The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) has a lot going on this month – as always. But the MDWFP wants Mississippians to remember two important dates, both of which involve hunting.
First of all, for those Mississippians who enjoy gun-hunting of white-tailed deer with the aid of trained dogs, time is running out. In fact, Wednesday, January 21, 2026, is the final day for deer hunts with dogs, and this cutoff date is the same for all areas of the state, including the Delta, North Central, Hill, and Southeast Units.
Of particular note, this current season for using dogs permits the hunting of either sex of deer on private land, as well as within Holly Springs National Forest – excluding portions of the forest in Yalobusha County. But keep in mind that on all other public lands, only legal bucks are included in this seasonal sport of deer hunting with dogs.
Go online to: 2025-2026 hunting seasons.pdf for more details on these final few days of the season, including a map of the state’s hunting units, set bag limits, legal weapons, the acceptable spread/beam size of antlers, and numerous other laws and procedures.
So, Hunters get ready to finish out Mississippi’s official 2026 season for hunting white-tailed deer with dogs.
And here’s another piece of information for Mississippi hunters: Make sure to also visit the MDWFP website and search the department’s fact page for pertinent information about entering the state’s drawing for a Wild Turkey Stamp, which is required for hunting turkeys on Mississippi’s public lands but not private lands.
Granted, wild turkey hunting season does not get underway in Mississippi until March, but the timeframe for applying for the stamp drawing runs from January 15 through January 31, 2026. It is also important to note that the MDWFP rules have changed in recent years for the Wild Turkey Stamp process, as well as turkey hunting in general. This means that not only is time of the essence, it’s also important to read and educate yourself on the procedures.
For those Mississippi sportsmen who love deer hunting with dogs, or for those who enjoy the sport of Wild Turkey hunting, January is an important month. So, go ahead and get those dogs ready, and make sure to apply for the Wild Turkey Stamp as well. Don’t miss out!
