Senate Bill 2496

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW THE BAITING OF DEER ON PRIVATE LANDS AND ALLOW THE HUNTING OF DEER OVER THE FEED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 49-7-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-7-33. (1) It is unlawful to hunt, trap or kill any wild bird or wild animal of any kind with the aid of bait, recordings of bird or animal calls, or electrically amplified imitations of calls of any kind, except a person:

(a) May use electrically amplified sound devices for hunting coyote and crow;

(b) May use liquid scents for any animal or bird; * * *

(c) May use lures for trapping furbearing animals, beaver, coyote, fox and nutria according to regulations adopted by the commission; and

(d) May feed deer with corn and hunt deer over the corn on privately owned or leased lands if the person has a permit from the commission.

(2) The commission, in its discretion, may relax the restrictions regarding the use of lures or sound devices if a condition arises or exists, as decided by the State Board of Health or county board of health, that may endanger persons or livestock in a certain community, county or area.

(3) A person may use bait to trap wild hogs as defined in Section 49-7-140 during the period between the end of Spring turkey season and the beginning of deer season with bow and arrow.

(4) The commission shall charge a fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for a permit to bait deer with corn. The commission may regulate the baiting of deer.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.