Velvet buck season permits on sale now for September hunt

In the 2022 Legislative Season, House Bill 1035 was passed, establishing a velvet buck season in Mississippi. To participate in this season, hunters will be required to obtain a special Velvet Season Permit. These permits will be available to purchase August 1, 2022 at anywhere you can purchase a hunting and fishing license.

Here’s what you need to know to be ready to hunt this September:

When: September 16-18, 2022

Where: Private Lands Only

What: Only legal bucks for the respective Deer Management Unit may be harvested. Find your Deer Management Unit here.

With: Archery Only – Longbows, recurves, compound bows, and crossbows. There is no minimum or maximum draw weight. There is no minimum length arrow. Fixed or mechanical broadheads may be used.

Price: All hunters, unless exempt or have a lifetime license, must possess a valid Velvet Season Permit. The cost of the permit for residents is $10.00. For non-residents, this permit is included in your $50.00 deer permit.

Additional Rules to note:

• Bag Limit – The bag limit is one (1) legal buck, and this buck will count towards your annual antlered deer bag limit.
• Mandatory Harvest Reporting – Hunters (including license exempt hunters) must report their harvest by 10:00 p.m. the day of harvest. Hunters can report via the MDWFP Smartphone App or MDWFP web portal.
• Mandatory CWD Sampling – All harvested bucks must be submitted for CWD sampling to a MDWFP CWD Drop-off freezer or to an MDWFP participating taxidermist within 5 days of harvest.
• Find a CWD Drop-Off Freezer
• Find a Participating Taxidermist