Mississippi Waterfowl Late-Season Dates Set
September 9, 2008
Jackson- The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks approved dates for the 2008-2009 waterfowl hunting season, according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released late-season frameworks in early August providing a “window” of dates from which states may select specific season dates.
The duck, merganser, and coot seasons will open on November 27, 2008 and run continuously until January 25, 2009. The duck daily bag limit will be a total of 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 3 mottled ducks, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 scaup, 1 black duck, and 1 pintail. The season on canvasbacks will be closed. The merganser daily bag limit will be a total of 5 mergansers, only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers. Coots will have a 15-bird daily bag limit. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit for ducks, mergansers, and coots.
Ed Penny, MDWFP Migratory Game Bird Program Coordinator, said “The most significant changes to this year’s bag limits include the 3-bird wood duck daily bag limit, the bag limit reduction of scaup to a 1-bird daily bag limit, and a closed canvasback season.”
Late-season Canada goose and brant seasons will occur from November 17, 2008 – January 25, 2009. Canada geese will have a 3-bird daily bag limit and brant will have a daily bag limit of 2 birds. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit for Canada geese and brant.
Snow, blue, Ross’s, and white-fronted goose (white-fronted geese are known as “specklebellies” by many hunters) seasons will be from November 15, 2008 – January 25, 2009. Snow, blue, and Ross’s geese will have a daily bag limit of 20 birds. White-fronted geese will have a daily bag limit of 2 birds. In addition to the regular hunting season, there will again be a conservation order for snow, blue, and Ross’s geese during the following dates: October 1 – November 14, 2008; January 26 – January 30, 2009; and February 2 – March 31, 2009 (only snow, blue, and Ross’s geese may be taken during the light goose conservation order). The possession limit for white-fronted geese is 4 and there is no possession limit for snow, blue, and Ross’s geese.
“Similar to last year, we will extend the light goose conservation order on snow, blue, and Ross’s geese later into the year, because a few geese remain in Mississippi through the month of March” said Houston Havens, MDWFP Migratory Game Bird Program Biologist. “This year, hunters will again have that extra opportunity.”
The youth waterfowl weekend will be the weekend of January 31 – February 1, 2009.
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Fawning Time is Here: Leave Them Alone!
July 22, 2008
JACKSON - July is traditionally a time in Mississippi when white-tailed deer fawns begin to appear. Each year human encounters with these new-born deer occur and questions arise as to the wellbeing of the fawn.
“Starting in July we begin to get phone calls and reports of fawns being found or wandering into people’s yards,” said William McKinley, Deer Program Biologist for the Wildlife Bureau of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. “Each year we tell people the same thing, leave the fawns alone. Their mother is keeping track of them; she has not abandoned them and will return.”
Mississippi law prohibits the capture, possession or caging of any wild animal.
According to McKinley, the first few weeks of a fawn’s life are spent in isolation. They are born without odor to avoid attracting predators. The doe leaves them for most of the day and feeds, returning several times a day to nurse the fawn. As a natural defense the fawn lays still in a fashion that makes people think it is sick or injured.
At a few weeks of age the fawn will be on its feet and can outrun most predators and has no trouble keeping up with its mother.
“As people walk in the woods and find a fawn, it is important to not touch it, or linger too long around it,” said McKinley. “It is difficult to do, but just walk away and leave it. Thousands of fawns do just fine every year without human intervention.”
Does bred in December will have fawns in July. Later breeding will result in fawns dropping at later dates. This means spotted fawns could be encountered as late as October. Remember, if you encounter a fawn, leave it alone.
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Mississippi Private Lands Alligator Hunting Season Announced
July 18, 2008
JACKSON - The Commission on the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has announced its intention to open a private lands alligator hunting season in the following counties; Hinds, Holmes, Issaquena, Madison, Rankin, Warren and Yazoo counties. The season dates are September 26 – October 4. Persons who own private land that contain a minimum of 20 acres of permanent surface water within these counties, may be eligible to receive a special harvest voucher to harvest an alligator from their property. Vouchers will be issued at the rate of one for the first 20 acres of surface water and an additional voucher for each additional 100 acres of surface water. No public water will be considered for eligibility. Landowners will be allowed to transfer any or all vouchers to residents or non-residents 16 years of age or older. The possessors of the vouchers are required to attend and complete the MDWFP Private Lands Alligator Hunting Training Course on September 6, from 9 a.m. until noon at the MDWFP Central Office in Jackson. Upon completion, the holder of the harvest voucher will be eligible to purchase a Private Lands Alligator Hunting Permit (PLAHP). The cost of the PLAHP is $100 for residents and $200 for non-residents. Other license requirements may apply.
An application and other proof of ownership are required. There is a $5 fee to apply. For more information, instructions, and applications visit www.mdwfp.com/alligator
or you may call (601) 432-2199.
The deadline for application submission to the MDWFP is August 15, 2008.
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Mississippi Dove Hunters Have More Opportunity in 2008
June 30, 2008
Jackson- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved a more liberal season length and bag limit for dove hunting than what has been allowed in the past, according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Past federal frameworks have only allowed a 60 day season and 15 dove bag limit or a 70 day season and a 12 dove bag limit. A state had to choose one of the two options. Hunters will now be able to enjoy the longer 70 day season with the larger 15 dove bag limit.
Through the work of the states that comprise the Eastern Management Unit (EMU) dove technical committee, in which Mississippi is a member, it was determined there was no significant difference in harvest numbers among those states that chose the 60 day 15 dove limit or the 70 day 12 dove limit season packages. It was determined that the majority of the dove harvest occurs on the opening weekend with very little harvest occurring after opening weekend.
“Mississippi dove hunters will finally be able to have their cake and eat it too,” said Scott Baker, MDWFP Wildlife Biologist. “This coupled with our private dove field program will make a lot of hunters happy.”
Dove hunters looking for a place to dove hunt in a safe, family like atmosphere need to look no further than the MDWFP’s Private Land Dove Field Program. The MDWFP has partnered with National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF) to offer dove hunting opportunities on private property prepared just for dove hunting. Interested hunters need to log on to the MDWFP web site, MDWFP.com, for regular updates on field location and permit availability. Permits will available beginning on August 4. For more information the MDWFP’s Private Lands Dove Field Program, please contact Scott Baker at (601) 432-2229.
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Mississippi Parks Ranked Among Top 100 Family Campgrounds
May 21, 2008
Jackson – Five Mississippi State Parks were listed among ReserveAmerica’s Top 100 Family Campgrounds according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Approximately 4,000 state parks, national parks, and campgrounds were reviewed encompassing all 50 states before the final 100 were selected. In Mississippi, John W. Kyle State Park near Sardis; Lake Lincoln State Park near Wesson; Paul B. Johnson State Park near Hattiesburg; Percy Quin State Park near McComb; and Trace State Park near Belden were chosen to be among the Top 100 Family Campgrounds.
Mississippi’s parks also fared well in other areas of recognition. Tishomingo State Park in northeastern corner of the state earned a spot among the nation’s Top 25 Canoeing Spots. Lake Lincoln, Percy Quin and Trace State Parks were touted as being among the Top 50 Fishing Spots in the ReserveAmercia report. Lake Lowndes State Park near Columbus and Percy Quin were named in the Top 50 for the quality of the hiking trails each offers visitors. Leroy Percy State Park, Mississippi’s first state park, located near Hollandale, was named in the Top 25 Romantic Spots. For scenic value, Clark Creek State Park got the recognition it deserves, being listed among the Top 50 Scenic areas. Tishmingo State Park joined LeFluer’s Bluff State Park in Jackson and Clarko State Park near Quitman in being recognized for their unique cabins.
“To be ranked as we were against tourist destination states such as Florida, Virginia, Colorado, and California speaks volumes for the fine job our parks personnel are doing in making people feel welcomed,” said Ramie Ford, MDWFP Director of Parks. “We have a great asset that the world is starting to discover.”
ReserveAmerica is North America’s leading camping reservation and campground management solutions provider. For specific information about each of Mississippi’s state parks visit parks, or call 601-432-2400.
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Ribbon Cutting Held at Renovated J.P. Coleman Boat Ramp
May 14, 2008
Jackson – The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks joined state and local officials at J.P. Coleman State Park near Iuka for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the recently renovated boating facilities.
Along with improving and expanding the existing boat ramp, additional parking spaces were added to make the site more attractive to local anglers as well as a place for fishing tournaments.
Recently, a regional bass tournament launched out of the J.P. Coleman ramp, with more than 140 boats entered in the event. MDWFP Deputy Director Al Tuck said having quality facilities to host these events and attract more anglers does more than just boost usage at the park.
“This was an extensive project that came about because of the support of state and local officials,” Tuck said. “The improved ramp and increased parking does more than just help J.P. Coleman State Park, it benefits Iuka and surrounding communities as well.
Cutline: The ribbon cutting was held at the renovated boat ramp at J.P. Coleman State Park near Iuka. Pictured left to right: Dr. Sam Polles MDWFP Executive Director, Brian Jones Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Commissioner, Sen. Eric Powell, Sen. J.P. Wilemon, Jr., Rep. Bubba Carpenter, John Stanley, Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Commission Chairman, Charles Rigdon, Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Commissioner, Jerry Munro, Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Commissioner.
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Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Awarded Grants
April 28, 2008
Jackson – Three grants totaling $172,755 have been awarded to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries, and Parks. The main thrust of the monies is to reverse declining hunting and fishing license sales, the primary funding mechanism of the agency. The grants are proceeds from two sources: the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) which made a $25,000 matching grant in the first of a three-year program; and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), which provided funding for two projects.
The RBFF grant target lapsed fishing license holders and encourages them to buy a license and again join the fishing community. Mississippi anglers contribute millions of dollars to local economies through the purchase of fishing tackle, bait, boats, motors, fuel and other items. Excise taxes paid by the manufacturer, and ultimately passed on to the consumer, enable the department to complete a wide variety of sport fishing projects. These funds are distributed to states based on a number of criteria including the number of license holders.
The NSSF grants will be used to recruit hunters across Mississippi. A direct mail campaign coupled with public service announcements and advertising will highlight the excellent hunting opportunities available on public lands. Hunters have long paid for wildlife management and as with the aforementioned fishing excise taxes, the sale of firearms, ammunition and other items creates a funding source for wildlife conservation efforts.
The second NSSF Grant will expand and promote the public dove field program. The program provides incentives to land owners who establish fields and allow public participation on date-specific hunts. Hunters pay a fee to have a reserved stand in an established field, preventing overcrowding.
“License sales are a major factor in the distribution of federal funds to each state,” said Al Tuck, MDWFP Deputy Director. “We encourage everyone who hunts or fishes to obtain a license. That way we get our fair share of federal tax revenues.”
To buy a hunting and/or fishing license, visit one of more than 400 license agents, or buy your license online.
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Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Awarded Grants
April 27, 2008
Jackson – Three grants totaling $172,755 have been awarded to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries, and Parks. The main thrust of the monies is to reverse declining hunting and fishing license sales, the primary funding mechanism of the agency. The grants are proceeds from two sources: the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) which made a $25,000 matching grant in the first of a three-year program; and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), which provided funding for two projects.
The RBFF grant target lapsed fishing license holders and encourages them to buy a license and again join the fishing community. Mississippi anglers contribute millions of dollars to local economies through the purchase of fishing tackle, bait, boats, motors, fuel and other items. Excise taxes paid by the manufacturer, and ultimately passed on to the consumer, enable the department to complete a wide variety of sport fishing projects. These funds are distributed to states based on a number of criteria including the number of license holders.
The NSSF grants will be used to recruit hunters across Mississippi. A direct mail campaign coupled with public service announcements and advertising will highlight the excellent hunting opportunities available on public lands. Hunters have long paid for wildlife management and as with the aforementioned fishing excise taxes, the sale of firearms, ammunition and other items creates a funding source for wildlife conservation efforts.
The second NSSF Grant will expand and promote the public dove field program. The program provides incentives to land owners who establish fields and allow public participation on date-specific hunts. Hunters pay a fee to have a reserved stand in an established field, preventing overcrowding.
“License sales are a major factor in the distribution of federal funds to each state,” said Al Tuck, MDWFP Deputy Director. “We encourage everyone who hunts or fishes to obtain a license. That way we get our fair share of federal tax revenues.”
To buy a hunting and/or fishing license, visit one of more than 400 license agents, or buy your license online.
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