2026-2027 Essential Guide to Mississippi’s Hunting Seasons and Regulations

Mississippi hunting season for 2026-2027 opens early with the September archery velvet deer window, then rolls into long deer, squirrel, dove, duck, rabbit, quail, and spring turkey opportunities across the state. White-tailed deer remain the headline species, but Mississippi also offers strong public-land hunting for waterfowl, squirrels, rabbits, bobwhite quail, and wild hogs. Because season timing changes by species, deer management unit, and sometimes public-land status, hunters need the current rulebook before they make plans.

That matters for more than convenience. Mississippi hunting dates control when you can hunt, what weapon you can carry, how many animals you can tag, and which extra permits you need for deer, turkey, waterfowl, or WMA access. Nonresidents also face added public-land turkey restrictions before April 1. The safest move is to plan from the official MDWFP season dates and bag limits and verify special public-land rules before opening day.

• ✔ Hunting season dates
• ✔ Bag limits
• ✔ Legal hunting hours
• ✔ Required licenses
• ✔ Weapon restrictions
• ✔ Blaze orange rules
• ✔ Public land rules
• ✔ Hunter education requirements

Quick Overview

Complete Hunting Dates for Mississippi Hunting Season 2026-2027

Big Game

Deer
Mississippi deer season is split by deer management unit.

Delta, Hills, and North Central Units

• Archery velvet: Sept. 11-13, 2026
• Archery: Oct. 1-Nov. 20, 2026
• Youth: Nov. 7-20, 2026 and Nov. 21, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027
• Antlerless primitive weapon on private land: Nov. 9-20, 2026
• Gun with dogs: Nov. 21-Dec. 1, 2026 and Dec. 24, 2026-Jan. 20, 2027
• Primitive weapon: Dec. 2-15, 2026
• Gun without dogs: Dec. 16-23, 2026
• Archery/primitive weapon: Jan. 21-31, 2027

Southeast Unit

• Archery velvet: Sept. 11-13, 2026
• Archery: Oct. 15-Nov. 20, 2026
• Youth: Nov. 7-20, 2026, Nov. 21, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027, and Feb. 1-15, 2027
• Gun with dogs: Nov. 21-Dec. 1, 2026 and Dec. 24, 2026-Jan. 20, 2027
• Primitive weapon: Dec. 2-15, 2026
• Gun without dogs: Dec. 16-23, 2026
• Archery/primitive weapon: Jan. 21-31, 2027 and Feb. 1-15, 2027

Zone notes: Legal buck standards differ by unit. Delta requires either a 12-inch inside spread or 15-inch main beam. Hills and Southeast require either a 10-inch inside spread or 13-inch main beam. North Central allows any hardened antler.

Black bear
No Mississippi bear hunting season is listed. Black bears are protected and managed by MDWFP’s Black Bear Program.

Wild hog
On private land, wild hogs may be hunted year-round, day or night, with no daily or seasonal bag limit. On MDWFP WMAs, hogs may usually be taken only incidental to an open hunting season with legal weapons for that season.

Alligator
Mississippi alligator hunting is a special-permit hunt, not a general open season. Permit holders may harvest two alligators over 4 feet, with only one over 7 feet, and must complete MDWFP training.

Elk, moose, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, bison, javelina
Mississippi does not list general hunting seasons for these species.

Turkey

• Youth season: Mar. 8-14, 2027
• Spring season: Mar. 15-May 2, 2027
• Resident bag limit: 1 gobbler per day, 3 per spring season
• Nonresident bag limit: 1 gobbler per day, 2 per spring season, only 1 before April 1
• No statewide fall turkey season is listed in the current season page.

Special season note: Nonresidents cannot hunt open public land before April 1 unless drawn for the nonresident public-land endorsement or a WMA draw hunt.

Small Game

• Youth squirrel: Sept. 24-30, 2026
• Squirrel fall: Oct. 1, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027
• Squirrel spring: May 15-June 1, 2027
• Rabbit: Oct. 17, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027
• Frog: Apr. 1-Sept. 30, 2027
• Raccoon special summer season: July 1-Sept. 30, 2026
• Opossum, raccoon, bobcat: Oct. 1-31, 2026 and Nov. 1, 2026-Mar. 15, 2027
• Trapping season: Nov. 1, 2026-Mar. 15, 2027

Mississippi does not list hare, jackrabbit, prairie dog, groundhog, or woodchuck seasons on the statewide current-season page.

Upland Birds

• Bobwhite quail: Nov. 26, 2026-Mar. 7, 2027
• Crow: Nov. 7, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027
• Dove (North and South zones): Sept. 5-Oct. 4, 2026, Oct. 24-Nov. 22, 2026, Dec. 26, 2026-Jan. 24, 2027

Mississippi does not list pheasant, grouse, chukar, partridge, or ptarmigan seasons in the current statewide digest.

Waterfowl

• Sept. teal: Sept. 19-27, 2026
• Sept. Canada geese: Sept. 1-30, 2026
• Ducks, mergansers, and coots: Nov. 27-29, 2026, Dec. 4-6, 2026, Dec. 9, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027
• Geese including brant: Nov. 13-29, 2026, Dec. 4-6, 2026, Dec. 9, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027
• Rails and gallinules: Sept. 1-30, 2026 and Nov. 22-Dec. 31, 2026
• Snipe: Nov. 14, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027
• Woodcock: Dec. 18, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027
• Youth, veteran, and active military waterfowl days: Feb. 6-7, 2027
• Light Goose Conservation Order: Oct. 1-Nov. 12, 2026, Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2026, Feb. 1-5, 2027, Feb. 8-Mar. 31, 2027

Hunters who travel regionally may also want to compare neighboring frameworks in the Louisiana hunting season guide. Source

Furbearers

• Trapping season for furbearers: Nov. 1, 2026-Mar. 15, 2027
• Opossum/raccoon/bobcat food and sport: Oct. 1-31, 2026
• Opossum/raccoon/bobcat food, sport, and pelt: Nov. 1, 2026-Mar. 15, 2027
• Beaver, coyote, fox, nutria, skunk, and wild hog are classified as nuisance animals and may be taken year-round on private lands, and on qualifying open public lands, subject to applicable rules.

Otter and bobcat taken in Mississippi must be CITES tagged before shipping or transport out of state.

Predators

• Coyote: year-round nuisance-animal opportunity on private lands
• Fox: year-round nuisance-animal opportunity on private lands
• Bobcat: regulated through hunting/trapping seasons noted above
• Wolf and mountain lion: no Mississippi hunting season listed

Special Opportunities

• Youth deer season
• Youth turkey season
• Youth squirrel season
• Youth, veteran, and active military waterfowl days
• WMA draw hunts for deer, turkey, early teal, rabbit, dove, and waterfowl
• Mobility-impaired deer draw opportunities on select WMAs

Hunting License Fees

Extra fees apply through processing and agent charges in the state licensing system. Waterfowl hunters also need HIP certification, and duck hunters should review U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service duck stamp guidance before traveling.

Important Hunting Regulations

• Landowner permission is required on private land.
• Resident game hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
• Migratory bird hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
• Hunting with a loaded firearm on roads, highways, levees, railroads, or rights-of-way is unlawful.
• You cannot shoot game animals, furbearers, or game birds from a motorized vehicle or moving boat.
• Squirrels and game birds may be hunted from a boat only if the motor is off and all progress has stopped.
• During deer firearm seasons, every deer hunter must wear 500 square inches of solid fluorescent orange or pink.
• Blaze orange/pink is not required in a fully enclosed blind or from a deer stand elevated 12 feet or more.
• Mesh or camouflage orange/pink does not count toward the 500-square-inch minimum.
• All archery and primitive-weapon hunters must also wear orange or pink during special deer hunts.
• There are no general caliber or magazine-capacity restrictions on firearms.
• Primitive weapon season has specific firearm definitions for deer hunting.
• Telescopic sights are allowed on primitive firearms.
• On private land after Nov. 30, legal weapon-of-choice use is allowed during open primitive-weapon deer seasons for qualified hunters.
• Spring turkey weapons are limited to shotguns with no shot larger than No. 2 and legal bows; quadriplegic hunters may use a rifle.
• Migratory bird shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells.
• Waterfowl and light goose hunters must use nontoxic shot.
• Hunting over bait is illegal.
• Liquid scents are allowed.
• Electronic calls are allowed for crow and nuisance animals.
• Supplemental deer feeding is allowed only on private land outside CWD management zones and only from qualifying feeders.
• Feeding, salt, and mineral attractants are banned in CWD management zones.
• Dogs are prohibited for deer during archery, primitive-weapon, and still-hunting seasons.
• Spring turkey dog running is prohibited except for narrow permit exceptions.
• Nuisance species such as raccoon, fox, opossum, beaver, nutria, coyote, and bobcat may be hunted at night, but deer may not be hunted at night with lights, FLIR, or thermal devices.
• Wild hog hunters on private land must wear hunter orange during any open deer gun season unless inside a fully enclosed stand.
• Bobcat and river otter shipped or transported out of Mississippi must have CITES tags.
• WMA rules can be stricter than statewide rules.
• National forest hunters need a valid hunting license and a WMA user permit on WMAs located on national forest land.
• Tree stands and blinds on national forest land must be portable and may not damage trees.
• ORVs/ATVs on forest-service WMAs are limited to designated roads or retrieval rules.
• Hunting on baited areas is not allowed on national forest land.
• Open public-land turkey hunting for nonresidents before April 1 requires a draw endorsement unless covered by a WMA draw.
• All licensed migratory bird hunters must have HIP certification.
• Waterfowl hunters age 16-65 need both state and federal waterfowl stamps.
• Youth under 16 are license-exempt, but waterfowl youth must hunt with a properly licensed adult.
• Harassment of wildlife is a punishable offense.
• Airborne hunting and aircraft-assisted harassment are prohibited.
• All turkey hunters must Game Check their harvests.
• MDWFP urges deer hunters, especially in CWD areas, to submit heads for sampling.

Best Hunting Places in Mississippi

Best Deer Hunting Areas

Sunflower WMA stands out for big woods Delta habitat, quality deer management, and strong public access in the Delta National Forest. Hunters like it for archery, primitive weapon, gun opportunities, and healthy habitat conditions. Terrain is flat bottomland hardwood with sloughs, food plots, and flooded timber, so access is moderate but can get wet. Public land. Difficulty: medium.

Best Turkey Hunting Areas

Sunflower WMA and other draw-based public lands remain strong turkey options because of large forest blocks and managed access. Early-season permits on some public areas help control pressure, which serious gobbler hunters often prefer. Public land; expect long walks, wet ground, and variable road conditions.

Best Waterfowl Hunting Areas

Mahannah WMA is one of Mississippi’s headline duck destinations thanks to bottomland hardwoods, cypress swamps, flooded ag fields, and managed impoundments. Hunters target mallards, teal, gadwall, pintail, wigeon, and more. Public land. Terrain is muddy, wet, and timing-sensitive. Difficulty: medium to high.

Best Small Game Areas

Sunflower WMA is a classic squirrel destination, especially for fox squirrel hunters, while Mississippi’s national forests offer wide-ranging rabbit, squirrel, raccoon, and quail access over more than 1 million acres. Public land. Difficulty ranges from easy road-edge access to tougher walk-in timber.

Best Public Hunting Lands

Mississippi National Forest WMAs such as Sunflower, Leaf River, Tallahala, and Bienville give hunters room to spread out. These lands are attractive because statewide seasons generally apply outside special WMA restrictions, portable stands are allowed, and access covers a wide geography from Delta hardwoods to piney hills. Public land; always verify local rules before entry.

Best Wildlife Management Areas

Mahannah WMA for waterfowl, Sunflower WMA for deer/turkey/squirrels, and Pascagoula River WMA for Gulf Coast public-land access are three of the most recognizable options. Pascagoula is valuable for hunters who want large-scale coastal-river habitat and a different terrain profile than the Delta. Access is by established headquarters and permit stations; difficulty varies with water, roads, and remoteness.

Bag Limits

Legal Hunting Hours

Mississippi keeps its hour rules simple. For resident game such as deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, and quail, legal shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. For migratory birds, including ducks, geese, dove, rails, gallinules, snipe, and woodcock, legal shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. The big exception is nuisance-animal night hunting, which allows certain species such as raccoons, foxes, opossums, beavers, nutrias, coyotes, and bobcats to be hunted after dark under state rules. Specific WMAs, refuges, and special-draw hunts may layer on tighter access windows, so always read the site-specific brochure before hunting.

Hunter Education Requirements

Mississippi requires hunter education for all persons born after January 1, 1972 before they purchase a hunting license. Youth ages 12-15 may hunt alone only if they have completed hunter education; otherwise they must be supervised by a licensed or exempt hunter age 21 or older. Students must be at least 10 years old for certification. Mississippi residents age 12 and older can complete the full course online, while younger residents and nonresidents rely on classroom options. The course includes 10 hours of instruction, and students must attend all hours and pass the written exam. One-time resident apprentice licenses are available for hunters who have not yet completed hunter education, but they must hunt with a qualified adult.

Public vs Private Land Hunting

Private land hunting in Mississippi starts with permission. If the land is not titled in your name, you need landowner approval, and wild hog designated agents must carry written permission. Public land adds extra layers. Most WMAs require a WMA user permit, and draw hunts are common for deer, turkey, teal, rabbit, dove, and waterfowl. National forests provide more than 1 million acres of huntable ground, but WMA boundaries inside them carry special regulations. The North Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge Complex also has its own permit and access rules. In short, Mississippi public hunting land is excellent, but the exact rulebook changes by tract, not just by species.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does hunting season start in Mississippi?

For 2026-2027, the earliest major opener is the archery velvet deer season on September 11, 2026.

Do I need a hunting license in Mississippi?

Yes, most resident hunters ages 16-64 and most nonresidents need a valid hunting license unless a listed exemption applies.

Can nonresidents hunt in Mississippi?

Yes. Nonresidents can hunt in Mississippi, but they must buy the proper license stack, and turkey hunting on open public land before April 1 requires a special draw endorsement unless they are on a drawn WMA hunt.

Can I hunt on Sundays in Mississippi?

Mississippi’s statewide rules do not list a blanket Sunday ban, but hunters should still check the local rules for WMAs, refuges, and other public lands before going.

Can I use a crossbow in Mississippi?

Yes. Crossbows are listed with legal archery equipment, and resident and nonresident permit requirements still apply when required.

Do I need hunter education in Mississippi?

If you were born after January 1, 1972, yes. Youth supervision rules also apply for hunters ages 12-15.

Can I bait deer in Mississippi?

Not in the usual sense. Hunting with the aid of bait is illegal, but supplemental feeding is allowed on qualifying private land outside CWD management zones under feeder-specific rules.

Can I hunt on public land in Mississippi?

Yes. Mississippi has extensive WMAs and national forest access, but permits, draw systems, and tract-specific rules often apply.

Can I hunt at night in Mississippi?

Only certain species. Night hunting is generally for nuisance/furbearer species such as raccoon, coyote, fox, bobcat, beaver, nutria, and opossum under state rules. Deer night hunting with lights or thermal devices is illegal.

What is the blaze orange requirement in Mississippi?

During any deer firearm season, hunters must wear 500 square inches of solid fluorescent orange or pink unless hunting from a fully enclosed blind or from an elevated stand at least 12 feet high.

Final Thoughts

Mississippi hunting season 2026-2027 offers one of the South’s more flexible lineups, especially for deer, ducks, squirrels, rabbits, quail, wild hogs, and spring gobblers. The real key is understanding where statewide rules end and where local rules begin. Deer management units change buck standards and late-season timing, public-land turkey rules hit nonresidents differently, and waterfowl hunters need the full license-and-stamp stack before they step into the marsh.

Good hunting in Mississippi still depends on more than filling a tag. It depends on safe gun handling, honest harvest reporting, respect for landowners, and support for wildlife conservation. Before any trip, confirm the latest season dates, WMA brochures, and emergency rule updates with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks so your hunt is legal, ethical, and fully current.

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Eric Hale

Author & Chief Editor at AskHunting.com

Eric Hale, a veteran hunter with more than a decade of experience, imparts his knowledge via AskHunting.com. He offers guidance for hunting, adding strategies, and delivers in-depth guides for the novice and the old hand. He loves family camping sessions, watching Marvel films with his spouse, and going on thrilling road journeys.

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