Two bills have been filed that seriously effects hunters of Mississippi who desire an archery only season format. SB2943 was filed by Senator Gollott from Biloxi and Bob Dearing from Natchez Ms. This bill among other changes would shorten the archery season by approx 17 days in most of Mississippi. The archery season would most likely be limited to the month of October. Zone 2 hunters may actually see their season shortened to two weeks if the season starts on October 15th and ends Oct 31. Here's the text of the bill:
Senate Bill 2943 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE SEASONS ON DEER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 49-7-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
49-7-31. (1) The open season on deer shall be from October 1 to January 31.
The commission shall establish the following seasons with an equal number of days for each season:
(a) First season shall be with bow and arrow * * *.
* * *
(b) Second season shall be with primitive weapons and without dogs * * *.
(c) Third season shall be with guns and without dogs:
(d) Fourth season shall be with guns and with dogs.
SB3147 is another crossbow bill to allow it's use in any open deer or turkey season. It is also sponsored by Chairman Gollott. We know from past campaigns regarding the crossbow that it's primary threat is the precident of establishing non-bow weapons in the archery only format. The bill reads:
Senate Bill 3147 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-38, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW THE USE OF A CROSSBOW DURING OPEN SEASONS ON DEER AND TURKEY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 49-7-38, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
49-7-38. * * *
* * * The commission may issue a crossbow permit to hunt with a crossbow during the open seasons on deer and turkey * * *. A person, including a person exempt from having a hunting license, must * * * obtain a crossbow permit to hunt with a crossbow. The commission shall establish a fee for the permit.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2009
Another interesting bill though not related directly to bowhunting is HB1231. This bill is sponsored by House Chairman Bo Eaton. It provides the MDWFP the lattitude to run a concurrent gun season with primitive weapons season. This in effect would end the primitive weapon season at any point the MDWFP decided to.
The MBA is currently deciding how to best handle each of the two bills related to bowhunting which are the archery season reduction bill and the crossbow bill.
More info later. I would suggest that you start talking to your Mississippi friends! We are going to need to muster all the support that we can get!
Topic: Serious Threats to Mississippi Bowhunting! (Read 1105 times)
