Mississippi Special Primitive Weapons Hunt Begins November 11

Special Primitive Weapons Season for white-tailed deer will open on Monday, November 11 in the Hill and Delta Deer Zones.  The Special Primitive Weapons Hunt is for antlerless deer only on private lands and open public lands from November 11 – 22.  This special season is provided to allow hunters on properties with higher deer densities, additional and earlier opportunities to meet antlerless harvest objectives prior to the rut.

“Most properties that MDWFP Deer Program Biologists visit are often at, or over, carrying capacity,” said Lann Wilf, Deer Program Leader for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP).  “For the most part, the majority of private lands in the Hill and Delta Deer Zones have a biological need to participate in this hunt.   Hunters and managers need to try to meet antlerless harvest objectives early, in order to provide increased buck hunting opportunity and quality during the rut.”

Deer populations in the Southeast Zone are not as great as other parts of the state.  Biologically, there is less need to harvest as many antlerless deer in southeast Mississippi.

This hunt is not occurring on MDWFP Wildlife Management Areas.  Legal weapons are primitive firearms. “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.

More information about deer and deer hunting in Mississippi can be found at www.mdwfp.com/deer or call us at (601) 432-2199. 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.).