A near-record 1.6 million deer, four Deer Management Units with their own antler rules, and Delta bottomland make Mississippi a Deep South favorite.
Mississippi's terrain runs from flat, intensively farmed Delta bottomland in the northwest — Mississippi's best trophy country — to the rolling hardwood and pine Hills region in the center, to piney woods and coastal-plain terrain in the Southeast unit.
- Agency
- Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP)
- Region
- Southeast
- Deer rank
- #22 of 50
- Species guides
- 2
01
Mississippi hunting license and tag costs
Deer license and tag prices as last reviewed. Other species' permits are listed in the agency fee schedule.
| License / tag | Price |
|---|---|
| Resident All Game license | approx. $42 (check current MDWFP fee schedule) |
| Nonresident All Game Hunting license | approx. $200+ (see MDWFP fee schedule for current price) |
| Nonresident Deer Permit | additional fee required alongside the All Game license, approx. $200 range |
02
Mississippi hunting laws to know
Rules that catch hunters out most often. Not a substitute for the regulations book.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Blaze orange | Required during gun seasons on WMAs and national forest lands; requirements can vary by DMU and land type, so check current regs. |
| Baiting | Baiting/feeding for deer is legal on private land in most of the state but prohibited on WMAs and national forests, and restricted in CWD zones. |
| Crossbows | Legal for all hunters during archery and gun seasons, no special permit required. |
| Sunday hunting | Allowed on private land; restricted on many WMAs and national forest lands, so check the specific area's rules. |
| Legal firearms | Centerfire rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and handguns are legal for deer during gun season; no straight-wall-only restriction as in some Midwest states. |
| Tagging/reporting | Harvested deer must be recorded through MDWFP's Game Check system (app, phone, or online) before the carcass is moved in most circumstances. |
| CWD carcass transport | Whole carcasses may not be moved out of designated CWD Management Zones; only deboned meat, capes, cleaned skulls, and similar processed parts may leave the zone. |
| Hunter education | Required for hunters born on or after a specified cutoff date before purchasing a license, unless hunting under an apprentice exemption. |
03
Mississippi deer season structure (2025-26)
Exact opening and closing dates and antler restrictions differ across the Delta, Hills, North Central, and Southeast DMUs and shift slightly every year — always check MDWFP's current season pamphlet and regulations page before you hunt.
| Season | Weapon | Typical window |
|---|---|---|
| Velvet archery | Bow / crossbow | Mid-Sept. (short season, Hills/Delta/North Central DMUs) |
| Archery | Bow / crossbow | Early Oct. – late Nov., reopens after gun seasons in some DMUs |
| Youth gun | Modern gun | Mid-to-late Nov., plus a stretch into Jan. |
| Gun (general firearms) | Modern gun / muzzleloader | Late Nov. – Jan., varies by DMU |
| Antlerless primitive weapon season | Muzzleloader / primitive | Included within the broader Nov.–Jan. window in most units |
What you can hunt in Mississippi
- Deer — White-tailed deer
Very good · ranked #22 of 50 for deer.
- Wild Hog
River-bottom hogs with generous rules and public national forest
Access: License only; night hunting rules vary by county
Public hunting land in Mississippi
Mississippi has over a million acres of national forest plus dozens of WMAs spread across all four Deer Management Units.
Holly Springs National Forest
National forest · North Mississippi (Hills)
Rolling hardwood and pine terrain in the North Central DMU with multiple WMA overlays.
Official pageTombigbee National Forest
National forest · Northeast Mississippi (Hills)
Mixed pine-hardwood public land offering solid archery and gun-season deer hunting.
Bienville National Forest
National forest · Central Mississippi (Hills)
Large central-Mississippi forest block popular with both resident and nonresident hunters.
Homochitto National Forest
National forest · Southwest Mississippi
Close to Delta-quality genetics with more rugged loess-hill terrain near the Mississippi River.
Sunflower WMA
WMA · Delta
Bottomland hardwood WMA in the Delta unit known for the region's trophy-buck reputation.
Official pageDeSoto National Forest
National forest · Southeast Mississippi
Large piney-woods forest in the Southeast DMU with its own antler-restriction rules.
Official Mississippi links
- Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP)
- Current regulations
- Buy hunting & fishing licenses
Last reviewed 2026-09.
Nearby state hunting guides
Questions
Frequently asked
- Where do I buy a Mississippi hunting license?
- Mississippi hunting licenses and tags are sold by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) through its official licensing site. Buy direct from the agency rather than a reseller, and complete hunter education first if your birth year requires it.
- When is Mississippi hunting season?
- Seasons differ by species, weapon and zone, and the Mississippi season dates change every year. Our Mississippi deer guide summarizes the 2025-26 deer season structure; for every other species, check the current Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) regulations before you plan a hunt.
- What can you hunt in Mississippi?
- Besides white-tailed deer, our species guides single out Mississippi for wild hog. Each species guide explains tags, seasons and tactics.
- Where is public hunting land in Mississippi?
- Good starting points include Holly Springs National Forest, Tombigbee National Forest, Bienville National Forest. Confirm access rules, closures and special regulations with the managing agency before you go.
Every hunting guide
Hunting Hub
Where every hunting guide on The Wild10 starts.
Types of Game
Big game, small game, upland birds, and waterfowl — habitat and season.
Big Game
Deer, elk, moose, bear, hog and sheep — where to hunt, tags, and what to expect.
Small Game & Birds
Turkey, pheasant, grouse, quail, ducks, geese, rabbits, squirrels and predators.
Deer Hunting by State
All 50 states — seasons, tags, laws, public land and tactics.
Turkey Hunting
Calling, shotguns, bows, camo, blinds, scouting, and spring vs fall.
Species Finder
Search every species and filter by tracks, droppings and sign, harvest, or skinning.
Rifle Hunting
Cartridges, zero, field positions, wind, and shot placement.
Shotgun Hunting
Gauges, chokes, shot size, and lead for birds and slug country.
Recurve & Traditional Bow
Instinctive shooting, draw weight, arrow spine, and close-range craft.
Traditional Archery Hub
Eleven recurve and longbow guides: form, aiming, spine, tuning, and building tackle.
Compound Bow Hunting
Draw length, sight and rest setup, broadhead tuning, and shot process.
Hunting Tips
Wind discipline, stand placement, blood trailing, and meat care.
Top 10 lists
Best in category: hunting gear
Ranked picks with real product photos, specs, and editor notes — the buying side of everything covered in these guides.
Best Hunting Rifles
Bolt guns from budget workhorses to mountain rifles.
See the ranking →Best Upland Shotguns
Over-unders and light autos built to carry all day.
See the ranking →Best Waterfowl Shotguns
3.5-inch guns that keep cycling through mud and ice.
See the ranking →Best Deer Hunting Shotguns
Rifled slug guns for shotgun-only whitetail country.
See the ranking →Best Compound Bows
Forgiving, quiet compounds that tune without a fight.
See the ranking →Best Recurve Bows
Hunting recurves that shoot quiet and hold up outside.
See the ranking →Also on The Wild10
Fishing Guides
Fish identification, the knots that hold, lure selection by conditions, and the habits that fill a stringer.
Open the fishing hub →