Frequently asked Questions about the Mississippi Bowhunters Association

What is the Mississippi Bowhunters Association?

The Mississippi Bowhunters Association is a non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to unite the bowhunters of Mississippi with the common goal of preserving and promoting the sport of bowhunting and wildlife conservation. Our focus is to have a unified voice in legislation that regulates hunting and sets hunting seasons, to defeat anti-hunting groups and to promote wildlife management and conservation programs. A truly unified voice of Mississippi bowhunters will keep us off the endangered species list.

MBA involvement in legislative action has:

1. Moved the opening date of archery season to October 1 giving bowhunters almost another week in some years. Historically, the opening date had been the first Saturday in October.

2. Defeated several legislative infringement attempts from crossbow and muzzle loader interest to be included in the October/November archery seasons. Such inclusion would dramatically have changed the complexion of the season.

3. Increased the bag limit opportunities for bowhunting on antlerless seasons.

4. In 1993 legalized the harvest of turkeys in the spring season with bow and arrow.

5. Aided in developing new handicap regulations concerning crossbows thereby eliminating fraudulent claims allowing those who truly need crossbows to use them, but no one else.

6. Developed an integrated program utilizing various clubs and sportsmen groups through out the state as affiliates to help speak as one voice on critical sportsmen topics, such as wildlife bag limits, baiting and other important legislative issues.

7. Completed a 10 year effort to restore the late archery season. A monumental effort on behalf of our affiliates, members and officers had paid off with the late January season being available to all Mississippi sportsmen.

The MBA continues to work with the Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks in many areas including bowhunter education and proposed laws in the legislature, further protecting every Mississippians privileges to bowhunt.

1. A powerful, unified voice at the state capital.

2. A free subscription to Mississippi Bowhunter Magazine the finest state association hunting publication in the nation.

3. A membership card and window decal.

4. A chance to enter our Big Buck and Bowhunter of the Year contests, grand prize being a mule deer elk hunt in Colorado and a hunt at Tara’s Willow Point.

5. A chance to participate in many activities including 3-D shoots, wild game suppers, and the Jackson Wildlife Extravaganza and have chances to win quality door prizes at these events.

6. A invitation to our annual spring banquet which has featured such bowhunting greats as Fred Bear, Jim Dougherty, Judd Cooney, Roger Rothhaar, Gene and Barry Wensel, Glen St. Charles , Chuck Adams and Bob Foulkrod, just to mention a few.

We have been blessed in this state by not having to fight the anti-hunting sentiments sweeping the country.Unfortunately, that time will come. We all know from the experience of other parts of the country that bowhunting is one of the first areas to be attacked.When this occurs the MBA will be there to protect and promote bowhunting.