Bill > HB1567

This bill mandates that the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) create and manage an electronic system for reporting white-tailed deer harvests, aiming to gather data that will help shape wildlife conservation policies. This system is intended to be user-friendly for hunters, potentially utilizing methods like a smartphone app or online reporting. The MDWFP may also establish a similar tagging and reporting program for turkeys and must provide an annual report on the harvest reporting program to legislative committees. Violating the program's laws or regulations will be considered a Class II violation, subject to fines, with each deer or turkey taken illegally constituting a separate offense. First-time offenders will face administrative fees ranging from $100 to $500, while repeat offenders will be charged between $500 and $1,000, with these fees deposited with the State Treasurer and credited to the MDWFP for use upon legislative appropriation. Importantly, funds already appropriated to the MDWFP cannot be used to fund this new harvest reporting program, and the act will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1567.xml