Bow season opens Wednesday

Most hunters are looking to the weekend and cooler weather

Mississippi’s bow hunters aren’t real thrilled by the forecast for Wednesday’s opening day of the archery deer season in the Hill and Delta Zones.

“Wouldn’t you know it, the hottest day we’ve had in the forecast for a week, and then on Thursday and Friday it looks like day-long rains,” said Bill Thornton of Jackson. “But, I can live with it if the forecast for the weekend holds up. Now, that’s what I’m talking about.”

After the front passes through on Friday, the weatherman is predicting the coolest morning in months. A low of 51 is in the forecast for the Jackson area, and even lower, maybe under 50, in more northern areas.

“That is about as good as we can ask for,” Thornton said. “I’ll hunt Wednesday because it’s the tradition of opening day, but I’m going to save my No. 1 and No. 2 spots for the weekend and hope I can see a shooter buck or two.”

The season will only open for the Hill and Delta Zones. Hunters in the smaller Southeast Zone will have to wait until Oct. 15, unless …

“Yep, I’m hitting the road and hunting this week in Greenville,” said O.T. Sutton of Columbia. “With the forecast being what it is, I got to go up there and get after them.”

There is one major change in deer regulations that could impact archery hunters. The season limit on antlerless deer remains five, including all means of hunting (gun, bow, primitive …). But the daily limit on antlerless deer has been removed.

According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, hunters can kill up to all five does — the season limit — in one day, if they can.

“Two, maybe,” Thornton said, laughing. “Nobody wants to clean any more than that in one day, do they? I appreciate the idea and understand it, giving hunters that need to take does the opportunity to do it when they can.”