MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
By: Senator(s) Whaley
AN ACT TO CREATE A NEW SECTION IN TITLE 49, CHAPTER 7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE A GAME BREEDER'S LICENSE TO BE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS FOR THE RAISING OF WHITE-TAILED DEER, IN ENCLOSURES SURROUNDED BY FENCES AT LEAST EIGHT-FEET HIGH, FOR PROPAGATING PURPOSES; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINE THE QUALIFICATIONS, RESPONSIBILITY AND EQUIPMENT OF APPLICANTS FOR THE LICENSE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE LICENSE SHALL EXPIRE ON SEPTEMBER 30 OF THE YEAR IN WHICH ISSUED, UNLESS RENEWED; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO PROMULGATE RULES FOR ENGAGING IN THE BUSINESS OF BREEDING, RAISING, PRODUCING AND HANDLING OF WHITE-TAILED DEER OR THEIR EGGS, EMBRYOS OR SEMEN; TO SPECIFY LICENSE FEES; TO ALLOW LICENSEES TO SELL LIVE WHITE-TAILED DEER, OR THE EGGS, EMBRYOS OR SEMEN OF WHITE-TAILED DEER, FOR PROPAGATING PURPOSES TO ANY PERSON WITHIN OR WITHOUT THIS STATE; TO REQUIRE THAT PURCHASERS BE REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE THE SALE OR SHIPMENT OF SAME; TO REQUIRE THAT THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE LICENSE OF THE GAME BREEDER MAKING THE SALE OR SHIPMENT APPEAR ON, OR BE CONSPICUOUSLY ATTACHED TO, THE CRATE OR OTHER CONTAINER IN WHICH WHITE-TAILED DEER, OR THE EGGS, EMBRYOS OR SEMEN OF WHITE-TAILED DEER, ARE BEING SHIPPED; TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO CANCEL OR DECLARE VOID ANY GAME BREEDER'S LICENSE WHEN IT IS NOT BEING USED IN STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) (a) The department shall issue an annual game breeder's license to any properly accredited person, firm, corporation or association authorizing a game breeder to engage in the business of raising white-tailed deer, in enclosures surrounded by fences at least eight (8) feet high, for propagating purposes in this state.
(b) Before a license is issued, the department shall make or cause to be made a thorough investigation and determine the qualifications, responsibility and equipment of the applicant for entering upon the business of breeding, raising and handling of white-tailed deer.
(c) A game breeder's license shall expire on September 30 of the year in which issued, unless renewed.
(d) The department shall promulgate rules for engaging in the business of breeding, raising, producing and handling of white-tailed deer or their eggs, embryos or semen.
(2) (a) The license fee for breeding white-tailed deer shall be Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) for the first fifty (50) animals, Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for fifty-one (51) to one hundred (100) animals, and One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for any number of animals in excess of one hundred (100).
(b) License fees under this section shall be based on the number of animals on hand as of the immediately preceding April 1 of each year.
(3) Any person, firm, corporation or association holding a game breeder's license under this section may sell live white-tailed deer, or the eggs, embryos or semen of white-tailed deer, for propagating purposes to any person within or without this state. The purchaser or purchasers of white-tailed deer, or the eggs, embryos or semen of white-tailed deer, shall be reported to the department before the sale or shipment of same. The serial number of the license of the game breeder making the sale or shipment shall appear or be attached in a conspicuous place on the crate or other container in which white-tailed deer, or the eggs, embryos or semen of white-tailed deer, are being shipped. The department may cancel or declare void any game breeder's license when it is not being used in strict compliance with this section.
SECTION 2. Section 1 of this act shall be codified in Title 49, Chapter 7, Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.