Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB828: Mississippi Fair Chase Act; create.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI FAIR CHASE ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO HUNT, TRAP, OR TAKE, OR ATTEMPT TO HUNT, TRAP, OR TAKE, ANY GAME OR FURBEARING ANIMAL THAT IS DAMAGING CROPS OR PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHOUT OBTAINING A DEPREDATION PERMIT; TO PROVIDE THAT HUNTING WITH DOGS IS AUTHORIZED ONLY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT IS COMPRISED OF A MINIMUM OF TWO THOUSAND CONTIGUOUS ACRES; TO AMEND SECTION 49-1-39, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRCEEDING SECTION; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-7-31.5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to create the mississippi fair chase act; to provide that it is unlawful to hunt, trap, or take, or attempt to hunt, trap, or take, any game or furbearing animal that is damaging crops or personal property without obtaining a depredation permit; to provide that hunting with dogs is authorized only on private property that is comprised of a minimum of two thousand contiguous acres; to amend section 49-1-39, mississippi code of 1972, to conform to the prceeding section; to bring forward section 49-7-31.5, mississippi code of 1972, for purposes of possible amendment…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI FAIR CHASE ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO HUNT, TRAP, OR TAKE, OR ATTEMPT TO HUNT, TRAP, OR TAKE, ANY GAME OR FURBEARING ANIMAL THAT IS DAMAGING CROPS OR PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHOUT OBTAINING A DEPREDATION PERMIT; TO PROVIDE THAT HUNTING WITH DOGS IS AUTHORIZED ONLY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT IS COMPRISED OF A MINIMUM OF TWO THOUSAND CONTIGUOUS ACRES; TO AMEND SECTION 49-1-39, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRCEEDING SECTION; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 49-7-31.5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the Mississippi Fair Chase Act. SECTION 2. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section and subject to federal law and/or regulations, it is unlawful to hunt, trap, or take, or attempt to hunt, trap, or take, any game or furbearing animal that is damaging crops or personal property without obtaining a depredation permit, along with a valid hunting license. (2) The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall promulgate all rules and regulations that are necessary for the implementation of Sections 3 and 4 of this act. *HR31/R60* H. B. No. 828 ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 26/HR31/R60 …