SB 2655

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
By: Senator(s) Whaley
Senate Bill 2655
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-33.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972,
TO AUTHORIZE THE TAKING OF DEER WITH THE USE OF SUPPLEMENTAL FEED WHEN
EXCLUSIVELY USING AS SUPPLEMENTAL FEED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS NATURALLY GROWN IN
THE STATE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PRIVATE LAND ON WHICH SUCH SUPPLEMENTAL
FEED IS USED LIES WITHIN A CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE MANAGEMENT ZONE; TO AMEND
SECTION 49-7-58.2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED
PURPOSES.
���� BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
���� SECTION 1.� Section
49-7-33.1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
���� 49-7-33.1.� (1)� (a)� The
Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall allow the taking of deer with
the use of supplemental feed and may place any reasonable conditions or
restrictions on such taking.
��������� (b)� The Commission on
Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall establish a zone or zones of contiguous
counties for the management and implementation of a program to allow the taking
of deer with the use of supplemental feed.
��������� (c)� (i)� The
commission shall allow the taking of deer with the use of supplemental feed on
private lands only.
������������� (ii)� The taking
of deer with the use of supplemental feed when exclusively
using as supplemental feed agricultural products naturally grown in the state,
including, but not limited to, alfalfa, corn or soybeans, shall be allowed
regardless of whether the private land on which such supplemental feed is used
lies within a chronic wasting disease (CWD) Management Zone.
���� (2)� Except as provided
in subsection (1)(c)(ii) of this section, the commission shall take any
action it deems necessary and use its emergency powers to prevent the
introduction of disease, to control disease, to eradicate disease, and to
manage the taking of deer with the use of supplemental feed.
���� (3)� (a)� The Department of
Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall study and analyze all relevant data and
issues with regard to the taking of deer with the supplemental feed program,
including, but not limited to, the impact that the program has upon the health
and density of deer populations and other wildlife, its effect on surrounding
habitat, the effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement, the extent to which
hunters who participate in the program are successful in harvesting deer and
are supportive of the program, the perception of the program by the general
public, and the extent to which the program has a favorable impact on economic
development and tourism.
��������� (b)� The department
shall file annual progress reports with the Legislature.� The department shall
file a final report with recommendations on the feasibility of continuing the
taking of deer with the use of supplemental feed.
���� (4)� A violation of this
section or any regulation of the commission promulgated under this section
shall be punishable as a Class II violation as defined in Section 49-7-143, and
if the violator is a nonresident, then upon conviction, he or she shall lose
the opportunity to obtain a nonresident license as defined in Section 49-7-8.
���� SECTION 2.� Section
49-7-58.2, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
���� 49-7-58.2.� (1)� The
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall develop and implement a
program for inspecting, monitoring, testing and preventing chronic wasting
disease, provided, however, that no program for preventing chronic wasting
disease shall prohibit supplemental feeding on private lands with agricultural
products naturally grown in this state as provided in Section 49-7-33.1(c)(ii).�
The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall promulgate rules and
regulations to effect the sampling of deer harvested, or dying from, nonhunting
related causes, within an enclosure.� If chronic wasting disease is diagnosed
in white-tailed deer within an enclosure, the department is authorized to use
methods authorized by the commission and enter the enclosure to determine a
solution for containing the disease within the enclosure.� If chronic wasting
disease is diagnosed within five (5) miles of the enclosure, the department is
authorized to enter the enclosure and utilize the best collection methods
available to obtain tissue samples.� If chronic wasting disease is detected
within an enclosure, the commission shall not declare surrounding or adjoining
properties within a five (5) mile radius of the enclosure a CWD Management
Zone, until chronic wasting disease is positively detected within such radius
on these surrounding or adjoining properties.
���� (2)� If a live test for
chronic wasting disease is developed, the department is authorized to conduct
such tests on white-tailed deer within any enclosure.
���� SECTION 3.� This act
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.