Louisiana hunting grounds may be quieter this fall after Governor Bobby Jindal signed a bill last week to extend suppressor use to all game animals in the state.
Taking effect August 1, House Bill 186 will make Louisiana the third state in 2014 to legalize suppressor use for hunting, according to OutdoorHub. Rep. Cameron Henry sponsored the bill, building off a state law that already allowed hunters to shoot nuisance species like beaver and nutria while using suppressors.
“This is about mitigating the noise and preventing hearing loss,” Henry told The Advocate in April.
Supporters of the bill say that along with reducing hearing loss, suppressors will ease communication in the field and make shooting less of a disturbance for landowners.
“The new law marks a major step in the right direction for hunters across the country who wish to protect their hearing,” the American Suppressor Association wrote in a press release.
Louisiana marks the 32nd state to legalize suppressors for hunting non-varmint species, according to the ASA. Ohio is also currently considering a bill that would allow suppressor use while hunting.
See Shooting Editor John B. Snow’s post on “Why Suppressors Matter“