One bill concerns the hunting, taking and trapping of wild hogs. As described in the last issue of Wildlife Mississippi magazine, wild hogs are an increasing problem in Mississippi. Senator Lynn Posey (D-Union Church), who is Chairman of the powerful Senate Wildlife Committee, has introduced Senate Bill 2786 to allow landowners, agricultural leaseholders or their designated agents to take wild hogs year round on lands owned or leased by them. The bill allows one to hunt at night with a light, use traps year round, bait and buy and sell the meat. Furthermore, the bill allows the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks' Commission to adopt regulations to control wild hog populations and to regulate the taking of wild hogs on public and private lands. Thanks to the leadership of Senator Posey, this bill has passed the Senate and is now in the Mississippi House.

Senate Bill 2783, which was authored by Senator Lynn Posey (R-Laurel), would revise the number of antlerless deer that can be taken in any one season to five. Most importantly, it grants that the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks' Commission shall have plenary authority to establish deer management zones, adopt bag limits, antler restrictions and enforcement regulations to manage deer populations within the deer management zones.

Senate Bill 2900, also authored by Senator Posey, is called the "Wildlife Violators Compact". Its use in Mississippi was derived from an idea developed by Mississippian Sidney Allen, Jr, of the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucus. The Compact was originally created in 1989 between Colorado, Oregon and Utah, and has since been passed in 21 additional states, including Georgia, Tennessee and Florida. The Compact states that among the states listed, any wildlife violations in one state will be shared through the created network so that a hunter/angler convicted of a violation in any state may not purchase a license in another state without paying the penalty first. This bill has passed the Senate and is now in the House.

Senate Bill 2914 has passed the Senate and is heading to the House and will protect the right of Mississippians to hunt, trap and fish, and reads specifically that "It is, and shall be, the public policy of this state to promote hunting, trapping and fishing and other outdoor recreational opportunities and to preserve these activities for all generations to come." This bill was introduced by Senator Posey and co sponsored by the other Senate Co Chairman of the Sportsmen's Caucus, Senator Stacey Pickering, as well as 28 other Senators.

Another piece of legislation is House Bill 59, by Representative Hank Zuber (R-Ocean Springs). This bill would authorize the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to enter into a mutual agreement with the adjacent states establishing reciprocity as to the availability of fishing privileges by citizens of each agreeing state 65 years of age or older. This bill passed the House and is now being considered in the Senate.