It is truly another sad day for those that hunt public lands in Louisiana. Once again, the legislature, with the passage of SB 212 (2015), and the LDWF decision to not honor this new law for those that hunt public lands, has reaffirmed that there is a two tiered system of justice, or a double standard of rights and privileges, for hunters in the State of Louisiana.
Those that hunt on private land (including hunting clubs) get to enjoy this new law that allows them to protect themselves, but once again, those that hunt public lands were left out by the Louisiana legislators, Bobby Jindal, and LDWF administration. Perhaps our legislators, the governor, and the administration of the LDWF, are letting us know that the safety and lives of public land hunters, including those that were attacked by feral hogs in the last few years in the Pearl River WMA, don’t matter.
Bobby Jindal said, 'Louisiana is widely known as the Sportsman's Paradise and that's why we've continuously worked to strengthen and protect the fundamental right to bear arms for all Louisianians,', but that’s misleading, because they’re only working to protect the rights of those that have enough money (influence) to hunt on private lands.
Jindal went on to say, 'This proposed legislation removes unnecessary restrictions on law abiding hunters and will allow them to continue to exercise their second amendment rights while bow hunting in Louisiana.', but that’s not accurate either. This law, which was specifically written for people that have enough money to hunt private lands, does nothing for those that hunt public lands in Louisiana (WMA’s).
In his testimony to the Senate, State Sen. Rick Ward R-Port Allen, said, 'You're out in the woods, whether it be hogs, bears, maybe poachers -- you never really know who you're going to run into.' Sen. Rick Ward, R-Port Allen went on to say, 'Removing certain restrictions on bow hunters will allow our hunters to enjoy the same constitutional protections that we afford every other citizen,', but again, that is not accurate, as this does nothing for hunters of public lands (Louisiana Wildlife Management Areas).
This is merely one more obvious example of the disparity that exists between the rules for those that hunt private lands and those that hunt public lands in Louisiana. Although there are many more examples of the less privileged public hunter, for the sake of this comparative illustration, let’s stay with this “right to bear arms” Jindal spoke of.
Most hunters of private lands in Louisiana utilize box stands, or leaning stands, which typically are left in familiar woods all year long, and employ feeders to attract deer to an open place where they can be shot. Their typical days starts off early with a ride on some sort of ATV to the place where they hunt. After a short walk to the box stand, they settle into comfortable chairs, many with portable heaters warming the air, and wait for a hungry deer to approach looking for food. Therefore, as you can see, there’s usually not a great deal of scouting required to successfully harvest a deer by this group of hunters.
In comparison, hunters of public lands go into the woods months or weeks prior to deer season opening multiple times, walking many miles a day looking for signs of deer in the area. When deer signs are found, public hunters note the area, and hope no one else found it. When deer season opens, they get up many hours before sunrise, and in the dark of the cold night, carry climbing stands on their backs to the spot they found when scouting. If they’re real lucky, and no one else has beat them to “their” spot, they climb the tree with their stand and begin the hunt. At the end of the day, they’re required to climb down and take the stand off the tree. They walk out of the woods (because most are not allowed to use a 4 wheeler or ATV in WMA’s) carrying their “stand” and begin all over again the next morning.
With that brief comparison who would you say needs more protection when they’re '… out in the woods, (from) … hogs, bears, maybe poachers”, because “… you never really know who you're going to run into.'? That’s right, it doesn’t’ take a rocket scientist to quickly figure out the hunter of public lands has increased dangers, and therefore a greater need to carry a firearm with them than do those hunting on private lands.
Which begs the final question, if it’s so obvious that those hunting on public lands would benefit more from the increased protection afforded by the carrying of firearms than those on private lands, why would the Louisiana legislature, Bobby Jindal, and the LDWF all work together to respect only the Second Amendment rights of those hunting on private lands?
Public hunter’s lives matter, or at least they do to other hunters of public lands!
Here’s a solution that would appear to be a win-win for all involved with the application of this new law, that satisfies all concerns.
In the 2016 legislative session, amend the law to read as follows: “Bowhunters may carry any caliber of handgun without scope, with a barrel length not to exceed 7 inches, firearm on their person, while hunting with a bow. 14 R.S. 56:109.
In the meantime, the LDWF can alter the existing 2015-16 restrictions on WMA’s to allow pistols without a scope, of any caliber, with barrel length not to exceed 7 inches.
This solution addresses the concerns regarding discrimination, safety on WMA’s, while removing temptation for bow hunter to use a rifle out of season to shot a deer, all while expanding the 2nd Amendment rights of all hunters in Louisiana.
Those that hunt on private land (including hunting clubs) get to enjoy this new law that allows them to protect themselves, but once again, those that hunt public lands were left out by the Louisiana legislators, Bobby Jindal, and LDWF administration. Perhaps our legislators, the governor, and the administration of the LDWF, are letting us know that the safety and lives of public land hunters, including those that were attacked by feral hogs in the last few years in the Pearl River WMA, don’t matter.
Bobby Jindal said, 'Louisiana is widely known as the Sportsman's Paradise and that's why we've continuously worked to strengthen and protect the fundamental right to bear arms for all Louisianians,', but that’s misleading, because they’re only working to protect the rights of those that have enough money (influence) to hunt on private lands.
Jindal went on to say, 'This proposed legislation removes unnecessary restrictions on law abiding hunters and will allow them to continue to exercise their second amendment rights while bow hunting in Louisiana.', but that’s not accurate either. This law, which was specifically written for people that have enough money to hunt private lands, does nothing for those that hunt public lands in Louisiana (WMA’s).
In his testimony to the Senate, State Sen. Rick Ward R-Port Allen, said, 'You're out in the woods, whether it be hogs, bears, maybe poachers -- you never really know who you're going to run into.' Sen. Rick Ward, R-Port Allen went on to say, 'Removing certain restrictions on bow hunters will allow our hunters to enjoy the same constitutional protections that we afford every other citizen,', but again, that is not accurate, as this does nothing for hunters of public lands (Louisiana Wildlife Management Areas).
This is merely one more obvious example of the disparity that exists between the rules for those that hunt private lands and those that hunt public lands in Louisiana. Although there are many more examples of the less privileged public hunter, for the sake of this comparative illustration, let’s stay with this “right to bear arms” Jindal spoke of.
Most hunters of private lands in Louisiana utilize box stands, or leaning stands, which typically are left in familiar woods all year long, and employ feeders to attract deer to an open place where they can be shot. Their typical days starts off early with a ride on some sort of ATV to the place where they hunt. After a short walk to the box stand, they settle into comfortable chairs, many with portable heaters warming the air, and wait for a hungry deer to approach looking for food. Therefore, as you can see, there’s usually not a great deal of scouting required to successfully harvest a deer by this group of hunters.
In comparison, hunters of public lands go into the woods months or weeks prior to deer season opening multiple times, walking many miles a day looking for signs of deer in the area. When deer signs are found, public hunters note the area, and hope no one else found it. When deer season opens, they get up many hours before sunrise, and in the dark of the cold night, carry climbing stands on their backs to the spot they found when scouting. If they’re real lucky, and no one else has beat them to “their” spot, they climb the tree with their stand and begin the hunt. At the end of the day, they’re required to climb down and take the stand off the tree. They walk out of the woods (because most are not allowed to use a 4 wheeler or ATV in WMA’s) carrying their “stand” and begin all over again the next morning.
With that brief comparison who would you say needs more protection when they’re '… out in the woods, (from) … hogs, bears, maybe poachers”, because “… you never really know who you're going to run into.'? That’s right, it doesn’t’ take a rocket scientist to quickly figure out the hunter of public lands has increased dangers, and therefore a greater need to carry a firearm with them than do those hunting on private lands.
Which begs the final question, if it’s so obvious that those hunting on public lands would benefit more from the increased protection afforded by the carrying of firearms than those on private lands, why would the Louisiana legislature, Bobby Jindal, and the LDWF all work together to respect only the Second Amendment rights of those hunting on private lands?
Public hunter’s lives matter, or at least they do to other hunters of public lands!
Here’s a solution that would appear to be a win-win for all involved with the application of this new law, that satisfies all concerns.
In the 2016 legislative session, amend the law to read as follows: “Bowhunters may carry any caliber of handgun without scope, with a barrel length not to exceed 7 inches, firearm on their person, while hunting with a bow. 14 R.S. 56:109.
In the meantime, the LDWF can alter the existing 2015-16 restrictions on WMA’s to allow pistols without a scope, of any caliber, with barrel length not to exceed 7 inches.
This solution addresses the concerns regarding discrimination, safety on WMA’s, while removing temptation for bow hunter to use a rifle out of season to shot a deer, all while expanding the 2nd Amendment rights of all hunters in Louisiana.
