS data the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has on land and aquatic life that would reveal the location of individual animals. 

Officials from Wildlife and Fisheries said the measure is meant to prevent hunters from using departmental GPS data to track and hunt animals that might be endangered, threatened or lead people to trespass on private property. 

Hunting expansion

Rolled-back regulations and other expanded opportunities and for hunters enjoyed popular support this session. 

Non-residents will now be able to participate in black bear hunting on property they own, apply for tags in the new recreational alligator season and get commercial fishing licenses in Louisiana. 

The state legislature also softened its regulations on containing chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer. Wildlife and Fisheries rules now allow baiting and feeding of deer in areas where the disease has spread. 

Scientists and researchers working to contain the spread of chronic wasting disease say the changes could lead to an increase in the disease across the state.