Governor Jeff Landry recently signed Act 272 into law.

𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝟮𝟳𝟮 recognizes the ethical responsibilities of hunters to recover game they’ve taken and provides for a legal method to do so. Licensed hunters or trackers can now:
▪ Pursue a mortally wounded deer (legally shot) using lights and a blood-trailing or tracking dog.
▪ Dispatch the deer with a handgun if found alive (excluding LDWF Wildlife Management Areas).

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: To prevent misuse, certain rules apply:
▪ Only one dog per tracking party in pursuit of the wounded deer.
▪ A second dog allowed for deer retrieval training.
▪ Tracking dogs must be on a handheld leash or use a GPS tracking collar.
▪ A mortally wounded deer discovered alive after legal hunting hours may be dispatched by using a centerfire handgun with a barrel no longer than six inches and a caliber between .25 and .45.
▪ Licensed hunters or trackers can follow a mortally wounded deer onto private property if they have landowner permission.

This law takes effect on August 1.