JACKSON – Mississippi’s special primitive weapons season for white-tailed deer will open November 7 in the Hill and Delta Deer Management Zones. The special primitive weapons season is for antlerless deer only on private lands and open public lands from November 7 – 18. This special season is provided to help hunters in areas with higher deer densities earlier opportunities to achieve antlerless harvest objectives prior to the rut. Only archery equipment and primitive firearms may be used during this season.
“Primitive firearms,” for the purpose of hunting deer, are defined as single or double barreled muzzleloading rifles of at least .38 caliber; OR single shot, breech loading, metallic cartridge rifles (.35 caliber or larger) and replicas, reproductions, or reintroductions of those type rifles with an exposed hammer; OR single or double barreled muzzleloading shotguns, with single ball or slug. All muzzle-loading primitive firearms must use black powder or a black powder substitute with percussion caps, #209 shotgun primers, or flintlock ignition. “Weapon of Choice” does not apply to this 12-day season.
“This season is needed due to many local deer populations in Mississippi exceeding carrying capacity,” says Kamen Campbell, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) Private Lands Biologist. “This early season is a great opportunity for hunters to focus on doe harvest before the breeding season, which may increase rutting behavior by increasing buck competition for the remaining does.”
The special primitive weapons season will not occur in the Southeast Deer Management Zone due to lower deer numbers. Additionally, this season will not occur on Wildlife Management Areas due to higher hunter numbers and unique management objectives for these areas.
Inormation about deer hunting, season dates, and hunting regulations can be found at www.mdwfp.com or in the 2016 – 2017 Mississippi Outdoor Digest. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.
