MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Wildlife and Fisheries

By: Senator(s) Posey

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 49-7-5 AND 49-7-37, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY ARCHERY AND PRIMITIVE WEAPON HUNTING FEES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 49-7-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-7-5. (1) * * * Any resident, as defined in Section 49-7-3, upon application, shall receive:

(a) A combination resident hunting and fishing license for the sum of Seventeen Dollars ($17.00). Under this license * * * the licensee * * * may take fish and game * * *, including deer and turkey * * *.

(b) * * * A resident combination small game hunting and fishing license for the sum of Thirteen Dollars ($13.00) * * *. * * * Under this license, * * * the licensee * * * may take fish * * * and game * * *, except deer and turkey * * *.

(c) * * * A resident small game license * * * for * * * the sum of Thirteen Dollars ($13.00) * * *. * * * Under this license, * * * the * * * licensee may take game * * *, except deer and turkey * * *.

(d) * * * A sportsman's license for the sum of Thirty-two Dollars ($32.00). Under this license, * * * the licensee may take fish and * * * game * * *, including deer and turkey, * * * and may hunt with primitive weapons and bow and arrow * * *. The commission may notify the licensee of the expiration of his license, and the licensee may renew the license by mailing the fee to the commission. A licensee who has not renewed the license within thirty (30) days after the expiration date shall be removed from the commission's records, and the licensee must apply to be placed on the renewal list.

(e) A special resident archery and primitive firearm license for a fee of Fourteen Dollars ($14.00), if the resident has obtained the license provided in paragraph (a). Under these licenses, a licensee may take deer with bow and arrow or primitive firearm.

(2)(a) Any resident * * * of the State of Mississippi who has not reached the age of sixteen (16) years or who has reached the age of sixty-five (65) years, or any resident * * * who is blind, paraplegic, or a multiple amputee, or who has been adjudged by the Veterans Administration as having a total service-connected disability, or has been adjudged to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration shall not be required to purchase or have in his possession, a hunting or fishing license while engaged in such activities. A person exempt * * * under this section, shall have in his possession and on his person proof of * * * age, residency, disability status or other respective physical impairment while engaged in * * * hunting or fishing.

(b) All exempt hunting and fishing licenses previously issued for disabilities shall be null and void effective July 1, 1993.

(3) No license shall be required of a resident to hunt, fish or trap on lands in which the record title is vested in that person.

(4) Any person or persons exempt under this section from procuring a license shall be subject to and must comply with all other * * * provisions of this chapter.

(5) Any person authorized to issue any license under this section may collect and retain for the issuance of each license the additional fee authorized under Section 49-7-17.

SECTION 2. Section 49-7-37, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-7-37. (1) Any resident of this state licensed to hunt or otherwise take any legal game bird or game animal in this state * * * with * * * firearms, may * * * take game animals or game birds by the use of falcons or hawks as may be prescribed by the commission and in compliance with federal guidelines.

(2) The commission may extend the special archery seasons on any public hunting projects, game refuges or prescribed areas having surplus deer populations.

(3) The killing by primitive firearms of an antlerless deer or any other deer protected during the regular deer season is prohibited, but the commission may designate areas of the state in which the killing of antlerless deer may be permitted or limited.

(4) The commission may make reasonable rules and regulations concerning the special seasons with falcons and hawks, bow and arrow and primitive firearms which it deems necessary and proper. The commission shall define the term "primitive firearm" for purposes of this section and other law or regulation.

(5) The use of dogs shall be prohibited for hunting deer during any of the special hunting seasons.

(6) Any person violating this section is guilty of a Class II violation and shall be punished as provided in Section 49-7-143.

(7) All seasons provided for herein shall begin on Saturday.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.