Hunting and fishing licenses; bring forward provisions related to.

S. B. No. 2764 *SS08/R1222* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS08/R1222
PAGE 1 (baf\tb)

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

By: Senator(s) Suber

SENATE BILL NO. 2764

AN ACT TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 49-7-3, 49-7-5, 49-7-151, 1
49-7-153 AND 49-7-155, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH RELATE TO 2
HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; 3
AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 49-7-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
brought forward as follows: 7
49-7-3. (1) Any resident of the State of Mississippi shall 8
be entitled to receive a resident fishing license. 9
(2) Any person domiciled within the State of Mississippi 10
shall be entitled to receive a resident hunting license provided 11
in Section 49-7-5. The domicile of a person is that person's 12
principal or primary home or place of abode. A "principal or 13
primary home or place of abode" is that home or place in which a 14
person's habitation is fixed and to which he, whenever absent, has 15
the present intention of returning after a departure of absence 16
therefrom, regardless of the duration of the absence. The burden 17
of proving domicile shall be on the person claiming such status. 18
The following evidence or other reliable evidence may be 19
S. B. No. 2764 *SS08/R1222* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1222
PAGE 2 (baf\tb)

considered in establishing, but is not necessarily determinative 20
of, domicile: driver's license, valid and current tribal 21
identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe 22
containing a photograph of the person submitting the 23
identification card, residence for income or other tax purposes, 24
homestead exemption receipt, or any other means prescribed by the 25
department. In the case of minors, domicile of the parents shall 26
be used as evidence of the minor's domicile. 27
(3) A nondomiciliary of the state may be issued a resident 28
hunting or fishing license or combination resident hunting/fishing 29
license upon providing the following: 30
(a) A current identification card from a Mississippi 31
college or university; or 32
(b) A current military identification card showing that 33
the person is an active member of the United States Armed Forces 34
(excluding Reserves and the National Guard) and proof that the 35
person is stationed on a military base in Mississippi. 36
(4) A nondomiciliary of the state may be issued a special 37
Armed Forces fourteen-day hunting and fishing license with the 38
same hunting and fishing privileges and at the same fee of a 39
resident sportsman's license, if the nondomiciliary is an active 40
member of the United States Armed Forces (excluding Reserves and 41
the National Guard) and his application is approved by the 42
department. The applicant must file his application for the 43
special fourteen-day license in the office of the department. The 44
S. B. No. 2764 *SS08/R1222* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1222
PAGE 3 (baf\tb)

department shall establish requirements for proof of active 45
military status and any other requirements it deems desirable. 46
The department shall not issue more than two (2) special 47
fourteen-day licenses to the same applicant per license year. 48
(5) A holder of a resident or nonresident license is 49
required to carry the license on his person while engaged in 50
hunting, trapping or fishing. Any penalty for not carrying a 51
license while engaged in hunting, trapping or fishing shall be 52
waived if the person can verify purchase of a license prior to the 53
date of the violation. 54
(6) Each application or filing made under this section shall 55
include the social security number(s) of the applicant in 56
accordance with Section 93-11-64. 57
SECTION 2. Section 49-7-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 58
brought forward as follows: 59
49-7-5. (1) (a) Any resident, as defined in Section 60
49-7-3, upon application, shall receive a combination resident 61
hunting and fishing license for the sum of Twenty-five Dollars 62
($25.00). The license shall qualify the licensee to hunt under 63
this chapter all game and fowl, including deer and turkey, and to 64
fish in any county of the state. 65
(b) Any resident, as defined in Section 49-7-3, upon 66
application, shall receive a resident combination small game 67
hunting and fishing license for the sum of Ten Dollars ($10.00) 68
together with the fee provided in Section 49-7-17 to the office or 69
S. B. No. 2764 *SS08/R1222* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1222
PAGE 4 (baf\tb)

agent issuing the license. The hunting license shall qualify the 70
licensee to hunt and fish under this chapter all game and fowl, 71
except deer and turkey, in any county in the state. 72
(c) Any resident, as defined in Section 49-7-3, upon 73
application, shall receive a sportsman's license for the sum of 74
Forty-five Dollars ($45.00). The license shall qualify the 75
licensee to hunt under this chapter all game and fowl, including 76
deer and turkey, and to fish as provided by law, in any county in 77
the state, and to hunt using primitive weapons and bow and arrow 78
in the manner provided by law. The commission may notify the 79
licensee of the expiration of his license, and the licensee may 80
renew the license by mailing the sum of Forty-five Dollars 81
($45.00) to the commission. A licensee who has not renewed the 82
license within thirty (30) days after the expiration date shall be 83
removed from the commission's records, and the licensee must apply 84
to be placed on the renewal list. 85
(d) In addition to a hunting license allowing the 86
taking of turkey, a resident who hunts turkey during a fall turkey 87
season must purchase a fall turkey hunting permit for a fee of 88
Five Dollars ($5.00) plus the fee provided in Section 49-7-17. A 89
resident sportsman's licensee or resident lifetime sportsman's 90
licensee may hunt during the fall turkey season without purchasing 91
a permit. 92
(e) The commission may offer a resident apprentice 93
hunting license for a resident who does not have the required 94
S. B. No. 2764 *SS08/R1222* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1222
PAGE 5 (baf\tb)

certificate of hunter education and may set the fee for the 95
apprentice hunting license. An apprentice license may be 96
purchased only one (1) time by a resident and the apprentice 97
hunting licensee must be accompanied by a licensed or exempt 98
resident hunter at least twenty-one (21) years of age when 99
hunting. 100
(2) (a) Any resident citizen of the State of Mississippi 101
who has not reached the age of sixteen (16) years or who has 102
reached the age of sixty-five (65) years, or any resident citizen 103
who is blind, paraplegic, or a multiple amputee, or who has been 104
adjudged by the Veterans Administration as having a total 105
service-connected disability, or has been adjudged to be totally 106
disabled by the Social Security Administration shall not be 107
required to purchase or have in his possession, a hunting or 108
fishing license while engaged in such activities. A person exempt 109
by reason of total service-connected disability, as adjudged by 110
the Veterans Administration or who has been adjudged to be totally 111
disabled by the Social Security Administration or who is blind, 112
paraplegic or a multiple amputee, shall have in their possession 113
and on their person proof of their age, residency, disability 114
status or other respective physical impairment while engaged in 115
the activities of hunting or fishing. 116
(b) Any resident who is a member of the Armed Forces, 117
including the Reserves and National Guard, and on active duty 118
outside the State of Mississippi is not required to purchase or 119
S. B. No. 2764 *SS08/R1222* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1222
PAGE 6 (baf\tb)

have in his possession a hunting or fishing license while engaged 120
in such activities on leave from active duty. The resident shall 121
have in his possession and on his person any proof as may be 122
required by the commission. 123
(c) All exempt hunting and fishing licenses previously 124
issued for disabilities shall be null and void effective July 1, 125
1993. 126
(d) The commission may offer a youth all-game hunting 127
and fishing license for exempt youths who have a hunter education 128
certificate and an all-game hunting and fishing license for other 129
persons exempted under paragraph (a). Youths and other exempt 130
persons shall not be required to purchase this license or have it 131
in possession while hunting or fishing. The commission may 132
establish a fee not to exceed Five Dollars ($5.00) for the 133
licenses. 134
(e) The requirement for purchasing and/or having a 135
hunting or fishing license authorized in subsection (1) of this 136
section may be waived for any resident or nonresident who is an 137
honorably discharged veteran with a combat-related disability and 138
who will be participating in a special hunt, fishing trip or other 139
outdoor recreational event that is available only to such persons 140
as determined by the entity sponsoring the event. The commission 141
is authorized to establish such criteria and/or procedures for an 142
organization to be recognized as a sanctioned entity that provides 143
unique outdoor recreational opportunities for wounded or disabled 144
S. B. No. 2764 *SS08/R1222* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1222
PAGE 7 (baf\tb)

veterans. Any events sponsored by a recognized organization, and 145
the persons participating in such event, shall be entitled to the 146
waiver set forth above without further action on the part of the 147
commission or the sponsoring organization. 148
(3) No license shall be required of residents to hunt, fish 149
or trap on lands in which the record title is vested in such 150
person. 151
(4) Any person or persons exempt under this section from 152
procuring a license shall be subject to and must comply with all 153
other terms and provisions of this chapter. 154
(5) Any person authorized to issue any license under this 155
section may collect and retain for the issuance of each license 156
the additional fee authorized under Section 49-7-17. 157
SECTION 3. Section 49-7-151, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 158
brought forward as follows: 159
49-7-151. Recognizing the inestimable importance to the 160
state and its citizens of conserving the wildlife resources of 161
Mississippi and recognizing the desires of many citizens who wish 162
to make a lifetime contribution to preserve our rich legacy of 163
wildlife resources for future generations, it is the intention of 164
the Legislature to create a lifetime sportsman license and the 165
Mississippi Wildlife Endowment Fund. 166
SECTION 4. Section 49-7-153, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 167
brought forward as follows: 168
S. B. No. 2764 *SS08/R1222* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1222
PAGE 8 (baf\tb)

49-7-153. (1) Any resident may purchase a lifetime 169
sportsman hunting and fishing license by filing an application in 170
the office of the department. The license shall qualify the 171
licensee to take all fish, game and fowl, except waterfowl, 172
including deer and turkey, in the manner provided by law. The 173
license shall also permit the licensee to hunt with primitive 174
weapons and bow and arrow, and to fish in the public waters of the 175
state, including the taking of crabs, oysters, shrimp and any 176
saltwater fish authorized to be taken under a recreational 177
license. 178
(2) The department may issue a resident lifetime sportsman 179
license at a fee to be determined by the commission at an amount 180
not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for a person 181
thirteen (13) years of age or older and not less than Five Hundred 182
Dollars ($500.00) for a person under thirteen (13) years of age. 183
All lifetime licenses shall be issued from the office of the 184
department. Each application for a lifetime license must be 185
accompanied by a certified copy of the birth certificate of the 186
individual to be named as the license holder, if the individual is 187
twelve (12) years of age or under. 188
(3) The commission shall establish proof of residency 189
requirements for the purchase of a lifetime license, and shall 190
also establish such restrictions on and regulations for lifetime 191
licenses as it deems necessary and proper. Except as otherwise 192
provided in this section, an applicant for a resident lifetime 193
S. B. No. 2764 *SS08/R1222* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1222
PAGE 9 (baf\tb)

license must have been domiciled in this state for eighteen (18) 194
consecutive months immediately preceding the date of his 195
application for a license. The burden of proving domicile shall 196
be on the applicant. 197
(4) The department may issue a native son or daughter 198
resident lifetime sportsman hunting and fishing license if 199
official documents reflect that one of the applicant's parents was 200
born in the State of Mississippi and was on active military 201
service at the time of the applicant's birth. 202
Such license may be issued at a fee to be determined by the 203
commission at an amount not less than One Thousand Dollars 204
($1,000.00) for a person thirteen (13) years of age or older and 205
not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for a person under 206
thirteen (13) years of age. 207
The applicant must provide a certified copy of an original 208
birth certificate of such parent showing that the parent was born 209
in Mississippi and provide official documents indicating that such 210
parent was on active military service at the time of the 211
applicant's birth. 212
An applicant for such license shall not be required to have 213
been domiciled in this state for eighteen (18) consecutive months 214
immediately preceding the date of his or her application for a 215
license. 216
(5) The department may issue a native son or daughter 217
nonresident lifetime sportsman hunting and fishing license. The 218
S. B. No. 2764 *SS08/R1222* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1222
PAGE 10 (baf\tb)

commission shall establish the fee, but the fee shall not be less 219
than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00). The applicant 220
must provide a certified copy of the original birth certificate 221
showing that the applicant was born in Mississippi and/or if the 222
parents' address was in Mississippi at the time of birth as shown 223
on the birth certificate or other documents and/or official 224
documents reflect that one of said parents was on active military 225
service outside the State of Mississippi at the time of said 226
birth. 227
Except as otherwise provided in this section, if the birth 228
certificate of each parent reflects that each parent was born in 229
the State of Mississippi, then any child born outside the State of 230
Mississippi of those parents may be issued a nonresident lifetime 231
sportsman license for the above set out fee. 232
(6) Any materially false statement contained in an 233
application for a lifetime license renders void the license issued 234
pursuant to that application, and subjects the applicant to 235
criminal prosecution under Section 49-7-45. 236
(7) Nothing in this section exempts an applicant for a 237
lifetime license from meeting other qualifications or requirements 238
otherwise established by law for the privilege of hunting or 239
fishing. 240
SECTION 5. Section 49-7-155, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 241
brought forward as follows: 242
S. B. No. 2764 *SS08/R1222* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1222
PAGE 11 (baf\tb)
ST: Hunting and fishing licenses; bring forward
provisions related to.
49-7-155. (1) The commission is hereby authorized to 243
establish a fund to be known as the Wildlife Endowment Fund to be 244
deposited in an approved state depository and expended by 245
appropriation approved by the Legislature as provided by law. The 246
department shall deposit all proceeds from the sale of lifetime 247
licenses into such fund. The interest obtained from any 248
investment or deposit of monies in such fund shall be deposited by 249
the commission into such fund. The commission shall invest the 250
assets of the fund as provided by law. 251
(2) The assets of the Wildlife Endowment Fund shall be 252
derived from the proceeds of the sale of lifetime licenses 253
authorized under Sections 49-7-151 through 49-7-155. The 254
following limitations are placed on expenditures from the fund: 255
(a) No expenditure shall be made from the principal of 256
the Wildlife Endowment Fund; 257
(b) The income earned and accruing from the investment 258
of the Wildlife Endowment Fund shall be spent only in furthering 259
the conservation of wildlife resources and the operations of the 260
department in accomplishing the purposes of the department. 261
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from 262
and after July 1, 2026. 263