Mississippi Hunting Seasons & Prices
2026 big-game season dates and license/tag prices.
Mississippi offers 2026 hunting seasons for whitetail and turkey across archery, any method, muzzleloader, and firearm methods. Seasons run from September 11, 2026 through May 2, 2027. A all game hunting/fishing license costs $25 for residents and $300 for nonresidents.
Planning reference only — always confirm dates and prices with the state wildlife agency before applying, buying a license, or hunting.
Season dates
Whitetail
| Season | Method | Opens | Closes | Notes | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Velvet Archery (statewide) | Archery | Sep 11, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | One legal buck only. Special permit, mandatory reporting and CWD sampling required. Private land and authorized state/federal lands. | 🔔 |
| Archery (Delta, North Central & Hills units) | Archery | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | Either-sex on private and open public lands. | 🔔 |
| Archery (Southeast unit) | Archery | Oct 15, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | Either-sex on private and open public land. | 🔔 |
| Youth Season (15 and under) | Any method | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | All units. Either-sex on private lands, authorized state and federal lands, and open public lands. | 🔔 |
| Antlerless Primitive Weapon (Delta, N. Central & Hills) | Muzzleloader | Nov 9, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | Antlerless deer only, private lands. | 🔔 |
| Gun with Dogs | Firearm | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | All units. Either-sex on private land (and Holly Springs NF in the Delta/North Central/Hills units, excluding portions in Yalobusha County); legal bucks only on open public land. | 🔔 |
| Youth Season (15 and under), late | Any method | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | All units. Either-sex on private lands; on open public lands youth must follow legal buck criteria. | 🔔 |
| Primitive Weapon | Muzzleloader | Dec 2, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | All units. Either-sex on private and open public land; weapon of choice may be used on private land with the appropriate license. | 🔔 |
| Gun without Dogs | Firearm | Dec 16, 2026 | Dec 23, 2026 | All units. Either-sex on private land (and Holly Springs NF in the Delta/North Central/Hills units, excluding portions in Yalobusha County); legal bucks only on open public land. | 🔔 |
| Gun with Dogs, late | Firearm | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 20, 2027 | All units. Either-sex on private land (and Holly Springs NF in the Delta/North Central/Hills units, excluding portions in Yalobusha County); legal bucks only on open public land. | 🔔 |
| Archery / Primitive Weapon, late | Any method | Jan 21, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | All units. Either-sex on private land; legal bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with the appropriate license. | 🔔 |
| Southeast unit extension (youth & archery/primitive weapon) | Any method | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 15, 2027 | Southeast unit only. Youth (15 and under): legal bucks on private and open public lands. Archery/primitive weapon: legal bucks only; weapon of choice may be used on private land with the appropriate license. | 🔔 |
Turkey
| Season | Method | Opens | Closes | Notes | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Youth (15 and under) | Any method | Mar 8, 2027 | Mar 14, 2027 | Private, authorized state and federal public lands, and open public lands. | 🔔 |
| Spring | Any method | Mar 15, 2027 | May 2, 2027 | Nonresidents cannot hunt any public land in Mississippi before April 1 unless drawn for a Nonresident Public Lands Turkey Permit or WMA Draw Hunt. | 🔔 |
License & tag prices
| License | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Game Hunting/Fishing License | $25 | $300 | |
| Nonresident Deer Permit | — | $75 | |
| Nonresident 7-Day All Game License | — | $150 |
Deer hunters need an All Game (or Sportsman) license plus a deer permit. Season dates for 2026-27 are added here once MDWFP publishes them.
Source: Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks license prices (mdwfp.com)
Mississippi hunting FAQ
- When does whitetail season open in Mississippi in 2026?
- Mississippi's 2026 whitetail archery season opens September 11 and runs through September 13. Always confirm exact dates with the state wildlife agency before hunting.
- What big-game species can you hunt in Mississippi?
- In 2026, Mississippi has hunting seasons for whitetail and turkey.
- How much is a Mississippi hunting license for nonresidents?
- A all game hunting/fishing license in Mississippi is $300 for nonresidents and $25 for residents.