MS Rules & Regs/Season 2013-2014

Delta Zone:

Private and open public lands west of I-55 and north of I-20 plus areas south of I-20 and west of U.S. Highway 61.

A legal buck is defined as having EITHER a minimum inside spread of 12 inches OR a minimum main beam length of 15 inches.

Archery Oct. 1 – Nov. 22 Either-Sex on private land and open public land.
Youth Gun Nov. 9 – Jan. 31 Either-Sex on private land and authorized state and federal land. Youth 15 and under.
Early Primitive Weapon Nov. 11 – 22 Antlerless Deer Only on private land and open public land.
Gun (With Dogs) Nov. 23 – Dec. 1 Either-Sex on private land; Legal bucks only on open public land.
Primitive Weapon Dec. 2 – 15 Either-Sex on private land and open public land.
Gun (Without Dogs) Dec. 16 – 23 Either-Sex on private land and open public land.
Gun (With Dogs) Dec. 24 – Jan. 22 Either-Sex on private land; Legal bucks only on open public land.
Archery/Primitive Weapon Jan. 23 – 31 Either-Sex on private land and open public land.

Bag Limits

Antlered Buck Deer: The bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed three (3) per license year. Legal bucks must meet the antler criteria within the appropriate deer management zone. For youth hunters fifteen (15) years of age and younger, hunting on private land and authorized state and federal lands, all of the three (3) buck bag limit may be any antlered deer.  Antlerless Deer: The bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) per day, not to exceed five (5) per license year. Antlerless deer are defined as any female deer and any male deer without hardened antler above the hairline.

Legal Weapons

Youth Gun: 

Youth may carry and use any firearm with which they can safely hunt, and in compliance with other applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
                                                                Archery: 
Longbows, recurves, compound bows, and crossbows. There is no minimum or maximum draw weight. There is no minimum arrow length. Fixed or mechanical broadheads may be used.

Primitive Weapons: 

For the purpose of hunting deer, “Primitive Firearms” are defined as single or double barreled muzzle-loading rifles of at least .38 caliber; OR single shot, breech loading, metallic cartridge rifles (.35 caliber or larger) and replicas, reproductions, or reintroductions of those type rifles with an exposed hammer; OR single or double-barreled muzzle-loading shotguns, with single ball or slug. All muzzleloading Primitive Firearms must use black powder or a black powder substitute with percussion caps, #209 shotgun primers, or flintlock ignition. “Blackpowder substitute” is defined as a substance designed, manufactured and specifically intended to be used as a propellant in muzzleloading or other black powder firearms, excluding modern smokeless powder. Metallic cartridges may be loaded with either black powder or modern smokeless powder (cartridges purchased at sporting goods stores). Handguns or sidearms are not allowed for hunting deer
during Primitive Weapons seasons. Telescopic sights are allowed while hunting with any primitive firearm during the primitive weapon seasons. A “telescopic sight” is defined as an optical sighting device with any magnification. Gun: There are no caliber or magazine capacity restrictions on firearms. Primitive weapons (as defined above) and archery equipment may be used during gun seasons.

Hunter Orange

When hunting deer during any primitive weapon or gun season on deer, all deer hunters (INCLUDING BOW HUNTERS) must wear in full view at least five hundred (500) square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange. NOTE: Mesh-style or orange-camouflage is not considered unbroken and does not count toward the 500 square inch minimum. This requirement shall not apply to a hunter while the hunter is in a fully enclosed deer stand.

Please review all other regulations at: www.mdwfp.com