House Bill 919

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS; TO CLARIFY THE PLACEMENT OF BAIT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY; 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) Except as otherwise provided for in this section, 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; however a person:

(a) May use electrically amplified sound devices for hunting coyote and crow;

(b) May use liquid scents, salt or trace minerals for any animal or bird; and

(c) May use lures for trapping furbearing animals, beaver, coyote, fox and nutria according to regulations adopted by the commission;

(d) May hunt, trap or kill, or to attempt to take, trap or kill any deer or wild turkey over grains, seeds or forage resulting from the natural agriculture practices or supplemental plantings;

(e) May hunt, trap or kill deer on any privately owned or leased property by aid or use of any bait; and

(f) May hunt, trap or kill deer near or in close proximity to a location where bait has been placed if such location is not within the person's sight.

(2) For purposes of this section "bait" is considered any grain or any other edible feed deposited or scattered so as to constitute an attraction.

(3) 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.

(4) A person may use bait to trap wild hogs as defined in Section 49-7-140 during the period between the end of Spring turkey season and the beginning of deer season with bow and arrow.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.