Title 49, Conservation and Ecology

All bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 49-5-86 through 49-5-98 shall be legal investments for trustees and other fiduciaries and for savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, and such bonds shall be leg…

Sections 49-5-86 through 49-5-98 shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the exercise of the powers herein granted, but said sections shall not be deemed to repeal or to be in derogation of any existing law of this state whereunder projects of the character herein d…

The funds which are transferred from the sale of bonds under Sections 49-5-86 through 49-5-98 to the special fund in the State Treasury known as the “Wildlife Heritage Committee Land Purchase Fund” may be withdrawn only in the following manner: The funds shall be paid by the Stat…

Except as otherwise authorized in Section 7-5-39, the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall represent the commission in issuing, selling and validating bonds herein provided for, and the commission may expend any sum not exceeding Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00…

(1) Subject to existing rights, lands managed by the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall be open to access and use for recreational hunting except as limited by the commission for reasons of public safety, homeland security, or as otherwise limited by law. (2) The c…

(a) For the purposes of this chapter, the following words are defined as follows:(a) “Commission” means the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.(b) “Department” means the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.(c) “Executive director” means th…

(1) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the “Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Motor Vehicle Fund.” All funds derived from the sale of used motor vehicles, funds transferred from the “Game and Fish Protection Fund” and any other funds which may be nee…

The department shall establish and implement a motor vehicle replacement program to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the department. The program shall include replacement standards based on the type, operational environment and use of each motor vehicle and any oth…

(a) For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions and interpretations shall govern unless otherwise provided:(a) The following wild animals are classed as game: bear, white-tailed deer, rabbits and squirrels.(b) The following wild animals are classed as fur-bearing …

Hunting, trapping and fishing are vital parts of the heritage of the State of Mississippi. It shall be the public policy of the State of Mississippi to protect and preserve these activities. The Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, acting by and through the Mi…

(1) Unless a different or other penalty or punishment is specially prescribed, a person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or any law or regulation for the protection of wild animals, birds, or fish, or who fails to perform any duty imposed by such laws or regulat…

The following property is subject to forfeiture: any firearm, equipment, appliance, conveyance or other property used directly or indirectly in the hunting or catching or capturing or killing of deer at night with any headlight, lighting device or light amplifying device, or in f…

(1) The commission may promulgate rules and regulations for nonresident recreational and commercial permits and licenses in order to promote and to enter into reciprocal agreements with other states. (2) The commission may issue and prescribe the forms, types and fees of nonresid…

(1) Nonresident wholesale dealers who buy nongame gross fish in the state for the purpose of resale shall obtain a nonresident commercial fishing license. (2) Any nonresident who imports nongame gross fish into the state for the purpose of resale to a wholesale or retail dealer o…

(1) For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed herein, unless the context determines otherwise:(a) “Raw fur” means the skin that has not been removed from the carcass of a fur-bearing animal or nuisance animal.(b) “Green pelt” means the …

The commission may negotiate with the Louisiana Conservation Commission and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to effectuate a reciprocity agreement with one or both of these commissions providing that the hunting and fishing licenses and the rules and regulations governing hu…

The executive director may proceed immediately to negotiate with the Game and Fish Commission of the State of Louisiana to effectuate a reciprocity agreement with such commission providing that the current hunting and fishing licenses issued to hunters or fishermen of the respect…

(1) The Department of Finance and Administration may lease for hunting, fishing and conservation purposes to the Quitman County Conservation League, Incorporated, a nonprofit domestic corporation, all wood lands owned by the State of Mississippi in Quitman County, Mississippi, an…

This chapter shall in no way abridge, affect or repeal any of the statutes, laws, or acts relating to or having reference to seafoods, oysters, saltwater fish, saltwater shrimp, diamond back terrapin, sea turtle, crabs or any other species of marine or saltwater animal life exist…

(1) No person may import into the state or release into the wild, any live feral hog, wild swine or Russian Boar. (2) No person may transport on public roads or off of the property of record where captured or relocate within the state any live feral hog, wild swine or Russian Boa…

(1) Any person who has been convicted of a Class I violation shall be fined not less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) and shall be imprisoned in the county jail for five (5) days. The person shall also forfeit all hunting, trap…

Any person who has been convicted of a Class II violation shall be punished by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than sixty (60) days nor more than six (6) months, …

(1) No person shall intentionally:(a) Interfere with or attempt to prevent the lawful taking of wildlife by another;(b) Attempt to disturb wildlife, or attempt to affect their behavior with the intent to prevent their lawful taking by another; or(c) Harass another person who is e…

(1) (a) The department shall provide hunters with disabilities access to hunting areas in public wildlife management areas under its jurisdiction.(b) The department shall allow the use of a mobility related device for an individual who is permanently physically disabled and meets…

Recognizing the inestimable importance to the state and its citizens of conserving the wildlife resources of Mississippi and recognizing the desires of many citizens who wish to make a lifetime contribution to preserve our rich legacy of wildlife resources for future generations,…

(1) Any resident may purchase a lifetime sportsman hunting and fishing license by filing an application in the office of the department. The license shall qualify the licensee to take all fish, game and fowl, except waterfowl, including deer and turkey, in the manner provided by …

(1) The commission is hereby authorized to establish a fund to be known as the Wildlife Endowment Fund to be deposited in an approved state depository and expended by appropriation approved by the Legislature as provided by law. The department shall deposit all proceeds from the …

(1) Any person, whether a resident or nonresident of this state, who is a fur dealer, or who regularly buys fur-bearing animals from trappers or hunters, shall be required to obtain a license under this section. Application for such license shall be made to any of the officials a…

(a) For purposes of Sections 49-7-161 through 49-7-173, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the meaning described herein:(a) “Migratory waterfowl” means any wild goose, brant or wild duck.(b) “Commission” means the Mississippi Commission on Wildl…

It is unlawful for any person sixteen (16) years of age or older to hunt or take any migratory waterfowl within this state without first procuring a state migratory waterfowl stamp or its electronic equivalent and having the stamp or proof of purchase of the electronic equivalent…

The fee for each stamp issued under Sections 49-7-161 through 49-7-173 shall be Ten Dollars ($10.00).

All revenue shall be used for projects approved by the commission for the purpose of protecting and propagating migratory waterfowl and for the development, restoration, maintenance or preservation of wetlands. Provided, however, that none of such funds shall be expended for admi…

The commission may enter into reciprocal agreements with other states having a state migratory waterfowl stamp.

(1) The department may provide for the appointment of persons as license agents to sell license certificates for hunting, trapping or fishing as authorized under Section 49-7-21.The department may, by administrative rule, establish qualifications, standards and regulations for su…

Before approving and allocating funds for a proposed project to be undertaken outside this state or outside the United States, the commission shall obtain evidence that the project is acceptable to the government agency having jurisdiction over the lands and waters affected by th…

Any person violating any of the provisions of Sections 49-7-161 through 49-7-173 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) nor more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).

(1) For the purposes of this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:(a) “Wild turkey” means the game bird Meleagris gallopavo.(b) “Stamp” means the state wild turkey stamp, either in its phys…

It shall be unlawful for any officer, authorized to issue the licenses mentioned in this chapter, to knowingly issue a resident license or nonresident license to any person physically or mentally unfit to carry or use firearms.

The term “Social Security Administration,” wherever used in Title 49, Chapter 7, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall also be construed to include the Railroad Retirement Board.

(1) It is unlawful for any person born on or after January 1, 1972, to procure any Mississippi hunting license, except a resident apprentice hunting license and a resident combination small game hunting and fishing license, unless the person has been issued certification of satis…

(1) (a) To reduce hunting accidents of children under license age, to protect the safety of these children and to promote hunter safety, a child at least twelve (12) years of age and under sixteen (16) years of age must have a certificate of satisfactory completion of a hunter ed…

(1) Beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, each school district may offer a course on hunter safety as a component of its curriculum during the day, or as part of an after-school program for students in Grades 7 through 12. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the …

(1) There is established a beaver and wild hog control program which shall be developed by the Beaver and Wild Hog Control Advisory Board created in Section 49-7-203 and administered by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce with the advice of the board or adminis…

(1) There is created the Beaver and Wild Hog Control Advisory Board which shall be composed of the administrative heads of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, State Forestry Commission, Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Mississippi Department of Tra…

(1) (a) The licenses for hunting, trapping or fishing shall be issued on a form prepared by the executive director and supplied to the bonded agents authorized to issue licenses. The forms shall bear the name and social security number or driver’s license number of the applicant.…

(1) The commission may authorize the issuance of a multiyear license not to exceed four (4) years of any license issued by the commission. The fee for a multiyear license shall be commensurate with the total of the annual fees for the annual license for the number of years of the…