BROOKHAVEN — It is almost time for the third year of a velvet season in Mississippi. Hunters helped collect valuable samples in the fight against Chronic Wasting Disease last year during the three day season.

Velvet season is an archery only and buck only season from September 13 to 15, 2024. 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 239 bucks were harvested in last year’s velvet season which meant 239 samples for Chronic Wasting Disease testing were submitted. 

Of the 239 samples, one buck harvested in Issaquena County tested positive for CWD. It was the county’s second positive since first detection in 2018. Deer tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease in 16 counties since 2018. In total, MDWFP reports 317 deer tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease since 2018.

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.