§104. License fees; reciprocity; exceptions

A. No license shall be issued under this Part unless there has been previously paid a fee or fees as hereinafter set forth:

(1)(a) Except as specified in Subsection B of this Section, a resident who is sixteen years of age or older shall purchase and possess a basic hunting license for a fee of fifteen dollars in order to hunt, take, possess, or transport wild birds and quadrupeds on which open seasons are declared. Special additional licenses are required to hunt, take, possess, or transport deer, turkey, or migratory waterfowl within the limits of the state. In order to obtain these licenses, a resident must meet residency requirements as specified in R.S. 56:8 ("Bona fide resident") and present either a Louisiana driver's license or a special identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections under the provisions of R.S. 40:1321.

(b) An amount equal to ten percent of the fees collected from the sale of hunting licenses shall be dedicated by the commission to the development and preservation of breeding grounds for migratory waterfowl, the funds to be expended for such purposes through Ducks Unlimited, Inc. or under the direction of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission at its discretion. An additional ten percent of each fee collected from the sale of hunting licenses shall be dedicated by the commission to the development and rejuvenation of the quail, dove, and rabbit population of this state, the funds to be expended by the department beginning with the Fiscal Year 1975-1976 through a rejuvenation program to be promulgated under administrative regulation of the commission. However, not less than twenty-five percent of the funds derived from hunting license fees shall be deposited on a monthly basis into the Wildlife Habitat and Natural Heritage Trust as provided for in R.S. 56:1923 and shall be expended solely for land acquisition for wildlife management areas, including the purchase of lands for upland game purposes.

(2) In the case of a nonresident who is sixteen years of age or older, a basic hunting license fee of two hundred dollars for the entire season is required to hunt, take, possess, or transport wild birds or wild quadrupeds on which open seasons are declared. Special additional licenses are required to hunt, take, possess, or transport deer, turkey, or migratory waterfowl.

(3) In the case of a resident, except as specified in Subsection B of this Section, a fee of fourteen dollars is required to hunt, take, possess, or transport deer, turkey, or bobcat. This license, which shall be known as a big game license, shall be required in addition to the basic hunting license. In addition and except as provided for in Paragraph (8) of this Subsection, a fee of ten dollars and fifty cents may be charged a resident for the issuance of a special primitive firearms license to take deer during the special deer season for primitive firearms as provided in R.S. 56:103(C)(2).

(4) Except as specified in Subsection B of this Section, in addition to a nonresident hunting license, a nonresident shall be required to purchase and possess a nonresident big game license for a fee of two hundred twenty-five dollars for the entire season in order to hunt, take, possess, or transport deer, turkey, or bobcat. In addition, a fee of fifty dollars shall be charged a nonresident for the issuance of a special primitive firearms license to take deer during the special deer season for primitive firearms as provided in R.S. 56:103.1(B)(2).

(5) The holder of a hunting license issued by the state of Mississippi shall have the same rights and privileges to hunt wild game birds and quadrupeds upon islands in and the waters of the Mississippi River and other land resulting from accretion along the Mississippi River where that river forms the boundary between the states of Louisiana and Mississippi as are provided by law for the holder of a Louisiana hunting license. This Paragraph shall only take effect and become operative if, as, and when the state of Mississippi grants reciprocal privileges to the holders of hunting and fishing or angling licenses issued by the state of Louisiana.

(6) Repealed by Acts 2008, No. 27, §2, eff. July 1, 2008.

(7) Any person who was born in Louisiana and who possesses a valid Louisiana birth certificate may purchase a nonresident temporary hunting license that is valid for five consecutive days for the cost of a resident hunting license as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. Any licenses or permits which may be required in addition to the basic hunting license, such as a big game license or turkey license, may be purchased for the cost of a resident license and shall be valid for the same five consecutive days as the nonresident temporary hunting license.

(8)(a) A resident who is totally and permanently disabled and receiving a disability benefit from the federal social security system or a disability retirement income from a retirement system whose members are exempt from federal social security, either pursuant to the Railroad Retirement Insurance Act, 45 U.S.C. §231, or because they are employees of a state or a political subdivision of the state that has not voluntarily agreed to participate in federal social security under 42 U.S.C. § 418, may purchase a basic hunting license which will also include a WMA hunting permit for a fee of five dollars in order to hunt, take, possess, or transport wild birds and quadrupeds on which open seasons are declared. In addition to the basic hunting license fee, any such person may also purchase a resident big game hunting license for a fee of five dollars, a resident bow hunting license for a fee of five dollars, or a special primitive firearms license for a fee of five dollars.

(b) A letter from the federal social security administration or retirement system granting disability benefits shall be required at time of purchase, along with proper identification. Such letter shall be evidence of qualification for the reduced fee provided for in this Paragraph.

(9)(a) Any person who is not a resident of the state of Louisiana but who is a full-time student enrolled in an accredited college or university that has a physical campus in the state of Louisiana may purchase a nonresident basic hunting license for the cost of a resident hunting license as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. Any licenses or permits that may be required in addition to the basic hunting license, such as a big game license or a duck license or a turkey license, may also be purchased for the cost of the equivalent resident license or permit. In order to purchase a license under the provisions of this Subparagraph, the person shall provide to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries verification of his full-time status. Such verification may be provided through the mail. Any person hunting under a license issued pursuant to this Subparagraph shall also have on his person his student identification card that indicates current full-time status.

(b) Any person who is sixteen years of age or older and who is not a resident of the state of Louisiana but who is enrolled as a full-time or part-time student in a public or private high school in the state of Louisiana may purchase a nonresident basic hunting license for the cost of a resident hunting license as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. Any licenses or permits that may be required in addition to the basic hunting license, such as a big game license or a duck license or a turkey license, may also be purchased for the cost of the equivalent resident license or permit. In order to purchase a license under the provisions of this Subparagraph, the person shall provide to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries verification of his enrollment status in a Louisiana high school. Such verification may be provided through the mail. Any person hunting under a license issued pursuant to this Subparagraph shall also have on his person his student identification card that indicates current enrollment status.

B.(1) Repealed by Acts 2000, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 1, §4, eff. June 26, 2000.

(2) Veterans of the armed forces or of the Louisiana Army National Guard or Louisiana Air National Guard having a permanent service connected disability classification of fifty percent or more and who are Louisiana residents or resident persons who are blind, paraplegic, or multiple amputees shall, upon identification and proof of disability satisfactory to the department, be issued licenses which will also include a WMA hunting permit without the payment of any fees therefor.

(3) Any resident of Louisiana who is the surviving spouse of a member of the United States Armed Forces, the Louisiana Army National Guard, or the Louisiana Air National Guard who was killed in action while in a combat zone, upon showing identification and documentation satisfactory to the department, shall be issued all hunting licenses and permits for a total fee of two dollars and fifty cents.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in order to hunt or fish in the state of Louisiana, a resident of this state who turns sixty years of age on or after June 1, 2000, shall be required to obtain a senior hunting and fishing license. However, any resident who turned sixty years of age prior to June 1, 2000, may choose to purchase a senior hunting and fishing license. A fee of five dollars shall be charged for this license, and the license shall be available from June first of each calendar year and shall be valid from the date of purchase through the following June thirtieth. This license shall be in lieu of basic hunting, big game, bow, primitive firearms, and waterfowl licenses, turkey hunting stamps, WMA hunting permits, and the basic and saltwater fishing licenses and must be in the possession of the licensee when the licensee is engaged in hunting or fishing activities. Possession of this license shall authorize the licenseholder to use a crossbow or a bow that is drawn, held, and released by mechanical means. Magnified scopes may be used with crossbows.

C. Notwithstanding the requirement of cash payment provided for in Subsection A of this Section, nonresident hunting licenses provided for in R.S. 56:103.1 may be purchased with a qualified credit card in accordance with the rules of the department adopted pursuant to R.S. 56:642.

D. The secretary may exempt for good cause persons or groups of people from the license fee requirements of this Part. Such exemption shall be in the form of a letter of permit from the secretary. The commission is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations which establish the criteria for such exemptions and which otherwise implement this exemption.

E.(1) A nonresident may purchase temporary hunting licenses as follows:

(a) Small game including migratory birds

$29.00 per day

(b) Deer (any weapon)

$36.00 per day

(c) Turkey

$36.00 per day

(2) All funds received from the sale of licenses under the provisions of this Subsection shall be deposited to the Conservation Fund.

Amended by Acts 1950, No. 456, §1; Acts 1952, No. 25; Acts 1954, No. 551, §1; Acts 1956, No. 48, §1; Acts 1956, No. 543, §1; Acts 1960, No. 190, §1, eff. June 28, 1960; Acts 1966, No. 47, §1; Acts 1968, No. 372, §1; Acts 1968, Ex. Sess., No. 2, §1; Acts 1972, No. 369, §1; Acts 1974, No. 216, §1; Acts 1974, No. 217, §1; Acts 1974, No. 689, §1; Acts 1974, No. 717, §1; Acts 1975, No. 246, §1; Acts 1975, No. 651, §1; Acts 1976, No. 81, §1; Acts 1976, No. 417, §1; Acts 1978, No. 123, §1, eff. June 22, 1978; Acts 1978, No. 576, §1; Acts 1979, No. 242, §1; Acts 1979, No. 245, §1; Acts 1980, No. 166, §1; Acts 1981, No. 209, §1; Acts 1981, No. 736, §1; Acts 1982, No. 420, §1, eff. July 1, 1983; Acts 1982, No. 480, §1; Acts 1983, No. 74, §1; Acts 1986, No. 520, §1; Acts 1987, No. 507, §1; Acts 1989, No. 616, §1, eff. July 6, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 696, §1, eff. July 1, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 236, §1; Acts 1991, No. 587, §1, eff. July 16, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 434, §1; Acts 1992, No. 856, §1, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 73, §1, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 256, §1, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 660, §1; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 164, §2, eff. Sept. 21, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 522, §1; Acts 2000, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 1, §§3, 4, eff. June 26, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 151, §1; Acts 2001, No. 270, §1; Acts 2001, No. 320, §1; Acts 2001, No. 324, §1; Acts 2003, No. 77, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1248, §1; Acts 2004, No. 438, §1; Acts 2006, No. 775, §1; Acts 2007, No. 7, §1; Acts 2008, No. 27, §1, 2, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2008, No. 51, §1, eff. June 5, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 289, §1; Acts 2011, No. 375, §1, eff. July 1, 2011; Acts 2013, No. 324, §1; Acts 2014, No. 56, §1.