The traditional archery season for deer is already open in most of the state and will soon open in the remainder. The early primitive weapons season will follow in November and statewide gun season soon after.

Like most years, there are changes so here’s what hunters need to know about chronic wasting disease, bag limits, harvest reporting and season dates for the 2023-24 deer season.

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Deer hunting season dates

North Central, Delta and Hills deer management units

• Archery: Sept. 30-Nov. 17, Either sex on private land, open public land, and Holly Springs National Forest.
• Youth: Nov. 4-Nov. 17, Either sex on private lands and authorized state and federal lands.
• Youth: Nov. 18-Jan. 31, Either sex on private lands. On open public lands, youth must follow below legal deer criteria.
• Antlerless primitive weapon: Nov. 6-17, Antlerless deer only on private lands.
• Gun with dogs: Nov. 18-Dec. 1, Either sex on private land and Holly Springs National Forest. Legal bucks only on open public land.
• Primitive weapon: Dec. 2-15, Either sex on private land, open public land, and Holly Springs National Forest. Weapons of choice may be used on private land with the appropriate license.
• Gun without dogs: Dec. 16-23, Either sex on private land and Holly Springs National Forest. Legal bucks only on open public land.
• Gun with dogs: Dec. 24-Jan.17, Either sex on private land and Holly Spring National Forest. Legal bucks only on open public land.
• Archery, primitive weapon: Jan. 18-31, Either sex on private land and Holly Springs National Forest. Legal bucks only on open public land. Weapons of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.

Southeast Deer Management Unit

• Archery: Oct. 14-Nov. 17, Either sex on private or open public land.
• Youth: 15 years and under, Nov. 4-17, Either sex on private land and authorized state and federal land.
• Youth: 15 years and under, Nov. 18-Feb. 15, Either sex on private land. On open public land, youth must follow legal deer criteria.
• Gun with dogs: Nov. 18-Dec. 1, Either sex on private land. Legal bucks only on open public land.
• Primitive weapon: Dec. 2-15, Either sex on private or open public land. Weapons 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. 17, Either sex on private land. Legal bucks only on open public land.
• Archery, primitive weapon: Jan. 18-31, Either sex on private land. Legal bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with the appropriate license.
• Archery, primitive weapon: Feb. 1-15, Legal bucks only on private and open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with the appropriate license.

Deer bag limits

• Delta DMU: The bag limit for antlered deer is one per day, three per annual season. The antlerless bag limit is five.
• Hills DMU: The bag limit for antlered deer is one per day, three per annual season. The antlerless bag limit is five.
• North Central DMU: The bag limit for antlered is one per day, four per annual season. The limit for antlerless deer is 10 on private lands.
• Southeast DMU: The bag limit for antlered deer is one per day, three per annual season. The bag limit for antlerless deer is one per day, two per annual season.
• U.S. Forest Service National Forests: The bag limit for antlered deer is one per day, three per annual season. The bag limit for antlerless deer is one per day, five per annual season except in the Southeast DMU where the antlerless limit is one per day, two per annual season.

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Antler requirements

• Delta DMU: 12-inch inside spread or 15-inch main beam
• Hills DMU: 10-inch inside spread or 13-inch main beam
• North Central DMU: No antler restrictions apply to this zone. Hunters may harvest bucks with any hardened antler.
• Southeast DMU: 10-inch inside spread or 13-inch main beam
• Youth hunters: For youth hunters 15 years of age and younger, hunting on private land and authorized state and federal lands, all of the buck bag limit may be any antlered deer.
• Buck of choice: In the Delta, Hills and Southeast DMUs, hunters may harvest one buck that does not meet antler requirements on private land and Holly Springs National Forest.
• Public lands: Antler requirements vary among public lands. Hunters should check regulations for the specific public land they plan to hunt before hunting.

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CWD testing

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Testing deer for CWD, a disease that is considered always fatal for deer, is not required, but the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks urges hunters to provide tissue samples of harvested deer for testing.

According to the department, knowing where the disease exists and how prevalent it is helps in managing and slowing the spread of the disease.

Although there has been no known case of it spreading to humans, the CDC warns against consuming infected deer. So hunters should know if their deer is infected as well.

Since the disease was first detected in Mississippi in 2018, there have been 208 cases found in the state as of October 2023.

For convenience, MDWFP has provided 59 freezers across the state where hunters can leave deer heads with 6 inches of neck attached for testing. The agency has also partnered with a number of taxidermy businesses that will have deer tested at the customer’s request.

CWD management zones

Counties in CWD management zones have changed with some added and others removed this year. Within these zones, special regulations are in place to slow the spread of the disease such as a supplemental feeding ban and carcass transportation restrictions.

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Issaquena CWD Management Zone

• Claiborne County, west of the Mississippi River
• Issaquena County, east of the Mississippi River and south of MS 14
• Warren County

North Mississippi CWD Management Zone

• Alcorn County
• Benton County
• Coahoma County, east of US 49 and Old Highway 61 South, north of US 279
• Desoto County
• Lafayette County
• Marshall County
• Panola County
• Prentiss County
• Tate County
• Tippah County
• Tishomingo County
• Tunica County, south of MS 4, east of Old Highway 61 South
• Union County
• Quitman County, north of US 279, west of MS 3

Harvest reporting of deer

Mississippi does not require deer hunters to report their harvests except during the early archery season for bucks which takes place in September. However, there is a system in place for reporting harvests and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is asking hunters to use it on a voluntary basis.

Biologists have long said reporting harvests can improve management by providing data on a county-by-county basis.

Hunters may report their harvests by downloading the Game Check app on their mobile phone or through the agency’s website. To report a harvest or download the app, visit https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/game-check/deer-game-check/.

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or [email protected].

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