Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and Mississippi State University are planning four workshops throughout the state to teach participants how to better manage their land for white-tailed deer.

The workshops are in two-day sets, and participants may register for one or both days. Workshops will be held June 1 in Vicksburg at Hinds Community College and June 2 at Mahannah Wildlife Management Area north of Vicksburg. The workshops on the MSU campus will be July 13 and 14 at the College of Forest Resources’ Thompson Hall.

Day One will cover management concepts related to white-tailed deer. Topics include setting up a camera survey; deer habitat, nutrition, and ecology; food plots; harvest management; and hunter recruitment. Day Two covers hands-on management applications. These topics include camera survey photograph analysis; food plot management; science of harvesting deer, scoring antlers; aging deer; and butchering and meat handling.

Cost for the workshops is $95 per day or $180 for both days. This fee covers registration, materials, lunch, and a t-shirt or cap. Continuing forestry education credits (5 Category 1-CF hours) are available for registered foresters. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the programs run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Attendance is limited to 70 participants on Day One and 30 on Day Two. Registration for the Vicksburg workshops closes May 18. Registration for the MSU sessions closes June 29.

These workshops are offered through the MSU College of Forest Resources, the MSU Extension Service and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. To register, or for more information, visit http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/workshops/deer2012.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Mississippi DWFP and MSU to Host Deer Management Workshops

On March 20, 2012, the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks approved the Public Notice of Proposed Rule for the 2012 Public Waters and Private Lands Alligator Hunting Seasons in Mississippi. There were two open public water zones and 480 available lottery permits in 2011.  The proposal for 2012 expands alligator hunting opportunities by designating public waterways and thirteen public lakes within six geographically-based hunting zones with 810 total available permits. Additionally, the proposed 2012 season will include 10 consecutive days of hunting opportunity from September 7-17, 2012.  The proposal adds Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties to the list of twenty-eight counties open to private lands alligator hunting opportunities.  Applications are required for both public water and private lands alligator hunting permits.  All persons obtaining alligator hunting permits must attend a mandatory alligator hunting training course provided by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks. For additional specific information and instructions, please visit www.mdwfp.com/alligator.

The proposed regulations may be viewed at www.mdwfp.com.  The Public Notice of Proposed Rule is available for public comment for 30 days.  Persons seeking to comment on the proposed action may do so in writing to the Executive Director, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, P. O. Box 451, Jackson, MS 39205, no later than April 21, 2012.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Expanded Mississippi Alligator Hunting Opportunities Proposed for 2012

You might be a fake redneck if…

With Alabama and Mississippi both having their presidential primaries on Tuesday, residents of both states were treated to some comical and not-too-convincing displays from Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. In the days leading up to the primary both candidates tried their best to assure residents from the two states that they are really just good ol’ boys.

Gingrich struck first by garnering the endorsement of Bass Angler Sportsman Society founder Ray Scott. Gingrich even appeared in a photo opportunity wearing a shirt sporting a B.A.S.S. logo.

In the one-upmanship game Romney trumped Gingrich big time. He appeared in Mobile, Alabama with Jeff Foxworthy and accepted the comedian’s endorsement. He told Foxworthy he was looking forward to “going hunting with him sometime.”

Romney was mocked in Mississippi for trying to sound Southern as he talked and telling residents in that state how much he liked grits. On Monday he said he ate catfish for the second time and said he like it. Previously he said he didn’t care much for it.

Romney apparently doesn’t learn very well. In 2008 while running for president he told voters that he was a lifelong hunter but after being pinned down admitted he had been only twice. Romney has two shotguns registered in his name, both purchased after the 2008 election.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Republican Presidential Primary Candidates Jockey for Sportsmen’s Votes

Legislators in Mississippi have to decide whether to legalize deer breeding farms with the potential risk of simultaneously breeding chronic wasting disease (CWD).

Sen. Tommy Gollott, R-Biloxi, is the author of a second-attempt bill introduced in 2012 to allow for importation of white-tailed deer, semen, ova and embryos into Mississippi, according to a report by the Clarion-Ledger. His first bill in 2011, similar to the second, made it out of the Senate but didn’t pass the House.

In a state desperate for economic activity, the legislation would allow the entry of an industry that brings in $600 million, according to federal surveys cited in the Clarion-Ledger. Supporters of the legislation are eager to point out that legalizing the practice will not cost the state government any funds and will generate tax revenue.

Weighing on legislators’ minds is the fact that nearby Missouri was declared to be the 15th state with confirmed cases of CWD back in November. According to the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance, in the 15 states that have documented CWD, half of them have found CWD at legal breeding farms. In many of these cases, CWD first appeared on the farms and then later found in animals in the wild.

Supporters of the bill argue there are plenty of safeguards in place to prevent the spread of CWD in legal breeding pens in Mississippi. The law would require the herd from which the reproductive material originates to be cleared by a chronic disease wasting monitoring program for at least five years. The reproductive material must also come from a state with no history of CWD.

Those opposed to the bill include the Mississippi Wildlife Federation and the Quality Deer Management Association. Kip Adams, QDMA’s Director of Education and Outreach and a certified wildlife biologist, wrote on the QDMA’s website, “There are no benefits for deer hunters in the growth of the captive deer-breeding industry — only risks.” QDMA says that the captive facilities where deer are bred use artificial technology to produce whitetail bucks with enormous, often grotesque antlers.

This issue is developing. Keep following Outdoor Hub for more updates.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Mississippi Considers Legalizing Deer Breeding Farms

The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) is urging hunters in seven states to oppose the expansion of the deer-breeding industry, which QDMA perceives as a growing threat to wild deer and the deer-hunting heritage. Legislation designed to loosen or dismantle regulatory barriers to white-tailed deer breeding and farming is being considered in Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

“There are no benefits for deer hunters in the growth of the captive deer-breeding industry – only risks,” said Kip Adams, QDMA’s Director of Education & Outreach and a certified wildlife biologist. “It is QDMA’s mission to protect the future of white-tailed deer and our hunting heritage, and we oppose anything that puts those at risk.”

In opposing the proliferation of “deer breeding,” QDMA is referring to captive deer facilities where controlled, artificial breeding technology is used primarily to produce whitetail bucks with enormous, often grotesque antlers – an industry that includes sales of semen, artificially impregnated does, and live bucks to other breeders or to captive deer shooting facilities. Current estimates suggest there are nearly 10,000 deer breeding operations in North America, and the number is growing as the industry pushes to expand into areas where it was historically not legal.

“Some argue this is an innocent endeavor with no negative impacts to wild deer or the everyday deer hunter. As CEO of North America’s leading whitetail conservation organization, I emphatically and unapologetically disagree,” said Brian Murphy, QDMA’s Chief Executive Officer. “Not only does this industry undermine the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation in which wildlife is a public resource, it also threatens the health of wild deer and the public’s perception of hunting.”

The distribution map of chronic wasting disease (CWD) – a fatal disease of deer and elk – suggests the disease likely arrived in several new states through transportation of live deer, either legally or illegally, and not through natural deer movements. Legalizing deer breeding in new areas increases the incentive for illegal transportation of untested animals at a time when these human-aided movements must be stopped. Transporting any captive whitetails is risky, as there is no acceptable and practical live-animal test  for CWD. Once CWD appears in wild deer in a new area, slowing the spread of the disease requires costly investigation, testing and surveillance efforts for many years and often requires drastic reductions in deer populations. There is currently no known way to decontaminate an environment once CWD is present.

In more than 40 states, regulatory authority over captive deer facilities is held by state agriculture agencies, or shared between agriculture and wildlife agencies. QDMA recommends that wildlife agencies have sole responsibility because they have more experience with wildlife species and wildlife disease issues, and they fully understand what is at stake with regard to transmission of diseases like CWD to free-ranging deer.

“QDMA’s current effort is to halt expansion of the deer-breeding industry,” said Adams. “We also want sole jurisdiction for existing facilities to remain with or be reassigned to state wildlife agencies. Considering the implications for our hunting heritage, we can’t afford to allow this industry to expand. The ramifications of being wrong are simply too great.”

QDMA is currently urging resident hunters to oppose existing or potential legislation in the following states:

• Georgia: House Bill 1043 – Legalizes the importation of live whitetails into Georgia for breeding purposes and creates a permitting system for deer-breeding operations, all under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Agriculture. Current status: House second-readers as of February 22.
• Indiana – House Bill 1265 – Provides for the licensing and operations of hunting preserves on which farm-bred, captive deer and elk will be hunted. Current Status – Senator David Long (President Pro Tempore) refused to hear the bill. It remains in committee.
• Mississippi – Senate Bills 2554 and 2555 – Legalizes importation of captive deer, semen and embryos and authorizes deer breeding facilities, under the jurisdiction of the state agriculture department. Current Status – Both bills referred to Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee on February 20.
• Missouri – House Bill 1375 – Adds deer to the definition of “livestock” for the purposes of the state sales and use tax law, meat inspection law, Missouri Livestock Disease Control and Eradication Law, and the Missouri Livestock Marketing Law. Current Status – House second-readers as of February 22.
• North Carolina – Currently at the proposal stage; no bill number yet.  The spoken intent is to loosen regulations to allow for expansion of the captive deer industry. A QDMA staff member will attend a board meeting with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission in Raleigh on March 7 on this topic.
• Tennessee – House Bill 3164 – Present law classifies white-tailed deer as Class IV wildlife, which may only be possessed by zoos, temporary exhibitors, and rehabilitation facilities. This bill adds authorization for possession of white-tailed deer by breeding facilities that receive a permit from the Department of Agriculture to breed or ranch such livestock for purposes determined by the Department. Current Status – Placed on calendar for Agriculture Committee for March 6.
• West Virginia – Senate Bill 421 – Captive Cervid Farming Act – Transfers regulatory authority over captive white-tailed deer facilities from the Division of Natural Resources (DNR) to the Department of Agriculture.  Current Status – referred to Rules Committee on February 17.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - QDMA Urges Hunters in Seven States to Oppose Deer-Breeding Legislation

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