Establishes a nonresident landowner bear hunting license (EG INCREASE SG RV See Note)

This bill enacts a new nonresident bear hunting license category under Louisiana's recreational hunting license framework by adding a provision to R.S. 56:3002(B). The legislation creates a specific license type for nonresident hunters seeking to hunt bear in Louisiana and establishes a flat fee of one hundred dollars for this license. The statutory change is minimal and surgical in nature, inserting a single line item into the existing fee schedule for nonresident recreational hunting licenses without modifying any other provisions governing hunting regulations, seasons, bag limits, or administrative procedures.

Nonresident hunters who wish to pursue bear in Louisiana will now be required to obtain this specific license at the established fee rather than relying on alternative license types or exemptions. This creates a dedicated revenue stream for the state's wildlife management operations while simultaneously providing a clear, straightforward licensing mechanism for out-of-state bear hunters. The practical effect standardizes and regulates nonresident participation in Louisiana's bear hunting, ensuring that all such hunters comply with a uniform licensing requirement and contribute equally to state wildlife management funding.

This enactment integrates into the broader licensing structure codified in R.S. 56:3002, which governs all recreational hunting license fees and categories for both residents and nonresidents in Louisiana. The bill operates within the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' authority to establish and enforce hunting regulations under Title 56 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. The creation of a specific nonresident bear hunting license aligns with Louisiana's wildlife management scheme, which has historically tailored licensing categories to specific game species and hunter residency status to balance conservation objectives with revenue generation and hunter access.