House Bill 944

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-31.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE HUNTERS TO WEAR SOLID UNBROKEN FLUORESCENT PINK AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO FLUORESCENT ORANGE WHEN HUNTING DEER DURING ANY GUN SEASON ON DEER; TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-31.5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE HUNTERS TO WEAR SOLID UNBROKEN FLUORESCENT PINK AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO FLUORESCENT ORANGE WHEN HUNTING WILD HOGS DURING ANY OPEN GUN SEASON ON DEER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 49-7-31.1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-7-31.1. (1) When hunting deer during any gun season on deer, a hunter must wear in full view at least five hundred (500) square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or solid unbroken fluorescent pink. This requirement shall not apply to a hunter while the hunter is in a fully enclosed deer stand.

(2) A violation of this section is a Class III violation and is punishable as provided in Section 49-7-101.

SECTION 2. Section 49-7-31.5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-7-31.5. (1) The hunting, trapping and taking of nuisance animals shall be regulated by the commission. The commission may adopt regulations to regulate the hunting, trapping and taking of nuisance animals and to control the population of nuisance animals.

(2) (a) Landowners, agricultural leaseholders or their designated agents may take predatory and nuisance animals year-round on lands owned or leased by them.

(b) Landowners, agricultural leaseholders or their designated agents may take nuisance animals with any type of weapon and may take nuisance animals during the night after legal hunting hours on lands owned or leased by them with a permit issued by the department.

(c) No license is required for a resident landowner hunting or trapping nuisance animals on his own land. An agricultural leaseholder, designated agent and any other person must possess either an all-game hunting license or trapping license, unless otherwise exempt.

(d) No license is required for a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in combat, to hunt nuisance animals on private lands. Persons exempt from purchasing a hunting license under this paragraph shall have in their possession and on their person a copy of their DD-214 discharge form indicating the receipt of the Purple Heart Medal and any proof as may be required by the commission or the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, while engaged in such activities.

(3) The taking of any animal or animals other than nuisance animals by the use of a trap or traps is unlawful except during the time the season is open for the taking of fur-bearing animals.

(4) Nuisance animals may be run, chased or pursued with dogs, except as provided in Section 49-7-32, year-round by licensed hunters.

(5) Nuisance animals may be hunted with the aid of electronic calls.

(6) Nuisance animals may be hunted or trapped with the aid of bait and lures, on private lands, according to regulations adopted by the commission.

(7) Any part of a nuisance animal may be bought and sold year-round.

(8) (a) Wild hogs may not be caught or trapped and released into the wild at a location different from the location where the wild hog was caught or trapped.

(b) A violation of this subsection is a Class I violation and is punishable as provided under Section 49-7-141.

(9) When hunting wild hogs during any open gun season on deer, a hunter must wear in full view at least five hundred (500) square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or solid unbroken fluorescent pink.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.