The primitive weapon season for deer in all deer management zones will open Dec. 1, with antlerless deer and legal bucks are eligible for hunters to kill.
The season lasts through Dec. 14. Hunters may kill an antlerless deer and a legal buck during the same day.
According to Lann M. Wilf, North Region Deer Program Biologist, the pre-rut period is beginning throughout most of the state.
“Hunters may expect to see bucks beginning to chase does, which always makes for an exciting hunt,” Wilf said. “Furthermore, deer movement seems to be greater during the first two weeks of December. As a result, we usually see many mature bucks harvested across the state during the primitive weapon season.”
Legal weapons are primitive firearms and crossbows. “Primitive Firearms,” for the purpose of hunting deer, 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 muzzle-loading primitive firearms must use black powder or a black powder substitute with percussion caps, #209 shotgun primers, or flintlock ignition.
Hunters can find information about the three Deer Management Zones, season dates, and hunting regulations at www.mdwfp.com/deer or in the 2012-13 Mississippi Outdoor Digest.