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We set out to create the most simplified guide to Mississippi hunting seasons for 2023.
Want to find out season dates, learn about regulations and bag limits, understand license requirements, and get access helpful links?
Then you’ll love the info outlined in today’s guide. Let’s dive right in.
Mississippi's deer population is estimated to be 1.75 million, with hunters harvesting approximately 280,000 deer annually. Mississippi has a lot of deer compared to the number of hunters and there are many older deer roaming the state. Mississippi ranks Number 1 in the nation for the percentage of 3 1/2-year-old and older bucks in the deer harvest. 74% of the harvest is over 3 1/2 years old.
Bow hunters get an early start on the season, before gun hunters, so take advantage.
Archery: October 1 - November 29
Youth Gun: November 6 - November 19 and November 20 - February 15
Firearms: November 20 - January 19
Primitive Weapon/Antlerless: November 8 - November 19
Archery/Primitive Weapon: January 20 - February 15
Fall General Season: October 15 - November 15
Spring Youth Season: March 8 - March 14
Spring General Season: March 15 - May 1
Rabbit: October 16 - February 28
Bobwhite Quail: November 25 - March 5
Raccoon (Food and sport): October 1 - October 31
Raccoon (Food, sport, and pelt): November 1 - February 28
Opossum (Food and sport): October 1 - October 31
Opossum (Food, sport, and pelt): November 1 - February 28
Fall Squirrel: October 1 - February 28
Spring Squirrel: May 15 - June 1
Youth Squirrel: September 24 - September 30
See the map below for a breakdown of Mississippi's hunting zones:
Bag limits can be confusing. Feel free to reach out to your state department if you have any questions.
Antlered Buck Deer: The statewide bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day and three (3) per annual season. One (1) of these three (3) may have hardened antlers that do not meet the unit legal antler requirements on private land and Holly Springs National Forest. For youth hunters fifteen (15) years of age and younger, hunting on private land and authorized state and federal lands, all three (3) of the three (3) buck bag limit may be any antlered deer. Antlered buck bag limit in the North Central Deer Management Unit (DMU) is one (1) buck per day and four (4) per annual season. No antler restrictions apply to this DMU. All four bucks may have any sized hardened antlers.
Antlerless Deer / Private lands: The statewide annual bag limit on antlerless deer is five (5). The antlerless bag limit for private lands in the North Central DMU is ten (10) antlerless deer per season. Antlerless deer are male or female deer which do not have hardened antler above the natural hairline. Only two (2) antlerless deer may be harvested from the Southeast Unit. There is no daily bag limit on antlerless deer in the Northeast, North Central, East Central, Southwest, and Delta units. Only one (1) antlerless deer per day may be harvested in the Southeast DMU.
U.S. Forest Service National Forests: The bag limit is one (1) per day, not to exceed five (5) per annual season.
Mississippi Resident Hunting License Fees
Mississippi Nonresident Hunting License Fees
Hunters must wear orange when traveling to and from their stands.
Official State Site: https://www.mdwfp.com
In Mississippi you can hunt deer, hog, turkey, coyote, quail, duck, goose, dove and rabbit.
In addition to a valid Mississippi hunting license you will need a dove permit.
A lifetime hunting license in Mississippi for ages 13 and over costs $1,000.
