Deer Hunting Seasons

Open Public Lands include U.S. National Forests, Corps of Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons without special regulations. Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are not considered Open Public Land. For seasons and bag limits on MDWFP Wildlife Management Areas visit www.mdwfp.com/wma

Legal Weapons

Archery: Longbows, recurves, crossbows and compound bows. There is no minimum or maximum draw weight. There is no minimum arrow length. Fixed or mechanical broadheads may be used.

Primitive Weapons: Weapons legal for use during the Primitive Weapons season are all archery equipment and primitive firearms. “Primitive firearms,” for the purpose of hunting deer, are defined as single- or double-barreled, muzzle-loading rifles of at least .38 caliber; OR single-shot, breech-loading, metallic-cartridge rifles (.35 caliber or larger) and replicas, reproductions, or reintroductions of those type rifles with an exposed hammer; OR single- or double-barreled, muzzle-loading shotguns, with single ball or slug. All muzzle-loading primitive firearms must use black powder or a black powder substitute with percussion caps, #209 shotgun primers, or flintlock ignition.

“Blackpowder substitute” is defined as a substance designed, manufactured, and specifically intended to be used as a propellant in muzzleloading or other black powder firearms, excluding modern smokeless powder. Metallic cartridges may be loaded with either black powder or modern smokeless powder (cartridges purchased at sporting goods stores).

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 air guns (pre-charged pneumatic weapons) on private lands only, if the person is the title owner of the land; the lessee of the hunting rights on the land; a member of a hunting club leasing the hunting rights on the land; or a guest of a person specified above. 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.

Gun: There are no caliber or magazine capacity restrictions on firearms. Archery and primitive firearms may be used during Gun seasons.

Supplemental Feeding

Supplemental feeding of wildlife is allowed on private land in any county, or portion thereof, not in a CWD Management Zone. The feed may only be provided from above-ground, covered feeders or stationary spin-cast feeders. Any type of feed may be used. Feed may not be poured, piled, or placed directly on the ground. All feed and feeders must be at least 100 yards from the nearest property line. Deer hunters may hunt in the proximity, with no minimum distance, from a feeder as described above.

Special Deer Hunts

Special primitive weapons deer hunts are established pursuant to the authority granted the Commission in Sections 49-7-37(2), (3), & (4), Mississippi Code of 1972. All archery and primitive weapons hunters must wear hunter orange while these special hunts are in effect.

Antlerless Primitive Weapons Hunt

This season is for Antlerless Deer Only on private lands. Legal weapons are primitive weapons. This hunt is not on MDWFP Wildlife Management Areas. Refer to the definition of a primitive weapon above.

Hunter Orange

When hunting deer during any firearm season, every hunter, whether hunting with a firearm, bow and arrow, or any weapon, must wear in full view at least five-hundred (500) square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange, except as otherwise provided in this section. Mesh-style or orange-camouflage is not considered unbroken and does not count toward the five hundred (500) square inch minimum.

Hunters shall not be required to wear five hundred (500) square inches of solid unbroken hunter orange when:

1. Hunting from a deer stand that is elevated twelve (12) feet or more above the ground; or
2. Hunting in a fully enclosed blind.

It is the intent of the Commission that “fully enclosed blinds” are tripod type stands, ladder stands, blinds and/or “shooting houses” or any other stand, whether located on the ground or elevated above ground, that can be covered so as to hide the hunter from view of game or other hunters.

Federal Lands – Youth Hunts and Antlerless Harvest

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed lands which designate the youth deer season in their regulations and open U.S. Forest Service National Forest lands are authorized to provide youth hunting opportunities.

The 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.