Hunting and fishing license; authorize Native Americans to receive free of charge upon providing tribal identification card.

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To: Wildlife, Fisheries and
Parks; Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Crawford

HOUSE BILL NO. 1245

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
PROVIDE THAT ANY RESIDENT, WHO IS A QUALIFIED NATIVE AMERICAN, 2
SHALL RECEIVE, UPON APPLICATION, A RESIDENT HUNTING LICENSE AND/OR 3
RESIDENT FISHING LICENSE, FREE OF CHARGE, UPON PROVIDING A TRIBAL 4
IDENTIFICATION CARD AT THE TIME OF LICENSE ISSUANCE; TO DEFINE THE 5
TERM "TRIBAL IDENTIFICATION CARD"; TO AMEND SECTIONS 49-7-9, 6
49-7-17 AND 49-7-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH RELATE TO 7
RESIDENT COMBINATION HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES, THE SALE OF 8
HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSE CERTIFICATES, AND CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS 9
FOR FORMS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO APPLICANTS WHEN APPLYING FOR 10
HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES, TO CONFORM WITH THE PRECEDING 11
PROVISION; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 49-7-3, 49-7-8, 49-7-12, 12
49-7-22, 49-7-23, 49-7-27 AND 49-7-153, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 13
WHICH RELATE TO ISSUING RESIDENT AND NONRESIDENT HUNTING AND 14
FISHING LICENSES, MULTI-YEAR LICENSES, PENALTIES FOR HUNTING AND 15
FISHING WITHOUT A LICENSE AND LIFETIME SPORTSMAN HUNTING AND 16
FISHING LICENSES, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR 17
RELATED PURPOSES. 18
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 19
SECTION 1. Section 49-7-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 20
amended as follows: 21
49-7-5. (1) (a) Any resident, as defined in Section 22
49-7-3, upon application, shall receive a combination resident 23
hunting and fishing license for the sum of Twenty-five Dollars 24
($25.00), except as otherwise provided in this section. The 25
license shall qualify the licensee to hunt under this chapter all 26
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game and fowl, including deer and turkey, and to fish in any 27
county of the state. 28
(b) Any resident, as defined in Section 49-7-3, upon 29
application, shall receive a resident combination small game 30
hunting and fishing license for the sum of Ten Dollars ($10.00) 31
together with the fee provided in Section 49-7-17, except as 32
otherwise provided in this section, to the office or agent issuing 33
the license. The hunting license shall qualify the licensee to 34
hunt and fish under this chapter all game and fowl, except deer 35
and turkey, in any county in the state. 36
(c) Any resident, as defined in Section 49-7-3, upon 37
application, shall receive a sportsman's license for the sum of 38
Forty-five Dollars ($45.00), except as otherwise provided in this 39
section. The license shall qualify the licensee to hunt under 40
this chapter all game and fowl, including deer and turkey, and to 41
fish as provided by law, in any county in the state, and to hunt 42
using primitive weapons and bow and arrow in the manner provided 43
by law. The commission may notify the licensee of the expiration 44
of his license, and the licensee may renew the license by mailing 45
the sum of Forty-five Dollars ($45.00) to the commission, except 46
as otherwise provided in this section. A licensee who has not 47
renewed the license within thirty (30) days after the expiration 48
date shall be removed from the commission's records, and the 49
licensee must apply to be placed on the renewal list. 50
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(d) In addition to a hunting license allowing the 51
taking of turkey, a resident who hunts turkey during a fall turkey 52
season must purchase a fall turkey hunting permit for a fee of 53
Five Dollars ($5.00) plus the fee provided in Section 49-7-17, 54
except as otherwise provided in this section. A resident 55
sportsman's licensee or resident lifetime sportsman's licensee may 56
hunt during the fall turkey season without purchasing a permit. 57
(e) The commission may offer a resident apprentice 58
hunting license for a resident who does not have the required 59
certificate of hunter education and may set the fee for the 60
apprentice hunting license. An apprentice license may be 61
purchased only one (1) time by a resident and the apprentice 62
hunting licensee must be accompanied by a licensed or exempt 63
resident hunter at least twenty-one (21) years of age when 64
hunting. 65
(2) (a) Any resident citizen of the State of Mississippi 66
who has not reached the age of sixteen (16) years or who has 67
reached the age of sixty-five (65) years, or any resident citizen 68
who is blind, paraplegic, or a multiple amputee, or who has been 69
adjudged by the Veterans Administration as having a total 70
service-connected disability, or has been adjudged to be totally 71
disabled by the Social Security Administration shall not be 72
required to purchase or have in his possession, a hunting or 73
fishing license while engaged in such activities. A person exempt 74
by reason of total service-connected disability, as adjudged by 75
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the Veterans Administration or who has been adjudged to be totally 76
disabled by the Social Security Administration or who is blind, 77
paraplegic or a multiple amputee, shall have in their possession 78
and on their person proof of their age, residency, disability 79
status or other respective physical impairment while engaged in 80
the activities of hunting or fishing. 81
(b) Any resident who is a member of the Armed Forces, 82
including the Reserves and National Guard, and on active duty 83
outside the State of Mississippi is not required to purchase or 84
have in his possession a hunting or fishing license while engaged 85
in such activities on leave from active duty. The resident shall 86
have in his possession and on his person any proof as may be 87
required by the commission. 88
(c) All exempt hunting and fishing licenses previously 89
issued for disabilities shall be null and void effective July 1, 90
1993. 91
(d) The commission may offer a youth all-game hunting 92
and fishing license for exempt youths who have a hunter education 93
certificate and an all-game hunting and fishing license for other 94
persons exempted under paragraph (a). Youths and other exempt 95
persons shall not be required to purchase this license or have it 96
in possession while hunting or fishing. The commission may 97
establish a fee not to exceed Five Dollars ($5.00) for the 98
licenses. 99
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(e) The requirement for purchasing and/or having a 100
hunting or fishing license authorized in subsection (1) of this 101
section may be waived for any resident or nonresident who is an 102
honorably discharged veteran with a combat-related disability and 103
who will be participating in a special hunt, fishing trip or other 104
outdoor recreational event that is available only to such persons 105
as determined by the entity sponsoring the event. The commission 106
is authorized to establish such criteria and/or procedures for an 107
organization to be recognized as a sanctioned entity that provides 108
unique outdoor recreational opportunities for wounded or disabled 109
veterans. Any events sponsored by a recognized organization, and 110
the persons participating in such event, shall be entitled to the 111
waiver set forth above without further action on the part of the 112
commission or the sponsoring organization. 113
(f) Any resident, as defined in Section 49-7-3, who is 114
a qualified Native American shall receive, upon application, any 115
license authorized in this section and Sections 49-7-8, 49-7-9, 116
49-7-17, 49-7-22 and 49-7-153, free of charge, upon providing a 117
tribal identification card at the time of license issuance. 118
For purposes of this chapter, the term "tribal identification 119
card" means a valid identification card issued by a federally 120
recognized American Indian tribe or band that contains a color 121
photograph of the card holder and the card holder's legal name, 122
residence address and date of birth. 123
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(3) No license shall be required of residents to hunt, fish 124
or trap on lands in which the record title is vested in such 125
person. 126
(4) Any person or persons exempt under this section from 127
procuring a license shall be subject to and must comply with all 128
other terms and provisions of this chapter. 129
(5) Any person authorized to issue any license under this 130
section may collect and retain for the issuance of each license 131
the additional fee authorized under Section 49-7-17, except as 132
otherwise provided in this section. 133
SECTION 2. Section 49-7-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 134
amended as follows: 135
49-7-9. (1) (a) Each resident of the State of Mississippi, 136
as defined in Section 49-7-3, fishing in the public fresh waters 137
of the state, including lakes and reservoirs, but not including 138
privately owned ponds and streams, shall purchase a combination 139
small game hunting and fishing license as provided in Section 140
49-7-5 for Ten Dollars ($10.00), except as otherwise provided in 141
Section 49-7-5. Any resident purchasing a license as prescribed 142
in this subsection shall be entitled to fish, in accordance with 143
the regulations and ordinances of the commission, in all public 144
fresh waters within the territory of the State of Mississippi. 145
(b) A resident may purchase a resident fishing license 146
valid for a period of three (3) days for the sum of Three Dollars 147
($3.00), except as otherwise provided in Section 49-7-5. 148
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(c) No license shall be required of any resident 149
citizen of the State of Mississippi who has not reached the age of 150
sixteen (16) years or who has reached the age of sixty-five (65) 151
years or who is blind, paraplegic, a multiple amputee or has been 152
adjudged by the Veterans Administration as having a total 153
service-connected disability, or has been adjudged totally 154
disabled by the Social Security Administration. Such person shall 155
not be required to purchase or have in his possession a hunting or 156
fishing license while engaged in such activities. 157
(d) A person exempt by reason of age, total 158
service-connected disability as adjudged by the Veterans 159
Administration or total disability as adjudged by the Social 160
Security Administration or who is blind, paraplegic or a multiple 161
amputee, shall have in their possession and on their person proof 162
of their age, residency, disability status or other respective 163
physical impairment while engaged in the activities of hunting or 164
fishing. 165
(e) Any resident who is a member of the Armed Forces, 166
including the Reserves and National Guard, and on active duty 167
outside the State of Mississippi is not required to purchase or 168
have in his possession a hunting or fishing license while engaged 169
in such activities on leave from active duty. Such resident shall 170
have in his possession and on his person such proof as may be 171
required by the commission. 172
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(f) The requirement for purchasing and/or having a 173
hunting or fishing license authorized in this subsection (1) may 174
be waived for any resident or nonresident who is an honorably 175
discharged veteran with a combat-related disability and who will 176
be participating in a special hunt, fishing trip or other outdoor 177
recreational event that is available only to such persons as 178
determined by the entity sponsoring the event. The commission is 179
authorized to establish such criteria and/or procedures for an 180
organization to be recognized as a sanctioned entity that provides 181
unique outdoor recreational opportunities for wounded or disabled 182
veterans. Any events sponsored by a recognized organization, and 183
the persons participating in such event, shall be entitled to the 184
waiver set forth above without further action on the part of the 185
commission or the sponsoring organization. 186
(2) (a) All persons fishing in privately owned lakes or 187
ponds shall have specific permission to do so from the owner of 188
such lake or pond. 189
(b) Residents do not need a fishing license to fish in 190
those waters, except when the owner of the lake or pond charges a 191
fee for fishing, then a resident must have a fishing license to 192
fish in those waters unless exempted under subsection (1) of this 193
section. 194
(3) The first weekend of "National Fishing and Boating Week" 195
in June of each year is designated as "Free Fishing Weekend." 196
July 4 is designated as "Free Fishing Day." Any person may sport 197
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fish without a license on "Free Fishing Weekend," and on "Free 198
Fishing Day." 199
(4) Any person authorized to issue any license under this 200
section may collect and retain for issuing each license the 201
additional fee authorized under Section 49-7-17, except as 202
otherwise provided in Section 49-7-5. 203
SECTION 3. Section 49-7-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 204
amended as follows: 205
49-7-17. (1) The department may provide for the appointment 206
of persons as license agents to sell license certificates for 207
hunting, trapping or fishing as authorized under Section 49-7-21. 208
The department may, by administrative rule, establish 209
qualifications, standards and regulations for such license agents. 210
(2) Each license agent shall be required to be covered under 211
a surety bond. The department may establish, by administrative 212
rule, the procedures for the bonding of its license agents, which 213
procedures may include the implementation of a blanket bonding 214
system. All premiums for surety bonds required under this section 215
shall be at the expense of the license agents. 216
(3) Any officer or person authorized to issue any hunting or 217
fishing license or permit or any combination game and fish license 218
under the laws of this state shall have the power and authority to 219
collect and retain for the issuance of such license, except as 220
otherwise provided in Section 49-7-5, the sum of One Dollar 221
($1.00), in addition to the license fee provided by law, when such 222
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license or permit is sold to a resident of this state. The 223
Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is authorized, in its 224
discretion, to contract with license agents for services rendered 225
for an additional amount, not to exceed One Dollar ($1.00), in 226
addition to the license fee provided by law, except as otherwise 227
provided in Section 49-7-5. 228
(4) The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is 229
authorized to establish, set and collect an additional fee for any 230
license sold, except as otherwise provided in Section 49-7-5, that 231
will recoup the department's cost of issuing the license, 232
conducting any electronic transaction therefor, and generally 233
recovering the department's administrative costs of selling 234
licenses and maintaining the electronic databases of those sales. 235
SECTION 4. Section 49-7-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 236
amended as follows: 237
49-7-21. (1) (a) The licenses for hunting, trapping or 238
fishing shall be issued on a form prepared by the executive 239
director and supplied to the bonded agents authorized to issue 240
licenses. The forms shall bear the name and social security 241
number or driver's license number or tribal identification card 242
number of the applicant. All annual licenses shall be valid for 243
one (1) year after the date of its issuance. The licenses shall 244
be issued in the name of the commission and be countersigned by 245
the bonded agent issuing same. 246
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(b) A person may purchase a license from the office of 247
the department without appearing in person. 248
(c) The commission may design, establish, and 249
administer a program to provide for the purchase, by electronic 250
means, of any license, permit, registration or reservation issued 251
by the commission or department. 252
(2) Any person authorized to issue licenses for hunting, 253
trapping or fishing in this state who attempts to issue a license 254
on a form other than one as prescribed by this section, or 255
attempts to prepare a license certificate in any manner other than 256
on the form prescribed by this section, and furnished by the 257
executive director, is guilty of a Class II violation, and shall 258
be punished as provided in Section 49-7-143, * * * and the person 259
convicted shall be forever barred from issuing licenses in the 260
State of Mississippi. 261
(3) (a) Any resident or nonresident who hunts, takes or 262
traps any wild animal, bird or fish must possess a valid license 263
issued by the commission, unless specifically exempted under this 264
chapter. 265
(b) A resident who violates this subsection shall be 266
fined Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). If at the hearing date or 267
the date of payment of the fine the resident shows proof of the 268
required Mississippi license or tribal identification card, the 269
fine shall be reduced to One Hundred Dollars ($100.00). If the 270
resident shows proof that the required license was purchased 271
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before the date of the violation, the case shall be dismissed and 272
all court costs shall be waived against the defendant. 273
(c) In addition to the penalty imposed in paragraph 274
(b), any resident who is not able to show proof of the required 275
Mississippi license or tribal identification card, shall be 276
assessed by the court an administrative fee as prescribed under 277
subsection (6) of this section. 278
(4) (a) Any nonresident, who hunts or traps without the 279
required license is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction 280
thereof, shall be fined in an amount not less than Five Hundred 281
Dollars ($500.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) 282
for the first offense and shall forfeit hunting and trapping 283
privileges for a period of one (1) year. For the second offense a 284
nonresident shall be fined in an amount of not less than One 285
Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than One Thousand Five 286
Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) or imprisoned in the county jail for 287
not more than thirty (30) days, or both such fine and imprisonment 288
and shall forfeit hunting and trapping privileges for a period of 289
two (2) years. For any third or subsequent offense, a nonresident 290
is guilty of a Class I violation and shall be punished as provided 291
in Section 49-7-141 * * *. 292
(b) The nonresident shall also be assessed by the court 293
an administrative fee as prescribed under subsection (6) of this 294
section. 295
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(c) Forfeiture of hunting, trapping and fishing 296
privileges may be waived if, at the hearing date or the date of 297
payment of the fine, the nonresident shows proof of the required 298
nonresident hunting or trapping license. 299
(5) Any nonresident who fishes without the required license 300
is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined in 301
an amount not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more 302
than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) for the first offense. 303
For the second or any subsequent offense a nonresident shall be 304
fined in an amount not less than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars 305
($250.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) and that 306
nonresident shall also be assessed by the court an administrative 307
fee as prescribed under subsection (6) of this section. 308
(6) In addition to any other fines or penalties imposed 309
under subsection (4) or (5) of this section, the person convicted 310
shall be assessed by the court an administrative fee equal in 311
amount to the cost of the hunting, trapping or fishing license fee 312
that such person unlawfully failed to possess at the time of the 313
violation, the amount of which license fee shall be entered upon 314
the ticket or citation by the charging officer at the time the 315
ticket or citation is issued. The clerk of the court in which the 316
conviction takes place, promptly shall collect all administrative 317
fees imposed under this subsection and deposit them monthly with 318
the State Treasurer, in the same manner and in accordance with the 319
same procedure, as nearly as practicable, as required for the 320
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collection, receipt and deposit of state assessments under Section 321
99-19-73. However, all administrative fees collected under the 322
provisions of this subsection shall be credited by the State 323
Treasurer to the account of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries 324
and Parks, and may be expended by the department upon 325
appropriation by the Legislature. 326
(7) Any person who obtains a license under an assumed name 327
or makes a materially false statement to obtain a license is 328
guilty of a felony and shall be subject to a fine of Two Thousand 329
Dollars ($2,000.00) or may be imprisoned for a term not to exceed 330
one (1) year, or both. 331
(8) At the time that a person is applying for or renewing 332
his or her license, the department shall ask the person if he or 333
she would like to register as a donor to make an anatomical gift 334
in accordance with Section 41-39-139. If the answer is yes, the 335
department shall inform the prospective donor that his or her 336
decision to be a donor cannot be revoked, changed or contested 337
after his or her death by the donor's next of kin or by any other 338
person, and shall ask the person if he or she desires information 339
about the person's decision to be a donor to be sent to another 340
person or persons. If the answer is yes, the department shall 341
obtain the name and mailing address of the person or persons 342
designated by the prospective donor, and the donor registry shall 343
send the information about the prospective donor's decision to the 344
designated person or persons as requested. 345
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SECTION 5. Section 49-7-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 346
brought forward as follows: 347
49-7-3. (1) Any resident of the State of Mississippi shall 348
be entitled to receive a resident fishing license. 349
(2) Any person domiciled within the State of Mississippi 350
shall be entitled to receive a resident hunting license provided 351
in Section 49-7-5. The domicile of a person is that person's 352
principal or primary home or place of abode. A "principal or 353
primary home or place of abode" is that home or place in which a 354
person's habitation is fixed and to which he, whenever absent, has 355
the present intention of returning after a departure of absence 356
therefrom, regardless of the duration of the absence. The burden 357
of proving domicile shall be on the person claiming such status. 358
The following evidence or other reliable evidence may be 359
considered in establishing, but is not necessarily determinative 360
of, domicile: driver's license, valid and current tribal 361
identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe 362
containing a photograph of the person submitting the 363
identification card, residence for income or other tax purposes, 364
homestead exemption receipt, or any other means prescribed by the 365
department. In the case of minors, domicile of the parents shall 366
be used as evidence of the minor's domicile. 367
(3) A nondomiciliary of the state may be issued a resident 368
hunting or fishing license or combination resident hunting/fishing 369
license upon providing the following: 370
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(a) A current identification card from a Mississippi 371
college or university; or 372
(b) A current military identification card showing that 373
the person is an active member of the United States Armed Forces 374
(excluding Reserves and the National Guard) and proof that the 375
person is stationed on a military base in Mississippi. 376
(4) A nondomiciliary of the state may be issued a special 377
Armed Forces fourteen-day hunting and fishing license with the 378
same hunting and fishing privileges and at the same fee of a 379
resident sportsman's license, if the nondomiciliary is an active 380
member of the United States Armed Forces (excluding Reserves and 381
the National Guard) and his application is approved by the 382
department. The applicant must file his application for the 383
special fourteen-day license in the office of the department. The 384
department shall establish requirements for proof of active 385
military status and any other requirements it deems desirable. 386
The department shall not issue more than two (2) special 387
fourteen-day licenses to the same applicant per license year. 388
(5) A holder of a resident or nonresident license is 389
required to carry the license on his person while engaged in 390
hunting, trapping or fishing. Any penalty for not carrying a 391
license while engaged in hunting, trapping or fishing shall be 392
waived if the person can verify purchase of a license prior to the 393
date of the violation. 394
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(6) Each application or filing made under this section shall 395
include the social security number(s) of the applicant in 396
accordance with Section 93-11-64. 397
SECTION 6. Section 49-7-8, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 398
brought forward as follows: 399
49-7-8. (1) No nonresident sixteen (16) years of age or 400
older may hunt, fish, kill, take or trap any game animal, bird or 401
fish without having acquired and having in his immediate 402
possession a valid license issued by the Mississippi Commission on 403
Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. 404
(2) The commission shall have the following duties and 405
powers: 406
(a) To prescribe the forms and types of nonresident 407
licenses that a nonresident must obtain; 408
(b) To determine the total number of each type of 409
nonresident license to be issued annually; 410
(c) To establish fees for nonresident licenses and the 411
collection fees for the agent issuing such licenses; provided, 412
however, that the fee for a nonresident all game hunting license 413
shall not be less than Sixty Dollars ($60.00); 414
(d) To exercise all incidental powers necessary to 415
develop a nonresident licensing program. 416
(3) A nonresident who violates this section or any licensing 417
regulation of the commission is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall 418
be punished as provided in Section 49-7-21(3). 419
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SECTION 7. Section 49-7-12, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 420
brought forward as follows: 421
49-7-12. (1) The commission may promulgate rules and 422
regulations for nonresident recreational and commercial permits 423
and licenses in order to promote and to enter into reciprocal 424
agreements with other states. 425
(2) The commission may issue and prescribe the forms, types 426
and fees of nonresident freshwater commercial fishing licenses to 427
be sold by the department and not by licensing agents. 428
(3) (a) The commission may prescribe regulations for 429
nonresident commercial fishing equipment, tagging requirements, 430
harvest size and possession restrictions, restricted areas, 431
fishing restrictions, reporting requirements, wholesale dealers, 432
and the selling, reselling and exporting of fish taken in the 433
public freshwaters of the state. 434
(b) The commission may exercise all powers necessary to 435
regulate nonresident freshwater commercial fishing. 436
(4) The commission may require a nonresident to purchase the 437
same type and number of freshwater commercial fishing licenses and 438
pay the same fees that are required of Mississippi residents to 439
engage in like activity in the nonresident's state. 440
(5) Any nonresident who engages in freshwater commercial 441
fishing without having the required licenses is guilty of a Class 442
I violation and punishable as provided under Section 49-7-141 and 443
shall forfeit any equipment, gear or nets used in the offense. 444
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SECTION 8. Section 49-7-22, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 445
brought forward as follows: 446
49-7-22. (1) The commission may authorize the issuance of a 447
multiyear license not to exceed four (4) years of any license 448
issued by the commission. The fee for a multiyear license shall 449
be commensurate with the total of the annual fees for the annual 450
license for the number of years of the multiyear license. 451
(2) A person authorized to issue licenses by the department 452
may collect and retain for issuing each license the fee authorized 453
under Section 49-7-17. 454
SECTION 9. Section 49-7-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 455
brought forward as follows: 456
49-7-23. The executive director may designate constables as 457
deputy conservation officers, and constables so designated may be 458
permitted to sell hunting and fishing licenses and may retain the 459
fee provided in Section 49-7-17 for issuing each such license. 460
SECTION 10. Section 49-7-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 461
brought forward as follows: 462
49-7-27. (1) The commission may revoke any hunting, 463
trapping, or fishing privileges, license or deny any person the 464
right to secure such license if the person has been convicted of 465
the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or any 466
regulation thereunder. The revocation of the privilege, license 467
or refusal to grant license shall be for a period of one (1) year. 468
However, before the revocation of the privilege or license shall 469
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become effective, the executive director shall send by registered 470
mail notice to the person or licensee, who shall have the right to 471
a hearing or representation before the commission at the next 472
regular meeting or a special meeting. The notice shall set out 473
fully the ground or complaint upon which revocation of, or refusal 474
to grant, the privilege or license is sought. 475
(2) Any person who is convicted for a second time during any 476
period of twelve (12) consecutive months for violation of any of 477
the laws with respect to game, fish or nongame fish or animals 478
shall forfeit his privilege and any license or licenses issued to 479
him by the commission and the commission shall not issue the 480
person any license for a period of one (1) year from the date of 481
forfeiture. 482
(3) Failure of any person to surrender his license or 483
licenses upon demand made by the commission or by its 484
representatives at the direction of the commission shall be a 485
misdemeanor and shall be punishable as such. 486
(4) Any violator whose privilege or license has been 487
revoked, who shall, during the period of revocation, be 488
apprehended for hunting or fishing, shall have imposed upon him a 489
mandatory jail term of not less than thirty (30) days nor more 490
than six (6) months. 491
(5) The commission is authorized to suspend any license 492
issued to any person under this chapter for being out of 493
compliance with an order for support, as defined in Section 494
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93-11-153. The procedure for suspension of a license for being 495
out of compliance with an order for support, and the procedure for 496
the reissuance or reinstatement of a license suspended for that 497
purpose, and the payment of any fees for the reissuance or 498
reinstatement of a license suspended for that purpose, shall be 499
governed by Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be. 500
If there is any conflict between any provision of Section 501
93-11-157 or 93-11-163 and any provision of this chapter, the 502
provisions of Section 93-11-157 or 93-11-163, as the case may be, 503
shall control. 504
(6) If a person is found guilty or pleads guilty or nolo 505
contendere to a violation of Section 49-7-95, and then appeals, 506
the commission shall suspend or revoke the hunting privileges of 507
that person pending the determination of his appeal. 508
(7) (a) If a person does not comply with a summons or a 509
citation or does not pay a fine, fee or assessment for violating a 510
wildlife law or regulation, the commission shall revoke the 511
fishing, hunting, or trapping privileges of that person. When a 512
person does not comply or fails to pay, the clerk of the court 513
shall notify the person in writing by first class mail that if the 514
person does not comply or pay within ten (10) days from the date 515
of mailing, the court will notify the commission and the 516
commission will revoke the fishing, hunting or trapping privileges 517
of that person. The cost of notice may be added to other court 518
costs. If the person does not comply or pay as required, the 519
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court clerk shall immediately mail a copy of the court record and 520
a copy of the notice to the commission. After receiving notice 521
from the court, the commission shall revoke the fishing, hunting 522
or trapping privileges of that person. 523
(b) A person whose fishing, hunting or trapping 524
privileges have been revoked under this subsection shall remain 525
revoked until the person can show proof that all obligations of 526
the court have been met. 527
(c) A person shall pay a Twenty-five Dollar ($25.00) 528
fee to have his privileges reinstated. The fee shall be paid to 529
the department. 530
SECTION 11. Section 49-7-153, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 531
brought forward as follows: 532
49-7-153. (1) Any resident may purchase a lifetime 533
sportsman hunting and fishing license by filing an application in 534
the office of the department. The license shall qualify the 535
licensee to take all fish, game and fowl, except waterfowl, 536
including deer and turkey, in the manner provided by law. The 537
license shall also permit the licensee to hunt with primitive 538
weapons and bow and arrow, and to fish in the public waters of the 539
state, including the taking of crabs, oysters, shrimp and any 540
saltwater fish authorized to be taken under a recreational 541
license. 542
(2) The department may issue a resident lifetime sportsman 543
license at a fee to be determined by the commission at an amount 544
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not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for a person 545
thirteen (13) years of age or older and not less than Five Hundred 546
Dollars ($500.00) for a person under thirteen (13) years of age. 547
All lifetime licenses shall be issued from the office of the 548
department. Each application for a lifetime license must be 549
accompanied by a certified copy of the birth certificate of the 550
individual to be named as the license holder, if the individual is 551
twelve (12) years of age or under. 552
(3) The commission shall establish proof of residency 553
requirements for the purchase of a lifetime license, and shall 554
also establish such restrictions on and regulations for lifetime 555
licenses as it deems necessary and proper. Except as otherwise 556
provided in this section, an applicant for a resident lifetime 557
license must have been domiciled in this state for eighteen (18) 558
consecutive months immediately preceding the date of his 559
application for a license. The burden of proving domicile shall 560
be on the applicant. 561
(4) The department may issue a native son or daughter 562
resident lifetime sportsman hunting and fishing license if 563
official documents reflect that one of the applicant's parents was 564
born in the State of Mississippi and was on active military 565
service at the time of the applicant's birth. 566
Such license may be issued at a fee to be determined by the 567
commission at an amount not less than One Thousand Dollars 568
($1,000.00) for a person thirteen (13) years of age or older and 569
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not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for a person under 570
thirteen (13) years of age. 571
The applicant must provide a certified copy of an original 572
birth certificate of such parent showing that the parent was born 573
in Mississippi and provide official documents indicating that such 574
parent was on active military service at the time of the 575
applicant's birth. 576
An applicant for such license shall not be required to 577
have been domiciled in this state for eighteen (18) consecutive 578
months immediately preceding the date of his or her application 579
for a license. 580
(5) The department may issue a native son or daughter 581
nonresident lifetime sportsman hunting and fishing license. The 582
commission shall establish the fee, but the fee shall not be less 583
than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00). The applicant 584
must provide a certified copy of the original birth certificate 585
showing that the applicant was born in Mississippi and/or if the 586
parents' address was in Mississippi at the time of birth as shown 587
on the birth certificate or other documents and/or official 588
documents reflect that one of said parents was on active military 589
service outside the State of Mississippi at the time of said 590
birth. 591
Except as otherwise provided in this section, if the birth 592
certificate of each parent reflects that each parent was born in 593
the State of Mississippi, then any child born outside the State of 594
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ST: Hunting and fishing license; authorize
Native Americans to receive free of charge upon
providing tribal identification card.
Mississippi of those parents may be issued a nonresident lifetime 595
sportsman license for the above set out fee. 596
(6) Any materially false statement contained in an 597
application for a lifetime license renders void the license issued 598
pursuant to that application, and subjects the applicant to 599
criminal prosecution under Section 49-7-45. 600
(7) Nothing in this section exempts an applicant for a 601
lifetime license from meeting other qualifications or requirements 602
otherwise established by law for the privilege of hunting or 603
fishing. 604
SECTION 12. This act shall take effect and be in force from 605
and after July 1, 2026. 606