For spot and stalk, you'll want to hunt in the Delta region. The Delta is massive, flat fields for miles only broken up by treelines along creek beds. The standard method of hunting in that region is to hunt and shoot from your truck. You could even use a spotting scope in this region as you can often see deer several miles away.
In the other parts of the state, spot and stalk won't be feasible. Its WAY too thick in the pine belt (mid part of the state, excluding the Delta). The Northern part is more hardwoods, but, as is the case is much of the East, spot and stalk is not the best method of deer hunting. In the Southern part of the state, the undergrowth tends to stay green through January, making it very thick. Deer dogging is popular throughout the state, but especially popular in the Southern region.
MS made some changes this year where, on private land, you can use any weapon you want during the primitive weapon season, however, public land will remain as is. Also note that as a non resident, you cannot kill does on public land -only on land that you own or lease (stupid rule for a state with a population of over 2 million whitetails).
If you are looking for big deer, the Delta is probably where you want to hunt as the soil has extremely high mineral content, though, be forewarned that those deer are subjected to a nasty combination of chemicals and pesticides. That's crop duster country and the deer regularly get sprayed as they are bedded down in cotton and crop rows. That may or may not matter to you. I know plenty of people who eat them and I probably would to, but it is something to consider.
Aesthetically speaking, the "Hill Country" (centered around Holly Springs) of NW Miss offers the most varied and diverse terrain with rolling hills of mature hardwoods and terrain funnels emptying into bottomland. Holly Springs Nt'l forest is a nice WMA with 40,000 acres of huntable land. If you have a canoe, you cant get to some pretty isolated spots of bottomland.
-Be mindful of your out of state tags. Heck, I'm from TN and I try to park my truck in a way that my out of state tags aren't visible.
-Outlaw mentality is wide open down there when it comes to game laws. The locals treat them more as mere suggestions. Don't be surprised to hear guys openly brag about killing bucks with a spotlight and a AK47. It happens.
-The locals also like their 4 wheelers and leaving beer cans in the woods.....
-Once the deer dogging seasons open, the deer go 100% nocturnal as it is a tremendous amount of pressure, so check the seasons in the region of the state you intend to hunt.
-Hogs. If you see them (which you probably won't, but you'll see plenty of sign), kill them. They are a big problem down there.
If you have any other questions, hit me up. I went to college in MS as well as hunted down there as a nonresident for a few years. -great state for turkey hunting. That being said, I'm just next door in TN and MS has a very different hunting culture. I'm not saying its bad, its just different. (every state has a different hunting culture, but you wouldn't expect there to be such a dramatic difference between TN and MS, but there is).
