Can You Pick Up A Dead Deer From The Side of Road in Louisiana

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - You may have noticed in recent months that there are a lot of dead deer on the side of interstates, highways, and roads in South Louisiana.

We recently returned to Louisiana from a getaway, and upon entering the "Bayou State," we counted four dead deer along I-10 between Hammond and Lafayette.

The deer population in Louisiana has skyrocketed in recent years. With extensive development across the state, wildlife is on the move, which is one reason we're seeing so many deer in places we least expect.

In particular, if you travel on I-10 between Lafayette and Baton Rouge, you will see some huge deer grazing not far from the interstate, and often, you may notice a few dead ones along the way.

As we were travelling and seeing the deer dead on the shoulder of the interstate, I asked myself if it was legal to pick up roadkill in Louisiana, and I looked it up.

It turns out that it is illegal in the state of Louisiana to pick up a dead deer from the side of the road. If you hit a deer, you should immediately notify the police, and if you want to keep the deer, you must seek permission from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. 

Drivers who do pick up dead animals on the side of the road, without permission from LDWF, could get ticketed for illegal possession of the animal they picked up. Possession of an illegally taken deer carries a fine of $400 to $950 and up to 120 days in jail.

The agency may not allow you to "harvest" the dead deer on the side of the road if you find one because of the threat of disease. Remember, if you find a dead deer alongside a road or interstate, you really can't tell how long it's been dead; the animal could be infected.

If you hit a deer or another animal with your vehicle, remember to document the damage with photos so you can report it to your insurance provider.

So there it is, you cannot legally pick up a dead deer in "Sportsman's Paradise" without notifying LDWF, who you can contact at (337) 262-2080.