Mississippi’s deer seasons for 2021-22

Avid bowhunter is especially excited about prospects for this season

Steve Brown of Starkville has been bowhunting since he was 11 years old, and he’s never been more excited about the Mississippi’s bow season for deer as he is this year. He is an avid bowhunter who hunts across the country, but the last few years, the October bow season in his home state has been especially productive.

“I’m getting pictures of good bucks on my mineral sites, and it’s really fun watching them grow their antlers through the summer and fall,” Brown said. “We only shoot mature deer, so we’ve got quite an inventory of older bucks built up, and I’m confident that I’ll have opportunities to harvest some mature, trophy bucks this fall if the conditions continue as they are.”

Brown said that while some areas of the state have sustained flooding, the areas he hunts on the east side of the state, which includes Noxubee County, Winston, and areas around Starkville have seen prime growing conditions with plenty of moisture and vegetative growth.

“I’m excited about the prospects for deer hunting and believe it’s going to be a good year in my hunting areas,” Brown said. “The first couple weeks of the October bow season are usually the best for me, as bucks are still on a summer pattern, and they’re easier to pattern if you know where they bed and where they’re feeding. I usually stay in the woods the first couple of weeks of the early season, and then I go out to the Midwest. When I get back, mid-December is another prime time for harvesting trophy bucks around here as they’re rutting, and chasing does.”

There’s no doubt that the early season holds the promise of harvesting deer, either bucks or does but after that the rut, food availability and weather conditions will play a big part in deer movement and harvest opportunities.

Mississippi’s 2021-2022 deer seasons have been confirmed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

Delta, Northeast, North Central, East Central, Southwest units

Archery: Oct. 1-Nov. 19 (either-sex on private land, open public land, and Holly Springs NF)

Youth Season (15 and under): Nov. 6-19 (either-sex on private lands and authorized state and federal lands.) Nov. 20-Jan. 31 (either-sex on private lands. On open public lands, youth must follow below legal deer criteria.)

Antlerless Primitive Weapon: Nov. 8-19 (antlerless deer only on private lands.)

Gun (with dogs): Nov. 20-Dec. 1 (either-sex on private land and Holly Springs NF. Legal bucks only on open public land.)

Primitive Weapon: Dec. 2-15 (either-sex on private land, open public land, and Holly Springs NF. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.)

Gun (without dogs): Dec. 16-23 (either-sex on private land and Holly Springs NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land.)

Gun (with dogs): Dec. 24-Jan. 19 (either-sex on private land and Holly Spring NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land.)

Archery/Primitive Weapon: Jan. 20-31 (either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.)

Southeast Unit

Archery; Oct. 15-Nov. 19 (either-sex on private and open public land.)

Youth Season (15 and under): Nov. 6-19 (either-aex on private lands and authorized state and federal lands.) Nov. 20-Feb. 15 (either-aex on private lands. On open public lands, youth must follow below legal deer criteria.)

Gun (with dogs): Nov. 20-Dec. 1 (either-sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land.)

Primitive Weapon: Dec. 2-15 (either-sex on private and open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.)

Gun (without dogs): Dec. 16-23 (either-sex on private land. Legal bucks only on open public land.)

Gun (with dogs): Dec. 24-Jan. 19 (either-sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land.)

Archery/Primitive Weapon: Jan. 20-31 (either-sex on private land. Legal bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.) Feb. 1-15 (Legal bucks only on private and open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.)