So, the hunter that can't afford a ML probably can't afford a hunting lease and probably doesn't own a lot of land either. Sounds like someone caving in to the lease hunters to me. The regular rifle season certainly seems long enough for the rifle hunters to get by.

I know I am gonna get flammed for this but I see nothing wrong with it. I think as long as a season is open for a game animal a hunter should be able to use what ever they want to hunt, especailly on private land. As long as enforcement of bag limits is assured what difference does it make how the hunter bags an animal. A deer killed with a muzzle loader or a bow is just as dead as one killed with a modern rifle.

This is just a continuation of their current program which already allows singleshot centerfire rifles with a bore of .35 or greater for primitive firearms season. There has been a resurgence of .35 whelen, .358 winchester and the like over the past 5 years, which is excellent for some of these grand old cartridges. Granted, most of these guys are buying $200 NEF's or CVA's, it has helped the ammo price on these formerly obscure calibers. For clarification, their "primitive weapon season" refers to pre-modern firearms and now archery tackle. There is still an archery only season that runs from Oct. 1 - Nov 16.

I don't have much of an opinion on their usage. It would seem silly that a ML is too expensive, but they are the poorest state in the union with a gross median income of just over $36,000/yr and an unemployment rate of over 10%. If this helps put food on the tables of hungry people who need a break, then so be it. Now if Connecticut tried to pull this move I'll take issue.

I believe the intent was for this to do away with the two week primitive weapon only season in December. It was originally put in place to give the deer a ‘break’ halfway through the season. Well, here we are, it’s 2013 and now we have an ever-growing deer herd that numbers almost 2 million (or is it billion?). THEY DON’T NEED A BREAK!
The manufacturers of primitive weapons are certainly not in favor of this but I certainly am. Archery folks still get the first month and half of the season, so everybody quit whining. I’m trying to hunt over here.

If they want to cut the number of deer in Mississippi, they need to make it easier for the public hunter, not easier for the private game preserve owners.

I got into the primitive hunting season this past year in PA and while possibly the most frustrating season ever, I have also never had more fun or more laughs once I got back to camp. One of the arguments is that people can't afford a muzzleloader? The last time I checked I could get a traditions flintlock with everything I would need to hunt for less than a lot of the rifle/scope combinations out there. Not to mention the things I got will last me at least 3-4 years! I believe it also mentioned that some hunters don't like the season? If you don't like it don't do it! I don't see anyone forcing people to partake in the season. It seems to me like some close friends to the Governor just want more time to play with their guns. Kinda makes me sick.

Hey Ontario, 70%+ of the total land area in the state is privately owned and the majority of that is ‘rural’. You don’t have to be a land barren to have a place to hunt. I know plenty of people who have a 40 acre block or less and that's all it takes. Or, they have a membership in a hunting club, as the proposed bill states.

Maybe I’m wrong but cant the state and federal public lands change their regulations to be in line with this proposed bill?

Is it me, or do deer react differently when a ML fired vs. a high powered rifle..say 7mm mag. I'll shoot the 7 and the deer scatter like a fart in the wind. I fire a ML, and they seem less alarmed, and will stick around for a few more shots like a turd in the wind. Has anyone else noticed this, or do the deer I hunt realize that my ML is not the most efficant way of killing them....

Pennsylvania has a flintlock only hunting season in late winter. I don't see the point of allowing center fire rifles to be used in Ol' Miss. It destroys the purpose of a primitive season completely.

The primitive seasons allow people like me who don't have access to private land a chance at fair chase deer. However, all the lease holders and landowners pull all the deer by using corn feeders. The same good ol boys that are in the house and senate in MS are the big landowners. They can sit in thier shooting houses and shoot deer over a pile of corn between trips to the buffet and liquor store all day if they want. I go out west now once a year and hunt muleys in the national forests. Id rather hike 20 miles and be outside HUNTING and never get anything than shooting pet, corn fed tame deer any day. My primitive seasons gun is an H&R .45-70 with irons. I treate it like archery and try to get a shot 50 yards and in. Most guys around here have gone to getting .444 marlins and scoping them with 3x9x40s anyway so what is the point?