Get the details on the 2023-2023 Mississippi hunting seasons for white-tailed deer, turkey, small game, and squirrel as published by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. We have provided the data in easy-to-read tables and a color-coded map.
DISCLAIMER: This article is not meant to fully disclose all rules and regulations pertaining to these seasons. To read the full details including bag limits, legal deer definition, seasons, open areas and more, visit the MDWFP hunting season publication
NOTE: seasons are subject to change by MDWFP due to flooding and other causes. Visit www.mdwfp.com for more information on closures.
2022-2023 White-Tailed Deer Hunting Season Schedule in Mississippi*
| Zone | Weapon Type | Open Date | Close Date | Legal Deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta, Northeast, North Central, East central, and Southwest* | Archery | September 16, 2022 | September 18, 2022 | Legal Bucks Only. Special permit, mandatory reporting, and CWD sampling required. |
| Delta, Northeast, North Central, East central, and Southwest* | Archery | October 1, 2022 | November 18, 2022 | Either-Sex on private land, open public land, and Holly Springs NF |
| Delta, Northeast, North Central, East central, and Southwest* | Youth Season (age 15 and under) -- Either-Sex on private lands and authorized state and federal lands. | November 5, 2022 | November 18, 2022 | Either-Sex on private lands and authorized state and federal lands. |
| Delta, Northeast, North Central, East central, and Southwest* | Youth Season (age 15 and under) -- Either-Sex on private lands. On open public lands, youth must follow below legal deer criteria | November 19, 2022 | January 31, 2023 | Either-Sex on private lands. On open public lands, youth must follow below legal deer criteria. |
| Delta, Northeast, North Central, East central, and Southwest* | Antlerless Primitive Weapon | November 7, 2022 | November 18, 2022 | Antlerless Deer Only on private lands. |
| Delta, Northeast, North Central, East central, and Southwest* | Gun (with dogs) | November 19, 2022 | December 1, 2022 | Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land. |
| Delta, Northeast, North Central, East central, and Southwest* | Primitive Weapon | December 2, 2022 | December 15, 2022 | Either-Sex on private land, open public land, and Holly Springs NF. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license. |
| Delta, Northeast, North Central, East central, and Southwest* | Gun (without dogs) | December 16, 2022 | December 23, 2022 | Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land. |
| Delta, Northeast, North Central, East central, and Southwest* | Gun (with dogs) | December 24, 2022 | January 18, 2023 | Either-Sex on private land and Holly Spring NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land. |
| Delta, Northeast, North Central, East central, and Southwest* | Archery/Primitive Weapon | January 19, 2023 | January 31, 2023 | Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license. |
| Southeast* | Archery | September 16, 2022 | September 18, 2022 | Legal Bucks Only. Special permit, mandatory reporting, and CWD sampling required. |
| Southeast* | Archery | October 15, 2022 | November 18, 2022 | Either-Sex on private and open public land. |
| Southeast* | Youth Season (Age 15 and under) -- on private lands and authorized state and federal lands. | November 5, 2022 | November 18, 2022 | Either-Sex on private lands and authorized state and federal lands. |
| Southeast* | Youth Season (Age 15 and under) -- on private lands. On open public lands, youth must follow below legal deer criteria. | November 19, 2022 | February 15, 2023 | Either-Sex on private lands. On open public lands, youth must follow below legal deer criteria. |
| Southeast* | Gun (with dogs) | November 19, 2022 | December 1, 2022 | Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. |
| Southeast* | Primitive Weapon | December 2, 2022 | December 15, 2023 | Either-Sex on private and open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license. |
| Southeast* | Gun (without dogs) | December 16, 2022 | December 23, 2022 | Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. |
| Southeast* | Gun (with dogs) | December 24 , 2022 | January 18, 2023 | Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. |
| Southeast* | Archery/Primitive Weapon Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license. | January 19, 2023 | January 31, 2023 | Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license. |
| Southeast* | Archery/Primitive Weapon Legal Bucks only on private and open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license. | February 1, 2023 | February 15, 2023 | Legal Bucks only on private and open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license. |
2022-2023 Turkey Hunting Seasons in Mississippi*
Fall Turkey Season
Fall turkey season is open BY PERMIT ONLY from October 15-November 15 on private lands in the following counties or portions of counties where the landowner/leaseholder completes a fall turkey hunting application to the MDWFP Jackson Office and receives tags. The fall season bag limit is two (2) turkeys, which may be of either sex. (see MDWFP Mississippi hunting season publication)
- Delta Zone: Bolivar County – west of the main Mississippi River levee and those lands east of the main Mississippi River levee known as 27 Break Hunting Club; Coahoma, Desoto, Issaquena, Tunica, and Washington counties – west of the main Mississippi River levee.
- North Central Zone: Benton, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Tippah, and Union counties.
- Southwest Zone: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Warren, Wilkinson, and Yazoo counties.
Spring Turkey Season
- March 15th – May 1st
- One (1) adult gobbler or 1 gobbler with a 6-inch or longer beard per day, 3 per Spring season. Hunters 15 years of age and younger may harvest 1 gobbler of choice (any age) per day, 3 per Spring season.
Youth Spring Turkey Season (15 and under)
- March 8th – March 14th
- One (1) adult gobbler or 1 gobbler with a 6-inch or longer beard per day, 3 per Spring season. Hunters 15 years of age and younger may harvest 1 gobbler of choice (any age) per day, 3 per Spring season.
Non-Resident Season (Public Lands)
- March 15th – March 28
- One (1) adult gobbler or 1 gobbler with a 6inch or longer beard per day, 3 per Spring season.
- Non-residents Turkey Hunting on Public Lands: Non-residents cannot hunt any public land in Mississippi between March 15-28 unless drawn for either a Non-resident Public Lands Turkey Permit or WMA Draw Hunt.
*Read full details including bag limits and open areas in the MDWFP Mississippi hunting season publication
Tips for Hunting Clubs
Just before hunting season opens is a good time to check your hunting club property to make sure everything is safe and the equipment is functioning properly. Read our tips for hunting clubs to increase safety of their members and reduce club liability for tips on what to keep an eye out for.
2022-2023 Small Game Hunting Seasons in Mississippi*
| Species | Open Date | Close Date | Daily Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabbit* | October 15, 2022 | February 28, 2023 | 8 |
| Bobwhite Quail* | November 24, 2022 | March 4, 2023 | 8 |
| Frog* | April 1, 2023 | September 30, 2023 | 25/night |
| Raccoon* | July 1, 2023 | September 30, 2023 | 1 per party/night |
| Opossum, Raccoon, and Bobcat (food and sport)* | October 1, 2022 | October 31, 2022 | 5/day 8/party |
| Opossum, Raccoon, and Bobcat (food, sport, and pelt)* | November 1, 2022 | February 28, 2023 | No limit |
| Trapping* | November 1, 2022 | March 15, 2023 | No limit |
2022-2023 Squirrel Hunting Season in Mississippi*
| Season | Open Date | Close Date | Daily Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Squirrel* | September 24, 2022 | September 30, 2022 | 8 |
| Fall | October 1, 2022 | February 28, 2023 | 8 |
| Spring | May 15, 2023 | June 1, 2023 | 4 |
Other Articles of Interest to Mississippi Hunters
- Estate Planning for Ownership Interests in Hunting Clubs
- Mississippi Land Lease Agreements
- Practical ways for hunting clubs to reduce liability
- 3 Steps to Have a Safe Hunting Season
- What to Do About Trespassers On Your Land
- Legal Devices to help Hunting Clubs and Landowners Minimize Their Liability
MDWFP Mississippi Hunting Zones Description
For the complete descriptions and a detailed map, visit the MDWFP website
North Central Zone
All private and open public lands in Alcorn, Benton, Desoto, Marshall, Tate, and Tippah counties. See the MDWFP Mississippi hunting season publication for more information
Delta Zone
Areas west of I-55 and north of I-20 plus areas south of I-20 and west of U.S. Highway 61.
This includes all or parts of
- Adams County
- Bolivar County
- Carroll County
- Claiborne County
- Coahoma County
- Desoto County
- Grenada County
- Hinds County
- Holmes County
- Humphreys County
- Issaquena County
- Jefferson County
- Leflore County
- Madison County
- Panola County
- Quitman County
- Sharkey County
- Sunflower County
- Tallahatchie County
- Tate County
- Tunica County
- Warren County
- Washington County
- Wilkinson County
- Yalobusha County
- Yazoo County
See the MDWFP Mississippi hunting season publication for more information
Northeast Zone
Areas east of I-55, north of U.S. Highway 82 , and excluding counties in the North Central Unit. Public lands include national forests (excluding Holly Springs NF), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons without special regulations.
This includes all or parts of:
- Calhoun County
- Chickasaw County
- Clay County
- Grenada County
- Itawamba County
- Lafayette County
- Lee County
- Lowndes County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Oktibbeha County
- Panola County
- Pontotoc County
- Prentiss County
- Tishomingo County
- Union County
- Webster County
- Yalobusha County
See the MDWFP Mississippi hunting season publication for more information
East Central Zone
Areas east of I-55, east of U.S. Highway 49, south of U.S. Highway 82, and north of U.S. Highway 84
This includes all or parts of:
- Attala County
- Carroll County
- Choctaw County
- Clarke County
- Covington County
- Hinds County
- Holmes County
- Jasper County
- Jones County
- Kemper County
- Lauderdale County
- Leake County
- Lowndes County
- Madison County
- Montgomery County
- Neshoba County
- Newton County
- Noxubee County
- Oktibbeha County
- Rankin County
- Scott County
- Simpson County
- Smith County
- Wayne County
- Webster County
- Winston County
- Yazoo County
See the MDWFP 2022-2023 Mississippi hunting season publication for more information
Southeast Zone
Areas south of U.S. Highway 84 and east of MS Highway 35
This includes all or parts of:
- Covington County
- Forrest County
- George County
- Greene County
- Hancock County
- Harrison County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson Davis County
- Jones County
- Lamar County
- Marion County
- Pearl River County
- Perry County
- Stone County
- Wayne County
See the MDWFP 2022-2023 Mississippi hunting season publication for more information
Southwest Zone
Areas east of U.S. Highway 61, south of I-20, west of U.S. Highway 49, and west of MS Highway 35
This includes all or parts of:
- Adams County
- Amite County
- Claiborne County
- Copiah County
- Covington County
- Franklin County
- Hinds County
- Jefferson County
- Jefferson Davis County
- Lawrence County
- Lincoln County
- Marion County
- Pike County
- Rankin County
- Simpson County
- Walthall County
- Warren County
- Wilkinson County
See the MDWFP 2022-2023 Mississippi hunting season publication for more information