For those who enjoy hunting, it can be tempting to hunt outside of the proper season. After all, game animals are always around. However, for the good of the environment, it is important to keep in mind the importance of staying within the designated hunting season.

Hunting seasons are put in place for very specific reasons. Limiting the killing of game to a few months each year gives the animals time to breed, migrate and maintain their populations. According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Pearl River County is part of the southeast hunting zone. This includes areas east of MS Highway 35 and south of U.S. Highway 84. The hunting season for deer ranges between October 14 and February 15, depending on the weapon, hunting technique, and sex of the deer. Because the breeding season for whitetail deer in Pearl River County falls in January, does cannot be killed once February begins.

The MDWFP states on its website that hunters who have killed a deer outside of season can be fined $100 or more and may lose their hunting license for a year. Hunting seasons vary depending on the type of game. For example, squirrels fall into two hunting seasons, a fall season between Sept. 30 and Feb. 28, and a spring season between May 15 and June 1. Certain animals fall outside of these traditional seasons. Wild hogs, for one, are considered a “nuisance” animal and can be hunted on private land anytime of the year. Because wild hogs have been known to cause upwards of $1 billion in damages nationwide per year, landowners and leaseholders in Mississippi can hunt or trap wild hogs year-round, day or night, the MDWFP website states. Before killing any wild animal, be sure to double check that it is in season to protect the environment and avoid incurring any legal fees.