General Regulations

A trapping license is required of anyone 16 years of age or older who traps furbearers (bobcat, mink, muskrat, opossum, otter, raccoon, and weasel), or nuisance animals (beaver, coyote, fox, nutria, and skunks) in the State of Mississippi.

•  Except landowners trapping on land deeded in their name are not required to be licensed.  This license shall also be required of each assistant or helper 16 years of age or older employed or used by a trapper.

•  Trappers are required to have an identification number, which is registered with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks (MDWFP), attached to ALL traps by a metal tag or permanently inscribed, etched, or stamped on the trap.

• The identification number shall be the MDWFP Customer Number located on
  each trapper’s hunting or trapping license. Except, persons having been issued a “Trapper ID Number” prior to July 1, 2012 may use either their MDWFP Customer ID Number or their previous Trapper ID Number. Any trap found without a registered identification number will be in violation and subject to removal by a conservation officer.

• Resident and non-resident Trapping Licenses and Fur Dealer Licenses may be purchased at any MDWFP Office, State Park, or State Lake, including 1-800-5GO HUNT, and on-line via the MDWFP Website (www.mdwfp.com).

Fishing License (Saltwater & Freshwater)
All non-exempt persons are required to have a valid fishing license in their possession when fishing public waters.

Resident – Each resident of the State of Mississippi ages sixteen (16) to sixty-four (64), fishing in the fresh or marine waters of Mississippi, including lakes and reservoirs but NOT to include privately owned ponds and streams, shall be required to buy a fishing license. A saltwater license is required south of U. S. Highway 90 and a freshwater or saltwater license is valid between I-10 and U. S. Highway 90.  Saltwater license is not valid north of I-10.   Any person sixty-five (65) or older, or any person otherwise exempted from obtaining a fishing license, must have documentation with him/her at all times while fishing as described in Exemptions. [MS. Code 49-7-9]  However, Effective July 1, 2010, residents sixty-five (65) years of age or older are required to purchase a saltwater fishing license if fishing South of U.S. Highway 90. The Senior Saltwater License is a lifetime privilege.

Any person domiciled within the state of Mississippi shall be entitled to receive a resident fishing license.  The burden of proving domicile shall be on the person claiming such status.  Exempt residents must have in their possession proof of age, residency and/or disability status.  For information about freshwater fishing licenses call (601) 432-2055.  For information about saltwater fishing regulations call the Department of Marine Resources at (228) 374-5000.