For Mississippi’s 2014 – 2015 hunting season, the first white-tailed deer gun season opens November 22 and closes December 1. Hunting with dogs is allowed during this season. Legal deer include legal bucks and antlerless deer on private lands and only legal bucks on open public lands. Hunters are urged to practice good hunter ethics and follow all safety rules to avoid hunting and firearm-related accidents. When hunting deer during any firearms season for deer, a hunter must wear in full view at least five hundred square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange unless hunting in a stand at least twelve feet above ground or in a fully enclosed deer stand or blind. However, hunters must wear hunter orange while traveling to and from their stand. “Deer numbers appear to be high this year as expected,” said David Graves, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Central Region Deer Biologist. “Acorn availability across the state is spotty, which means deer should be more visible for hunters. We could have an excellent season this year if acorns remain limited, and we have a cold winter.” All persons born on or after January 1, 1972, are required to complete a hunter education course before purchasing a Mississippi hunting license. Each resident of Mississippi age 16 through 64 must obtain a hunting license, except while hunting on lands titled in his/her name. Any resident 65 years old or older, or any resident otherwise exempt from obtaining a hunting license, must have documentation with him/her at all times while hunting. All non-resident hunters, except minors under the age of 16, are required to obtain a hunting license while hunting in Mississippi. In addition to any required hunting license, purchase of a Wildlife Management Area User Permit is required prior to hunting on any Wildlife Management Area. Hunters can find information about deer hunting, season dates, and hunting regulations at www.mdwfp.com or in the 2014 – 2015 Mississippi Outdoor Digest.
