More Waterfowl Habitat in Mississippi
October 6, 2008
Jackson – The Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (Foundation) was awarded a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant for almost $1 million. The grant entitled, “Mississippi Delta WMA Wetland Habitat Enhancements,” is the first NAWCA grant awarded to the Foundation. The project will protect, restore, and enhance 3,270 acres of waterfowl habitat on three Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ (MDWFP) Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in the Mississippi Delta. Habitat restoration and enhancement efforts will begin in summer 2009 at Howard Miller WMA in Issaquena County, O’Keefe WMA in Quitman County, and Charlie Capps WMA in Bolivar County.
The 2,430-acre Howard Miller WMA was acquired by the MDWFP in January 2006 and July 2007. Grant funds will renovate ditches, replace water control structures, and replace damaged pump motors on Howard Miller WMA so that it can continue to provide valuable habitat for both waterfowl and waterfowl hunters. Work activities on O’Keefe WMA will improve water management on a 20-acre agricultural field. Once restored, this field will be managed for a variety of natural and planted waterfowl foods and provide additional hunting opportunities.   Â
Charlie Capps WMA was once a 451-acre state fishing lake, but became a WMA because frequent flooding made management of the sport fishery extremely difficult. As a result, approximately 400 acres of the former lake bed will be restored to shallow, intensively managed wetlands that provide quality waterfowl habitat and public waterfowl hunting opportunities.  Another 50 acres of the lake bed will be re-planted to restore historical cypress and tupelo wetlands. MDWFP will also maintain a 40-acre fishing lake to retain fishing opportunity in the area. “The restoration of Charlie Capps WMA will give hunters a quality waterfowl hunting opportunity in an area of the Delta that has not had such opportunities provided on state-owned lands,” said Stephen Chandler, WMA supervisor for Charlie CappsWMA.
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Wood Duck Bag Limit Increased to Three
August 4, 2008
Jackson- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) decided on Friday to allow an increase in the daily bag limit for wood ducks from two birds to three birds for the 2008-2009 waterfowl hunting season.Â
“The wood duck bag limit increase will greatly benefit Mississippi’s waterfowl hunters, particularly those hunting in areas outside the Mississippi Delta”, said Houston Havens, Migratory Game Bird Biologist with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP). Discussions about increasing the wood duck bag limit have been going on for several years among the Flyways. Ed Penny, MDWFP Migratory Game Bird Program Coordinator, explained, “After banding data was collected by MDWFP and other state agencies and analyzed by USFWS, the Atlantic, Central, and Mississippi Flyways reached an agreement with the USFWS to increase the bag limit to 3 wood ducks. We are excited about this new opportunity for our waterfowl hunters, and we will remain committed to our ongoing banding efforts to better understand and manage our wood duck population.”
Remain updated on waterfowl regulations and dates for the upcoming season by visiting us online at home.mdwfp.com.
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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.” Â
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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MDWFP Fisheries Bureau Releasing Florida Strain Bass Throughout the State
June 10, 2008
Jackson – In accordance to a detailed management plan, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks fisheries bureau recently released Florida strain bass at seven lakes statewide. Three additional stockings are set for later this summer.
Ross Barnett Reservoir, Eagle Lake, Oktibbeha County Lake, Geiger Lake, Columbus Lake, Aberdeen Lake and Lake Boga Homa have already been stocked with the Florida strain bass. Lake Mary, Kemper County Lake and the Pascagoula River are scheduled to be stocked by the MDWFP in upcoming months.
At Ross Barnett, approximately 150,000 Florida strain bass were released as a part of a management plan at popular fishing destination. MDWFP District 4 Fisheries Biologist Larry Bull said the recent stocking will help Ross Barnett maintain its reputation as a top bass fishing location.
“From our work in the 1990s we believe that stocking Florida bass produce trophy fish in Ross Barnett,” Bull said. “Last year, we met with local bass fishermen to discuss the stocking in the management plan. Their input greatly helped us get these fish.”
At Eagle Lake near Vicksburg, 240,000 Florida strain bass were released. MDWFP District 5 Fisheries Biologist John Skains said the recent stocking will be a big benefit to an already good lake.
“Bass recruitment at Eagle Lake is limited,” Skains said. “Fishing improves a year or two after we stock and based on past experience I expect these fish to be in the pound to pound and a half range by next year. The bass we stocked three years ago are now showing up as five pounders.”
Oktibbeha County Lake received 25,000 Florida bass while Lake Boga Homa got 53,000 and Geiger Lake was stocked with 8,000.
“Each lake has its own management plan,” said Ron Garavelli, MDWFP fisheries bureau chief. “These stockings are an important part of the plan.”
All the fish released during the stockings were hatched at the North Mississippi Fish Hatchery near Enid.
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It is Time to Renew Your Sportsman License In Mississippi
June 10, 2008
JACKSON – Sportsman License holders are being urged to renew their license to avoid the rush, according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Licenses are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase, or in the case of the Sportsman License, the current date of expiration. Simply put, if your license expires June 30, as many do, you can renew it anytime before that date and still have a full year of coverage.
All hunters between the ages of 16 and 64 need a valid Mississippi hunting license, and the Sportsman’s License provides the best option. The collectable Sportsman’s License features a photograph of a mature whitetail by noted Mississippi photographer Joe Mac Hudspeth and can be purchased for $32. The Sportsman’s License includes all-game hunting and fishing. A wildlife management area permit can be added to the Sportsman’s License for $15, allowing access to the state’s 46 WMAs. A saltwater fishing license, and state waterfowl stamp may be purchased for an additional fee as can a Mississippi Waterfowl Stamp. Persons born January 1, 1972 or after, must have a valid Hunter Education Card to purchase any hunting license.
The Sportsman License can be purchased at various retail outlets, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks district offices, online, or by calling 1-800-5GO-HUNT. Collectable, signed prints of the Twelfth Edition Sportsman License Print can be purchased by visiting www.southernfocus.com.
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New Boat Ramp Opens on Tenn-Tom
May 27, 2008
COLUMBUS – Boaters at Columbus Lake on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway have a new boat ramp and facilities on the west bank according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.
The ramp lies above the John C. Stennis Lock and Dam and will serve boaters on the west side of the waterway. The concrete ramp is 29-feet wide and is adjoined by an asphalt parking lot designed to accommodate 48 vehicle-trailer combinations. There is a covered pavilion at the ramp and plans are to build restroom facilities.
The ramp was named Charles Younger Landing, in honor of long time resident of the west bank and former Lowndes County Chancery Clerk Charles Younger. The ramp is on land leased from the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers.
The ramp was constructed by Lowndes County work crews with funds from the Sportfish Restoration Act (Wallup – Breaux) Grant through the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Lowndes County funded 25-percent of the cost.
“On behalf of Lowndes County I would like to thank the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks for funding this project,” said Leroy Brooks, District 5 Supervisor. “It will positively change the dynamics of the community.”
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Mississippi Anglers Get Three Days of Free Fishing
May 27, 2008
JACKSON - Mississippi is observing National Fishing and Boating Week June 1-8 by waving fishing fees and boat launching to fish for anglers on Mississippi State Fishing Lakes and State Park Lakes for three weekend days, June 1, 7 and 8. A valid Mississippi freshwater fishing license or proof of exemption is still required.
“This is an opportunity for anglers to spend some time on the water, near their homes and save a few dollars,” said Director of Fisheries Ron Garavelli. “Our state lakes are an excellent place to introduce someone to fishing or have an outing with the family. Most lakes are stocked with bass, bream, and catfish with a few having other species such as crappie.”
Mississippi has 24 state fishing lakes and 22 state park lakes. Most allow fishing from the bank and special fishing piers. Each has a boat launching facility for those wanting to fish from their boat. For family fun, many lakes have picnic tables that offer an opportunity to enjoy the scenery and take a respite from the time on the water.
For a list of lakes and other fishing related information visit Fisheries, or call 601-432-2400
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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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