Mississippi Hunting Laws
Mississippi's Administrative Code states flatly that there are 'no caliber or magazine capacity restrictions on firearms' for deer during gun season on private land — no centerfire mandate, no minimum bullet diameter, no magazine cap. Wildlife Management Areas are stricter: only centerfire rifles and handguns (no rimfire) may be used for deer, and 500 square inches of hunter orange is required there during any deer firearm season — a requirement that does not apply statewide to private-land gun hunters outside a few special hunts.
Rules checked against Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks regulations, August 30, 2026.
At a Glance
Check a Cartridge in Mississippi
Sourced Rules
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it.
Rifle and Handgun
1 ruleOn Wildlife Management Areas, only centerfire rifles and centerfire handguns (no rimfire) may be used for deer; shotguns must use slugs, with a handful of WMAs also allowing buckshot. This is stricter than the unrestricted private-land rule.
"LEGAL WEAPONS: Only centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs or buckshot, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting, EXCEPT FOR Chickasaw, Chickasawhay, Choctaw, John Starr, Little Biloxi, ..."
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 1.2.I · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
On Wildlife Management Areas, only centerfire rifles and centerfire handguns (no rimfire) may be used for deer; shotguns must use slugs, with a handful of WMAs also allowing buckshot. This is stricter than the unrestricted private-land rule.
"LEGAL WEAPONS: Only centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs or buckshot, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting, EXCEPT FOR Chickasaw, Chickasawhay, Choctaw, John Starr, Little Biloxi, ..." |
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 1.2.I | Aug 2026 |
Rifle, Shotgun, and Handgun
1 ruleNo minimum caliber and no centerfire requirement for deer rifles, handguns, or shotguns during gun season on private land (and other open public land without WMA-specific rules) — Mississippi imposes no caliber or magazine-capacity restriction at all.
"Gun: There are no caliber or magazine capacity restrictions on firearms. Primitive firearms as defined in Part 4, Rule 1.3 of this title and Archery as defined above may be used during the gun seasons."
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 2.2.C.3 (Legal Weapons — Gun) · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
No minimum caliber and no centerfire requirement for deer rifles, handguns, or shotguns during gun season on private land (and other open public land without WMA-specific rules) — Mississippi imposes no caliber or magazine-capacity restriction at all.
"Gun: There are no caliber or magazine capacity restrictions on firearms. Primitive firearms as defined in Part 4, Rule 1.3 of this title and Archery as defined above may be used during the gun seasons." |
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 2.2.C.3 (Legal Weapons — Gun) | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun
2 rulesTurkey may be taken only with shotguns using No. 2 shot or smaller (finer) pellets, or archery equipment (longbow, recurve, compound, crossbow). The same restriction is stated for the spring gobbler season statewide, not just on WMAs.
"Turkey: Only archery equipment and shotguns with #2 shot or smaller may be used for turkey hunting."
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 1.1.D.3 (Legal Weapons — Turkey) · verified Aug 2026
Nontoxic shot is required for waterfowl hunting on Wildlife Management Areas (consistent with the federal nontoxic-shot requirement for migratory waterfowl that applies statewide).
"LEGAL SHOT: Only non-toxic shot may be used for hunting waterfowl on this WMA."
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Chapter 1 — individual WMA “LEGAL SHOT” provisions · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wild Turkey
|
Turkey may be taken only with shotguns using No. 2 shot or smaller (finer) pellets, or archery equipment (longbow, recurve, compound, crossbow). The same restriction is stated for the spring gobbler season statewide, not just on WMAs.
"Turkey: Only archery equipment and shotguns with #2 shot or smaller may be used for turkey hunting." |
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 1.1.D.3 (Legal Weapons — Turkey) | Aug 2026 |
|
Waterfowl
|
Nontoxic shot is required for waterfowl hunting on Wildlife Management Areas (consistent with the federal nontoxic-shot requirement for migratory waterfowl that applies statewide).
"LEGAL SHOT: Only non-toxic shot may be used for hunting waterfowl on this WMA." |
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Chapter 1 — individual WMA “LEGAL SHOT” provisions | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
3 rulesMuzzleloading rifles for deer must be at least .38 caliber (single or double barrel). A single-shot, breech-loading metallic-cartridge rifle of .35 caliber or larger, or a muzzleloading shotgun firing a single ball or slug, also qualifies as a primitive firearm.
"“Primitive firearms,” for the purpose of hunting deer, are defined as single or double-barreled muzzleloading rifles of at least .38 caliber; OR single shot, breech loading, metallic cartridge rifles (.35 caliber or l..."
General Hunting Rules & Regulations — Weapons and Loads — Primitive Weapon · verified Aug 2026
Muzzleloaders must fire with black powder or a black-powder substitute, ignited by percussion cap, #209 primer, or flintlock — modern smokeless powder is not allowed in the muzzleloader itself (though smokeless-loaded metallic cartridges are permitted in qualifying breech-loading rifles).
"All muzzleloading primitive firearms must use black powder or a black powder substitute with percussion caps, #209 shotgun primers, or flintlock ignition. ... Metallic cartridges may be loaded with either black powder..."
General Hunting Rules & Regulations — Weapons and Loads — Primitive Weapon · verified Aug 2026
Any magnification of telescopic sight is legal on a primitive firearm during primitive-weapon season.
"Telescopic sights are allowed while hunting with any primitive firearm during the primitive weapon seasons. A telescopic sight is defined as an optical sighting device with any magnification."
General Hunting Rules & Regulations — Weapons and Loads — Primitive Weapon · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
Muzzleloading rifles for deer must be at least .38 caliber (single or double barrel). A single-shot, breech-loading metallic-cartridge rifle of .35 caliber or larger, or a muzzleloading shotgun firing a single ball or slug, also qualifies as a primitive firearm.
"“Primitive firearms,” for the purpose of hunting deer, are defined as single or double-barreled muzzleloading rifles of at least .38 caliber; OR single shot, breech loading, metallic cartridge rifles (.35 caliber or l..." |
General Hunting Rules & Regulations — Weapons and Loads — Primitive Weapon | Aug 2026 |
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
Muzzleloaders must fire with black powder or a black-powder substitute, ignited by percussion cap, #209 primer, or flintlock — modern smokeless powder is not allowed in the muzzleloader itself (though smokeless-loaded metallic cartridges are permitted in qualifying breech-loading rifles).
"All muzzleloading primitive firearms must use black powder or a black powder substitute with percussion caps, #209 shotgun primers, or flintlock ignition. ... Metallic cartridges may be loaded with either black powder..." |
General Hunting Rules & Regulations — Weapons and Loads — Primitive Weapon | Aug 2026 |
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
Any magnification of telescopic sight is legal on a primitive firearm during primitive-weapon season.
"Telescopic sights are allowed while hunting with any primitive firearm during the primitive weapon seasons. A telescopic sight is defined as an optical sighting device with any magnification." |
General Hunting Rules & Regulations — Weapons and Loads — Primitive Weapon | Aug 2026 |
Air Gun
1 ruleAfter November 30, qualifying private-land hunters (owner, lessee, club member, or guest) may use any legal weapon of choice for deer, including air bows and pre-charged pneumatic airguns — this option is not open to the general public or on public/WMA land, and a primitive-weapon, Sportsman's, or Lifetime Sportsman's license is required if the hunter needs a license at all.
"During any open season on deer with primitive weapons after November 30, a person may use any legal weapon of choice, including air bows and pre-charged pneumatic weapons, on private lands ONLY, if the person is: a. T..."
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 2.2.C.4 · verified Aug 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
After November 30, qualifying private-land hunters (owner, lessee, club member, or guest) may use any legal weapon of choice for deer, including air bows and pre-charged pneumatic airguns — this option is not open to the general public or on public/WMA land, and a primitive-weapon, Sportsman's, or Lifetime Sportsman's license is required if the hunter needs a license at all.
"During any open season on deer with primitive weapons after November 30, a person may use any legal weapon of choice, including air bows and pre-charged pneumatic weapons, on private lands ONLY, if the person is: a. T..." |
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 2.2.C.4 | Aug 2026 |
All Weapons
4 rulesOn Wildlife Management Areas, 500 square inches of solid unbroken hunter orange or pink is required in full view when hunting deer or hogs during any deer firearm season (exceptions for elevated/enclosed stands are stated in the same rule).
"When hunting deer or hogs during any firearm season for deer on a WMA, including during special hunts, hunters must wear in full view a minimum of 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink."
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 1.1.B (Hunter Orange/Fluorescent Pink) · verified Aug 2026
500 square inches of hunter orange/pink is required during the statewide Early Primitive Weapon (antlerless-only) hunt and during Youth Deer Hunts. Mississippi does NOT impose a blanket statewide blaze-orange requirement on private land during the regular Gun deer season outside these special hunts.
"All deer hunters must wear 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink while this special hunt is in effect."
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 2.2.A.1-6 (Early Primitive Weapon Hunt and Youth Deer Hunts) · verified Aug 2026
Mississippi's hunting rules are silent on suppressors — they are not in the WMA legal-weapons list, in any individual WMA's rules, or in the deer season rule — so the hunting rules do not restrict them for any species. On the possession side, state law still makes it a misdemeanour to possess a suppressor if you are not authorised to under federal law. A 2023 act would repeal that provision, but it only takes effect if the Supreme Court rules a certain way or the state Attorney General publishes a determination, and neither has happened.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"D. Legal Weapons: Unless otherwise stated in individual WMA regulations, the following are legal weapons for all WMAs."
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, R. 1.1(D) — no mention of suppressors, silencers or mufflers in the WMA legal-weapons list or any individual WMA rule (read 2026-10-16) · verified Oct 2026
Mississippi's nuisance-animal rule (coyotes, wild hogs, fox, beaver, nutria, skunks) lets landowners, leaseholders and their written-permission agents hunt day or night on private land with no weapon or caliber restriction, and it does not restrict thermal or night-vision optics. On public land the managing agency decides.
"Landowners and any leaseholders may hunt nuisance animals year-round at any time of day or night with no weapon/caliber restrictions on property titled in their name or otherwise owned, or leased by them."
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 7.1(B)(1)–(2) (rev. 05/2022); MDWFP Nuisance Species Regulations page · verified Oct 2026
| Species | Rule | Citation | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
Feral Hog
|
On Wildlife Management Areas, 500 square inches of solid unbroken hunter orange or pink is required in full view when hunting deer or hogs during any deer firearm season (exceptions for elevated/enclosed stands are stated in the same rule).
"When hunting deer or hogs during any firearm season for deer on a WMA, including during special hunts, hunters must wear in full view a minimum of 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink." |
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 1.1.B (Hunter Orange/Fluorescent Pink) | Aug 2026 |
|
White-tailed / Mule Deer
|
500 square inches of hunter orange/pink is required during the statewide Early Primitive Weapon (antlerless-only) hunt and during Youth Deer Hunts. Mississippi does NOT impose a blanket statewide blaze-orange requirement on private land during the regular Gun deer season outside these special hunts.
"All deer hunters must wear 500 square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange or pink while this special hunt is in effect." |
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 2.2.A.1-6 (Early Primitive Weapon Hunt and Youth Deer Hunts) | Aug 2026 |
|
All species
|
Mississippi's hunting rules are silent on suppressors — they are not in the WMA legal-weapons list, in any individual WMA's rules, or in the deer season rule — so the hunting rules do not restrict them for any species. On the possession side, state law still makes it a misdemeanour to possess a suppressor if you are not authorised to under federal law. A 2023 act would repeal that provision, but it only takes effect if the Supreme Court rules a certain way or the state Attorney General publishes a determination, and neither has happened.
Suppressor law in 2026: what changed · suppressor prices
"D. Legal Weapons: Unless otherwise stated in individual WMA regulations, the following are legal weapons for all WMAs." |
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, R. 1.1(D) — no mention of suppressors, silencers or mufflers in the WMA legal-weapons list or any individual WMA rule (read 2026-10-16) | Oct 2026 |
|
Feral Hog
Coyote / Varmint
|
Mississippi's nuisance-animal rule (coyotes, wild hogs, fox, beaver, nutria, skunks) lets landowners, leaseholders and their written-permission agents hunt day or night on private land with no weapon or caliber restriction, and it does not restrict thermal or night-vision optics. On public land the managing agency decides.
"Landowners and any leaseholders may hunt nuisance animals year-round at any time of day or night with no weapon/caliber restrictions on property titled in their name or otherwise owned, or leased by them." |
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 7.1(B)(1)–(2) (rev. 05/2022); MDWFP Nuisance Species Regulations page | Oct 2026 |
Federal Rules That Apply in Every State
These federal requirements apply in Mississippi on top of state law.
Sources
How to Use This Page
Each rule links to the regulation we read and the month we checked it. Rules marked needs review come from summaries rather than the regulation text, and never produce a green answer in the checker. The checker's energy figures are typical factory loads, so where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, check your own load's rating. This page covers equipment only, not seasons, tags or local ordinances, and it isn't legal advice. The current Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks regulations are the final word.