2015-16 deer seasons proposed

With liberal opportunities announced by state wildlife officials for the 2015-16 season, deer hunters can try to match this monster taken last winter by former Major League pitching star Roy Oswalt in Northeast Mississippi.

No major changes in dates or limits set by MDWFP

Unlike the previous few seasons, when new regulations and dates were included, Mississippi’s deer hunters will only a see a few minor changes in the 2015-16 season, and those are caused by the calendar.

Mississippi’s Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, following the staff recommendation from the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks proposed the following seasons for the three deer zones.

The Hill Zone is defined as those areas east of I-55 and north of I-20 plus areas south of I-20 and east of U.S. Highway 61, excluding areas south of U.S. Highway 84 and east of Mississippi Highway 35.

The Delta Zone is defined as areas west of I-55 and north of I-20, plus areas south of I-20 and west of U.S. Highway 61.

The Southeast Zone is defined as areas south of U.S. Highway 84 and east of Mississippi Highway 35.

Hill and Delta Zones 

Archery: Oct. 1-Jan. 20.

Youth gun season: Nov. 7-Jan. 31.

Early primitive weapon: Nov. 9-Nov. 20, for ANTLERLESS DEER ONLY. Legal weapons include 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 reproductions of those type rifles with an exposed hammer; OR single or double-barreled muzzle-loading shotguns, with single ball or slug.

Gun, with dogs: Nov. 22-Dec. 1.

Primitive weapon: Dec. 2-Dec. 15. On private lands, hunters can use weapon of choice, but unless exempt must have either a Sportsman’s License or a Primitive Weapon Permit.

Gun, without dogs (still season): Dec. 16-Dec. 23.

Gun, with dogs: Dec. 24-Jan. 20. Either-sex deer on private lands; legal bucks only on open public lands unless otherwise posted.

Late primitive weapon and archery: Jan. 21-Jan. 31. Either-sex deer on private and open public land. On private lands, hunters can use weapon of choice, but unless exempt must have either a Sportsman’s License or a Primitive Weapon Permit.

Southeast Zone

Archery: Oct. 15-Jan. 20.

Youth gun season: Nov. 7-Feb. 15.

Gun, with dogs: Nov. 22-Dec. 1.

Primitive weapon: Dec. 2-Dec. 15. On private lands, hunters can use weapon of choice, but unless exempt must have either a Sportsman’s License or a Primitive Weapon Permit.

Gun, without dogs (still season): Dec. 16-Dec. 23.

Gun, with dogs: Dec. 24-Jan. 20. Either-sex deer on private lands; legal bucks only on open public lands unless otherwise posted.

Late primitive weapon and archery: Jan. 21-Jan. 31. Either-sex deer on private lands; legal bucks only on open public land. On private lands, hunters can use weapon of choice, but unless exempt must have either a Sportsman’s License or a Primitive Weapon Permit.

Late primitive weapon and archery: Feb. 1-15. Either-sex deer on private lands; legal bucks only on open public land. On private lands, hunters can use weapon of choice, but unless exempt must have either a Sportsman’s License or a Primitive Weapon Permit.

Limits

Legal bucks: One per day, not to exceed three per annual season (Oct. 1-Feb. 15). Legal bucks are defined in the Hill and Southeast Zones as having either a minimum inside spread of 10 inches OR a minimum main beam length of 13 inches. In the Delta Zone, legal bucks are defined as having either a minimum inside spread of 12 inches OR a minimum main beam length of 15 inches. For hunters 15 and under, there is no minimum antler restriction for all bucks up to their 3-buck annual limit.

Antlerless deer (defined as any female deer or male deer without any visible hardened antler material above the hairline): The limit is 5 per annual season in the Delta and Hill Zones, unless otherwise noted below. The limit in the Southeast Zone is 1 per day, not to exceed 3 per annual season.

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Army managed lands are authorized to harvest antlerless deer on days designated by Federal Regulations. Contact local National Wildlife Refuge, Corps of Engineers, or U.S. Army for details.

On U.S. Forest Service National Forests, the bag limit on antlerless deer is 1 per day, not to exceed 3 per annual season.

About Bobby Cleveland 1343 Articles
Bobby Cleveland has covered sports in Mississippi for over 40 years. A native of Hattiesburg and graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Cleveland lives on Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson with his wife Pam.

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