Hunting License Requirements

Hunter Education - All persons born on or after January 1, 1972, must satisfactorily complete a hunter education course approved by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks before purchasing a Mississippi hunting license. If it is determined that the holder was not entitled to issuance or obtained the license or hunter education certificate by fraudulent means, the license will be revoked or canceled. It is unlawful to issue a hunting license to any person in this age group without proof of completion of the hunter education course. [MS. Code 49-7-20]

Learn more about finding and completing a hunter education course.

Resident - Each resident of the State of Mississippi ages sixteen (16) through sixty-four (64), must obtain a hunting license, except while hunting on lands titled in his name. Any person sixty-five (65) or older, or any person otherwise exempted from obtaining a hunting license, must have documentation with him/her at all times while hunting as described in "Exemptions" [MS. Code 49-7-5] below.

Non-Resident - All non-resident hunters, except minors under the age of sixteen (16), are required to obtain a hunting license while hunting in the State of Mississippi.

Exemptions

• Residents who are visually impaired, paraplegic, a multiple-amputee, adjudged totally disabled by the Social Security Administration or totally service connected disabled by the Veterans Administration are not required to purchase a HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSE. [MS. Code 49-7-5 and 49-7-9] 
• Residents exempt based on this criteria are required to have proof of their age, residency, disability status, or other physical impairment in their possession while engaged in hunting and fishing activities. All exempt licenses previously issued for DISABILITIES are null and void.

Unlawful Purchase of License - Any person who obtains a license under an assumed name or makes a materially false statement to obtain a license is guilty of a felony and shall be subject to a fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000) or may be imprisoned for a term of one (1) year or both.

Proof of Residency

ONLY PERSONS DOMICILED WITHIN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AS DEFINED IN SECTION 49-7-3 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CODE, AS AMENDED, ARE ENTITLED TO OBTAIN A RESIDENT HUNTING/ FISHING LICENSE.
Under this section, a person's domicile is that person's principal or primary home or place of abode. Provided, however, a person holding a current driver's license is deemed to be domiciled within the state that issued the driver's license. Even if a person currently resides within the State of Mississippi, for purposes of obtaining a hunting license, he/she is considered to be domiciled in the state which issued the driver's license.

I. If you HOLD a current driver's license:
a. If you hold a current MISSISSIPPI driver's license, you are entitled to purchase a resident hunting license.
b. If you hold a driver's license from any state other than Mississippi, you are required to purchase a non-resident hunting license.

II. If you DO NOT hold a current driver's license from any state:
You are entitled to purchase a resident hunting license if Mississippi is your principal or primary home or place of abode. A current Mississippi resident income tax return or a homestead exemption receipt may be considered as evidence of domicile, but these are not necessarily determinative. You may be denied a resident hunting license if you fail to provide adequate proof.

EXCEPTIONS

Even if you are domiciled in another state, you may purchase a resident hunting license if you provide either (1) a current identification card from a Mississippi college or university; or (2) a current military ID card showing that you are an active member of the Armed Forces (excluding Reserves and the National Guard) and proof that you are stationed on a military base in Mississippi.

Proof of age may be shown by the following:
A. A valid driver's license; or
B. Copy of birth certificate

Mississippi Lifetime License

Lifetime Sportsman - you must provide proof of domicile of Mississippi for a minimum of 18 consecutive months.

Non-Resident Mississippi Native Lifetime - you must be a native-born Mississippian proving you were born in the state of Mississippi and parent's address was in Mississippi OR if you were not born in Mississippi, the parents' address was in Mississippi at the time of your birth.

Lifetime Sportsman MIL - you must provide proof of parent being born in Mississippi. Must also provide official documents indicating parent was on active military service at the time of your birth.