House Bill 1035

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI COMMISSION ON WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL HUNTING PERMIT FOR VELVET HUNTING SEASON; TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH AND REGULATE SPECIAL HUNTS DURING VELVET HUNTING SEASON, OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR OPEN SEASON ON DEER; TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH RELATES TO OPEN SEASON ON DEER, TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH AND REGULATE SPECIAL HUNTS DURING VELVET HUNTING SEASON, OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR OPEN SEASON ON DEER; TO PROVIDE THAT THE SEASON SHALL BE NO LESS THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN LENGTH, AND SHALL NOT EXCEED FIVE CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN LENGTH; TO PROVIDE THAT THE SEASON SHALL BEGIN ON AUGUST 20 AND END AUGUST 31; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-1-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH RELATES TO THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall establish and regulate special hunts during velvet hunting season, outside of the regular open season on deer. Such velvet hunting season shall begin on August 20, and end no later than August 31, and shall be for no less than three (3) consecutive days in length, and for no more than five (5) consecutive days in length.

(2) The commission shall establish a special hunting permit for velvet hunting season. Such special hunting permit for velvet hunting season shall be authorized for a time period beginning on August 20, and ending no later than August 31, and shall be valid for no less than three (3) consecutive days in length, and for no more than five (5) consecutive days in length. The commission shall select participants, set the cost of permits, if any, the number of permits to be issued, and the length of the special permits.

SECTION 2. 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.

(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.

(6) The commission shall establish and regulate special hunts during velvet hunting season, outside of the regular open season on deer. Such velvet hunting season shall begin on August 20, and end no later than August 31, and shall be for no less than three (3) consecutive days in length, and for no more than five (5) consecutive days in length.

SECTION 3. Section 49-1-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

49-1-29. (1) The commission may promulgate rules and regulations, inaugurate studies and surveys, and establish any services it deems necessary to carry out wildlife laws. A violation of any rules or regulations promulgated by the commission shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in Section 49-7-101.

(2) The executive director shall have authority with commission approval:

(a) To close or shorten the open season as prescribed by law in cases of urgent emergency on any species of game birds, game or fur-bearing animals, reptiles, fish or amphibians, in any locality, when it finds after investigation and public review that the action is reasonably necessary to secure the perpetuation of any species of game birds, game or fur-bearing animals, reptiles, fish or amphibians and to maintain an adequate supply in the affected area. The statutes shall continue in full force and effect, except as restricted and limited by the rules and regulations promulgated by the commission.

(b) To designate wildlife refuges, with the consent of the property owner or owners, in any localities it finds necessary to secure perpetuation of any species of game birds, game or fur-bearing animals, reptiles, fish or amphibians and to maintain an adequate supply for the purpose of providing a safe retreat where the animals may rest and replenish adjacent hunting, trapping or fishing grounds or waters, and to approve land suitable for such purposes as eligible for the income tax credit authorized under Section 27-7-22.22.

(c) To acquire and hold for the state by purchase, condemnation, lease, or agreement as authorized from time to time by the Legislature, and to receive by gifts or devise, lands or water suitable for fish habitats, game and bird habitats, state parks, access sites, wildlife refuges, or for public shooting, trapping or fishing grounds or waters, to provide areas on which any citizen may hunt, trap or fish under any special regulations as the commission may prescribe, and to approve lands suitable for such purposes as eligible for the income tax credit authorized under Section 27-7-22.22.

(d) To extend and consolidate lands or waters suitable for the above purposes by exchange of lands or waters under its jurisdiction.

(e) To capture, propagate, transport, sell or exchange any species of game birds, game or fur-bearing animals, reptiles, fish or amphibians needed for stocking or restocking any lands or waters of the state.

(f) To enter into cooperative agreements with persons, firms, corporations or governmental agencies for purposes consistent with this chapter.

(g) To regulate the burning of rubbish, slashings and marshes or other areas it may find reasonably necessary to reduce the danger of destructive fires.

(h) To conduct research in improved wildlife and fisheries conservation methods and to disseminate information to the residents of the state through the schools, public media and other publications.

(i) To have exclusive charge and control of the propagation and distribution of wild birds, animals, reptiles, fish and amphibians, the conduct and control of hatcheries, biological stations and game and fur farms owned or acquired by the state; to expend for the protection, propagation or preservation of game birds, game or fur-bearing animals, reptiles, fish and amphibians all funds of the state acquired for this purpose arising from licenses, gifts or otherwise; and shall have charge of the enforcement of all wildlife laws.

(j) To grant permits and provide regulations for field trials and dog trainers.

(k) To prohibit and to regulate the taking of nongame gross fish, except minnows.

(l) To enter into agreements with landowners to trap and purchase quail on the premises of the landowner and to provide for the distribution of quail.

(m) To operate or lease to third persons concessions or other rights or privileges on lakes owned or leased by the department. Owners of land adjoining land owned or leased by the department shall have priority to the concessions or rights or privileges, if the owners meet the qualifications established by the commission.

(n) To implement a beaver control program and to charge fees, upon the recommendation of the Beaver Control Advisory Board, to landowners participating in the beaver control program described in Section 49-7-201.

(o) To apply for, receive and expend any federal, state or local funds, contributions or funds from any other source for the purpose of beaver control or eradication.

(p) To require the department to divide the districts into zones if necessary, and periodically survey the districts or zones to obtain information that is necessary to properly determine the population and allowable harvest limits of wildlife within the district or zone.

(q) To grant wildlife personnel access to enter the enclosure and utilize the best collection methods available to obtain tissue samples for testing where CWD has been diagnosed within five (5) miles of the enclosure.

If CWD is detected within an enclosure, the commission shall not declare surrounding or adjoining properties within a five (5) mile radius of the enclosure, a CWD Management Zone, until chronic wasting disease is positively detected within such radius on these surrounding or adjoining properties.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.