Volume 40 | March 01, 2024

LSA Monthly Update

A Monthly Electronic Newsletter from the Louisiana Shooting Association, Inc.

LSA Annual Meeting of Members and Elections

The Annual Meeting of the Members of the LSA and Elections for the Board of Directors will be held on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at the Cabela's in Gonzales, LA. Cabela's opens at 10:00 AM and the meeting will start as soon as possible after members are registered for the meeting.

You will be able to renew your membership at the meeting and credit cards will be accepted.

Each year at our Annual Meeting of Members, one third of the Directors are elected to our Board. From those elected Directors, the Board selects the Officers of the Corporation in an open forum.

Hunting in the Congo Rainforest

By Michael Burke

If the reader wants to enjoy an exciting report about multiple species being killed with heroic tales of hunting dangerous game, perfect shooting with fine vintage rifles firing tailored hand loads, and plush accommodations that included wine and finely cooked meals, he should stop right here.

This story will be about a hunt that was grueling and tedious at times, wet, hot, and dirty, the first rainforest hunt for the writer and the final trip in to the rainforest for one of the last true adventurers.

This hunt was my eighth safari that had previously included hunts in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia. All previous trips included dangerous game on the license. However, I wanted something different. Then one day “Camshaft” posted this offer on the Accurate Reloading online forum.

"Here is a chance to go on a guided hunt in Congo with Cam Greig. I have had a postponement due to circumstances beyond the control of the client. We will fly into Congo Brazzaville in late May or early June 2015. We will take an internal flight (included in cost) then my vehicle, canoes and then on foot to the most remote B’Aka pygmy village I know of. We will negotiate with the local Bantu village to use “their” pygmies and hire 12 or so porters to carry all our gear for 10‐12 days of jungle adventure. You will walk on foot the whole trip once we leave the pygmy village. We will go where no one but myself has ever been as an 'outsider' in living memory of the B’Aka. I have hunted the area several times, but am the only outsider to do so. Animals anticipated will be forest buffalo (two allowed on license.) and yellow back duiker as the most likely encounters. Bongo, forest sitatunga and numerous duiker are there. Red river hogs, lots of monkeys and other forest species will be encountered like gorilla and chimps, which can only be photographed. This is a unique adventure for an Africa seasoned adventurer. If you would like to go on one of the last true exploration adventures left today get a hold of me. Cost is all‐inclusive from Brazzaville until we return to the same. You pay any expenses in town as well as trophy fees and costs to get CITES paperwork and export. I help with these procedures. This will be a 2X1 trip with a second hunter signed up already. We can all meet at Vegas if you want or if anyone wants to discuss further hunts, but I anticipate selling the slot before the [SCI Annual] meeting."

That evening something occurred to me. I was on my own safari, in the middle of the rainforest, without backup, hunting like the great explorers did years ago. A quiet calm came over me and I really began to enjoy the hunt.

Louisiana Federal Court Upholds 2016 Delisting of the State’s Black Bear

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana dismissed the plaintiffs’ challenge to the removal of Louisiana black bear from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) list of threatened species. The LSA supports this decision, as it further confirms that the black bears are a recovered species that should be managed through sustainable use conservation.

The decision comes as the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is in the final stages of considering whether to open a limited black bear hunting season to begin in December 2024. The Commission would issue a maximum of ten permits to hunt the Tensas River subpopulation of black bears. This is the largest and healthiest black bear subpopulation and has experienced significant growth and expansion beyond its core habitat area.

The fight is not over, and the LSA strongly encourages its members to stay engaged on this issue and support science-based wildlife management.

“We are pleased with the court’s ruling in favor of Safari Club International, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries,” said Richard Kennedy, President of SCI’s Acadiana Chapter and an attorney involved in the case. “The science supports the delisting and the court’s confirmation that the Louisiana black bear population has recovered and is healthy and sustainable. We look forward to the LDWF opening a hunting season to appropriately manage this increasing bear population.”

Twice, a coalition of groups has challenged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s recognition of the recovery of this subspecies. The bears were listed in 1992 largely based on habitat loss. Following concerted efforts by the State of Louisiana and private landholders to recover habitat and increase connectivity between the bear subpopulations, the Service found the bears no longer qualified as a “threatened species” under the ESA.

The first lawsuit was filed in federal court in D.C. and was dismissed in 2020, largely based on the arguments of Safari Club International. The plaintiffs re-filed the case in Louisiana, and it had been pending before Judge Brian Jackson in Baton Rouge since 2019. SCI was the only organization to defend the delisting in both lawsuits.

Take Action to Support the Hunting Season

Be Sure to watch this video before you carry in a U.S. postal facility!

Disrict Judge Rules Firearms Permitted in Post Office

What Does This Mean for YOU?

You may have seen that U.S. District Judge Kathryn Mizelle of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, ruled that the federal ban on carrying a firearm into a U.S. postal facility is unconstitutional.

This came about because Emmanuel Ayala, a U.S. postal worker, was indicted for possessing a firearm in a post office. He argued that the federal law prohibiting that possession was unconstitutional as applied to him. Judge Mizelle agreed and ruled the law is unconstitutional as applied to Mr. Ayala.

Now, what does that mean for YOU going forward?

Listen as Kirk Evans, president of U.S. LawShield®, explains why this might not apply to other firearm owners and how other Florida districts may handle the situation.

View the Video

Constitutional Carry

Constitutional Carry is back in the Louisiana State Legislature! Governor Landry called for the State Legislature to convene for a special session on February 19th to consider. Senate Bill 1, LSA-backed Constitutional Carry bill. This bill, introduced by LSA Life Member Sen. Blake Miguez, will strengthen the right to self-defense in Louisiana by recognizing the right of any law-abiding adult who is at least 18 years old to carry a concealed firearm without first having to obtain government permission.

Be sure to contact your state senator and state representative and ask for their support of Senate Bill 1 to make Louisiana the next Constitutional Carry State!

Contact Your Senator And Representative

Get Your 2024 M1 Garand Raffle Tickets!

Tickets for the 2024 M1 Garand Raffle in Support of Junior Shooting are now on sale. The drawing will be held October 19, 2024. Winner need not be present to win!

Buy Raffle Tickets

All donations stay here in Louisiana and are spent solely on Junior Shooting!

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