The Top 10 Reasons Mississippi Is the Best State for Deer Hunting

Mississippi is known not just for its famous Mississippi River, which is one of the longest in the United States, but also for its impressive deer population. Deer hunting is a popular sport in North America, with Mississippi being a prime location to hunt winning deer, its long hunting season and various hunting opportunities.

But why Mississippi? Let’s explore the top 10 reasons why Mississippi is the best state for deer hunting and why you should book your next hunting experience in The Mongolia State.

1.      Deer Population

Mississippi has a massive deer population estimated to be around 1.75 million. This is the densest deer population than any other state apart from Texas. Hunters harvest 280,000 deer annually in Mississippi, bringing millions of dollars to the state during hunting season.

One of the most popular deer to hunt is white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). You can find whitetail deer throughout the state. Other common deer include elk, which you can find west of the Mississippi River, mule deer, and more.

2.      Deer Quality

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) monitors and manages deer management programs to ensure the highest quality deer populations throughout the state. Biologists perform deer disease surveillance to ensure the health of deer populations, conduct research, and provide resources for public and private land managers.

Over 50 Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) throughout Mississippi are open to hunting. Herd health checks and addressing herd needs are critical to deer quality, which is the goal of the MDWFP.

The impressive deer quality is just one of the reasons why Mississippi is the best state for deer hunting.

3.      Habitat Quality

Mississippi has a variety of landscapes for deer to thrive, including forested areas, grasslands, brushy draws, and valleys where whitetail deer are prominent. These habitats offer hunters the experience of a lifetime with a picturesque backdrop to admire. In addition, the mild climate makes for a comfortable experience.

One WMA program includes habitat modification recommendations to land managers to improve habitat quality for deer and hunters. Hunters can find an exceptional trophy in a national forest containing over a million acres of land, wildlife management area, or national wildlife refuges.

4.      Access to Public Hunting Lands

Hunting deer on private land can be a costly experience, especially for hunters who love to hunt deer regularly. However, with hundreds of thousands of acres of public hunting land available in Mississippi, deer hunting has become affordable for hunters.

The MDWFP has maps available on their website, providing satellite views of these lands. The maps are enhanced so that you can identify creeks, roads, and boundaries, simplifying the hunting experience.

Once you find a spot on the map that looks promising, you can head out and hopefully successfully find deer to hunt.

Additionally, hunting websites provide maps and links to various public hunting lands abundant in wildlife.