40 Miss. Code. R. 2-2.2 - [Effective until 6/30/2025] WHITE-TAILED DEER HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS
Note: Miss. Code Ann. § 49-7-35, provides, "Whenever the time fixed by statute for the beginning of a game season shall fall on a Sunday, the season shall begin on the preceding Saturday."
A. 2024 - 2025 WHITE-TAILED DEER HUNTING
SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS:
1. Velvet Season
(effective July 1, 2022): Consecutive Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between
September 10 20 on private lands, authorized state and federal lands, and
specified Wildlife Management Areas. Dates for 2024 shall be September 13-15.
a. Archery: Longbows, recurves, compound
bows, and crossbows. There is no minimum or maximum draw weight. There is no
minimum length arrow. Fixed or mechanical broadheads may be used.
b. Only legal bucks for the respective Deer
Management Unit may be harvested.
c. The bag limit is one (1) legal buck and
count towards the annual antlered deer bag limit.
d. Hunters (including license exempt hunters)
must report their harvest by 10:00 PM the day of harvest. Hunters can report
via the MDWFP smartphone application or MDWFP web portal.
e. All hunters, unless exempt or have a
lifetime license, must possess a valid Velvet Season Permit. The cost of the
resident permit shall be ten dollars ($10).
f. All harvested bucks must be submitted for
CWD sampling to a MDWFP CWD drop-off freezer or to an MDWFP participating
taxidermist within 5 days of harvest.
2. Delta Deer Management Unit Areas west of
I-55 and north of I-20 plus areas south of I-20 and west of U.S. Highway 61.
OPEN PUBLIC LANDS include National Forests, Corps of Engineers lands, etc.,
that have statewide seasons without special regulations.
a. Archery: October 1 November 22 (Either-sex
on private land and open public land)
b. Early Primitive Weapon: November 11 22
(ANTLERLESS DEER ONLY on private land)
i. This
special deer hunt is established pursuant to the authority granted the
Commission in Miss. Code Ann. §
49-7-37(2), (3),
& (4).
ii. All deer hunters
must wear 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink while
this special hunt is in effect.
iii. ONLY ANTLERLESS DEER MAY BE HARVESTED
WITH PRIMITIVE WEAPONS DURING THE EARLY PRIMITIVE WEAPONS
HUNT.
c. Gun (with dogs):
November 23 December 1 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open
public land)
d. Primitive Weapon:
December 2 15 (Either-sex on private and open public land) (Weapon of choice
may be used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4 below)
e. Gun (without dogs): December 16 23
(Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
f. Gun (with dogs): December 24 January 22
(Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
g. Archery /Primitive Weapon: January 23 31
(Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land) (Weapon of
choice may be used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4 below)
3. Hills Deer Management Unit All
areas except the Delta, North Central, and Southeast Deer Management Units.
OPEN PUBLIC LANDS include National Forests, excluding the Holly Springs
National Forest, Corps of Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons
without special regulations.
a. Archery:
October 1 November 22 (Either-sex on private land, open public land, and Holly
Springs National Forest)
b. Early
Primitive Weapon: November 11 22 (ANTLERLESS DEER ONLY on private land)
i. This special deer hunt is established
pursuant to the authority granted the Commission in Miss. Code Ann. §
49-7-37(2), (3),
& (4).
ii. All deer hunters
must wear 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink while
this special hunt is in effect.
iii. ONLY ANTLERLESS DEER MAY BE HARVESTED
WITH PRIMITIVE WEAPONS DURING THE EARLY PRIMITIVE WEAPONS
HUNT.
c. Gun (with dogs):
November 23 December 1 (Either-sex on private land and Holly Springs National
Forest; legal bucks only on open public land)
d. Primitive Weapon: December 2 15
(Either-sex on private land, open public land, and Holly Springs National
Forest) (Weapon of choice may be used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4
below)
e. Gun (without dogs):
December 16 23 (Either-sex on private land and Holly Springs National Forest;
legal bucks only on all other open public land)
f. Gun (with dogs): December 24 January 22
(Either-sex on private land and Holly Springs National Forest; legal bucks only
on open public land)
g. Archery
/Primitive Weapon: January 23 31 (Either-sex on private land and Holly Springs
National Forest; legal bucks only on open public land) (Weapon of choice may be
used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4 below)
4. Southeast Deer Management Unit - Areas
south of U.S. Highway 84 and east of MS Highway 35. OPEN PUBLIC LANDS include
National Forests, Corps of Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons
without special regulations.
a. Archery:
October 15 November 22 (Either-sex on private land and open public
land)
b. Gun (with dogs): November
23 December 1 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public
land)
c. Primitive Weapon: December
2 15 (Either-sex on private and open public land) (Weapon of choice may be used
on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4 below)
d. Gun (without dogs): December 16 23
(Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
e. Gun (with dogs): December 24 January 22
(Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
f. Archery / Primitive Weapon: January 23
January 31 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
and February 1 15 (Legal bucks only on private land and open public land)
(Weapon of choice may be used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4
below)
5. North Central
Deer Management Unit All portions of Alcorn, Benton, Desoto, Marshall, Tate,
and Tippah counties. OPEN PUBLIC LANDS include National Forests, Corps of
Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons without special regulations.
a. Archery: October 1 November 22 (Either-sex
on private land and open public land)
b. Early Primitive Weapon: November 11 22
(ANTLERLESS DEER ONLY on private land)
i. This
special deer hunt is established pursuant to the authority granted the
Commission in Miss. Code Ann. §
49-7-37(2), (3),
& (4).
ii. All deer hunters
must wear 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink while
this special hunt is in effect.
iii. ONLY ANTLERLESS DEER MAY BE HARVESTED
WITH PRIMITIVE WEAPONS DURING THE EARLY PRIMITIVE WEAPONS
HUNT.
c. Gun (with dogs):
November 23 December 1 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open
public land)
d. Primitive Weapon:
December 2 15 (Either-sex on private and open public land) (Weapon of choice
may be used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4 below)
e. Gun (without dogs): December 16 23
(Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
f. Gun (with dogs): December 24 January 22
(Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
g. Archery /Primitive Weapon: January 23 31
(Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land) (Weapon of
choice may be used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4
below)
6. Youth Deer
Hunts:
a. Northeast, North Central, East
Central, Southwest, Hills, and Delta Deer Management Units: Private lands:
November 9 January 31.
b. Southeast
Deer Management Unit: Private lands: November 9 February 15.
c. Authorized state and federal lands:
Saturday two weeks prior to opening day of Gun season through the Friday prior
to Thanksgiving.
d. Authorized
state and federal lands include Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries,
and Parks, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U. S. Corps of Engineers
managed lands which designate the youth deer season in their regulations and
open U. S. Forest Service National Forest lands.
e. Persons eligible to participate in Youth
Deer Hunts
i. Children who are fifteen (15)
years of age or younger.
ii. A
child at least twelve (12) years of age and under sixteen (16) years of age
must have a certificate of satisfactory completion of a hunter education course
approved by the department before hunting in this state or be in the presence
and under the direct supervision of a licensed or exempt hunter at least
twenty-one (21) years of age when hunting.
iii. A child under the age of twelve (12)
must be in the presence and under the direct supervision of a licensed or
exempt hunter at least twenty-one (21) years of age when the child is
hunting.
iv. A licensed hunter
supervising a child as provided in this section must hold a valid Mississippi
license for the species being hunted.
v. Youth may carry and use any firearm with
which they can safely hunt, and in compliance with other applicable laws, rules
and regulations.
vi. Both youth and
adults must wear 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or
pink, except while the hunters are in a fully enclosed deer stand / blind or
hunting from a deer stand that is elevated twelve (12) feet or more above the
ground. All hunters must wear 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent
orange or pink while traveling to and from the stand / blind.
vii. Archery hunters must wear 500 square
inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink while these special hunts
are in effect, except when the hunter is in a fully enclosed deer stand / blind
or hunting from a deer stand that is elevated twelve (12) feet or more above
the ground. During these hunts, archery hunters must wear 500 square inches of
solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink while traveling to and from the
stand/blind.
viii. Bucks and
antlerless deer may be harvested during the Youth Deer Hunts.
ix. Hunters fifteen (15) years of age and
younger may harvest any antlered buck regardless of antler size for all three
(3) of their three (3) buck bag limit.
B. BAG LIMITS.
1. Antlered Buck Deer: Legal bucks must meet
the following antler criteria within the appropriate deer management unit.
a. Hills Deer Management Units Legal Buck:
The bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed
three (3) per annual season (Oct. 1 Jan. 31). Southeast Deer Management Unit
Legal Buck: The bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to
exceed three (3) per annual season (Oct. 15 Feb. 15). Two antlered buck deer
must have either a minimum inside spread of ten (10) inches OR a minimum main
beam length of thirteen (13) inches. One of the three (3) bucks may be any
antlered deer on Private Land and on the Holly Springs National
Forest.
b. Delta Deer Management
Unit Legal Buck: The bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day,
not to exceed three (3) per annual season (Oct. 1 Jan. 31). Two antlered buck
deer must have either a minimum inside spread of twelve (12) inches OR a
minimum main beam length of fifteen (15) inches. One of the three (3) bucks may
be any antlered deer on Private Land.
c. North Central Deer Management Unit: On
private lands, the bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not
to exceed four (4) per annual season (Oct. 1 Jan. 31). The bag limit on
antlered buck deer on the portions of Holly Springs National Forest that lies
within the North Central Deer Management Unit is one (1) buck per day, not to
exceed three (3) per annual season (Oct. 1 Jan. 31). Legal bucks may be any
antlered deer.
d. Statewide:
Hunters fifteen (15) years of age and younger may harvest any antlered buck
regardless of antler size for all three (3) of their three (3) buck bag
limit.
2. Antlerless
Deer: The bag limit on antlerless deer is five (5) per annual season (Oct. 1
Jan. 31), unless otherwise stated below:
a.
Antlerless deer are defined as any female deer and any male deer without
hardened antler above the hairline. Spotted fawns are not to be
killed.
b. U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Army managed lands are
authorized to harvest antlerless deer on days designated by Federal
Regulations. Contact local National Wildlife Refuge, Corps of Engineers, or
U.S. Army for details.
c. Holly
Springs National Forest, Tombigbee National Forest, Bienville National Forest,
and Homochitto National Forest: Bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) per
day, not to exceed five (5) per annual season.
d. Southeast Deer Management Unit, including
Desoto National Forest: Bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) per day, not to
exceed three (3) per annual season.
e. North Central Deer Management Unit: Bag
limit on antlerless deer is ten (10) per annual season (Oct. 1 Jan. 31).
C. Legal
Weapons for use during the following seasons:
1. Archery: Longbows, recurves, compound
bows, and crossbows. There is no minimum or maximum draw weight. There is no
minimum length arrow. Fixed or mechanical broadheads may be used.
2. Primitive Weapons: primitive firearms as
defined in Part 4, Rule
1.3 of this title and Archery as
defined above.
3. Gun: There are no
caliber or magazine capacity restrictions on firearms. Primitive firearms as
defined in Part 4, Rule
1.3 of this title and Archery as
defined above may be used during the gun seasons.
4. During any open season on deer with
primitive weapons after November 30, a person may use any legal weapon of
choice, including air bows and pre-charged pneumatic weapons, on private lands
ONLY, if the person is:
a. The title owner of
the land;
b. The lessee of the
hunting rights on the land;
c. A
member of a hunting club leasing the hunting rights on the land; or
d. A guest of a person specified in
subparagraph (a), (b) or (c).
e. If
the person is required to have a hunting license, the person must have a
primitive weapon license, Sportsman's License, or a Lifetime Sportsman's
License.
D.
Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP):
1.
Management Buck Tags:
a. Any antlered buck
deer may be taken by permit if it is necessary to manage deer on lands under
the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) or on Wildlife Management
Areas.
b. Any antlered deer
harvested under this permit must be identified with a tag immediately upon
possession.
c. Antlered buck deer
taken by permit shall not be subject to the daily bag limit or the annual bag
limit on antlered deer.
2. Doe Tags:
a. The annual and daily bag limit on
antlerless deer shall not apply to private lands under the DMAP or the
Fee-based Antlerless Program (FMAP) as approved by the Department.
b. All harvested antlerless deer that exceed
an individual hunter's daily or annual bag limit must be tagged prior to moving
with a DMAP or FMAP tag provided by the Department.
E. Chronic Wasting
Disease (CWD). In an effort to detect and contain CWD, MDWFP enacts the
following tools:
1. DMAP CWD Management Tags:
a. MDWFP may issue either-sex DMAP CWD
Management Tags to participating private lands within a 3-mile radius of any
known CWD positive animal.
b. The
DMAP CWD Management Tags may be used during any open deer season with no weapon
restrictions.
c. Any deer harvested
with the DMAP CWD Management Tags shall not be subject to the daily or annual
bag limit.
d. Use of the tags
requires the following:
i. Applications must
be submitted prior to tags being issued.
ii. The tag must be affixed to the deer prior
to moving.
iii. All deer harvested
with these tags must be submitted for CWD sampling within seven (7)
days.
iv. At the conclusion of deer
season, all properties receiving tags must submit a report prior to March 1 to
MDWFP that details total annual deer harvest from the property, including the
total number of tags used.
F. Hunting with Dogs on Homochitto National
Forest:
1. From November 1, January 31, all
dog hunting groups or individuals hunting with dogs must obtain a permit to use
dogs to hunt any animal or to train dogs on areas open to deer hunting with
dogs on Homochitto National Forest.
2. There is no cost for this permit. A permit
will be issued to the dog hunting group.
3. All hunters hunting with this group must
be listed on the permit prior to hunting; except youth 15 years of age and
younger.
4. All hunters hunting
with dogs or with the dog hunting group must have the permit on their person
while hunting.
5. Five (5) guest
permits will be available in addition the individuals listed on the permit.
Guest permits will be valid for 4 consecutive days and must be filled out with
the date, hunter's name, hunting license number, and signed by the hunter prior
to use.
6. All guests must have the
permit on their person while hunting.
7. Guest permits must be turned in to the
USFS Meadville office for replacement guest permits to be issued. When guest
permits are turned in, a season permit will be issued for these individuals and
replacement guest permits will be issued to the group.
8. Permit numbers must be visually displayed
on the back window of all vehicles in the hunting group.
9. A permit number will be provided with each
individual permit issued. Hunters must display this permit number using 3-inch,
block numbers in contrast to the background color.
10. Permits will be available from the U.S.
Forest Service Meadville office. Office location: 1200 Highway 184 East,
Meadville, MS 39653. Office hours: 8 am - 4:30 pm (Monday Friday).
11. Dogs must wear a functional tracking
collar and be identified at all times with the permit number and the owner's
contact information. Dogs must be kept on the Homochitto National Forest lands
that allow deer hunting with dogs.
12. A person who violates any of the
provisions of this regulation is guilty of a Class III offense, as provided in
Miss. Code Ann. §
49-7-101, and, upon conviction
thereof, shall be fined not less than Twenty-Five ($25.00) nor more than One
Hundred Dollars ($100.00). Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, will be
enforced.
13. In addition thereto,
an administrative review panel of MDWFP and U.S. Forest Service officials may,
upon two (2) convictions or documented evidence of two (2) violations of this
regulation within a 3-year period, revoke the dog hunting permit for a period
of Twenty (20) days open to hunting deer with dogs. Upon three (3) convictions
or documented evidence of three (3) violations of this regulation within a
3-year period, the dog hunting permit may be revoked for a period of one (1)
year.
14. Any person who files a
false affidavit in justice court alleging a violation or violations of this
rule, provides false information regarding a violation of this rule, or
facilitates a situation which will cause a violation of this rule to occur may
be subject to prosecution for perjury and, if found guilty, punished under the
provisions of Miss. Code Ann. §
97-9-19, and/or be subject to a
civil suit for false prosecution by the person accused of the
violation.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
Note: Miss. Code Ann. § 49-7-35, provides, "Whenever the time fixed by statute for the beginning of a game season shall fall on a Sunday, the season shall begin on the preceding Saturday."
A. 2024 - 2025 WHITE-TAILED DEER HUNTING SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS:
1. Velvet Season (effective July 1, 2022): Consecutive Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between September 10 20 on private lands, authorized state and federal lands, and specified Wildlife Management Areas. Dates for 2024 shall be September 13-15.
a. Archery: Longbows, recurves, compound bows, and crossbows. There is no minimum or maximum draw weight. There is no minimum length arrow. Fixed or mechanical broadheads may be used.
b. Only legal bucks for the respective Deer Management Unit may be harvested.
c. The bag limit is one (1) legal buck and count towards the annual antlered deer bag limit.
d. Hunters (including license exempt hunters) must report their harvest by 10:00 PM the day of harvest. Hunters can report via the MDWFP smartphone application or MDWFP web portal.
e. All hunters, unless exempt or have a lifetime license, must possess a valid Velvet Season Permit. The cost of the resident permit shall be ten dollars ($10).
f. All harvested bucks must be submitted for CWD sampling to a MDWFP CWD drop-off freezer or to an MDWFP participating taxidermist within 5 days of harvest.
2. Delta Deer Management Unit Areas west of I-55 and north of I-20 plus areas south of I-20 and west of U.S. Highway 61. OPEN PUBLIC LANDS include National Forests, Corps of Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons without special regulations.
a. Archery: October 1 November 22 (Either-sex on private land and open public land)
b. Early Primitive Weapon: November 11 22 (ANTLERLESS DEER ONLY on private land)
i. This special deer hunt is established pursuant to the authority granted the Commission in Miss. Code Ann. § 49-7-37(2), (3), & (4).
ii. All deer hunters must wear 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink while this special hunt is in effect.
iii. ONLY ANTLERLESS DEER MAY BE HARVESTED WITH PRIMITIVE WEAPONS DURING THE EARLY PRIMITIVE WEAPONS HUNT.
c. Gun (with dogs): November 23 December 1 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
d. Primitive Weapon: December 2 15 (Either-sex on private and open public land) (Weapon of choice may be used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4 below)
e. Gun (without dogs): December 16 23 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
f. Gun (with dogs): December 24 January 22 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
g. Archery /Primitive Weapon: January 23 31 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land) (Weapon of choice may be used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4 below)
3. Hills Deer Management Unit All areas except the Delta, North Central, and Southeast Deer Management Units. OPEN PUBLIC LANDS include National Forests, excluding the Holly Springs National Forest, Corps of Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons without special regulations.
a. Archery: October 1 November 22 (Either-sex on private land, open public land, and Holly Springs National Forest)
b. Early Primitive Weapon: November 11 22 (ANTLERLESS DEER ONLY on private land)
i. This special deer hunt is established pursuant to the authority granted the Commission in Miss. Code Ann. § 49-7-37(2), (3), & (4).
ii. All deer hunters must wear 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink while this special hunt is in effect.
iii. ONLY ANTLERLESS DEER MAY BE HARVESTED WITH PRIMITIVE WEAPONS DURING THE EARLY PRIMITIVE WEAPONS HUNT.
c. Gun (with dogs): November 23 December 1 (Either-sex on private land and Holly Springs National Forest; legal bucks only on open public land)
d. Primitive Weapon: December 2 15 (Either-sex on private land, open public land, and Holly Springs National Forest) (Weapon of choice may be used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4 below)
e. Gun (without dogs): December 16 23 (Either-sex on private land and Holly Springs National Forest; legal bucks only on all other open public land)
f. Gun (with dogs): December 24 January 22 (Either-sex on private land and Holly Springs National Forest; legal bucks only on open public land)
g. Archery /Primitive Weapon: January 23 31 (Either-sex on private land and Holly Springs National Forest; legal bucks only on open public land) (Weapon of choice may be used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4 below)
4. Southeast Deer Management Unit - Areas south of U.S. Highway 84 and east of MS Highway 35. OPEN PUBLIC LANDS include National Forests, Corps of Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons without special regulations.
a. Archery: October 15 November 22 (Either-sex on private land and open public land)
b. Gun (with dogs): November 23 December 1 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
c. Primitive Weapon: December 2 15 (Either-sex on private and open public land) (Weapon of choice may be used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4 below)
d. Gun (without dogs): December 16 23 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
e. Gun (with dogs): December 24 January 22 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
f. Archery / Primitive Weapon: January 23 January 31 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land) and February 1 15 (Legal bucks only on private land and open public land) (Weapon of choice may be used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4 below)
5. North Central Deer Management Unit All portions of Alcorn, Benton, Desoto, Marshall, Tate, and Tippah counties. OPEN PUBLIC LANDS include National Forests, Corps of Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons without special regulations.
a. Archery: October 1 November 22 (Either-sex on private land and open public land)
b. Early Primitive Weapon: November 11 22 (ANTLERLESS DEER ONLY on private land)
i. This special deer hunt is established pursuant to the authority granted the Commission in Miss. Code Ann. § 49-7-37(2), (3), & (4).
ii. All deer hunters must wear 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink while this special hunt is in effect.
iii. ONLY ANTLERLESS DEER MAY BE HARVESTED WITH PRIMITIVE WEAPONS DURING THE EARLY PRIMITIVE WEAPONS HUNT.
c. Gun (with dogs): November 23 December 1 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
d. Primitive Weapon: December 2 15 (Either-sex on private and open public land) (Weapon of choice may be used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4 below)
e. Gun (without dogs): December 16 23 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
f. Gun (with dogs): December 24 January 22 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land)
g. Archery /Primitive Weapon: January 23 31 (Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land) (Weapon of choice may be used on private land; see Legal Weapons C.4 below)
6. Youth Deer Hunts:
a. Northeast, North Central, East Central, Southwest, Hills, and Delta Deer Management Units: Private lands: November 9 January 31.
b. Southeast Deer Management Unit: Private lands: November 9 February 15.
c. Authorized state and federal lands: Saturday two weeks prior to opening day of Gun season through the Friday prior to Thanksgiving.
d. Authorized state and federal lands include Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U. S. Corps of Engineers managed lands which designate the youth deer season in their regulations and open U. S. Forest Service National Forest lands.
e. Persons eligible to participate in Youth Deer Hunts
i. Children who are fifteen (15) years of age or younger.
ii. A child at least twelve (12) years of age and under sixteen (16) years of age must have a certificate of satisfactory completion of a hunter education course approved by the department before hunting in this state or be in the presence and under the direct supervision of a licensed or exempt hunter at least twenty-one (21) years of age when hunting.
iii. A child under the age of twelve (12) must be in the presence and under the direct supervision of a licensed or exempt hunter at least twenty-one (21) years of age when the child is hunting.
iv. A licensed hunter supervising a child as provided in this section must hold a valid Mississippi license for the species being hunted.
v. Youth may carry and use any firearm with which they can safely hunt, and in compliance with other applicable laws, rules and regulations.
vi. Both youth and adults must wear 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink, except while the hunters are in a fully enclosed deer stand / blind or hunting from a deer stand that is elevated twelve (12) feet or more above the ground. All hunters must wear 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink while traveling to and from the stand / blind.
vii. Archery hunters must wear 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink while these special hunts are in effect, except when the hunter is in a fully enclosed deer stand / blind or hunting from a deer stand that is elevated twelve (12) feet or more above the ground. During these hunts, archery hunters must wear 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink while traveling to and from the stand/blind.
viii. Bucks and antlerless deer may be harvested during the Youth Deer Hunts.
ix. Hunters fifteen (15) years of age and younger may harvest any antlered buck regardless of antler size for all three (3) of their three (3) buck bag limit.
B. BAG LIMITS.
1. Antlered Buck Deer: Legal bucks must meet the following antler criteria within the appropriate deer management unit.
a. Hills Deer Management Units Legal Buck: The bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed three (3) per annual season (Oct. 1 Jan. 31). Southeast Deer Management Unit Legal Buck: The bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed three (3) per annual season (Oct. 15 Feb. 15). Two antlered buck deer must have either a minimum inside spread of ten (10) inches OR a minimum main beam length of thirteen (13) inches. One of the three (3) bucks may be any antlered deer on Private Land and on the Holly Springs National Forest.
b. Delta Deer Management Unit Legal Buck: The bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed three (3) per annual season (Oct. 1 Jan. 31). Two antlered buck deer must have either a minimum inside spread of twelve (12) inches OR a minimum main beam length of fifteen (15) inches. One of the three (3) bucks may be any antlered deer on Private Land.
c. North Central Deer Management Unit: On private lands, the bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed four (4) per annual season (Oct. 1 Jan. 31). The bag limit on antlered buck deer on the portions of Holly Springs National Forest that lies within the North Central Deer Management Unit is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed three (3) per annual season (Oct. 1 Jan. 31). Legal bucks may be any antlered deer.
d. Statewide: Hunters fifteen (15) years of age and younger may harvest any antlered buck regardless of antler size for all three (3) of their three (3) buck bag limit.
2. Antlerless Deer: The bag limit on antlerless deer is five (5) per annual season (Oct. 1 Jan. 31), unless otherwise stated below:
a. Antlerless deer are defined as any female deer and any male deer without hardened antler above the hairline. Spotted fawns are not to be killed.
b. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Army managed lands are authorized to harvest antlerless deer on days designated by Federal Regulations. Contact local National Wildlife Refuge, Corps of Engineers, or U.S. Army for details.
c. Holly Springs National Forest, Tombigbee National Forest, Bienville National Forest, and Homochitto National Forest: Bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) per day, not to exceed five (5) per annual season.
d. Southeast Deer Management Unit, including Desoto National Forest: Bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) per day, not to exceed three (3) per annual season.
e. North Central Deer Management Unit: Bag limit on antlerless deer is ten (10) per annual season (Oct. 1 Jan. 31).
C. Legal Weapons for use during the following seasons:
1. Archery: Longbows, recurves, compound bows, and crossbows. There is no minimum or maximum draw weight. There is no minimum length arrow. Fixed or mechanical broadheads may be used.
2. Primitive Weapons: primitive firearms as defined in Part 4, Rule 1.3 of this title and Archery as defined above.
3. Gun: There are no caliber or magazine capacity restrictions on firearms. Primitive firearms as defined in Part 4, Rule 1.3 of this title and Archery as defined above may be used during the gun seasons.
4. During any open season on deer with primitive weapons after November 30, a person may use any legal weapon of choice, including air bows and pre-charged pneumatic weapons, on private lands ONLY, if the person is:
a. The title owner of the land;
b. The lessee of the hunting rights on the land;
c. A member of a hunting club leasing the hunting rights on the land; or
d. A guest of a person specified in subparagraph (a), (b) or (c).
e. If the person is required to have a hunting license, the person must have a primitive weapon license, Sportsman's License, or a Lifetime Sportsman's License.
D. Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP):
1. Management Buck Tags:
a. Any antlered buck deer may be taken by permit if it is necessary to manage deer on lands under the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) or on Wildlife Management Areas.
b. Any antlered deer harvested under this permit must be identified with a tag immediately upon possession.
c. Antlered buck deer taken by permit shall not be subject to the daily bag limit or the annual bag limit on antlered deer.
2. Doe Tags:
a. The annual and daily bag limit on antlerless deer shall not apply to private lands under the DMAP or the Fee-based Antlerless Program (FMAP) as approved by the Department.
b. All harvested antlerless deer that exceed an individual hunter's daily or annual bag limit must be tagged prior to moving with a DMAP or FMAP tag provided by the Department.
E. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). In an effort to detect and contain CWD, MDWFP enacts the following tools:
1. DMAP CWD Management Tags:
a. MDWFP may issue either-sex DMAP CWD Management Tags to participating private lands within a 3-mile radius of any known CWD positive animal.
b. The DMAP CWD Management Tags may be used during any open deer season with no weapon restrictions.
c. Any deer harvested with the DMAP CWD Management Tags shall not be subject to the daily or annual bag limit.
d. Use of the tags requires the following:
i. Applications must be submitted prior to tags being issued.
ii. The tag must be affixed to the deer prior to moving.
iii. All deer harvested with these tags must be submitted for CWD sampling within seven (7) days.
iv. At the conclusion of deer season, all properties receiving tags must submit a report prior to March 1 to MDWFP that details total annual deer harvest from the property, including the total number of tags used.
F. Hunting with Dogs on Homochitto National Forest:
1. From November 1, January 31, all dog hunting groups or individuals hunting with dogs must obtain a permit to use dogs to hunt any animal or to train dogs on areas open to deer hunting with dogs on Homochitto National Forest.
2. There is no cost for this permit. A permit will be issued to the dog hunting group.
3. All hunters hunting with this group must be listed on the permit prior to hunting; except youth 15 years of age and younger.
4. All hunters hunting with dogs or with the dog hunting group must have the permit on their person while hunting.
5. Five (5) guest permits will be available in addition the individuals listed on the permit. Guest permits will be valid for 4 consecutive days and must be filled out with the date, hunter's name, hunting license number, and signed by the hunter prior to use.
6. All guests must have the permit on their person while hunting.
7. Guest permits must be turned in to the USFS Meadville office for replacement guest permits to be issued. When guest permits are turned in, a season permit will be issued for these individuals and replacement guest permits will be issued to the group.
8. Permit numbers must be visually displayed on the back window of all vehicles in the hunting group.
9. A permit number will be provided with each individual permit issued. Hunters must display this permit number using 3-inch, block numbers in contrast to the background color.
10. Permits will be available from the U.S. Forest Service Meadville office. Office location: 1200 Highway 184 East, Meadville, MS 39653. Office hours: 8 am - 4:30 pm (Monday Friday).
11. Dogs must wear a functional tracking collar and be identified at all times with the permit number and the owner's contact information. Dogs must be kept on the Homochitto National Forest lands that allow deer hunting with dogs.
12. A person who violates any of the provisions of this regulation is guilty of a Class III offense, as provided in Miss. Code Ann. § 49-7-101, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than Twenty-Five ($25.00) nor more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00). Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, will be enforced.
13. In addition thereto, an administrative review panel of MDWFP and U.S. Forest Service officials may, upon two (2) convictions or documented evidence of two (2) violations of this regulation within a 3-year period, revoke the dog hunting permit for a period of Twenty (20) days open to hunting deer with dogs. Upon three (3) convictions or documented evidence of three (3) violations of this regulation within a 3-year period, the dog hunting permit may be revoked for a period of one (1) year.
14. Any person who files a false affidavit in justice court alleging a violation or violations of this rule, provides false information regarding a violation of this rule, or facilitates a situation which will cause a violation of this rule to occur may be subject to prosecution for perjury and, if found guilty, punished under the provisions of Miss. Code Ann. § 97-9-19, and/or be subject to a civil suit for false prosecution by the person accused of the violation.