Students taking Mississippi’s online hunter safety course will experience a variety of new features designed to provide a high-quality educational experience that is easy and fun. One feature that remains the same is students can study for free at www.hunter-ed.com/Mississippi, paying only when they pass their hunter certification exam.

The new version of hunter-ed.com/Mississippi offers an optional narration feature that allows students to listen, read or both. Exam questions also are read out loud and include illustrations to help students recall what they’ve learned.

In addition, Mississippi’s online hunter safety course is designed to engage students with a combination of short text blocks and detailed illustrations and animations. Using this mix of teaching methods helps students quickly grasp course concepts, rather than get bogged down reading long pages of text. Plus, they can study the material at hunter-ed.com/Mississippi at their convenience.

Students who must receive their hunter education certification to obtain a hunting license pay a one-time fee of $24.50, which is due only if they pass the test. Students can take the test as many times as they need to pass it. To complete the hunter education requirements for Mississippi, students must pass both the online and final classroom course portions of the hunter education safety course. After taking the online course, students should sign up for the final 3-hour classroom course. (http://www.hunter-ed.com/mississippi/field_day.html)

Under Mississippi hunter education law, people born on or after Jan. 1, 1972, are required to complete a hunter education course before purchasing a hunting license. Students must be at least 10 years old to obtain hunter education certification. Visit Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks website for more information about Mississippi hunter education law.

Hunter-ed.com has been reviewed and approved by the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and contains the same hunter safety content as the classroom course. To take this course, visit www.hunter-ed.com/Mississippi.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Mississippi’s Online Hunter Safety Course Upgraded to Help Students Learn How to be Safe and Successful

Jackson, Missi. – Mississippi’s statewide bobwhite quail hunting season will open November 24, 2011.  The season closes March 3, 2012.  There is a daily bag limit of eight quail.  Hunters should be sure their hunting licenses are current, and should always review applicable regulations before hunting.

Several public lands around the state offer quail hunting opportunities, but hunters should be prepared to put in some time to find birds.  “Some of the best places to find quail during the hunting season are in or near thicker cover patches or edges associated with agricultural lands and upland forests with a grassy ground cover component,” said Dave Godwin, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Small Game Program Coordinator. “We believe the quail hatch has been fair to good where local habitat conditions are favorable. However, high quality habitat is often limited.”

Many sportsmen and women have observed the decline in quail populations throughout much of their range.  Biologists suggest the primary cause of the decline has been loss of habitat due to changes in land use and management.  The declining use of prescribed fire as a land management tool has also contributed to loss of quail habitat.  However, a national effort among states in the bobwhite range is under way to restore quail populations to levels found in the early 1980s.  More information on the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative can be found at www.bringbackbobwhites.org.

MDWFP biologists are working to reverse this trend by improving habitat on public and private lands. “Quail habitat quality on agricultural and upland forest lands can be improved with appropriate management practices.  We have to provide suitable habitat on adequate scales to provide sustainable hunting opportunities though,” said Rick Hamrick, MDWFP Small Game Biologist.

For more information on quail management and hunting, visit home.mdwfp.com/quail or call 601-432-2400.  Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Mississippi Quail Season Opens on Thanksgiving Day

Jackson, Miss. – November 5–6, 2011 is the dedicated youth weekend for deer hunting in Mississippi.  This weekend provides youth under the age of 16 the first opportunity to hunt deer with a gun.  “Take a kid, make a memory,” said Justin Thayer, Deer Program Biologist for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.  “MDWFP encourages youth deer hunting by providing ample hunting opportunities, weapon of choice, and relaxed antler criteria for youth in hopes of getting more youth involved in the outdoors,” says Thayer.

While the November 5-6^th weekend is dedicated to youth, expanded youth opportunities exist during any of Mississippi’s primitive weapon seasons by allowing youth to use any rifle.   Also, a new regulation is in place which specifies that three of the youth’s three buck bag limit may be any antlered buck regardless of antler size.

The youth deer seasons are open on private and authorized state and federal lands. Furthermore, there are youth hunts on all MDWFP Wildlife Management Areas that allow deer hunting.

While all youth under age 16 are not required to purchase a hunting license, MDWFP strongly encourages all youth to complete a hunter education course before hunting.  All youth between the ages of 12 and 15 must complete a hunter education class before hunting alone.  It is also important to remember that when hunting deer during any primitive weapon or gun season for deer, all deer hunters must wear in full view at least five hundred (500) square inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange. This requirement does not apply while hunters are in a fully enclosed deer stand.

For more information regarding youth hunting opportunities, hunting regulations, and hunter education classes, visit www.mdwfp.com or call (601) 432-2400. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Youth Whitetail Deer Season in Mississippi Opens Nov. 5

Jackson, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) has made some changes to its waterfowl draw hunt system for the 2011-12 season on several Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) across the state.  Ed Penny, MWDFP Wildlife Bureau Director, explained, “Since waterfowl draw hunts began in 2002, we have noticed a trend that hunters who were drawn prior to the season were not showing up to fill their hunting permit.  As a result, some aspects of the draw system were changed to increase the number of drawn hunters and to increase the number of reservation holders that participate in their permitted hunt.”

The following changes will be implemented during the 2011-12 waterfowl hunting season:

1) Applications for waterfowl draw hunts are only available online at xnetsecure.mdwfp.com/drawings/Public/wmaDrawings.aspx.

2) Each WMA with waterfowl draw hunts will have five separate draw periods throughout the hunting season. The first draw period, which covers the first two weeks of the season, will be open from October 1^st to November 6^th.  There will be approximately two weeks from the closing date of an application period until the first hunt day included in that period.

3) There is $5 non-refundable application fee for each draw period; only the person listed on the draw application will be charged the fee.

4) Hunters are no longer limited to applying to only three WMAs.

5) All permitted hunts will be for one day.

6) Stand-by hunting opportunities will still be available on WMAs that have allowed them in the past.  Hunters choosing to show up on stand-by will not be charged the application fee.

For more details on WMA waterfowl draw hunt changes, visit us online at home.mdwfp.com/waterfowl or call 601-432-2199.  Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - New Waterfowl Draw Hunt System on Mississippi WMAs

Jackson, Missi. – With squirrel and rabbit hunting seasons opening, there are many opportunities to enjoy some time in the fall woods.  For many hunters in Mississippi, small game hunting was their first hunting experience and it remains a popular pastime.

Small game hunting is a great way to get new hunters started, and experienced hunters should offer to take friends, family, and youth.  Small game hunting is particularly appealing for inexperienced or young hunters since they can move around while small game hunting and it is relatively inexpensive to get started.

Youth under 16 years old are exempt from obtaining a hunting license.  However, MDWFP offers an Apprentice Hunting License for residents over the age of 15 who want to try hunting, but have not completed a hunter education course.  An apprentice hunting license may be issued only one time, and the licensee must be accompanied by a licensed or exempt resident hunter at least 21 years of age.

For hunters with limited private land access to hunt, there are a number of public land opportunities to hunt small game in Mississippi, including Wildlife Management Areas, National Forests, and National Wildlife Refuges.  Always be sure to understand hunting regulations before going hunting.

For more information on small game and other hunting opportunities, visit www.mdwfp.com or call 601-432-2400.  Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Small Game Season Offers Big Hunting Opportunities in Mississippi

Jackson, Missi. - The 2011-2012 rabbit hunting season in Mississippi opened on October 15.  Now is the time to check equipment and prepare for a safe and enjoyable hunting season.  Unless exempt, hunters should be sure their hunting licenses are not expired before hunting.  Rabbit season is open October 15, 2011 – February 28, 2012, and the bag limit is 8 per day.

Areas with an ample mixture of native grasses, legumes and other broadleaf plants, and low brushy cover typically produce the greatest numbers of rabbits.  “We expect rabbit populations to be mostly abundant where they have suitable habitat,” said Rick Hamrick, MDWFP Small Game Biologist.  “It is likely rabbit populations suffered some losses in the most severely flooded areas of the Delta.  Populations in those areas may be down this year, but rabbits will return and rebound quickly under favorable conditions.”  Hamrick added, “In other areas, prolonged, early drought conditions may have had some negative effects on food and cover resources for rabbits in southern areas, but later summer rains hopefully offset some of that by boosting late-summer productivity.”

For more information on rabbit hunting and management, visit home.mdwfp.com/rabbit or call 601-432-2400 for information on hunting regulations.  Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Mississippi Rabbit Season Opened October 15

Several of the state-specific hunter safety courses available at hunter-ed.com now offer a variety of new features designed to provide a high-quality educational experience that is easy and fun. One feature that remains the same is students can study for free at www.hunter-ed.com, paying only when they pass their hunter certification exam.

The new version of hunter-ed.com offers an optional narration feature that allows students to listen, read or both. Exam questions also are read out loud and include illustrations to help students recall what they’ve learned.

“Our online hunter safety courses are designed to engage students with a combination of short text blocks and detailed illustrations and animations,” said Kurt Kalkomey, president of Kalkomey Enterprises Inc., parent company of hunter-ed.com. “Using this combination of teaching tools is much more effective at helping students understand the material than reading long pages of text. Plus, they can study the material at hunter-ed.com at their convenience.”

The following state-specific courses were revamped to include features such as narration and illustrated exam questions:

• www.hunter-ed.com/Louisiana
• www.hunter-ed.com/Colorado
• www.hunter-ed.com/Kansas
• www.hunter-ed.com/Michigan
• www.hunter-ed.com/Maryland
• www.hunter-ed.com/NewHampshire
• www.hunter-ed.com/Texas
• www.hunter-ed.com/Mississippi
• www.hunter-ed.com/Nevada

Students who must receive their hunter education certification to obtain a hunting license pay a one-time fee, which is due only if they pass the test. Students can take the test as many times as they need to pass it.

After passing the exam at hunter-ed.com, students should immediately print out a field day qualifier certificate, which admits them to a field day in their state (if applicable). Many states require students to pre-register for their field day, so hunter education coordinators advise students to visit their state wildlife agency website to sign up for a field day before they take the online course.

The contents at hunter-ed.com are developed in conjunction with the state agency responsible for hunter education. Students who use hunter-ed.com will study the same content used in classroom courses. This online course is offered in more than 30 states, so students are encouraged to visit www.hunter-ed.com to find a course customized for their state.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Upgrades to Several States’ hunter-ed.com Courses Help Students Learn how to be Safe and Successful

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) adopted new regulations (Rule Number W16 3434) concerning hunting with dogs on the Homochitto National Forest.  From November 1, 2011 – January 31, 2012, all dog hunting groups or individuals hunting with dogs must obtain a permit to use dogs to hunt any animal or to train dogs on areas open to deer hunting with dogs on Homochitto National Forest. A copy of this public notice of rule can be obtained at www.mdwfp.com.

 “This is a pilot project intended to help provide order and improve safety for hunters, landowners and all forest visitors,” said Homochitto District Ranger Bruce Prud’homme.  “We hope this initial step will help all visitors to have a safe and enjoyable experience on the National Forest.  At the same time, we want to be a ‘good neighbor’ to nearby landowners and community residents.”

To apply and receive a permit the following steps should be taken:

• Beginning October 1^st, go to www.mdwfp.com to submit an application for a permit.  There is no cost for the permit. Questions regarding the application process should be directed to the MDWFP at 601-432-2199.
• Starting October 11, 2011, the Forest Service will begin issuing permits through the mail. If applicants prefer, permits may be picked up in person from the Meadville Office by calling 601-384-5876 to set up an appointment.  Permits will be issued in the order which they were received.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and the Homochitto National Forest want to make the permit process as simple and quick as possible.  “This is the first year of this regulation,” said Chad Dacus, MDWFP Wildlife Bureau Assistant Director. “Information sharing is essential.  Our organizations want to make sure hunters are aware of the new regulation.”

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - New Regulations for Hunting with Dogs in Mississippi’s Homochitto National Forest

JACKSON - The opening of the 2011 – 2012 squirrel hunting seasons in Mississippi are quickly approaching.  Now is the time to check equipment and prepare for a safe and enjoyable hunting season.  Squirrel hunting is a great way to spend time with family or get new hunters started by taking friends and youth hunting.  Hunters should be sure their hunting licenses are not expired before hunting.  Visit the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) website at www.mdwfp.com or call 601-432-2400 for information on hunting regulations.

Squirrel season dates are divided into three zones with youth seasons opening one week prior to the regular seasons (youth 15 years of age and younger are eligible to participate in youth hunts).  The bag limit on squirrels is 8 per day.  Zone 1 includes areas north of US Highway 82 plus those portions of Sunflower County and Washington County south of Highway 82.  The season opens October 1, 2011 (youth season opens September 24).  Zone 2 includes areas between US Highway 82 and US Highway 84 plus portions of the state south of Highway 84 and west of Interstate 55.  The season opens October 15, 2011 (youth season opens October 8).  Zone 3 includes areas south of US Highway 84 and east of Interstate 55.  The season opens October 29, 2011 (youth season opens October 22). The season closes February 28, 2012 in all zones.

“Squirrel populations are expected to be generally abundant in most regions again this year,” said Rick Hamrick, MDWFP Small Game Biologist.  “The effects of severe spring flooding in portions of the Delta are still uncertain, but squirrel populations have likely coped with flooding better than many other wildlife species.  Flooding may have displaced some individuals but should not have had significant, negative effects on squirrel populations.”

There are a number of public land hunting opportunities for hunters pursuing squirrels.  Dave Godwin, MDWFP Small Game Program Coordinator states, “Although areas with larger amounts of mature, hardwood forest cover offer the best squirrel hunting opportunities, almost all of Mississippi’s open public lands offer some squirrel hunting opportunities.  Most areas allow small game hunters to hunt with dogs during those seasons.  Regulations can differ from one area to another, and hunters should always read and understand area regulations before they go hunting.”

For more information on squirrels and small game hunting opportunities, visit home.mdwfp.com/squirrel or call (601)432-2199. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Mississippi’s Squirrel Season is Approaching

JACKSON – The Mississippi deer archery season opens Saturday, October 1^st, 2011 for Zones 1 & 3 and Saturday, October 15^th, 2011 for Zone 2.  The opening of archery season marks the beginning of the state’s 123 days of deer hunting opportunity.

As hunting season approaches, MDWFP would like to wish Mississippi’s hunters a safe and successful hunting season and reminds hunters to HUNT SMART, HUNT SAFE.  Take time before your hunt to be sure you have all the proper safety equipment.  Deer hunters should have the following:  a valid hunting license, hunter orange, a full-body harness for tree stands, an emergency signal device such as a whistle or cell phone, and a hunting plan that includes making sure someone knows where you’re going to be hunting.

For hunters utilizing Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) across the state, a fall-arrest system (full-body harness) manufactured to Treestand Manufacturers Association standards must be worn while installing, climbing, and hunting from a treestand on any WMA.  Since treestand-related accidents are the leading cause of hunting injury, MDWFP urges all hunters to purchase and understand how to use a full-body harness if hunting from an above ground treestand.  “Everyone needs to read the instructions and watch the video that come standard with today’s treestands and full-body harnesses,” says MDWFP Regional Deer Biologist Justin Thayer.  Thayer also urges hunters to practice suspending in their full-body harness at ground level and learn to use the supplied suspension relief device.  “Understanding how it feels to be suspended in the event of a fall will give you the confidence to recover into your stand or signal for help – it’s practice that can save your life,” Thayer says.

Hunt Smart, Hunt Safe…and visit www.mdwfp.com or call (601) 432-2400 for more information on deer seasons, regulations, or hunter’s education classes near you.  Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Hunt Smart, Hunt Safe: Mississippi Archery Seasons Open October 1 and 15