Why It Matters: The sale of hunting and fishing licenses makes up the bedrock of conservation funding in the United States. While efforts to provide certain groups of well-deserving individuals with a financial break on license fees are commendable, it threatens funding that benefits resources held in the public trust. Additionally, science-based wildlife management depends on reliable data to determine harvestable surpluses. Mandatory hunter harvested deer reporting provides the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) with accurate data on deer populations across all 82 counties.
Highlights:
- On January 15, HB 710 was introduced by NASC Executive Council Member and Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) Co-Chair Representative Scott Bounds and requires that MDWFP be reimbursed for any lost revenue resulting from the issuance of free or discounted hunting and fishing licenses, admission to state parks, and other fees through the State General Fund.
- HB 710 cruised through both committee stops in the House and passed the House of Representatives unanimously (119-0) on February 12 The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) led the charge in having the legislation introduced and provided testimony.
- Additionally, on February 12, HB 1361, which was authored by Caucus Member Representative Bill Kinkade and aims to establish a mandatory game check program for white-tailed deer, passed the House of Representatives 62-44. CSF submitted a letter in support of HB 1361 as well.
Hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, and trapping make up so much of the cultural and economic fabric of the Magnolia State, and the abundant opportunities for sportsmen and women attract folks from all over the country to come and experience all that Mississippi has to offer. The Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus recognizes the importance of our shared outdoor heritage and remains in the fight to ensure the future of these activities for generations to come.
MDWFP is tasked with conserving and enhancing Mississippi’s wildlife, fisheries, and parks, providing quality outdoor recreation, and engaging the public in natural resource conservation. HB 710 and HB 1361 would help ensure that MDWFP continues to receive the necessary funding and data to continue to work towards accomplishing its mission.
Every year bills are introduced that would allow individuals to purchase a free or heavily discounted hunting and/or fishing license. In these efforts, legislators tend to target deserving groups; however, if passed, these bills could have a significant impact on conservation funding for their respective state’s fish and wildlife agency. That is where legislation that reimburses the state fish and wildlife agency for revenue lost due to the passage and creation of free and discounted hunting licenses comes into play to protect conservation funding, which is a top priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) across the country. HB 710 is not retroactive, which means that all free and discounted hunting and fishing licenses that are in effect before July 1, 2026, would not be impacted.
CSF has also supported efforts to bring Mississippi alongside the other 49 states in the country and establish a game check program for hunter harvested white-tailed deer so that MDWFP has accurate, real-time data on deer populations across the state. One of the key tenets of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is science-based decision-making. If MDWFP does not know how many deer are being taken by hunters each deer season, how can we expect them to effectively set bag limits, seasons, etc.?
Finally, a bill CSF reported on earlier in the session, HB 828, which aimed to outlaw the use of thermal optics, suppressors, and night vision limit the use of hunting dogs; require Mississippians to obtain a depredation permit to be able to remove any nuisance animal; and more, died in the House Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Committee after intense public opposition and input from CSF.
CSF would like to thank Representative Bounds and Representative Kinkade for their leadership in advancing both HB 710 and HB 1361, and we will continue to support both efforts as they head to the Senate.
