MDWFP Commission Issues Notice Of Intent

Special Extended Archery Season Will Be Established

JACKSON – At the June meeting of the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, the Commission was informed of an Attorney General’s Opinion regarding Commission authority to regulate deer seasons.  Of particular concern to the Commission was a finding that there is no authority to allow hunters to use bows and arrows to hunt deer during any hunting season other than archery season (October 1 through the Friday prior to Thanksgiving). The Commission directed MDWFP staff to review the Attorney General’s opinion and develop amended regulations that would allow for maximum deer hunting opportunities for all hunters in order to increase deer harvest and reduce the state deer herd.

Based upon the findings in the opinion and staff recommendations, the MDWFP has filed amended versions of applicable regulations which will establish a special extended archery season, running concurrently with the open seasons for hunting deer with guns and primitive weapons, to help reduce the surplus deer populations.  The regulations also add an earlier primitive weapon season for antlerless deer only and are consistent with the findings of the Attorney General.

The regulations will be available for public review online at www.mdwfp.com and in other venues once filed with the Secretary of State.