BROOKHAVEN — Mississippi hunters can now purchase the 2023 velvet season license and submit applications for early Teal, Wildlife Management Area deer, rabbit and youth dove hunts online. Applications for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks draw hunts close on August 31 with the exception of teal which closes on August 15. 

MDWFP had issues with the draw hunt application portal this morning but they have been fixed. Hunters can still purchase a velvet season permit for $10 for residents. Velvet season permits are included in the $100 deer permit for non residents. 

Hunters will have a new opportunity to hunt deer in Southwest Mississippi this year. Calling Panther Wildlife Management Area was created in April using 1,000 acres of land surrounding the state fishing lake and will be a drawn archery hunt for deer. There is an additional shotgun only squirrel season in February at Calling Panther and draw youth turkey hunts. 

Senior draw hunts were additionally created by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Commission this past October. The special senior draw hunts were originally created for Phil Bryant WMA and Malmasion WMA but were expanded this summer. New WMAs offering senior draw hunts include Mahannah, Hell Creek, Trim Cane and Pascagoula River

Mahannah and Phil Bryant are located north of Vicksburg. 

MDWFP announced there will be no early teal draw hunts at Howard Miller WMA due to ongoing property maintenance tasks. Howard Miller is located just northeast of Cary in Issaquena County.