§6.1. Emergency closure of hunting or fishing seasons; rules and regulations; prohibitions; penalties

            A. The secretary, in an emergency, may close an area to the hunting or taking of wildlife or may restrict the hunting or taking of wildlife in a designated area in any manner deemed advisable. In addition, in an emergency, the secretary may declare a closed season on any or all species of fish found or existing in the waters of the state or may restrict fishing in the closed season in any manner deemed advisable. Such closure shall be for a period of time not to extend beyond the seventh day following the next meeting of the commission.

            B. Any such closure shall be made by an order issued by the secretary in the same manner as the issuance of an emergency rule as provided in R.S. 49:962. The closure order authorized in this Section shall include a description of the area subject to the closure, indication of the species of fish or wildlife covered by such order, and the reasons for the closure. In addition, the order may include restrictions on hunting or fishing times, bag or creel limits, and harvest restrictions and may alter season opening and closing dates. Upon the issuance of any such order, the possession, sale, barter, trade, or exchange of, or the attempt to possess, sell, barter, trade, or exchange, any species of fish or wildlife contrary to the provisions of the order is prohibited.

            C. Violation of any closure order authorized by this Section constitutes a class 2-B violation.

            Acts 1986, No. 434, §1; Acts 1992, No. 966, §1; Acts 2006, No. 399, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2021, No. 211, §12; Acts 2021, No. 241, §1.