Would this be a shooter buck in your neck of the woods? Standing still the buck is easier to judge, but running after a doe or from dogs judging antlers would be more challenging.

    By now most hunters are aware that the much ballyhooed Four Point Rule enacted years ago has been discarded. In fact, it has been history since last year. Now hunters should be aware that other rules have changed as well, starting specifically with the new “primitive weapons”/ crossbow hunt which will be held from Nov. 8 through Nov. 19.

    Sight in those muzzleloaders and crossbows and have at. Just don’t shoot any bucks. Yes, you read that right. While you may now use that primitive weapon earlier than ever before, you may not harvest a buck. That season will come later, with various antler regulations as well, depending upon where you hunt.

    Oh and if you are a youth, you may hunt with your rifle during that season and harvest antlerless deer and legal bucks as the youth season is concurrent with the special primitive weapons season. This means that adults can carry a primitive weapon and harvest does, while their youths may harvest any legal deer including bucks with any legal weapon.

Zone 1

    For hunters in Zone 1, which is the primary zone for Mississippi readers of The Meridian Star, a legal buck is defined as having EITHER a minimum inside spread of 10 inches, OR a minimum main beam length of 13 inches. These regulations apply to adults during any season where bucks are legal. The open gun season starts November 20th and runs through December 1st.

    Now hunters should also remember that Wildlife Management Areas will have their own set of regulations. While you may harvest bucks with the minimum restrictions on private land as listed above, if you hunt on Okatibbee WMA you’ll have to raise your sights slightly as you will need to harvest bucks with a 12” minimum inside spread or a main beam of at least 15”.

    Are you confused yet?

     So many people have asked me what the rules are that I advise them to go online and check out the Mississippi Department of Wildlife’s web site and check the rules and regulations along with the hunting seasons there. Better yet you might contact the department to find out which rules apply to the area that you hunt in.

Go prepared

    And it would probably be a good idea to keep a rule book in your truck if you plan to hunt anywhere other than your home county. And even then if you hunt on federal or state land, the restrictions and bag limits may change from area to area. Additional rules and regulations are listed below per the MDWFP Website’s rules and regulations that may be accessed by going to mdwfp.com. And don’t forget those binoculars range finders and measuring tapes!

    According to the MDWFP website hunting regulations a legal buck is defined as having EITHER a minimum inside spread of 10 inches OR one main beam at least 13 inches long. (Private land hunting).

    Estimating a 10 inch spread is accomplished by observing a buck’s ears in the alert position. When in the alert position, the distance from ear-tip to ear-tip measures approximately 14 inches. If the OUTSIDE of each antler beam is 1 inch inside the ear-tip, the inside spread is approximately 10 inches.

    To estimate a 13 inch main beam, the buck’s head must be observed from the side.

    If the tip of the main beam extends to the front of the eye, main beam length is approximately 13 inches.

    Contact  Mike Giles at 601-917-3898 or e-mail him at Giles1958@bellsouth.net

Deer Management Zone 1

    Private and open public lands east of I-55 and north of I-20 plus areas south of I-20 and east of U.S. Hwy. 61, excluding areas south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and east of MS Hwy. 35.

    A legal buck is defined as having EITHER a minimum inside spread of 10 inches OR a minimum main beam length of 13 inches.

Method Season Dates Legal Deer

    Archery Oct. 1 – Nov. 19, 2010 Antlerless Deer & Legal Bucks on private and open public land.

 

Youth Gun Nov. 6 – 7, 2010

    Antlerless Deer & Legal Bucks on private and authorized state and federal lands. Youth 15 and under.

 

Special Primitive Weapons Hunt /Crossbow

    Nov. 8 – 19, 2010 Antlerless Deer Only (private and open public land).

 

Youth Gun Nov. 8 – 19, 2010

    Antlerless Deer & Legal Bucks on private and authorized state and federal lands. Youth 15 and under.

 

Gun (with dogs) / Crossbow /Special Archery Hunt

    Nov. 20 – Dec. 1, 2010 Antlerless Deer & Legal Bucks on private land; Legal Bucks only on open public land.

 

Primitive Weapon / Crossbow /Special Archery Hunt / Youth Gun

    Dec. 2 – 15, 2010 Antlerless Deer & Legal Bucks on private and open public land.

 

Gun (without dogs) / Crossbow /

Special Archery Hunt

    Dec. 16 – 23, 2010 Antlerless Deer & Legal Bucks on private and open public land.

 

Gun (with dogs) / Crossbow /Special Archery Hunt

    Dec. 24, 2010 – Jan. 19, 2011 Antlerless Deer & Legal Bucks on private land; Legal Bucks only on open public land.

 

Primitive Weapon / Archery /Crossbow / Youth Gun

    Jan. 20 – 31, 2011 Antlerless Deer & Legal Bucks on private and open public land.

 

Zone I: LEGAL BUCKS: 10” Inside Spread OR 13” Main Beam

                          

                 

Bag Limits

    Antlered Buck Deer: The bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed three (3) per license year. Legal bucks must meet the antler criteria within the appropriate deer management zone. For youth hunters fifteen (15) years of age and younger, hunting on private land and authorized state and federal lands, one (1) of the three (3) buck bag limit may be any antlered deer. Antlerless Deer: The bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) per day, not to exceed five (5) per license year.