FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 8, 2005

Significant Changes in Hunting Regulations

JACKSON - Three major changes are in store for Mississippi hunters this year, according to the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. These changes include two deer management zones, crossbow permits, and Wildlife Management Area (WMA) user permits.

All residents and non-residents are now eligible to purchase a General Crossbow License. This license is valid only during primitive weapon and gun season for deer.

In addition to the General Crossbow License, residents are required to have a Sportsman or All Game Hunting License, and non-residents are required to have an All Game License as well as a deer or turkey permit.

The General Crossbow License can be purchased at area retailers, local district offices, the Jackson office, or by dialing 1-800-5GO-HUNT.

The General Crossbow License DOES NOT replace the Special Crossbow permit, which is available for individuals who are disabled or 65 years of age or older.

Residents 16 years of age and older and all non-residents using any state operated WMA not on U.S. Forest Service land must purchase a WMA user permit (residents $15; non-residents $30) in addition to any other required hunting/fishing license and daily visitor permit.


For state operated WMAs on U.S. Forest Service land, these permits are required only for hunting, fishing, or trapping.

Permits can be purchased from any point-of-sale (POS) agent, at the local district offices, or at the Jackson office.

The state deer hunting season is divided into two zones.

The following are deer season dates for Zone 1:

Deer Management Zone 1 - Areas north of Hwy. 84 plus areas south of Hwy. 84 and west of Hwy. 35. OPEN PUBLIC LANDS include National Forests, Corps of Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons without special regulations.

DEER
SEASON DATES
LEGAL DEER

Archery
Oct. 1-Nov. 18
Either Sex on Private & Open Public Lands

Youth (15 & under) Gun
Nov. 12-Nov.18 18
Either Sex on Private Lands Only

Gun (with dogs)
Nov. 19-Dec. 1
Either Sex on Private Lands Only; Legal Bucks Only on Open Public Land

Primitive Weapon
Dec. 2-Dec. 15
Either Sex on Private & Open Public Lands

Gun (without dogs)
Dec. 16-Dec. 23
Either Sex on Private Lands Only; Legal Bucks Only on Open Public Land

Dec. 17-Dec. 18
Either Sex on Open Public Land

Gun (with dogs)
Dec. 24-Jan. 18
Either Sex on Private Lands Only; Legal Bucks Only on Open Public Land

Archery
Jan. 19-Jan. 31
Either Sex on Private & Open Public Lands

Primitive Weapon
Jan. 19-Jan. 31
Either Sex on Private Lands Only

BAG LIMIT:

Antlered Buck Deer: The bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed three (3) per license year. See below for description of legal bucks. On private lands, a person fifteen (15) years of age and younger may harvest one (1) deer with any hardened antler per license year.

Legal Bucks for Deer Management Zone 1: Only buck deer with antlers of four (4) points or greater may be taken. An antler point is defined as any antler protrusion that would hold any size ring.

Antlerless Deer: The bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) per day, not to exceed three (3) per license year; except that two (2) additional antlerless deer per license year may be taken with a bow and arrow.

The following are deer season dates for Zone 2:

Deer Management Zone 2 - Areas south of Hwy. 84 and east of Hwy. 35. OPEN PUBLIC LANDS include National Forests, Corps of Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons without special regulations.

DEER
SEASON DATES
LEGAL DEER

Archery
Oct. 15-Oct. 31
Legal Bucks Only on Private & Open Public Lands

Nov. 1-Nov. 18
Either Sex on Private & Open Public Lands

Youth (15 & under) Gun
Nov. 12-Nov. 18
Either Sex on Private Lands Only

Gun (with dogs)
Nov. 19-Dec. 1
Either Sex on Private Lands Only; Legal Bucks Only on Open Public Land

Primitive Weapon
Dec. 2-Dec. 15
Either Sex on Private & Open Public Lands

Gun (without dogs)
Dec. 16-Dec. 23
Either Sex on Private Lands Only; Legal Bucks Only on Open Public Land

Dec. 17-Dec. 18
Either Sex on Open Public Land

Gun (with dogs)
Dec. 24-Jan. 18
Legal Bucks Only on Private & Open Public Lands

Primitive Weapon
Jan. 19-Jan. 31
Either Sex on Private & Open Public Lands

Feb. 1-Feb. 15
Legal Bucks Only on Private & Open Public Lands

BAG LIMIT:

Antlered Buck Deer: The bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed three (3) per license year. See below for description of legal bucks. On private lands, a person fifteen (15) years of age and younger may harvest one (1) deer with any hardened antler per license year.

Legal Bucks for Deer Management Zone 2: Only buck deer with antlers of four (4) points or greater AND either a minimum inside spread of ten (10) inches OR a minimum main beam length of thirteen (13) inches may be taken. An antler point is defined as any antler protrusion that would hold any size ring.

Antlerless Deer: The bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) per day, not to exceed three (3) per license year; except that two (2) additional antlerless deer per license year may be taken with a bow and arrow.

For more information on these and other rules and regulations, logon to the agency website at www.mdwfp.com, call your local district office, or call the Jackson office at (601)-432-2400.
 

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