MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Wildlife and Fisheries

By: Senator(s) Posey

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT AND COMMISSION ON WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO ALLOW THE FEEDING OF DEER; TO ALLOW THE HUNTING OF DEER OVER FEED; TO REQUIRE A PERMIT FOR SUCH FEEDING; 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 may use electrically amplified sound devices for hunting coyote and crow. 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.

A person may use liquid scents for any animal or bird.

(2) The department and the commission shall develop a program to allow the hunting of deer over feed. The commission shall issue regulations to implement and regulate the program. The commission shall:

(a) Require a permit for each feeding site and establish a fee for the permits;

(b) Require sufficient legal description or Global Positioning System coordinates of each feeding site;

(c) Specify the types of feed, the manner of feeding, time and duration of feeding;

(d) Require reasonable restriction of feeding site placement, taking into consideration property lines, homes, public roads; and

(3) The commission may restrict or prohibit the feeding of deer in any area or statewide if it is necessary to properly manage the deer population or to control or eradicate disease.