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Deer hunting season has arrived, and hunters are taking to the woods once again. But before they get out there with their weapons in tow, hunters may want to review state regulations, as there have been updates in requirements for hunting licenses, the length of the season and the number of deer that can be bagged.
So, to hunt deer in Mississippi, and specifically the Golden Triangle, what licenses do you need? Where can you hunt? And where can you get your game processed afterward?
What hunting licenses are available?
According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks website, Mississippi residents looking to hunt this season can purchase a sportsman’s license for $45, or an all game hunting/freshwater fishing license for $25 that doesn’t include the right to hunt with bows, crossbows or primitive weapons. A license for those weapons can also be bought individually for $14. A permit to hunt velvet deer during permitted dates costs $10 and lasts three consecutive days. All permit prices have around $3 in additional fees.
For non-residents, an all game hunting license costs $300 and is only available to those over the age of 16. Permits lasting seven days are available for $150. A 3-day permit that also includes a permit to use bows, crossbows and other primitive weapons costs $150. A general permit for those weapons costs $75. Anyone that wants to hunt deer must also buy a $100 deer permit.
A special license is available for non-resident armed forces members that costs $32, runs for 14 days and includes permits to hunt with bows, crossbows and other primitive weapons.
All non-resident licenses have additional processing fees of $5 to $7.
How long does the season last?
Tables published by the MDWFP have allowed archery hunters to hunt deer since October on private land, open public land and in Holly Springs National Forest. Hunters using bows or primitive weapons may also hunt during modern gun seasons. A second window for just archery hunting opens from Jan. 23-31 on private land and in Holly Springs National Forest.
Youth season runs from Nov. 9 to Jan. 31 on private lands, authorized state and federal lands and open public lands. On Nov. 23, criteria narrow to only private lands, and open public lands if hunters follow legal deer criteria.
Modern firearm hunters with a canine companion can begin hunting legal bucks Nov. 23 on private land and in Holly Springs National Forest. That ends Dec. 1, with dogless modern firearm hunting running from Dec. 16 to Dec. 23 on private land and in Holly Springs National Forest. Hunting is also allowed on open public land as long as it’s limited to legal bucks.
Modern firearm hunters with dogs may continue to hunt until Jan. 22.
Hunting with primitive firearms is allowed for antlerless deer on private lands from Nov. 11 through Nov. 22. The opens to deer of either sex on private land, open public land and Holly Springs National Forest from Dec. 2 to Dec. 25. Primitive weapons may be used to hunt deer of either sex on private land and in Holly Springs National Forest or legal bucks on open public land from Jan. 23 to Jan. 31.
What are the limits on hunting deer?
The MDWFP allows hunters to bag a total of three antlered bucks and five antlerless deer this season, with a daily maximum of one antlered buck.
On private land and in Holly Springs National Forest, one of the three antlered bucks may be below the legal antler spread requirements.
Youth hunters under the age of 15 may disregard the antler spread minimums entirely on private land or authorized federal or state lands.
The North Central Deer Management Unit, consisting of all private and open public lands in Alcorn, Benton, Desoto, Marshall, Tate, and Tippah counties, also allows its hunters to ignore standard antler spread minimums and bag a total of four antlered and 10 antlerless deer this season.
The U.S. Forest Service also has lower limits for antlerless deer hunted in national forests, allowing not more than one per day and five per season.
Where can I hunt?
The Golden Triangle has several Wildlife Management Areas, including the Black Prairie WMA just north of Crawford, the John W. Starr WMA southwest of Starkville, the Trim Cane WMA just north of Starkville and the Choctaw WMA further southwest of Starkville. There is an annual drawing in August for hunters to use WMAs.
There are also wildlife refuges available, such as the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge south of Starkville. Refuge management said in a statement that hunting on the refuge does require a valid hunting and fishing permit sold by the MDWFP or any standard hunting and fishing license vendor. There is a specific permit needed for this region, the North MS NWR Permit or No. 606.
Where can I get my deer processed?
The Golden Triangle has several businesses that can process a bagged deer into meat products, mostly west of Starkville.
Wilson’s Deer Processing and Sansing Meat Processing are both northwest of Starkville, with Garner Meat Processing and LoCo Deer Processing southwest of the city.
The Prairie Meat Company is just outside Columbus for those further east. Fork N Road Deer processing is also an option north of Columbus near Columbus Air Force Base.
Prices vary depending on the business and what the meat is processed into. Ground meat or simple cuts can go as low as $2 or $3 per pound, with sausages slightly more expensive. Specialty sausages are usually around $4 to $5 per pound.
Some businesses offer more complex treatments for greater fees like marinated jerkies, jerky sticks or tamales.
Wilson’s Deer Processing and Fork N Road Deer Processing do not require customers to bring in any legal documents with their deer. The other companies listed did not respond to requests for comment.
How can I dispose of a carcass?
Many processors also have prices for skinning and dressing game, but for hunters that dress the deer themselves, the county maintains a system of around 10 regularly-cleared public carcass disposal bins.
There are typically two on Barton Ferry Road, one on Gunshoot Road, one on Wolfe Road, two at Leroy’s Landing, one in Crawford, one near the intersection of Mississippi Highway 69 and New Hope Road, one on Highway 12.
“These bins are very well-used,” said Trip Hairston, president for the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors. “I think most citizens, especially hunters, appreciate that the county offers this service. It paves the way for good sportsman activity, of being good stewards and responsible hunters.”
The county doesn’t monitor the contents of those bins closely, but Hairston encouraged Lowndes hunters to make use of as much of their kills as they could.
“In my opinion as a hunter, you owe it to what you harvest to use it for consumption and not just for sport,” he said. “There may be situations where meat spoils, and those bins are available, but typically they’re for individual hunters who are cleaning deer and need to dispose of the bits that aren’t normally consumed.”
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 29 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
