MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Game and Fish

By: Representative Foster

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-41, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW THE HUNTING OF DEER WITHOUT FORKED ANTLERS DURING PRIMITIVE WEAPON HUNTING SEASON; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. Section 49-7-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-7-41. (1) The commission may set the bag limits for game animals, birds and fish, unless the bag limits are established by the Legislature by statute. This subsection shall stand repealed on July 1, 2000.

(2) (a) The bag limit on buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed three (3) per license year. Only buck deer with antlers of four (4) points or greater may be taken, provided, however, that primitive weapon hunters shall be allowed to take buck deer without four (4) points or greater during the primitive weapon deer hunting season provided in Section 49-7-31(1)(e)(iii). (b) The bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) per day, not to exceed five (5) per license year; except that two (2) additional antlerless deer per license year may be taken with a bow and arrow. Antlerless deer may be taken only in the areas prescribed by order of the commission. It is illegal to take a spotted fawn in any season.

(c) It is unlawful for a nonresident to kill an antlerless deer except on lands that title is vested in the nonresident or on lands that the nonresident has leased hunting and fishing rights.

(3) The bag limit on antlerless deer set by this section shall not apply to private lands under the deer management assistance program or the fee-based antlerless program as approved by the department.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.