Do you deer hunt in Louisiana? If so, you should be aware of an important meeting of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission coming up on April 3.

Here’s the situation:

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is considering new rules that include a ban on the use of urine-based scents, which in the past have been a popular tool for deer hunters.

Many deer hunters, as well as deer scent manufacturers, think the science doesn’t support banning urine-based attractants. They say the lead authors of two of the studies most commonly referenced when considering a ban, agree the risk of commercially available urine-based scents contributing to the spread of CWD is virtually zero.

According to these authors, these same studies are being exaggerated and misrepresented in the recently released Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies best management practices and technical report encouraging states such as Louisiana to take these strong actions.

The ATA (Archery Trade Association) has also become involved. Major scent companies and their collection facilities participate in the ATA Deer Protection Program to further protect deer herds from CWD. (Learn more at www.cwdfacts.org.) The ATA Deer Protection Program notes that the urine used in products of leading scent companies comes from facilities 100 percent monitored for CWD, meaning every deer that dies is tested for CWD. According to the ATA Deer Protection Program, CWD has never been found on one of these facilities.

All deer hunters should take the threat of CWD very seriously and support action to stop the spread of CWD. That said, is this latest action being considered by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission reasonable? However you feel about the possible ban, now is the time to offer your opinion.

The ability to use urine-based scents in the state of Louisiana could be taken away. Now is the time to offer your opinion on whether a ban of urine-based scents is the correct decision as it relates to the spread of CWD.

Contact Information   

If you feel strongly about this proposed ban, either for or against, you should send comments before the next Louisiana commission meeting on April 3, 2019.  They are open to considerations on deciding this rule.

To make it easy for you to offer your opinion, we’ve included contact info (e-mail addresses) for the seven current members of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission:

• Mr. Alfred R. Sunseri, Chairman, E-mail: asunseri@cox.net
• Mr. William D. Hogan, Vice-Chairman, E-mail: Bill@bankruston.com
• Mr. Robert J. Samanie III, E-mail: captbob6888@aol.com
• Mr. Chad J Courville, E-mail: ccourville@miami-corp.com 
• Mr. William J. “Joe” McPherson, E-mail: jmcpherson@mdlaf.com 
• Ms. Jerri G. Smitko, E-mail: jerri@smitkolaw.com
• Mr. Bart R. Yakupzack, E-mail: bart@jlawton.cc

Opposition Sample Letter

ATA Deer Protection Program leaders, scent manufacturers and others opposed to the possible ban have provided the sample letter below to those who share their opinion. They say you are welcomed to copy/paste it, or change it however you wish.

To:

asunseri@cox.net; Bill@bankruston.com; captbob6888@aol.com; ccourville@miami-corp.com;  jmcpherson@mdlaf.com; jerri@smitkolaw.com; bart@jlawton.cc

E-mail Subject: New Louisiana rules — Ban on urine-based scents

Dear Commissioners,

I care greatly about deer and the sport of hunting. I recognize the threat of CWD and support actions to stop or slow the spread. However, strongly disagree with banning the use of urine based scents.

Urine based scents are an important an important tradition and management tool to help hunters like myself be more successful.

The science does not support the ban of urine-based scents. The lead authors of some of the studies most commonly referenced when considering a ban say the risk of commercially available urine-based scents contributing to the spread of CWD is virtually zero.

Furthermore, the urine-based scents we carry come from manufacturers and monitored facilities that participate in the Archery Trade Association Deer Protection Plan, further ensuring an even higher level safety.

I take the threat of CWD very seriously and support action to stop the spread of CWD. While I support certain efforts to prevent CWD, I strongly oppose banning or prohibiting the use of urine-based scents.

Urine-based scents are an important part of my hunt. Banning these products will have a negative impact on my hunting success and the tradition of hunting in this state.

Please do not ban/prohibit urine based scents. Thank you for your time and consideration, 

(your name) 

For more information on CWD, please visit: www.cwdfacts.org.