HCR 54 — WILDLIFE/HABITAT: Urges and requests the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to study the impact of flooded corn on migratory waterfowl behavior and to reinstate the enforcement mechanism that restricted the growth of hunting over intentionally flooding standing crops

HLSENROLLED 26RS-665 ENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO.

54 BY REPRESENTATIVEREPRESENTATIVES FONTENOTFONTENOT, WILDLIFE/HABITAT:AMEDEE, BEAULLIEU, BOUDREAUX, BROUSSARD,BUTLER,CARRIER,DEWITT,ECHOLS,FIRMENT,HORTON, OWEN, SCHAMERHORN, AND ST.

UrgesBLANC and requests the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to study the impact of flooded corn on migratory waterfowl behavior and to reinstate the enforcement mechanism that restricted the growth of hunting over intentionally flooding standing crops A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION To urge and request the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to conduct a studyontheimpactoffloodedcornonmigratorywaterfowlbehaviorandtoreinstate the enforcement mechanism that restricted the growth of hunting over intentionally flooding standing crops.

and WHEREAS, recent reports indicate that certain hunting practices, such as the floodingfloodingofstandingcropsto of standingcrops to attractducks,mayinfluencemigratorypatternsandreducethe number of waterfowl reaching southern states, including Louisiana;

and WHEREAS,WHEREAS,in1999, in 1999, theUSFWSpromulgatedafinalrulethatcodifiedtheActand reaffirmed broad exemptions for areas classified as "normal agricultural planting" which include certain flooded crop fields where standingcrops are intentionally flooded;

and PageWHEREAS, 1this action by the USFWS removed the enforcement mechanism that previously restricted the growth of 3hunting HLSover 26RS-665intentionally ENGROSSEDflooded HCRstanding NO.crops;

54and WHEREAS,Page this1 action by the USFWS removed the enforcement mechanism that previously restricted the growth of hunting2 overHCR intentionallyNO. flooded standing crops;

and54 ENROLLED WHEREAS, concerns have been raised that the practice of flooding standing crops may alter natural waterfowl migratory patterns and reduce the number of ducks reaching Louisiana,potentiallyimpactingbothwildlifepopulationsandthestate’shuntingeconomy;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a comprehensive study on the impacts of crop-flooding and other hunting practices on waterfowl migration and population levels,levels,particularlyin particularlyinLouisianaand Louisianathe andMississippi theMississippiFlyway, Flyway,andtoand to evaluate potential adjustments to hunting regulations and habitat management strategies that would support sustainable waterfowl populations.

PageSPEAKER 2OF ofTHE 3HOUSE HLSOF 26RS-665REPRESENTATIVES ENGROSSEDPRESIDENT HCROF NO.THE SENATE Page 2 of 2

54 DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.

It constitutes nopart of the legislative instrument.

The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HCR 54 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Fontenot Urges and requests the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a study on the impact of flooded corn on migratorywaterfowl behavior and to reinstate the enforcement mechanism that restricted the growth of hunting over intentionally flooding standing crops.

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