May, 2019
MDWFP NEWSLETTER
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PROPOSED 2019-2020 HUNTING SEASON CHANGES
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Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) has several proposed rules for the 2019 – 2020 hunting season. Notable changes include an antlerless bag limit increase to 5 deer in all hunting zones except the Southeast, which remains at 2. Also, hunters who submit a deer that tests positive for CWD during the hunting season and relinquish the meat will receive a tag to harvest one extra deer for that season. A hunt plan for the newly acquired Phil Bryant WMA is also included in the proposals. You can view these proposals in detail as well as a recording of MDWFP's latest public meeting discussing the proposals at the link below.
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AIMS CONTINUES TO GROW
Nearly 80,000 Students Statewide
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MDWFP would like to congratulate all students who participated at the 2019 Archery in Mississippi Schools (AIMS) State Championship. Nearly 6,600 students competed at the state championship this year. According to AIMS director Waldo Cleland, AIMS participation statewide is now just shy of 80,000 students, making it the largest sport per capita than any other extracurricular youth sport in Mississippi.
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HAND GRABBING, A MISSISSIPPI TRADITION
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Hand-grabbing season runs from May 1 through July 15 each year in Mississippi. 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. As with most other freshwater fish species, the male begins searching for and preparing potential spawning sites. The only parental role that a female will play is laying the eggs, and it is the male who will stay and aggressively guard the nest against predators. This aggressive behavior is what gets the adrenaline flowing for many hand-grabbing anglers.
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BEAR CREEK CANOE TRIP
At Tishomingo State Park
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Winding through Tishomingo State Park is Bear Creek, a scenic stream settled within the bluffs of the park. The park offers a 6.25-mile canoe float trip down the rocky-bottomed stream with the take-out point at park. The float trip operates daily from mid-April until mid-October, (weather and water level permitting). Scenic sandstone bluffs, lush greenery, a canopy of mixed hardwoods and pines, shoals, and Class I rapids with long pools between
provide
for an enjoyable and exciting trip for all ages.
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WATER FEATURES OPEN AT STATE PARKS
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Saturday, May 25, State Park pools, splash pads at Paul B. Johnson and Clarkco State Parks, and Buccaneer Bay Waterpark at Buccaneer State Park will open. 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!
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Mississippi's spring squirrel season opens 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 experience. Anyone planning to hunt public land should read the regulations before they hunt. Some areas can have season dates and rules that differ from general statewide regulations.
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2019 - 2020 MIGRATORY BIRD SEASON DATES AND BAG LIMITS
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Season dates for the 2019 - 2020 migratory bird seasons are available. Due to recent changes in federal frameworks, duck season will now run until January 31. Previously, the season could only run though the last Sunday of January.
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WILDLIFE BUREAU NAMES BIOLOGIST AND WMA MANGER OF THE YEAR
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Photo: Executive Wildlife Bureau Director Russ Walsh, Turkey Program Coordinator Adam Butler, Pascagoula River WMA Manager Doyle Bond, Wildlife Bureau Director Amy Blaylock
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Adam Butler
2018 Wildlife Biologist of the Year
Adam Butler has worked in the MDWFP Wild Turkey Program since 2008. In his role, Adam worked with partners to author our first statewide Comprehensive Wild Turkey Management Plan. He has worked to improve the Wild Turkey Brood Survey and Spring Gobbler Hunting Survey data collection with positive results. Adam has collaborated with faculty at Mississippi State University to improve our understanding of Wild Turkey population dynamics. He routinely works to improve conservation efforts by working with other partners such as the National Wild Turkey Federation, other state agencies, Mississippi Prescribed Fire Council, Mississippi Longleaf Pine Implementation Team, and the Mississippi River Landowner Alliance. Each year Adam conducts public presentations, radio broadcasts, and media interviews related to Wild Turkey management reaching a variety of local groups and natural resource professionals. In addition, he conducts numerous private and public lands site visits annually providing quality, habitat management technical guidance for Mississippi landowners. Adam has demonstrated a high level of commitment to service in the conservation community, and MDWFP is proud of his many accomplishments.
Doyle Bond
2018 WMA Manager of the Year
Doyle Bond began working for MDWFP as a WMA Manager in 2007 and has been an invaluable asset to the WMA program. He routinely maintains nearly 100 miles of roads and trails, manages invasive species, and improve wildlife habitat throughout the Pascagoula River WMA.
Further, he assists with other duties across the Southeast WMA region such as fire lane maintenance, wildlife food plot preparations,
major road repairs, prescribed burning, and equipment maintenance.
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TISHOMINGO STATE PARK CELEBRATES 80TH ANNIVERSARY
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Tishomingo State Park celebrates its 80
th
anniversary this month.
The park began construction by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935 and was opened to the public in May 1939.
Many of the original facilities, including several buildings, trails, picnic tables, campgrounds, cabins, and a fishing pond used by the CCC workers still exist at the park today.
The rustic quality of the CCC structures resulted from the use of native materials, their original designs, and the craftsmanship of the builders.
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PURCHASE YOUR SPORTSMAN'S LICENSE AND SIGN UP FOR AUTO RENEWAL
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Revel in the outdoors by purchasing a Mississippi Sportsman’s License. The Sportsman’s License will allow you to legally hunt and freshwater fish in Mississippi. It also includes an annual f
all turkey permit and annual archery/primitive weapon/crossbow permit
. Your purchase of a sportsman’s license guarantees the conservation of Mississippi’s natural resources.
Also, you can now take your first step to always having a valid hunting or fishing license by signing up for our NEW auto-renew program. Once you enroll in auto renew, all of your eligible licenses will automatically and securely renew before they expire the following year. No more time spent waiting in line at the store or worrying about your expiration date. Update your settings at any time at
www.mdwfp.com
.
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SUMMER CAMPS AT MDWFP'S MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE
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Remember those wonderful summer days as a child spent exploring the outdoors? This summer your children can experience similar adventures 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 10th -12th grade.
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PRIVATE LANDS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
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As a landowner or leaseholder, you play a critical role in the future of Mississippi's wildlife resources. The Private Lands Program can help you meet your wildlife management goals and potentially save time and money. Our qualified wildlife biologists offer free on-site evaluations and recommendations for a variety of wildlife management needs.
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Subscribe to MDWFP's YouTube page to stay up to date with the latest episodes of
Mississippi Outdoors Radio
and
Mississippi Outdoors TV
.
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MDWFP'S OFFICIAL MOBILE APP
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The official MDWFP App provides easy access to information and services provided by the MDWFP. This application features Game Check for wild turkey harvest reporting, a digital license display, rules and regulations, season dates, and much more.
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MAY 18, 25
YOUTH FISHING RODEOS
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MDWFP will host youth fishing rodeos at locations across Mississippi every weekend during the month of May.
Each of these rodeos will have MDWFP fisheries biologists and technical staff present to provide fishing education, guidance, and technical information.
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MAY 15
FALLEN OFFICERS DEDICATION & MEMORIAL SERVICE
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MDWFP will host its annual Fallen Officers Dedication and Memorial Service on May 15 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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Make plans to bring your children to the park for some outdoor fun on May 18 for Kids to Park day. T
hrough teaching the next generation to appreciate our public lands, we hope to foster future park enthusiasts and create the next generation of park stewards.
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