MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
By: Senator(s) Seymour
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT THE HUNTING, TRAPPING OR KILLING OF WILD ANIMALS WITH THE AID OF SCENTS CONTAINING THE BODY FLUIDS OF CERVIDS; TO ALLOW THE TAKING OF DEER WITH SUPPLEMENTAL FEED ONLY IN ENCLOSURES REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 49-7-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
49-7-33. (1) It is unlawful to hunt, trap or kill any wild bird or wild animal of any kind with the aid of bait, recordings of bird or animal calls, or electrically amplified imitations of calls of any kind, except a person:
(a) May use electrically amplified sound devices for hunting crow;
(b) May use liquid scents for any animal or bird; however, scents that contain the body fluids of cervids may not be used unless from a herd granted "certified" status by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture under its Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Herd Certification Program;
(c) May use lures for trapping fur-bearing animals, according to regulations adopted by the commission;
(d) May take nuisance animals as provided in Section 49-7-31.5; and
(e) May take deer with the use of supplemental feed in an enclosure registered with the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks under Section 49-7-58.1.
(2) The commission, in its discretion, may relax the restrictions regarding the use of lures or sound devices if a condition arises or exists, as decided by the State Board of Health or county board of health, that may endanger persons or livestock in a certain community, county or area.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.