Nuisance Wildlife

Some species of wildlife, both native and non-native, regularly cause conflicts through interactions with humans.   This may occur around homes, buildings, livestock areas, ponds, crops, and gardens.  Conflicts can range from mere irritating circumstances to significant property damage.  Nuisance animal regulations have been developed to provide homeowners and landowners legal options for management and control of these species. Beaver, coyote, fox, nutria, skunk, and wild hogs are classified as "nuisance animals" in Mississippi.

Any nuisance animal control or management program must begin with an assessment of the conditions that may attract nuisance wildlife.  Wildlife in both rural and suburban areas will utilize food sources, buildings, and other physical structures that are not intended for their use.  Depending on the situation, once wildlife become accustomed to food sources or structures, deterring them may be very difficult or seem impossible. In many cases, a nuisance situation exists due to conditions created by humans. Some nuisance wildlife situations may be amplified by poor wildlife health, poor habitat conditions, or during nesting, young rearing, and denning. In other situations, wildlife will merely take advantage of opportunities that exist within their home range. Nuisance animal regulations provide opportunity for homeowners and landowners to protect their property against nuisance animals and the damage they cause.

 Rules & Regulations

• Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits
• Nuisance Pamphlet

The following species are defined as "nuisance wildlife" in Mississippi by Public Notice LE4-3779 and may be hunted, trapped, or killed year-round with some exceptions:

HUNTING - Wild Hogs

• Wild hogs may be hunted, taken, killed, chased or pursued on private lands during daylight and nighttime hours throughout the year with no firearm restrictions. Wild hogs may also be hunted, taken, killed, chased or pursued on private lands with dogs, except during the spring turkey season.

Hunting Hogs With the Aid of Bait

• Wild hogs may be hunted with the aid of feed/bait except whole, chopped, or ground-up grains. Bait/feed may be placed on or above the ground, year-round, in any type container for the purposes of hunting wild hogs only.

TRAPPING - Wild Hogs

• Any live cage-type trap used to trap wild hogs must be tagged or labeled in plain view (written in waterproof ink or stamped) with the owner or users name, address, and/or trapper ID#.
• All live cage-type traps must be checked at least every 36 hours.
• All non-targeted wild or domestic animals caught must be released immediately upon detection.
• A wild hog live cage-type trap is described as a permanent or mobile containment system made of any type material capable of confining the mobility of a wild hog until otherwise removed.
• The trap must consist of a trap door, slide gate, or similar mechanism.
• The roof or tops of these traps must be constructed in a manner with ample opening in the top to allow non-targeted deer, turkey, or bear to escape.
• Grain or grain products may be used, if placed inside any legally designed live capture-type trapping device for the sole purpose of trapping wild hogs, year-round.
• Any person trapping wild hogs must possess either a valid Lifetime, Sportsman, All Game Hunting, or Trapping License.
• Wild hogs may not be caught or trapped and released into the wild at a location different from the location where the wild hog was caught or trapped. A violation of this is a Class 1 violation and is punishable with fines up to $5000, as provided under section §49-7-141.
• For trap design guidance you may contact the MDWFP Wildlife Bureau at (601) 432-2199.

TRAPPING - Beaver, Coyote, Fox, Nutria, and Skunk

• A trapping license is required for anyone 16 years of age or older who traps on any land other than their own.
• It is illegal to trap with the aid of bait, recordings of bird or animal calls, or electrically amplified imitations of calls of any kind. However, lure is allowed for trapping furbearers, beaver, nutria, coyote, skunk, and fox, provided that no more than two and one-half (2.5) cubic inches of such lure may be placed or located within twenty (20) feet of any trap (The lure amount of 2.5 cubic inches is approximately the volume equivalent of a regulation-sized golfball). All lure within twenty (20) feet of any trap must be covered and not visible from above. However, there are no lure restrictions when used inside live-cage type traps that do not exceed forty-two (42) inches in length, fifteen (15) inches in width, and twenty (20) inches in height. Liquid scents may be used.
• All other regulations in regards to trapping apply (see Trapping and Fur Dealing Regulations pamphlet for complete regulations or Miss. Code Ann. §49-7-141).