President Joe Biden has signed into law an effort by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy and U.S. Rep. Garret Graves to ease the road for duck hunters next season.
Sponsored in the Senate by Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, and others, and in the House by Graves, R- Baton Rouge, and others, the law allows Louisiana and other states to issue electronic duck stamps to hunters.
Though hunters ages 16 and older are required to buy and carry the stamps with them as they hunt, such stamps had long only been issued on paper and had to be mailed. As they waited, sometimes months, for their stamps to arrive, hunters were allowed under the old law to hunt for 45 days after they purchased the stamp, as long as they could show their receipt to prove they had done so.
But new applicants who hadn't received their paper stamps within that 45-day timeframe often missed parts of state hunting seasons. The electronic stamp will allow quick, all-season access for new applicants, Cassidy's office said.
“People come from all over the world to duck hunt in Louisiana,” Cassidy said. “Hunters can now use their phone rather than a physical duck stamp. Welcome to the 21st century! This makes their experience that much better.”
Graves said the law "will expand access to Sportsman’s Paradise to make it easier for you to spend more early mornings in the duck blind."
Federal duck stamps cost $27.22, and money collected from the purchases supports conservation efforts, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The program has generated more than $1.1 billion since the first stamp was issued in 1934.
In addition to the stamps, Louisiana duck hunters may also be required to buy basic hunting and waterfowl licenses.
Hunting season for ducks, coots and mergansers in Louisiana runs from Nov. 11 to Dec. 3, from Dec. 11 to Jan. 7, and from Jan. 13-21 in the state's west zone. In the state's east zone, the season runs from Nov. 18 to Dec. 3 and from Dec. 16 to Jan. 28.
The state's west zone covers the portion of the state between the Texas state line and the line going south on La. Hwy. 79 from the Arkansas border to Homer; then south on La. Hwy. 9 to Arcadia; then south on La. Hwy. 147 to Hodge; then south on U.S. Rte. 167 to Lafayette; then south and east on U.S. Hwy. 90 to the Misisssippi state line.
The east zone covers the rest of the state.
Editor's Note, 12/22/23: This story has been updated to include comments from U.S. Rep. Garret Graves.