Deer Hunting Seasons

Name: eRegulations
Price range: $

Hunting Seasons: North Central, Delta, Hills Deer Management Units
Hills: All areas except the Delta, North Central, and Southeast Deer Management Units. A legal buck is defined as having EITHER a minimum inside spread of 10 inches OR a minimum main beam length of 13 inches. Delta: Private and open public lands west of I-55 and north of I-20 plus areas south of I-20 and west of U.S. Hwy. 61. A legal buck is defined as having EITHER a minimum inside spread of 12 inches OR a minimum main beam length of 15 inches. North Central: All portions of Alcorn, Benton, Desoto, Marshall, Tate, and Tippah counties. A legal buck is defined as having hardened antler above the hairline.
Method	Season Dates	Legal Deer
Archery	Sept. 12–14	Only one (1) Legal Buck. Special permit, mandatory reporting, and CWD sampling required. Private Land and authorized state and federal lands.
Archery	Oct. 1–Nov. 21	Either sex on private and open public land.
Youth Gun (15 and under)	Nov. 8 – Nov. 21	Either sex on private, open public, and authorized state/federal lands.
Youth Gun (15 and under)	Nov. 22–Jan. 31	Either sex on private lands. On open public lands, youth must follow legal deer criteria.
Antlerless Primitive Weapons	Nov. 10–21	Antlerless Deer Only on private lands.
Guns (dogs allowed)	Nov. 22–Dec. 1	Either sex on private land and Holly Springs NF, excluding portions in Yalobusha County. Legal Bucks only on open public land.
Primitive Weapon	Dec. 2–15	Either sex on private land, open public land, and Holly Springs NF. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.
Guns (dogs not allowed)	Dec. 16–23	Either sex on private land and Holly Springs NF, excluding portions in Yalobusha County. Legal Bucks only on open public land.
Guns (dogs allowed)	Dec. 24–Jan. 21	Either sex on private land and Holly Springs NF, excluding portions in Yalobusha County. Legal Bucks only on open public land.
Archery/Primitive Weapon	Jan. 22–31	Either sex on private land and Holly Springs NF, excluding portions in Yalobusha County. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.

Hunting Seasons: Southeast Deer Management Unit
Private and open public lands south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and east of MS Hwy. 35. A legal buck is defined as having EITHER a minimum inside spread of 10 inches OR a minimum main beam length of 13 inches.
Method	Season Dates	Legal Deer
Archery	Sept. 12–14	Only one (1) Legal Buck. Special permit, mandatory reporting, and CWD sampling required. Private Land and authorized state and federal lands.
Archery	Oct. 15–Nov. 21	Either sex on private and open public land.
Youth Gun (15 and under)	Nov. 8–Nov. 21	Either sex on private, open public, and authorized state/federal lands.
	Nov. 22–Jan. 31	Either sex on private lands. On open public lands, youth must follow legal deer criteria.
	Feb. 1–Feb. 15	Legal bucks only on private and open public land.
Guns (dogs allowed)	Nov. 22–Dec. 1	Either sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land.
Primitive Weapon	Dec. 2–15	Either sex on private land and open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.
Guns (dogs not allowed)	Dec. 16–23	Either sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land.
Guns (dogs allowed)	Dec. 24–Jan. 21	Either sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land.
Archery/Primitive Weapon	Jan. 22–31	Either sex on private land. Legal bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.
Archery/Primitive Weapon	Feb. 1–15	Legal bucks only on private and open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.

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 current seasons, bag limits, and regulations on MDWFP Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), visit the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks WMA page.

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 an All Game License and Primitive Weapon Permit, 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.

Mississippi Official State Record Deer