Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) opposes the current proposal to reduce the 25-mile Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Control Zone framework to include a 10-mile buffer zone. LWF recognizes the proposal as a compromise, specific to economic concerns within the feed and grain community, but the proposal does not represent best practices with regards to the long-term management plans for CWD. We believe maintaining the current 25-mile radius control zone model is the path forward to support LDWF efforts to contain the spread of CWD across the state.
On Thursday, August 7, 2025, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission will consider a Notice of Intent (NOI) to amend the current 25-mile radius CWD Control Zones to include a newly proposed “Buffer Zone” framework. The proposed modification would change the current 25-mile radius zone to a system that utilizes a 15-mile radius control zone with a surrounding 10-mile radius buffer zone (illustrated above). The proposed buffer zone would allow the application of supplemental feed by non-stationary, mechanical or electronic broadcast methods within the 15-to-25-mile external zone. These methods would include ATV and tractor style broadcast spreaders that would disperse the supplemental feed in a manner so as to not concentrate deer into a centralized area.
However, this could unintentionally attract infected deer from the control zone and into the buffer zone, which could spread the infection further and faster.
The failure to use every available practice and method to contain CWD to its current locations can only contribute to the spread, and ultimately the addition of more restricted areas. While current steps, demonstrated in the Declaration of Emergency (DE), are recognized as positive measures for the control of the spread of CWD, we continue to draw attention to challenges faced by LDWF from LDAF and the captive cervid industry. LWF urges the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) to implement aggressive surveillance, best practices for testing, and transparent public reporting about past, present, and future cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the captive cervid locations and populations that they regulate and provide better coordination with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in response to comprehensive mitigation measures.
LWF understands that deer hunting activities have a huge retail economic impact, as well as a positive impact on hunting property values, both of which would be diminished if CWD continues to spread in Louisiana. For that reason, we support maintaining the management structure offered under the DE and additionally urge LDAF to acknowledge that this disease has the potential to affect all cervids in Louisiana, both wild and captive animals, equally.
Read LWF Comment Letter. (photo by R David Breithaupt)