Hancock County Hunting & Fishing Violation Defense

Hancock County Hunting & Fishing Violation Defense

Hunting and fishing are two very popular and enjoyable activities practiced throughout the state of Mississippi, as well as many other states in the country. However, there are certain state laws that you must follow to avoid any criminal charges for specific violations. You may not be aware of certain illegal activities you may engage in until you are charged with them. A Hancock County hunting & fishing violation defense lawyer can help.

The legal team at Miller Law Offices understands how infuriating it can be to face criminal charges for a hunting & fishing violation, especially if you’re not even clear on what the violation is. An experienced Hancock County hunting & fishing violation defense attorney can be helpful. You’ll want someone who handles hunting & fishing violation cases, as well as someone with considerable knowledge of the state’s hunting & fishing laws.

Why Should You Hire a Hunting & Fishing Violation Defense Lawyer?

There are several reasons why you should hire a hunting & fishing violation defense lawyer. First and foremost, you may not be totally aware of the charges you’re facing. As far as you’re concerned, you were hunting the way you’ve hunted for years. A lawyer can help you figure out the right course of action. At Miller Law Offices, Kyle Miller has extensive experience as both a defense lawyer and a prosecutor, allowing him to understand how the system operates.

According to recent statistical information from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks, hunting and fishing remain very popular in the state. In 2024 alone, nearly 326,000 hunting licenses were sold to Mississippi residents, and over 129,000 were sold to non-residents. The previous year, there were over 1,100 commercial fishing licenses sold throughout the state. Hunting in Mississippi typically requires a license.

While a hunting or fishing violation may seem like an innocuous charge at first, you could end up facing hefty penalties depending on the nature of your violation. These penalties can include significant fines, loss of hunting privileges, and even imprisonment. This can all impact your mental health severely. To help adapt to your situation, you may want to consider reaching out to a local mental health support group, such as NAMI Coastal MS or Mental Health Mississippi.

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Possible Defenses Against Hunting & Fishing Violations

Sometimes, being charged with an offense can feel like you’ve already lost, particularly if you are arrested. Always keep in mind that a charge or arrest is merely the beginning, and you are innocent until proven guilty. Hire an experienced defense lawyer to help you put together a winning strategy and do what you can to defend yourself. Here are some of the possible defenses you may want to use to help strengthen your case:

• If you are attempting to defend yourself against a trespassing charge, you may be able to argue that you were only on that land because you had a good faith basis to believe you were welcome. Maybe you had a verbal agreement with the owner. Maybe others misled you into thinking the property was public. You may not have known you were trespassing at all, since there were no visible signs posted.
• One of the most common charges you could face is hunting or fishing without a license. Unfortunately, you could end up with a citation before your recently purchased license has been fully processed in the system. If you can produce a physical or digital license, that can be enough to get the charges against you dismissed, depending on the offense.
• In many cases, the prosecution needs to be able to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to secure a conviction. A significant part of their case is proving intent to commit a crime. However, if you can prove that you never had any intention of breaking the law and the incident that occurred was an honest mistake, that could help your case.

FAQs

Can You Defend Your Property in Mississippi?

Yes, you are legally allowed to defend your property from trespassers in Hancock County, Mississippi. While this includes fighting back against human burglars or attackers, it also includes trapping and shooting invasive wildlife. However, you must ensure that your actions comply with the guidelines and laws established by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks. Depending on the situation, you may not need a license to hunt on your own property.

What Is an Example of Hunter Harassment?

Hunter harassment occurs when someone deliberately scares away wildlife in an effort to prevent animals from being hunted or when someone interferes with a hunter’s equipment or vehicle. Their intent is to stop animals from being hunted. An example of hunter harassment could be a situation where someone erects an illegal barrier claiming that hunting is prohibited in an area where it is legally permitted.

Do I Have to Wear Hunter Orange on Private Property?

No, you are not generally required to wear hunter orange when you are hunting on private property. However, hunter orange exists to make it easier for other hunters to see you as a fellow hunter, rather than as a wandering animal. It’s a safety measure that has proven to be very effective in saving people from being accidentally shot. You may want to consider wearing it anyway, just to be on the safe side.

Is It Legal to Shoot Coyotes in Mississippi?

Yes, it is legal to shoot coyotes in Mississippi. Coyotes are classified as a nuisance animal in Mississippi, and they can be hunted year-round by licensed hunters on private land. If you are going to hunt coyotes on private land, you need to have a valid hunting license, and you must make sure you abide by the standard regulations set forth by the state government regarding hunting, which include disposing of carcasses properly.

Contact a Lawyer Today

At Miller Law Offices, we can help you determine the right way to fight the violation you are facing. Contact us to speak to a member of our team about your case.

Hancock County Hunting & Fishing Violation Defense Reviews