When Is the Mississippi Deer Season? What You Need to Know

Whatever your motivations for hunting the Mississippi deer season, your first step is to be on top of all relevant season dates, regulations, and bag limits. This guide will explore these dates and additional insights to help you execute a successful Mississippi deer season hunt. 

2024 Mississippi Deer Season Hunting Dates

Mississippi is divided into five hunting zones, each with differing regulations, seasons, and allocations based on the different types of deer seasons with legal taking, including archery, youth season, antlerless primitive weapon, gun with dogs, and gun without dogs.

Due to the differing regulations and zone-based approach, we always recommend checking the latest from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, which is responsible for establishing season dates and enforcing rules related to conservation and animal management. 

Delta, North Central, and Hills Deer Management Units

Archery

• September 15-17: Legal buck only on private land.
• September 30 – November 17: Either Sex on private land.

Youth

• November 4 – 17: Either-Sex on private land and authorized state and federal lands.
• November 18 – January 31: Either Sex on private land.

Antlerless Primitive Weapon

• November 6 – 17: (Antlerless on private land).

Guns

• With Dogs: November 18 – December 1 (Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs)
• Without Dogs: December 16 – 23 (Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs).
• With Dogs: December 24 – January 17 (Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs).

Primitive Weapon

• December 2 – 15: (Either-Sex on private land, open public land, and Holly Springs NF).

Archery/Primitive Weapon

• January 18 – 31: (Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs NF).

Southeast Unit

Archery

• September 15 – 17: Legal buck only
• October 14 – November 17: Either Sex on private land or open public land.

Youth

• November 4 – 17: Either-Sex on private land and authorized state and federal lands.
• November 18 –17: Either-Sex on private land and authorized state and federal lands.

Guns

• With Dogs: November 18 – December 1 (Either-Sex on private land. Legal bucks only on open public land.)
• Without Dogs: December 16 – 23 (Either-Sex on private land. Legal bucks only on open public land.)
• With Dogs: December 24 – January 17 (Either-Sex on private land. Legal bucks only on open public land.)

Archery/Primitive Weapon

• January 18 – 31: Either Sex on private land. Legal bucks only on open public land.
• February 1 – 15: Legal bucks only on open public land.

Mississippi offers a generous youth hunting season for hunters 15 and older. Youth hunters can use any legal firearm or archery equipment during the youth season. 

Zones and Regulations and Hours

Mississippi is divided into different hunting zones known as deer management units. These units are as follows:
 

• Delta Unit: West of I-55, north of I-20, and areas south of I-20 and west of the U.S. Hwy 61.
• North Central Unit: Private and public lands in Alcorn, Benton, Desoto, Marshall, Tate, and Tippah counties.
• Southeast Unit: Areas south of U.S. Hwy 84 and east of MS Hwy. 35.
• Hills Unit: All areas except the Delta, North Central, and Southeast Deer Management Units.

Legal hunting hours run from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset; however, checking the MDWFP website for all updates and zone-specific timings is essential. 

Bag Limits and Restrictions on Antlered Deer

Because the Mississippi public hunting lands are subject to special regulations, deer bag limits may vary from area to area. However, as a general rule, the limit is one buck per day (3 per season) and 5-to 10 antlerless per year (depending on the management zone).

The categorization of a legal buck changes depending on the zone and is based on the antlers' inside spread and main beam length.
 

• Delta unit: 12" inside spread and 15" main beam length. 
• Hills unit: 10" inside spread and 13" main beam length. 
• Southeast unit: 10" inside spread and 13" main beam length. 
• North Central: Any hardened antler. 

Licensing and Permits 

All hunters, residents or non-residents, ages 16 to 65, must have a valid hunting license to hunt deer in Mississippi. Exceptions include residents who are visually impaired, paraplegics, multiple amputees, or disabled, as judged by the Social Security Administration, who are not required to purchase a hunting license. 

Hunters born after January 1, 1972, must also have a hunter education certificate before successfully applying for a Mississippi hunting license. Licenses can be purchased online via the MWFP licensing portal. 

How to Prepare for a Successful Deer Season in Mississippi

Deciding on your intended hunting zone during the pre-season can be a helpful first step to planning your hunt. Once you've chosen your public land to hunt, get started by e-scouting on the HuntWise app.

Leverage the aerial and topographical features in the HuntWise hunting app to seek out trails, lakes, rivers, mixed environments, or anywhere you imagine deer may be using as a passageway for movement to bedding, food sources, or water. Once you've identified those spots in the app, make some scouting trips and put up trail cameras (where allowed) for real-time insights into the deer movement patterns and behaviors. 

Remember that the further you push away from access points and into harsher or more isolated areas, the less likely you are to encounter other hunters. 

Dress Wisely

During the Mississippi hunting season, you can expect mild to cool weather, so pack accordingly with moisture-wicking thermal underwear, insulating outer layers, and camo. A solid pair of waterproof boots is non-negotiable, and an extra pair of socks or two can be a lifesaver.

Keep up to date with weather patterning on the HuntWise app to choose the best days to hunt and plan your gear accordingly!

Your Mississippi Season Success Starts With HuntWise

Whatever you want to get out of your next whitetail hunt, Mississippi offers it. With vast and varied seasons, large deer population numbers, and a strong hunting tradition to back it all up, make it Mississippi if you're looking for your next deer hunt.  

Since we know your excitement is building about the 2024 Mississippi deer season, go ahead and download the HuntWise app to stay on top of the tricky season zones and dates, changing deer behavior patterns, weather shifts, mapping insights, and more. Use HuntCast, WindCast, and RutCast to monitor deer movement and behavior and choose dates that offer the best weather conditions for a successful hunt.

You can also explore many map layers (including LiDAR) and more features — free — during your first week in the app!

Download the app and start your free trial now to be ready for opening day.