Editor’s Note: a guest post by Louisiana State Representative Danny McCormick (R-Caddo Parish).

This debate is about God-given property rights. In Louisiana, what you can do on your own land is a core principle, limited only when there is clear evidence that restrictions are necessary. Today, landowners and hunters are being told they cannot engage in long-standing hunting practices on their own property based on chronic wasting disease concerns that have not been matched by anywhere near the level of proof required for such a drastic step.

That is why I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 4 in the State House.

HCR4 calls for an 18-month suspension of the feeding and baiting bans in designated CWD Control Areas, including the Enhanced Mitigation Zone and the Buffer Zone. It does not ignore the issue; it merely pauses the current lockdown of our land to offer relief to our communities.

The impact of the existing restrictions has been devastating. Small farmers who sell corn to hunters have lost income. Local businesses tied to hunting season are seeing fewer customers. Landowners are dealing with unintended consequences, including more difficulty managing dangerous wild hog populations. These are real effects on real communities.

Chronic wasting disease should be taken seriously, but policy should reflect what the evidence actually shows. This disease only affects the deer family, not livestock or pets. And after decades of study in other states, there have been no confirmed cases of transmission to humans. Federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, point to a strong species barrier, meaning the risk to people is considered highly unlikely.

That matters, because when the risk is low, the response should be measured. Instead, the current approach imposes broad restrictions that reach deep into private property and established hunting practices without a clear justification.

Hunting in Louisiana is not a side issue. It is part of our culture and a driver of our rural economy. When government disrupts that, it must be able to show that the benefits outweigh the costs. Right now, that case has not been made.

HCR4 restores balance allowing space to evaluate the science, consider the economic impact, and involve stakeholders before locking in long-term policy.

As a founding member of the Louisiana Freedom Caucus, I believe government should be limited and accountable. When regulation exceeds what the evidence supports, it should be revisited.

We can protect wildlife without discarding property rights. HCR4 is a step toward getting that balance right.