MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
By: Senator(s) Michel, Whaley, Butler
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW THE COMMISSION ON WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO EXTEND THE OPEN SEASON ON DEER, WHEN IT ENDS ON A FRIDAY, TO 30 MINUTES AFTER SUNSET ON THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY; TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-31.2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW THE COMMISSION TO EXTEND THE OPEN SEASONS ON BOBWHITE QUAIL AND WILD TURKEY, WHEN THEY END ON FRIDAY, TO 30 MINUTES AFTER SUNSET ON THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY; TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-31.3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW THE COMMISSION TO EXTEND THE OPEN SEASONS ON SQUIRREL AND RABBITS, WHEN THEY END ON FRIDAY, TO 30 MINUTES AFTER SUNSET ON THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY; TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-31.4, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW THE COMMISSION TO EXTEND THE OPEN SEASON ON FUR-BEARING ANIMALS, INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONAL OPEN SEASON ON RACCOON, WHEN IT ENDS ON A FRIDAY, TO 30 MINUTES AFTER SUNSET ON THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 49-7-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
49-7-31. (1) The open season on deer shall be as follows:
(a) With bow and arrow: October 1 through the Friday prior to Thanksgiving.
(b) With guns and with dogs: from the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving through December 1.
(c) With primitive weapons and without dogs: December 2 through December 15.
(d) With guns and without dogs: December 16 through December 23. However, the commission may allow hunting statewide or in specific areas with any legal weapon which it may designate without dogs after the end of the last season for hunting deer with guns and with dogs, but the season with legal designated weapons and without dogs shall not extend beyond January 31.
(e) The commission shall
establish an extended season with primitive weapons and bow and arrow without
dogs from February 1 through February 15 for the area south of U.S. Highway 84
and east of Mississippi Highway 35 only for legal bucks. Any antlered deer
taken in this area during any open season under this section must be a legal
buck as defined in this paragraph. For purposes of this paragraph, the term
"legal buck" means a deer with antlers of four (4) points or more
with a minimum inside spread of ten (10) inches or a minimum main beam length
of thirteen (13) inches. The commission may regulate the taking of deer with
antlers of four (4) points or less under this paragraph for the proper
management of antlered deer. The commission may delay the opening date and
change the length of bow and arrow season in * * * paragraph (a) in this
area.
(f) With guns and with dogs: December 24 through a date fixed by the commission that will provide a total of thirty-nine (39) days of hunting deer with guns and with dogs when added to the number of days provided for hunting deer with guns and with dogs in paragraph (b).
(g) When the open season on deer ends on a Friday, the commission shall have the authority to extend the season until thirty (30) minutes after sunset on the following Sunday.
(2) The commission may set and regulate the deer seasons on wildlife management areas which it administers.
(3) (a) The commission may allow the harvesting of antlerless deer in the districts or zones upon the recommendation of the executive director based upon good and substantial quantitative data and research evaluations that demonstrate that the harvesting is necessary to properly manage the herd.
(b) The commission, only upon the recommendation of the executive director, may allow the harvesting of antlerless deer during the deer season with guns and with dogs by a majority vote of the commission.
(c) Nothing in this subsection prohibits the harvesting of either-sex deer by landowners or leaseholders on private lands under the deer management assistance program prescribed or approved by the executive director.
(4) The commission may provide a special permit for the harvesting of deer when they are depredating and destroying crops. The department shall supervise the harvesting and provide for the salvaging of the meat of the animals. The commission may authorize the department to assist any farmer in this state, who sustains crop damage by wildlife, in eradication of the problem wildlife.
(5) (a) During any open season on deer with primitive weapons after November 30, a person may use any legal weapon of choice on private lands only, if the person is:
(i) The title owner of the land;
(ii) The lessee of the hunting rights on the land;
(iii) A member of a hunting club leasing the hunting rights on the land; or
(iv) A guest of a person specified in subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii).
(b) If the person is required to have a hunting license, the person must have a primitive weapon license, Sportsman's License or a Lifetime Sportsman's License.
SECTION 2. Section 49-7-31.2, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
49-7-31.2. The open season for game birds shall be as follows:
(a) On bobwhite quail: The season shall open on Thanksgiving Day and run through the first Saturday in March next following. When the open season ends on a Friday, the commission shall have the authority to extend the season until thirty (30) minutes after sunset on the following Sunday.
(b) On pheasant: There shall be no open season on pheasant.
(c) On wild turkey: The commission may fix the spring season between March 1 and May 15. In addition, the commission may fix special fall either-sex seasons. When the open season ends on a Friday, the commission shall have the authority to extend the season until thirty (30) minutes after sunset on the following Sunday.
(d) On migratory birds: The open season for migratory birds shall be the season prescribed by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty regulations.
SECTION 3. Section 49-7-31.3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
49-7-31.3. The open season on game animals except deer shall be as follows:
(a) On squirrel: The season shall open on October 1 and run through February 28 next following. In addition, the commission is authorized to set a season that shall open not earlier than May 15 and run not later than June 1 next following. When the open season ends on a Friday, the commission shall have the authority to extend the season until thirty (30) minutes after sunset on the following Sunday.
(b) On rabbits: The season shall open on the Saturday nearest October 15 and run through February 28 next following, and when rabbits are depredating or destroying crops, the owner of the crops or his tenants may shoot the rabbits with guns. When the open season ends on a Friday, the commission shall have the authority to extend the season until thirty (30) minutes after sunset on the following Sunday.
SECTION 4. Section 49-7-31.4, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
49-7-31.4. (1) The commission may fix the open season on fur-bearing animals between November 1 and March 1 next following and fix the open season for hunting opossums, raccoons and bobcats with dogs and guns by licensed hunters from October 1 to February 28 next following; but raccoons and bobcats may be run, hunted, chased or pursued throughout the year with dogs by licensed hunters.
(2) The commission may establish an additional open season on raccoon from July 1 through October 1, and the bag limit on raccoon during the additional open season shall be one (1) per party, per night.
(3) When the open season on fur-bearing animals, including any additional open season on raccoon, ends on a Friday, the commission shall have the authority to extend the season until thirty (30) minutes after sunset on the following Sunday.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.