The Mississippi Department of Wildlife has adopted new regulations for the 2019-20 deer hunting season.
While many rules will remain the same, notable changes include an antlerless bag limit increase to 5 deer in all hunting zones except the Southeast, which remains at 2.
Also, hunters who submit a deer that tests positive for CWD during the hunting season and relinquish the meat will receive a tag to harvest one extra deer for that season.
A hunt plan for the newly acquired Phil Bryant WMA is also included in the proposals.
The full list of regulations can be seen below:
Public and Private Land
- Increase antlerless bag limit to five (5), except remain two (2) in the Southeast Zone.
- Bonus tag for hunters that submit a CWD-positive deer during hunting season and choose to relinquish the meat.
Private Land Only
- Allow one of three-buck bag limit to be any antlered deer.
WMAs and Open Public Land
- Allow antlerless harvest Dec. 2–15 (primitive weapon) on open public lands and certain WMAs.
- Only youth may harvest sub-criteria antlered deer.
Upper Sardis WMA and Holly Springs National Forest
- Allow antlerless harvest from Oct. 1–Jan. 31.
- Allow one of three-buck bag limit to be any antlered deer.
PHIL BRYANT WMA PROPOSED HUNT PLAN
Backwoods Unit
- 4 subunits: Deer, waterfowl, and small game
- Group hunting and camping
- Draw a party of 4 per hunt (16 hunters per hunt)
- Wednesday – Sunday
- Every other week starting October 1 – January 14
- Group bag limit of 4 legal bucks and 8 antlerless deer
Buck Bayou Unit
Deer draw hunts (same as Mahannah)
- October – archery only
- November/December – Gun
- Jan 1 – 14 – Open archery hunting
- Small game seasons same as Mahannah
Waterfowl Hunts
- 41 units on Mahannah and Buck Bayou
- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
Ten Point
Deer Draw Hunts
- Thursday – Sunday
- Oct/Nov – Archery
- December – Gun
- Youth/Handicapped only — Dec 26 – Jan 12
Waterfowl and small game – open on days not deer hunting (Mon-Wed)
GooseGoose Lake
- Boating or walk-in access only
Deer Draw Hunts
- Thursday – Sunday
- October 3– January 12 – Archery
Waterfowl and Small Game – Monday–Wednesday
General Regulations
Deer
- Season Bag Limit – 3 deer, of which only 1 may be a legal buck (Antler Criteria of 16/20)
- Mandatory CWD sample submission for all antlerless deer
- Trapping —- Jan. 1 – February 28 daily
Fishing
- From Oct. 1 – Jan. 14, fishing is allowed on small game/waterfowl hunting days.
ATV Use
- Retrieval only
- Designated road and trails only
Horses
- Prohibited Oct. 1 – Jan. 14.
- From Jan. 15 – Sept. 30, designated roads and trails for recreational use
- only.
High Water/Flooding
- Mahannah and Phil Bryant WMAs will be closed to all activities, except waterfowl hunting, at 82ft on the SB landside gauge.
- Waterfowl hunting shall open daily on 10 Point and Goose Lake units during the waterfowl season after 82ft on the SB landside gauge.
- Waterfowl hunting is draw only on Mahannah and Buck Bayou Units during the waterfowl season after 82ft on the SB landside gauge.
