Red River Parish hunters planning for the upcoming season will have a three-day opportunity to save on hunting equipment when Louisiana’s Second Amendment Weekend Sales Tax Holiday begins Friday, Sept. 4.

The holiday runs through Sunday, Sept. 6, with qualifying firearms, ammunition and hunting supplies exempt from both state and local sales taxes. The exemption applies to individual consumer purchases made during the three days.

For hunters getting ready for deer season, the list of qualifying equipment goes well beyond firearms and ammunition.
Louisiana’s Department of Revenue includes bows, crossbows and archery accessories, along with hunting clothing, camouflage, gloves, face masks, thermal underwear and hunting boots. Bags for carrying game or hunting equipment, firearm cases and accessories, range finders, decoys, tree stands, blinds and hunting chairs also qualify.

Optics such as rifle scopes and binoculars purchased for hunting also qualify, as do hearing protection, holsters, hunting belts, and slings. Knives can qualify when they are manufactured and marketed primarily for hunting. Other gear, including deer corn, can qualify when it is manufactured and marketed primarily for hunting use.

The tax break can make a noticeable difference on larger purchases. Red River Parish currently has a 5% state sales tax, with local rates bringing the total to 9.5% in the balance of the parish and 10.5% in Coushatta and Hall Summit.

That means a $900 qualifying purchase in Coushatta would normally carry $94.50 in sales tax. During the holiday, that tax would be eliminated, assuming the entire purchase qualifies.

Not everything hunters use is included. Hunting dogs, animal feed, off-road vehicles, golf carts, motorcycles, tractors, motor vehicles, heavy equipment, float tubes and vessels such as airboats remain taxable. Business and commercial purchases also do not qualify.

The holiday also allows eligible merchandise to be placed on layaway or ordered for immediate delivery under certain conditions. Louisiana Revenue officials advise consumers to check the complete list of qualifying items before making a purchase.

For Red River Parish hunters, the weekend falls as many finish preparing for the season, making it a good time to check the list, plan your shopping, and save on tax.

The Louisiana Department of Revenue provides the complete list of eligible and ineligible purchases at revenue.louisiana.gov/SecondAmendment.

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