House Bill 911

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-31.5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW LANDOWNERS TO TAKE NUISANCE ANIMALS, ON PROPERTY OWNED OR LEASED BY THEM, WITH ANY WEAPON, WITH OR WITHOUT THE AID OF LIGHT WITH A PERMIT ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS; TO ADD SKUNKS AND FOXES TO THE CLASS OF ANIMALS FOR WHICH IT IS NOT UNLAWFUL TO HUNT OR TRAP DURING OPEN SEASON FOR THE TAKING OF FUR-BEARING ANIMALS; TO PROHIBIT THE HUNTING OR TAKING OF NUISANCE ANIMALS WITH THE USE OF LIGHT ON OR FROM PUBLIC ROADS OR LEVEES; TO AUTHORIZE THE HUNTING OF NUISANCE ANIMALS WITH ELECTRONIC CALLS AND BAIT, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS; TO EXEMPT THE LANDOWNERS FROM THE LICENSE REQUIREMENTS TO HUNT OR TRAP NUISANCE ANIMALS ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY; TO REQUIRE AGENTS OF LANDOWNERS HUNTING OR TRAPPING NUISANCE ANIMALS TO POSSESS A HUNTING OR TRAPPING LICENSE UNLESS OTHERWISE EXEMPT; TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION ON WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO ESTABLISH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ON TRAPPING NUISANCE ANIMALS; TO AUTHORIZE THE SALE OF THE MEAT AND HIDE OF NUISANCE ANIMALS; TO PROHIBIT THE TRAPPING AND RELEASE OF WILD HOGS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND TO PRESCRIBE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; TO REQUIRE THE WEARING OF HUNTER ORANGE WHEN HUNTING NUISANCE ANIMALS 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 49-7-31.5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

49-7-31.5. (1) (a) The hunting of * * * nuisance animals shall be regulated by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

(b) Landowners, agricultural leaseholders or their designated agents may take * * * nuisance animals with any type of weapon, with or without the aid of light, year-round on lands owned or leased by them with a permit issued by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. All other hunters must abide by commission regulations concerning weapons at night.

(2) The taking of any animal or animals other than beavers, nutria, wild hogs, coyote, skunks or foxes 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.

(3) Nuisance animals may be * * * chased or pursued with dogs, except as provided in Section 49-7-32, year-round by licensed hunters. Nuisance animals may not be hunted or taken with the use of a light on or from public roads or levees.

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

(5) Nuisance animals may be trapped with the aid of bait or lures, except during the open hunting season on turkey.

(6) No hunting or trapping license is required for landowners hunting or trapping on their own property. Designated agents of the landowner must possess either a hunting license or trapping license, unless otherwise exempt.

(7) Traps set for nuisance animals are not required to be tagged or numbered. The commission shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations regarding the trapping of nuisance animals.

(8) The meat and hides of nuisance animals may be bought and sold year-round.

(9) Wild hogs may not be caught or trapped and released into the wild at other locations different from the location where the wild hog was caught or trapped, only fox and coyote may be caught and relocated. A violation of this subsection is a Class I violation and is punishable as provided under Section 49-7-141.

(10) When hunting nuisance animals during any open gun season for deer, a hunter must wear at least five hundred (500) square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.