Chronic Wasting Disease sample coolers look like this one pictured here at Natchez State Park. (Hunter Cloud | The Natchez Democrat)

BROOKHAVEN — It is almost time for the second year of a velvet season in Mississippi. Hunters are now officially 30 days from September goose season, 31 days from dove season, 38 days from early teal season and 44 days from velvet season.

Velvet season is an archery only and buck only season from September 15 to 17, 2023. Permits for the special season must be purchased and are available where hunting and fishing licenses are sold or online. Resident permits are $10 while non-residents can purchase the $100 deer permit which includes the velvet season permit. 

Mississippi’s state legislature created the special three day archery season in 2022. MDWFP reported 282 bucks were harvested last year which meant 282 samples for Chronic Wasting Disease testing were submitted. 

Velvet season generated $80,000 in revenue from deer permits sold and $37,000 from velvet season permits alone in September of 2022.

Know before you go

Velvet season is only open on private lands, only legal bucks can be harvested and hunters must report any harvest and submit samples for Chronic Wasting Disease. 

Samples for Chronic Wasting Disease can be submitted through participating taxidermists in Lincoln County or at local freezers. Residents of Copiah, Lawrence, Lincoln and Franklin Counties have a few options to submit samples at drop off freezers. 

Mississippi State University’s Extension office in Hazlehurst and Monticello have freezers and so does the United States Forestry Service office in Meadville. Pike County residents can take CWD samples to the Pike County Cooperative in McComb. 

Hunters can report a harvest by visiting Game Check on the MDWFP website or using the MDWFP phone application to report a harvest afield.