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Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
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Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Update
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MDWFP Remains Diligent
More than 1,400 white-tailed deer samples have been collected in Mississippi since October 1, 2017; 574 of those deer samples were collected from Mississippi's 25-mile Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zone which encompasses
Claiborne, Hinds, Issaquena, Sharkey, Warren, and Yazoo counties.
Only one deer has tested positive for CWD which was
collected on January 25, 2018, in Issaquena County. The deer was a 4.5-year-old male that died of natural causes and was reported to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP). Recently, a secondary test on tissue from the CWD positive buck was returned further confirming the deer was CWD positive. To date, all other deer samples from Mississippi submitted for testing have been returned as not detected for CWD.
In addition, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has sampled deer within the portion of the 25-mile CWD Management Zone, which lies across the Mississippi River. All tests submitted by LDWF were returned as not detected for CWD.
Pursuant to the Order of the Executive Director on behalf of the Commission, supplemental feeding remains banned in the following counties: Claiborne, Hinds, Issaquena, Sharkey, Warren, and Yazoo. Also, all hog traps within the six-county containment zone must be permitted with the MDWFP.
For more information on CWD or to report a sick deer, visit www.mdwfp.com/cwd or call 1-800- BE-SMART.
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Alligator Hunting Season and Permit Process Approved for 2018
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The statewide public waters alligator season will offer 930 permits within 7 hunting zones across the state for the 10-day season, August 31 - September 10, 2018. The process for issuing permits will remain the same as in 2017--an electronic application process followed by a random drawing of applicants. Applications will be accepted from June 1-7, 2018, via the MDWFP website. The first drawing will take place on or about June 13.
A private lands alligator hunting season is available to landowners whose properties meet specific qualifications within 34 open counties. Grenada County has been added for the private lands season for 2018. Applications and instructions for private lands permits are available online. Applications with all required documents are accepted by mail to the Jackson Central Office beginning May 1 and must be submitted by July 1.
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Mississippi's Early Migratory Game Bird Seasons Announced
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For 2018-2019
The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks approved dates for the 2018-2019 early hunting seasons for migratory game birds during its April meeting. These dates are listed in the table below; and include hunting seasons for doves, resident Canada geese, early teal, rails, snipe, and woodcock. Legal hunting hours for migratory game birds are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
Mississippi is divided into two dove zones to maximize hunting opportunities throughout the state. The North Dove Zone is defined as areas north of U.S. Hwy. 84 plus areas south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and west of MS Hwy. 35. The South Dove Zone is defined as areas south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and east of MS Hwy. 35.
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Mississippi's Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Announced
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For 2018-2019
The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks considered dates for the 2018-2019 waterfowl hunting seasons during their April meeting. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service releases all migratory game bird frameworks in early spring each year, providing a "window" of dates from which states may select specific season dates. "Waterfowl breeding population estimates in 2017 remained high, and this will again allow states the opportunity to select a liberal hunting season of 60 days with a six-duck daily bag limit," said Houston Havens, Waterfowl Program Coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Waterfowl hunting season dates for 2018-19 are listed in the table below.
The duck daily bag limit will be a total of six ducks, including no more than four mallards (no more than two of which may be females), three wood ducks, three scaup, two redheads, two canvasbacks, two black ducks, two pintails, and one mottled duck. The merganser daily bag limit will be a total of five mergansers, only two of which may be hooded mergansers. Coots will have a 15-bird daily bag limit. The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit for ducks, mergansers, and coots.
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Opens May 15
The 2018 Mississippi spring squirrel season opens on May 15 and closes June 1. Many of Mississippi's open public lands and wildlife management areas across the state offer squirrel hunting opportunities. Hunters generally should look for areas with mature, hardwood forest cover for the best squirrel hunting. Anyone planning to hunt public land should read the regulations before they hunt. Some areas may have season dates and rules that differ from general statewide regulations.
Read More
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Need Guidance Managing Habitat on Private Lands?
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Our biologists are here to help
The MDWFP
offers a variety of services to help private landowners achieve their wildlife management objectives. Whether it is cultivating food plots for deer, managing woodland density, or determining the amount of coverage you need for proper habitat, our biologists will provide you with technical guidance.
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Subscribe to Mississippi Outdoors Magazine
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Mississippi Outdoors magazine is MDWFP's bi-monthly publication featuring a range of informative articles, agency news, trends, topics, and photos.
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May 1 - July 15
Hand grabbing for catfish has been around for centuries. Depending on where it is practiced, hand grabbing is known by an assortment of names, including noodling, hogging, and tickling. Some might refer to it as crazy, but in Mississippi, it is a time-honored tradition.
Hand-grabbing season runs from May 1 through July 15. This period coincides with spawning season when catfish are looking for cavities in which to spawn. Common spawning sites include hollow logs, stumps, or holes in a stream bank; however, artificial structures are also used. Flathead catfish and blue catfish are the two most common species caught by hand grabbers, but channel catfish are also caught.
Ross Barnett is a popular destination for hand grabbers, but there are many other places across the state where it is practiced with success. Pickwick Lake and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (TTW) are popular choices in northeast Mississippi, as are the "Big 4" flood-control reservoirs (Arkabutla, Enid, Sardis, and Grenada) in the north-central part of the state. Delta oxbows along the Mississippi River, along with oxbows of the Pearl and Pascagoula rivers in south Mississippi, can be great choices, depending on water levels. Okatibbee Reservoir near Meridian is another popular spot for hand grabbing.
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MDWFP Youth Fishing Rodeos
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Coming to a lake or pond near you
We have more than 30 Youth Fishing Rodeos scheduled through June at lakes and ponds across Mississippi. MDWFP Youth Fishing Rodeos are held Saturday mornings and are a great opportunity for families to spend quality time together in the great outdoors.
Each of these rodeos will have MDWFP fisheries biologists and technical staff present to provide fishing education, guidance, and technical information.
May Fishing Rodeos
May 5
- Lake Lamar Bruce - Rodeo Pond, Saltillo - 7 a.m.
- Clarkco State Park - Ivy Lake, Quitman - 8 a.m.
- Trace State Park - Trace Small Lake, Belden - 9 a.m.
- Desoto National Forest - Airey Lake, Saucier - 7:30 a.m.
May 12
- City of Olive Branch George - Harrison Park, Olive Branch - 8 a.m.
May 19
- Bienville National Forest - Marathon Lake, Forest - 8 a.m.
- City of Carthage McMillan - Park Pond, Carthage - 8 a.m.
- North MS Fish Hatchery - Hatchery Pond, Enid - 7 a.m.
May 26
- Lake Bill Waller, Columbia - 7 a.m.
- Lake Claude Bennett, Rose Hill - 7 a.m.
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MDWFP and MSU to Host Pond Management Workshop
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The MDWFP
Fisheries Bureau, in conjunction with the Mississippi State University County Extension Service, will host a pond management workshop in Aberdeen at Lake Monroe on May 17. Workshop attendees will learn about pond design, fish stocking, harvest, vegetation control, liming, and fertilization. A question-and-answer period will follow.
May 17
Monroe County
Time:
6 p.m.
Location: Lake Monroe, 20018 Lake Monroe Dr.
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Fallen Conservation Officers Memorial Ceremony
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May 17 at MDWFP Headquarters
The MDWFP will host its annual Fallen Conservation Officers Memorial Ceremony on May 17 at 10 a.m. to honor and remember Conservation Officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The ceremony is open to the public and will be held at MDWFP headquarters located at 1505 Eastover Drive in Jackson.
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Water Features Open at State Parks
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Memorial Day Weekend
When you picture Mississippi's State Parks, you may have thoughts of nature trails and campgrounds, but do not overlook the fun to be had on the water! From boating and water skiing to splash pads and slides, get ready to get wet at the parks' many attractions.
Saturday, May 26, water features will be open at
Buccaneer,
J.P. Coleman,
Tishomingo,
Roosevelt,
and Percy Quin State Parks
. This includes pools, water slides, wave pools, and splash pads. Please check with your
local state park
for more information.
We encourage you to spend your Memorial Day with friends and family at one of Mississippi's 25 State Parks!
You can book your stay online here.
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Celebrate "Kids to Parks Day" at a State Park
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May 19
On May 19, join millions of people at hundreds of national, state, and local parks, and public lands across the country taking part in the 8th annual National Park Trust (NPT) Kids to Parks Day (KTP Day). KTP Day is a nationally coordinated day designed to connect kids and families with their local, state, and national parks. By discovering our public lands, kids across the country are learning about park stewardship, outdoor recreation, STEM, and history. Through teaching the next generation to appreciate our public lands, NPT is working to foster future park enthusiasts and create the next generation of park stewards.
Participating Mississippi State Parks include
Lake Lowndes,
Lake Lincoln,
LeFleur's Bluff,
Tombigbee,
J.P. Coleman,
Roosevelt, and
Tishomingo.
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Download the Official MDWFP App
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The official MDWFP app is a powerful tool for hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts in Mississippi, providing easy access to information and services provided by the MDWFP. This application features a digital license display, rules and regulations, season dates, bag limits, feeding times, and much more.
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At the MDWFP's North Mississippi Fish Hatchery
Students across Mississippi are invited to get outdoors and participate in the 2018 MDWFP's North Mississippi Fish Hatchery Youth Art Contest. Each student must submit a portfolio, including entry form and artwork, to the Visitor Education Center (VEC) by May 10.
The contest is sponsored by the Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Winners in four age categories will have their work published in the
Mississippi Outdoors magazine and will receive a complimentary copy of the magazine displaying their work. Winners will also receive gift cards and have their work posted on the MDWFP website.
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The Science of Ripley's Believe It or Not
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The Newest Exhibit at MDWFP's Museum of Natural Science
What's even more amazing than explorer and adventurer Robert Ripley's legendary compendium of oddities, anomalies, and fantastic feats? The science that underlies them. Visitors to MDWFP's Mississippi Museum of Natural Science are invited to explore the unbelievable at the Science of Ripley's Believe It or Not!® exhibit from May 19 through September 9.
Visitors will go places they've never imagined and be encouraged to follow their natural curiosity as they explore the real science behind the unbelievable. Through experiments, challenges, touchable specimens, real artifacts, computer interactives, and multimedia experiences, visitors of all ages will delve into the astounding world of Ripley's Believe It or Not!®
The exhibit is included with the regular price of museum admission: $6 for adults, $4 for youth ages 3-18, and $5 for senior citizens ages 60 and up. Museum Members are free with current membership.
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At MDWFP's Museum of
Natural
Science
Get Your Feet Wet at MDWFP's Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is a l
ive stage show experience with acclaimed wildlife filmmakers, educators, and brother/sister duo, Laura and Robert Sams.
The 30-minute experience includes amazing footage of underwater animals, original music, and inspiring stories of children around the U.S. who are making a difference in their communities. From octopuses to sharks, muddy snails to prehistoric crabs, Laura and Robert offer families an engaging, funny and awe-inspiring "back stage look" behind the PBS Kids Splash and Bubbles television series.
"Get Your Feet Wet" is
included
with the regular price of museum admission: $6 for adults, $4 for youth ages 3-18, and $5 for senior citizens 60 and up. Museum Members are free with current membership.
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Register for Summer Camps
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At the MDWFP's Museum of Natural Science
Remember those magical childhood summers spent exploring the outdoors? This June your children can experience similar adventures at one of the summer camps at MDWFP's Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. Age-appropriate camps include: "Go Outdooors ... Camp!" for those entering kindergarten through sixth grade, "Jr. Naturalist Camp" for those entering seventh-ninth grade, and "Field Camp" for those entering tenth-twelth grade.
Register Online Here
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