PUBLIC NOTICE NUMBER W-3796a
The Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks} at a meeting in Oxford, MS on June 23, 2008, under authority of Section 25-43-3.103, Mississippi Code of 1972, made known its intent and thirty days thereafter did adopt the following Supplemental Feeding Wild Animals Outside of Wildlife Enclosures. This was done under authority of Section 49-4-41, Mississippi Code of 1972.
Be it ordered Public Notice Number W-3796 is hereby amended as follows:
To properly manage wildlife in Mississippi, MDWFP Biologists recommend a complete wildlife management program which includes:
• Habitat management practices to improve overall habitat conditions;
• Supplemental plantings that provide year-round forage;
• Education of hunters and land managers;
• Deer herd management to balance sex ratio, age structure, and population numbers within available habitat; and
• Not allowing feeding to replace a complete wildlife management program.
I. It shall be unlawful to feed any wild animals except as provided in this public notice.
II. Supplemental Feeding of Wild Animals:
• It shall be lawful to feed wild animals, year round, on private lands subject to the following restrictions:
o Feed may only be provided from above ground covered feeders or stationary spin cast feeders.
o Feed allowed in feeders:
• Complete Pelletized Ration:
• October 1- November 30
• March 1 - June 30
• Corn may be used and/or added to the Complete Pelletized Ration:
• July 1 - September 30
• December 1 - the last day in February
• For the purpose of this regulation, Complete Pelletized Ration is defined as a feed mixture in the form of a pellet that is nutritionally adequate for deer and contains crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, vitamins, minerals, and does not contain any animal byproducts.
o Feeders may be placed no closer than 100 yards from the outermost boundary of an area of sole ownership or exclusive hunting rights.
o Feed may not be poured, piled, or placed directly on the ground.
o Salt/mineral stations, blocks, and/or licks may be established. These stations,
blocks, and/or licks may not contain any corn or grain products.
o From February 15 - September 30, milo, grain sorghum, and/or wheat may be evenly broadcast at a rate not to exceed 50 pounds per acre.
• Baiting/feeding of migratory birds is regulated pursuant to Federal regulations set forth at 50 CFR 20.11 and 20.21(i).
III. Supplemental Feeding During Any Hunting Season:
• To hunt within the vicinity of feed or a feeder: hunters must be both 100 yards away from, and not within the line of sight of feed or a feeder which contains feed.
• For the purpose of this regulation, within the line of sight means being hidden from view by natural vegetation or naturally occurring terrain features.
• Feeding sites may not be hunted for 10 days following complete removal of all feed.
• It is illegal to hunt any wild animal with the aid of feed.
IV. This Regulation Does Not Apply To:
• Food plots, standing crops, grain crops properly shucked on the field where grown, or grains found scattered solely as the result of normal agricultural planting or harvesting.
• Lands where shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed has been distributed or scattered as the result of bona fide agricultural operations or procedures, or as a result of manipulation of a crop or other feed on the land where grown for wildlife management purposes. Manipulation of crops or other feed for wildlife management purposes does not include the adding, distributing, or scattering of grain or other feed (i.e., sweet potatoes, turnips, etc.) once it has been removed from or stored on the field where grown.
• Feeders within the curtilage of the home or business. ((Curtilage of the home or business" means the area encompassing the grounds immediately surrounding any business, home, or group of homes used in the activities of domestic life, and may or may not be enclosed by a fence or other barrier. However, wild animals may not be hunted or taken over any feeder within the curtilage of a home or business.
• Licensed trappers trapping furbearers or nuisance animals with the aid of lure as provided by Miss. Code Ann. §49-7-33 and Public Notice LE2-3779 (Nuisance Animal Regulations).
• Persons lawfully permitted to hunt or trap game animals, furbearers, nuisance animals, or game birds by a ((depredation permit" set forth in Miss. Code Ann. §49-1-39 as issued by the MDWFP.
• Feeders within wildlife enclosures.
V. SPECIAL USE PERMIT: 21-day Wildlife Survey Permit.
• A permit is available to photographers and for camera surveys at no cost. The permit shall be for a specific property for a period of not more than 21 consecutive days.
• To obtain a permit contact the district office where the property is located and provide the person's name, property location, number of camera stations, start and end date; or fill out an online application here:
http://home.mdwfp.com/WMA/CameraSurvey.aspx
• Any feed or any feeding method may be used during the permitted period.
• This permit is only valid outside the deer and turkey hunting seasons. All feed must be completely removed 10 days prior to hunting.
• Baiting/feeding of migratory birds is regulated pursuant to Federal regulations set forth at 50 CFR 20.11 and 20.21(i).
A violation of this public notice shall be a violation of Miss. Code Ann. §49-4-41, which is a Class II violation.
NOTHING SET FORTH IN THIS PUBLIC NOTICE, SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS AUTHORIZING OR ALLOWING THE TAKING OF DEER OR ANY OTHER GAME ANIMAL OR BIRD, WITH THE AID OF BAIT.
Frequently asked questions about Public Notice Number W-3796 (Supplemental Feeding of White-tailed Deer)
(1)What is a Complete Pelletized Ration?
Complete Pelletized Ration is a feed mixture in the form of a pellet that is nutritionally adequate for deer and containing at least 16% crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, vitamins, minerals, and does not contain any animal byproducts. (Examples of Complete Pelletized Rations: Milk Flow Dairy pellets, Purina Antler Max, Sportsmans Choice Record Rack, Red Head On-Track Premium Feed, Antler King® Pelleted Deer and Elk Feed)
(2)How far do I have to be from a feeder during hunting season?
Hunters must be at least 100 yards from a feeder that contains feed. Additionally, the feeder may not be in the hunter's line of sight.
(3)What is "not within the line of sight"? What does this mean?
"Not within the line of sight" means being hidden from view by natural vegetation or naturally occurring terrain features. For example: The feeder is behind a dense clump of trees; the feeder is over a hill; a mound has been pushed in a field and the feeder is behind the mound.
(4)Since feeders within the curtilage of the home are exempt from the regulations, does this mean I can shoot a deer under a feeder in my back yard?
No. This would be illegal because it is illegal to hunt with the aid of bait.
(5) Why do I have to use an above ground covered feeder?
This is so the feed will not sit on the ground in piles. When feed is piled on the ground there is more opportunity for moisture to come in contact with the feed which can cause it to mold and sour.
(6) Then why can I use a spin cast feeder? They allow feed to touch the ground.
Yes they do allow feed to come in contact with the ground, but the feed is distributed in a manner so it is not piled. Deer can remove most of the feed the feeder distributes each time it turns on. This will reduce the likelihood that the feed with mold or sour.
(7) Why do I have to put my feeder 100 yards away from my property line?
This is primarily to reduce conflict between adjoining landowners, lease holders, and hunt clubs.
(8) Why can't put a feeder on public land?
Once again this is to reduce conflict between hunters. If feeding were allowed on public land, a hunter who put up a feeder could "claim" that area as their hunting area. Also, it would be extremely difficult to know where all of the feeders were located on public land. Due to this, you could be hunting in violation and not know it.
Chad M. Dacus
Deer Program Coordinator
THERE WE GO!
