Expanded Mississippi Alligator Hunting Opportunities Proposed for 2012

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.

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Upgrades to Several States’ hunter-ed.com Courses Help Students Learn how to be Safe and Successful

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.

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Mississippi’s Squirrel Season is Approaching

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.

 

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Hunt Smart, Hunt Safe: Mississippi Archery Seasons Open October 1 and 15

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.

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