Mississippi Primitive Weapon Season for Deer Opens December 2, 2013

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) Deer Program reminds hunters the statewide Primitive Weapons Season for deer opens Monday, December 2 and runs through Sunday, December 15.  Antlerless deer and zone-legal bucks are eligible for harvest.  Hunters may take both an antlerless deer and a legal buck within the same day.

According to Lann M. Wilf, MDWFP Deer Program Leader, the pre-rut is beginning over most of the state.  “Hunters can expect to see bucks beginning to chase does, which makes for an exciting hunt.  Deer movement always seems to be high during the first two weeks of December.  We usually have several older bucks taken across the state during the primitive weapons season.”

Legal weapons are primitive firearms and archery equipment.  “Primitive Firearms,” for the purpose of hunting deer, are defined as single or double barreled muzzle-loading 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 muzzle-loading 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.

Hunters can find information about the 3 Deer Management Zones, season dates, and hunting regulations at www.mdwfp.com or in the 2013 – 2014 Mississippi Outdoor Digest.  Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.

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.).