Hunting in Mississippi: 3 Animals To Hunt in the Winter

Winter means deer hunting season in Mississippi just as it does in many states in America. Yet, plenty of other small game can also be hunted during the winter months of December, January, February, and March in the Magnolia State.

Here are three animals with open hunting seasons in Mississippi during the winter:

1. Deer
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks deems a legal buck “as having either a minimum inside spread of 10 inches or a minimum main beam length of 13 inches.”

ALERT: Should Obama Have More Control Over Guns? Vote Now

Gun hunting with dogs is typically permissible during the week of Christmas and New Years, while primitive weapon season for both antlerless deer and legal bucks spans the end of January.

Hunters can typically squeeze in a day or two of gun hunting deer without dogs at the start of winter, too. Rules very from Hill Zone, Southeast Zone, and the Delta Zone, so all deer hunters should be sure to check the rules and regulations of their intended zone before they grab their guns and hit the ruts. Hunters can also utilize MSDeer.com for more resources and to share their wins in the MSDeer “Trophy Room.”

2. Rabbit
Hunters are permitted to go after this small game nearly all of winter as the season starts in the fall and continues until the end of February. Keep in mind that a daily bag limit of eight is in place, and hunters will find two species of rabbits in the state, the cottontail and swamp rabbits.

Specific rules and regulations depend on the area and the type of land, so hunters should always check before going after this or any game. Several guided rabbit hunting companies also exist that utilize trained beagles as well, such as the Prairie Wildlife outfit based in West Point, Mississippi.

VOTE NOW: Is Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran Doing a Good Job?

3. Bobwhite Quail
This small game option has a shorter season than rabbits, but the daily bag limit of eight remains the same. Quails have been harder to find in Mississippi due to habitat loss, but the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks show a promising rise in numbers.

According to the Mississippi Business Journal, “The number of calling birds identified has risen across the state since 2009. The number of birds heard in South Mississippi more than tripled from 2009 to 2012 while nearly doubling in North Mississippi over the same time frame. The number of birds has increased every year in all three regions since 2009 with the exception of dip in numbers in Central Mississippi in 2011.”

One hunting lodge that still promises hunters quality game is Burnt Oak Lodge at Crawford, and hunters are encouraged to contact other lodges and wildlife management areas.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

URGENT: Do You Support Obama's Plans for Stricter Gun Control? Vote Now

Related Stories:

• Hunting Kansas: 3 Animals to Hunt in the Winter

• Hunting in Idaho: 3 Animals to Hunt in the Winter