The House Natural Resources Committee approves a resolution that would remove the deer feeding bans that are in place where chronic wasting disease has been found. Hunter Nation Chair Rock Bordelon, who owns deer hunting land in Avoyelles Parish, says the feeding bans in other states have not slowed the spread of CWD.
“We will have the same results here, whether we have feeders or don’t have feeders,” Bordelon said.
There have been about 50 confirmed cases of CWD in deer, with most of those cases concentrated in Tensas Parish. It’s also been detected in Concordia, Catahoula and Ouachita.
In an effort to control the spread of CWD, a fatal disease for deer, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries has imposed feeding and baiting bans in all or part of 18 parishes, mostly in northeastern Louisiana.
Avid hunter and rock ‘n’ roll legend Ted Nugent testified in favor of the legislation. He recorded a video for members of the Natural Resources Committee to hear.
“The Left and the misinformed have used CWD scare tactics, for far too long, to purposely destroy our hunting lifestyle and heritage,” Nugent said.
Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is the author of the resolution. He says feeding bans are affecting people’s hunting rights. And supporters of the legislation also point out that there has not been a single case of CWD being transmitted to humans.
But LDWF’s Deer Program Manager Johnathan Bordelon, no relation to Rock Bordelon, says the feeding bans are one way they can slow the spread of CWD.
“It would seem prudent, that with an oral route of transmission, a disease that is shared orally, ingested to infect, that we wouldn’t artificially congregate deer,” Bordelon said.
The measure heads to the full House for more discussion.