Mississippi Hunting Seasons and Hunter Education

MISSISSIPPI'S HUNTER EDUCATION PROGRAM
   Hunter Education works. Since 1950, when formal hunter safety programs were introduced, the number of hunting and firearms-related accidents has declined dramatically nationwide. In Mississippi, we know that our hunter education efforts have reduced firearms accidents and saved lives. All persons born after January 1, 1972 are required to complete a hunter education course before purchasing a Mississippi hunting license. Also Effective July 1, 2006, anyone 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 alone in this state. A child at least twelve (12) years of age and under (16) years of age may hunt without having the certificate of hunter education if the child is in the presence and under the direct supervision of a licensed or exempt hunter at least twenty-one (21) years of age when hunting. The commission may offer a resident apprentice hunting license for a resident over the age of 15 who does not have the required certificate of hunter education and may set the fee for the apprentice hunting license. An apprentice license may be purchased only one (1) time by a resident and the apprentice hunting licensee must be accompanied by a licensed or exempt resident hunter at least twenty-one (21) years of age when hunting. The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks offers the course free of charge at locations across the state. The hunter education course includes 10 hours of instruction, including range firing. Students must be at least 10 years of age to participate and must pass a written exam and complete a firing exercise to be certified as having completed the course.

Specifically, the course contents include Hunter ethics and responsibility History of firearms Rifles Shotguns Ammunition Gun handling Marksmanship Blackpowder and muzzleloading Bowhunting Wildlife identification Principles of wildlife management Survival Water safety Hypothermia First aid

All courses are a minimum of 10 hours in length and include a live firing exercise with rifle (shotgun-airgun) instructors preference. Students must attend all class sessions and successfully complete a written examination to pass the course. Courses are taught by volunteer instructors. Schedule dates/time may change or be canceled, therefore, it is important to call and verify time, date, place and whether space is available.

For more information about hunter education classes
or to replace a hunter education card contact:

2008-2009 Mississippi Deer Hunting Seasons

Deer Management Zone 1

Areas north of U.S. Hwy 84 plus areas south of U.S. Hwy 84 and west of Mississippi Hwy 35. OPEN PUBLIC LANDS include National Forests, Corps of Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons without special regulations.

Archery Oct. 1 – Nov. 21, 2008

Either sex on private and open public lands

Gun Nov. 22 – Dec. 1, 2008

(with dogs)

Either sex on private lands;
Legal bucks only on open public lands

Primitive Weapon Dec. 2 – 15, 2008

Either sex on private and open public lands

Gun Dec. 16 – 19, 2008

(without dogs)

Either sex on private lands;
Legal bucks only on open public lands

Dec. 20 – 21, 2008

Either sex on private and open public lands

Dec. 22 – 23, 2008

Either sex on private lands;
Legal bucks only on open public lands

Gun Dec. 24, 2008 - Jan. 21, 2009

(with dogs)

Either sex on private lands;
Legal bucks only on open public lands

Primitive Weapon Jan. 22 – 31, 2009

Either sex on private and open public lands

Youth Gun Nov. 15 – 21, 2008

Youth less than 16 years old

Either sex on private lands and authorized state or federal public lands

Dec. 2 – 15, 2008-Jan. 22 – 31, 2009

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 or younger may harvest one (1) deer with any hardened antler per license year.

Legal Bucks for Deer Management Zone 1: Only antlered 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.

Deer Management Zone 2

Areas south of U.S. Hwy 84 and east of Mississippi Hwy 35. OPEN PUBLIC LANDS include National Forests, Corps of Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons without special regulations.

Archery Oct. 15, 2008 - Nov. 21, 2008

Either sex on private and open public lands

Gun Nov. 22 – Dec. 1, 2008

(with dogs)

Either sex on private lands;
Legal bucks only on open public lands

Primitive Weapon Dec. 2 – 15, 2008

Either sex on private and open public lands

Gun Dec. 16 – 19, 2008
(without dogs)

Either sex on private lands;
Legal bucks only on open public lands

Dec. 20 – 21, 2008

Either sex on private and open public lands

Dec. 22 – 23, 2008

Either sex on private lands;
Legal bucks only on open public lands

Gun Dec. 24, 2008 - Jan. 21, 2009
(with dogs)

Either sex on private lands;
Legal bucks only on open public lands

Primitive Weapon Jan. 22 – Feb. 15, 2009

Legal bucks only

Youth Gun Nov. 15 – 21, 2008
Youth less than 16 years old

Either sex on private lands and authorized state or federal public lands

Dec. 2 – 15, 2008

Jan. 22 – Feb. 15, 2009

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 or younger may harvest one (1) deer with any hardened antler per license year.

Legal Bucks for Deer Management Zone 2: Only antlered 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, visit the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks Website at http://home.mdwfp.com/