Mississippi Youth Gun Deer Season Opens November 3rd

Deer season for youth hunters 15 years of age or younger begins Saturday, November 3rd across Mississippi. Youth get the first chance with firearms at our state’s exceptional deer herd. Youth may use any modern firearm and may harvest one buck with hardened antlers and one doe per day, not to exceed three bucks and five does the entire deer season. The spread and main beam antler criteria do not apply to youth hunters.

Initial reports from archery hunters throughout the state suggest that deer are actively feeding on both acorns and food plots. According to William T. McKinley, MDWFP Deer Program Biologist, the 2012-2013 Deer Season has already shown promise, with numerous quality bucks harvested across the state during the archery season. This is sure to create a lot of smiles over the Youth Gun Deer Season.

MDWFP reminds hunters that beginning November 3rd, all hunters, including archery hunters, are required to wear hunter orange unless they are inside a fully enclosed stand. MDWFP also encourages hunters to HUNT SMART, HUNT SAFE. The most important part of the hunt is making it home safely, so take time before your hunt to be sure you have all the proper safety equipment. Deer hunters should have the following: hunter education certification, hunter orange, a full-body harness for tree stands, an emergency signal device such as a whistle or cell phone, and a hunting plan that includes notifying someone where you are going hunting.

Hunters can find more information about the 3 Deer Management Zones, season dates, and hunting regulations at www.mdwfp.com/deer or call us at 601-432-2199.

Mississippi Wildlife Fisheries and Parks

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP), formerly known as the Mississippi Game & Fish Commission, is an agency of the government of the U.S. state ofMississippi responsible for programs protecting Mississippi fish and wildlife resources and their habitats, as well as administering all state parks; it has its headquarters in Jackson. The agency issues hunting and fishing licenses, advises on habitat protection, and sponsors public education programs. It is also responsible for enforcement of Mississippi's fish and game laws. It is separate from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, which is the governing body for the state's natural salt-water resources and law enforcement thereof (i.e. Gulf of Mexico, ocean-going vessels, etc.).