Mississippi House Kills Bill That Would Have Brought Back Black Bear Hunting for the First Time in Nearly 100 Years

March 23, 2026
11:40 am

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Mississippi's House of Representatives just slammed the door on a bill that could have resurrected black bear hunting in the state for the first time since the Roaring Twenties—a missed opportunity that's got hunters, conservationists, and 2A advocates scratching their heads. The legislation aimed to open a limited black bear season, managed through quotas and tags, to address growing bear populations spilling into rural areas and clashing with livestock and crops. Proponents argued it mirrored successful models in states like Louisiana and Texas, where controlled hunts keep populations in check without overharvesting. But in a 78-39 vote, the House killed HB 137, citing concerns over bear numbers and optics—despite data from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks showing an estimated 30 bears in 2015 ballooning to over 100 by 2023, with confirmed nuisance reports tripling. This isn't just about bears; it's a stark reminder of how anti-hunting sentiment creeps into legislatures, often under the guise of wildlife protection, and how it intersects with 2A values. Hunting is the lifeblood of the Second Amendment community—it's where we hone marksmanship, teach firearm safety to the next generation, and defend self-reliance against urban nanny-state overreach. Mississippi, a deep-red stronghold with some of the nation's most permissive gun laws, dropping the ball here signals vulnerability: if bear tags can't pass amid exploding populations, what hope for expanding deer seasons or challenging federal overregulation on suppressors? The implications ripple outward—successful hunts fund conservation via Pittman-Robertson dollars (excise taxes on guns and ammo), which have poured billions into habitats nationwide. Killing this bill starves that ecosystem, indirectly kneecapping 2A infrastructure. For the 2A faithful, this is a call to action: flood your reps with data, not emotions. Mississippi's bear population won't vote, but bears don't respect no hunting signs either—nuisance attacks are up, and without management, expect more human-bear standoffs where a well-placed rifle shot is the only humane resolution. Rally the hunting blocs, tie it back to self-defense rights (bears don't RSVP), and push for overrides or companion bills. We've seen states like North Carolina flip similar scripts through grassroots pressure; Mississippi can too. Stay vigilant—because if they can kill bear season, the next target might be your AR in the woods.

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Mississippi’s House of Representatives just slammed the door on a bill that could have resurrected black bear hunting in the state for the first time since the Roaring Twenties—a missed opportunity that’s got hunters, conservationists, and 2A advocates scratching their heads. The legislation aimed to open a limited black bear season, managed through quotas and tags, to address growing bear populations spilling into rural areas and clashing with livestock and crops. Proponents argued it mirrored successful models in states like Louisiana and Texas, where controlled hunts keep populations in check without overharvesting. But in a 78-39 vote, the House killed HB 137, citing concerns over bear numbers and optics—despite data from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks showing an estimated 30 bears in 2015 ballooning to over 100 by 2023, with confirmed nuisance reports tripling.

This isn’t just about bears; it’s a stark reminder of how anti-hunting sentiment creeps into legislatures, often under the guise of wildlife protection, and how it intersects with 2A values. Hunting is the lifeblood of the Second Amendment community—it’s where we hone marksmanship, teach firearm safety to the next generation, and defend self-reliance against urban nanny-state overreach. Mississippi, a deep-red stronghold with some of the nation’s most permissive gun laws, dropping the ball here signals vulnerability: if bear tags can’t pass amid exploding populations, what hope for expanding deer seasons or challenging federal overregulation on suppressors? The implications ripple outward—successful hunts fund conservation via Pittman-Robertson dollars (excise taxes on guns and ammo), which have poured billions into habitats nationwide. Killing this bill starves that ecosystem, indirectly kneecapping 2A infrastructure.

For the 2A faithful, this is a call to action: flood your reps with data, not emotions. Mississippi’s bear population won’t vote, but bears don’t respect no hunting signs either—nuisance attacks are up, and without management, expect more human-bear standoffs where a well-placed rifle shot is the only humane resolution. Rally the hunting blocs, tie it back to self-defense rights (bears don’t RSVP), and push for overrides or companion bills. We’ve seen states like North Carolina flip similar scripts through grassroots pressure; Mississippi can too. Stay vigilant—because if they can kill bear season, the next target might be your AR in the woods.

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