Mississippi · License · 2026 Edition
Mississippi Hunting License Cost 2026: Fees, Deer & Turkey Permits
A year costs $25 for residents and $300 for nonresidents. The cheapest short-term option for nonresidents is the 7-Day Small Game Hunting at $38.
Mississippi has two resident base tiers: All Game Hunting/Freshwater Fishing ($25) does NOT include archery, primitive weapon or crossbow gear — that needs its own $14 add-on — while the Sportsman's License ($45) bundles archery/primitive/crossbow in already. Neither base tier includes the deer velvet-season permit, turkey stamp, or waterfowl stamp; those are always separate add-ons regardless of which base license you hold. Nonresidents face a starker gap: the $300 All Game license excludes archery gear, the deer permit AND the turkey stamp — a nonresident deer hunter is looking at $300 (All Game) + $100 (Deer Permit) at minimum before even touching a bow or gun add-on.
01 — Base hunting license
| Type | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sportsman's License (incl. Archery/Primitive/Crossbow + Freshwater Fishing) | $45 | Does not include saltwater fishing, waterfowl stamp, turkey stamp, velvet-season permit, or WMA permit. |
| All Game Hunting / Freshwater Fishing | $25 | Does not include archery/primitive/crossbow, saltwater fishing, velvet-season permit, waterfowl stamp, turkey stamp, or WMA permit. |
| Small Game Hunting / Freshwater Fishing | $10 | Does not include the ability to hunt deer, hog, or turkey. |
| Apprentice Sportsman's License | $32 | One-time license for a resident who hasn't completed hunter education — must be accompanied by a licensed adult 21+. Equivalent to the Sportsman's License. |
| Apprentice All Game Hunt and Fish | $17 | One-time license for a resident who hasn't completed hunter education — must be accompanied by a licensed adult 21+. Equivalent to the All Game license. |
| Lifetime Sportsman’s License (birth–age 12) | $500 | |
| Lifetime Sportsman’s License (age 13+) | $1000 | |
| Armed Forces 14-Day Hunting/Fishing | $32 | Includes Deer Permit, Freshwater Fishing, and Archery/Primitive/Crossbow — the only nonresident license that bundles the deer permit in. |
| All Game Hunting | $300 | Does not include turkey stamp, archery/primitive/crossbow, deer permit, fishing, waterfowl stamp, or WMA permit. |
| 7-Day All Game Hunting | $150 | |
| 3-Day All Game — Archery/Primitive Weapon | $150 | Includes Archery/Primitive/Crossbow gear — does not include the Deer Permit or Turkey Stamp. |
| Small Game Hunting | $95 | No deer, hog, or turkey. |
| 7-Day Small Game Hunting | $38 | |
| Non-Resident Mississippi Native Lifetime | $1500 |
02 — Deer permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery / Primitive Weapon / Crossbow Permit | $14 | Add-on to an All Game or Small Game license. |
| Velvet Season Permit (deer) | $10 | |
| Archery / Primitive Weapon / Crossbow Permit | $75 | Add-on to All Game or 7-Day All Game Hunting. |
| Deer Permit | $100 | Required for any nonresident hunting deer — add-on to All Game, 7-Day, 3-Day, or Youth All Game. Includes the velvet-season permit. |
03 — Turkey permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Turkey Stamp | $10 | Required for anyone 16+ hunting turkey. Includes 3 turkey Game Checks and a physical commemorative stamp. |
| Wild Turkey Stamp | $100 | Add-on to an All Game Hunting license. Includes 3 turkey Game Checks and a physical commemorative stamp. |
04 — Waterfowl & migratory bird permits
| Stamp | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State Waterfowl Stamp | $10 | Required for anyone 16+ hunting waterfowl, in addition to the Federal Duck Stamp. |
| Electronic State Waterfowl Stamp | $19 | Federal Duck Stamp also required. |
Waterfowl hunters 16 and older also need HIP registration and a Federal Duck Stamp. Mississippi duck season dates →
05 — Other permits
| Permit | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife Management Area User Permit | $15 | |
| Wildlife Management Area User Permit | $30 | |
| Shooting Preserve License | $13 | In lieu of a regular nonresident hunting license — valid only for legally released, pen-raised game. |
06 — Hunter education
Mississippi requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Valid hunter education is required to purchase a license for anyone born on or after January 1, 1972 — a birth-year cutoff, not an age cutoff.
Mississippi hunter safety course — options, costs and where to register →
07 — Where to buy
Licenses and permits are sold through MDWFP License Sales, the state's official portal.
Where to hunt public land in Mississippi — WMAs by county & access rules →
Mississippi hunting licenses are valid one year from the license start date, not a fixed calendar year (per MDWFP).
FAQ
Can I hunt on my own land in Mississippi without a license?
Mississippi exempts only the resident in whom the land's record title is vested — not their spouse, children, or a tenant. The standard resident license already bundles deer and turkey, so the exemption covers those too, though a separate fall turkey permit may still apply.
How much is a hunting license in Mississippi?
A resident annual Mississippi hunting license costs $25, and the nonresident annual license costs $300. Species permits for deer, turkey and waterfowl are charged on top — see the tables above. Prices are set by Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and were read from their own license document on Aug 12, 2026.
How much is a nonresident hunting license in Mississippi?
$300 for the annual nonresident license. The cheapest short-term option is the 7-Day Small Game Hunting at $38. Species permits come on top of the base license.
How much is a deer permit in Mississippi?
Archery / Primitive Weapon / Crossbow Permit — $14. Velvet Season Permit (deer) — $10. Archery / Primitive Weapon / Crossbow Permit — $75. Deer Permit — $100. A deer permit is charged on top of the base hunting license.
What do I need to get a hunting license in Mississippi?
Mississippi requires a hunter education certificate for most first-time license buyers. Licenses are sold through MDWFP License Sales, the state's official portal. Mississippi hunting licenses are valid one year from the license start date, not a fixed calendar year (per MDWFP).
Do I need a hunter safety course to buy a Mississippi hunting license?
Yes, for most first-time buyers. Valid hunter education is required to purchase a license for anyone born on or after January 1, 1972 — a birth-year cutoff, not an age cutoff.
Verified · Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks · Last verified 2026-08-12
Publisher's note. Prices read from the MDWFP license offerings document, retrieved 2026-08-12. Review due 2027-02-01. Fees are set by the state and change without notice — confirm current prices before purchase.