Pick up a deer from the side of the road in Louisiana and you could face jail time, fine
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – If you see a deer carcass on the side of the road, you may want to think twice before picking it up and taking it home.
According to Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Enforcement, “technically, it is illegal to keep roadkill.”
If you did decide to take the animal, you could be ticketed for illegal possession of the species killed, LDWF Enforcement said. You could also face a fine and jail time.
Whether you hit the deer or just find it on the side of the road, LDWF Enforcement said if you take it, you could face up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.
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They also said to alert law enforcement if you hit a deer with your vehicle.
“Do not approach the deer as the animal may be temporarily disabled, at any moment the deer may become responsive and attempt to rapidly flee which could lead to injury to anyone in its path,” according to LDWF Enforcement.
They said people should contact LDWF if the deer is still alive but can’t move or poses a “further risk to public safety.” LDWF Enforcement emphasized that “some deer struck by vehicles survive the strikes, flee and recover from injuries.”
LDWF Deer Program Manager Johnathan Bordelon said deer are “are more active during the peak mating season.”
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“In particular, bucks are most active that time of year, which does lead to an increase risk of deer/vehicle collisions,” he said.
He said that the busiest time in mating season is different depending on where you are. “October and November are peak months in the western half of the state,” he said. For parts of northeast and southeast Louisiana, it’s in December and January.
Deer hunting season ended in the state on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024.
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