MDWFP Update

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Just in case you didn't get this update in your email. MDWFP Update May 2015

MDWFP to Pay Tribute to Fallen Conservation Officers MDWFP will host a memorial service on May 14 at 10 a.m. to honor and remember those Conservation Officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The annual Memorial Service is open to the public and will be held at MDWFP headquarters located at 1505 Eastover Drive in Jackson. Keynote speakers for the service include The Honorable Senator Giles Ward, President Pro Tempore, and the Honorable Scott Bounds, Chairman of the Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks House Committee.

2015 Alligator Hunting Seasons Announced The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks finalized regulations for the 2015 alligator hunting season on public waters and private lands in Mississippi at its April meeting. The statewide public waters season will include opportunities in specific public waterways. A total of 920 permits will be available within seven hunting zones across the state for the ten day season which begins August 28 and runs through September 7. The permitting process for public water hunting has changed significantly. For 2015, all public water permits will be available for purchase on a first-come-first-serve basis. Permits will only be available for purchase electronically at MDWFP.com beginning July 14 at 9 a.m. Permits will remain on sale until all available permits have been purchased. To be eligible to purchase an alligator hunting permit you must be a resident of Mississippi, at least 16 years of age, and possess a valid Mississippi combination hunting/fishing license (Sportsman, All-Game, Lifetime, Exempt Senior, or Exempt Disabled). An Alligator Hunting Training Course will be provided to permit holders, however the course is no longer mandatory. In 2014, over 7,100 residents submitted over 30,000 zone applications for 920 available permits; 682 alligators were harvested. There are no changes to the private land season or the permitting process compared to 2014. A private lands alligator hunting season is available to landowners whose properties meet specific qualifications within 28 open counties. Applications and instructions for private lands permits will be available online in June and must be submitted by July 1.

Calling All Turkey Hunters: We'd Like to Hear fromYou! Michael A. Kelly Mississippi's wild turkey flock is constantly changing, and hunter expectations and attitudes often change. If you are interested in sharing your suggestions on how turkey hunting regulations should accommodate recent trends in the state's turkey population, MDWFP would like to hear from you! Please click here to participate in a short survey about turkey hunting in Mississippi.

Lake Lamar Bruce to Re-open May 6 Lake Lamar Bruce, a recently renovated 300-acre lake located off Highway 45 near Saltillo, will open to the public May 6 at 6 a.m. This lake has been stocked with Florida-strain largemouth bass, Magnolia crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish. A 16 to 22 inch slot limit is in effect for largemouth bass; and all bass caught within this size range must be immediately released. "The slot limit will protect the initial stocking of bass and allow them to reach their trophy potential," said MDWFP Fisheries Biologist Tyler Stubbs. The daily creel limit for largemouth bass is 10 fish per angler, but only one bass over 22 inches can be kept. According to Stubbs this will allow anglers to harvest plenty of bass for the dinner table, plus one big fish for their wall.

Spring Squirrel Season Opens May 15 Mississippi has a new spring squirrel hunting season that will be open statewide May 15 - June 1. Hunters should note that the bag limit is only four squirrels per day during the spring season. In many ways, the spring season will be similar to the early part of the fall season in that it will be warm with many leaves on the trees. Hunters should watch for venomous snakes so they can avoid them if encountered. Mosquitoes and ticks will be very active by this time, so using a repellent is a good idea. One difference between spring and fall squirrel hunting is squirrels may not be as concentrated in hardwood forests as they are in fall when acorns and nut crops are usually abundant. Squirrels use a wide variety of foods in spring, such as fruits, berries, mushrooms, and insects. Hunters can still rely heavily on sight and hearing to find squirrels. In addition to sighting squirrels, hunters can locate squirrels by listening for barking and other vocalizations. For those in search of a place to hunt, most of Mississippi's public lands will offer spring squirrel hunting opportunities, and most allow squirrel hunting with dogs. However, anyone planning to hunt public land should consult the regulations for those areas. Some may have season dates and rules that differ from general, statewide regulations. On public lands especially, there may be more people participating in non-hunting recreational use during the spring season. Visibility can be reduced by spring vegetation growth, so all hunters on public and private land should be aware of what lies beyond their target when shooting.

Pascagoula River Designated as a Blueway The Pascagoula River is the largest unimpeded river system in the contiguous United States. The river spans the length of the Pascagoula River Wildlife Management Area (WMA), a 37,000-acre tract of bottomland hardwood forest in George and Jackson counties. Recently, a 22-mile portion of the river in George County was designated as a national blueway thanks to help from numerous collaborators and a grant through the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program. Project partners include the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain, Pascagoula River Basin Alliance, George County Economic Development Foundation, and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. The goal of the Pascagoula River Blueway is to promote public use and enjoyment of the Pascagoula River and its natural resources. The Pascagoula River Blueway provides many options for outdoor recreation including boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, camping, sightseeing, and wildlife viewing. The blueway offers designated hiking trails and boat launches, as well as camping and picnic sites. Mile markers are also present along the river to help boaters know their location. Information kiosks are present at four of the WMA's daily visitor use permit stations. The kiosks provide a map, brochures, and general information about the Pascagoula River. There are 11 points of interest along the blueway for visitors to explore. These points of interest include lakes, birding areas, historic sites, and a sandbar. Besides the benefits offered to users, the blueway provides important habitat and travel corridors for fish and wildlife. All visitors to Pascagoula River WMA, except those exempt from purchasing an annual hunting or fishing license, must purchase and carry an annual statewide WMA User Permit. WMA User Permits may be purchased wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold. Permits are valid for one year from date of purchase for all WMAs across the state. Additionally, visitors must complete a Daily Visitor Use Permit before entering the WMA. These permit cards are available at permit stations located at major entrances to the WMA.

Registration Deadline for Camp Fish Approaching MDWFP is partnering with the Mississippi Wildlife Federation to host three Camp Fish events in 2015: Camp 1: June 2-3, Coahoma Co. Camp 2: June 8-9, Percy Quin State Park Camp 3: June 24-25, Turcotte Education Center Prior fishing experience is not required to attend, however, a desire to learn about fish, fish biology, and fishing is needed. Campers will fish each day and learn about a variety of topics including fish identification, fishing tackle, and basic aquatic ecology. There is no cost to attend, but due to limited space only 20 participants will be selected for each camp. Youth ages 11-15 are encouraged to apply. Camp applications (and deadlines) are available at www.mswildlife.org. Lunch and refreshments will be provided each day. Parents/guardians are responsible for daily transportation to and from each camp.

Bald Eagle Released in Noxubee County After two months of treatment and rehabilitation at the Jackson Zoo, a bald eagle that was captured near Macon in early March was finally returned home. Conservation Officer Marc McCleskey released the eagle after it was found wounded and unable to fly near the Noxubee River in early March. While veterinarians reported finding no fractures, they did find and treat old wing wounds. When released the eagle quickly took flight and soared high. Story and photo courtesy The Macon Beacon/Scott Boyd

Upcoming Management Activities on WMAs As the days get longer and winter draws to a close, months of habitat management planning are about to be put into action across Mississippi. MDWFP biologists and WMA managers across the state have been preparing to take habitat management plans from paper to the field. When habitat management is mentioned, most hunters often think of food plots and wonder what they should plant. However, food plots make up a very small percentage of the overall landscape. Due to past implementation of habitat management techniques across Mississippi's WMAs, food resources, nesting cover, brood-rearing cover, and escape cover are plentiful throughout the state. A large majority of habitat management on state-owned WMAs takes place between late winter and early spring. Late winter is the ideal time to conduct dormant season prescribed burns in pine stands, as well as on old fields being maintained in early successional habitat. After spring green up, WMA managers and biologists will begin conducting growing season burns to control undesirable woody species. Along with prescribed burns, spring is the perfect time for herbicide treatments to control non-desirable invasive species such as tall fescue, Johnsongrass, and encroaching woody vegetation. One goal of the MDWFP is to make WMAs an excellent example of proper habitat management and provide for a quality user experience. If you visit a WMA and see MDWFP personnel spraying herbicide, burning, cruising timber, or implementing any other management practice, please remember that they are improving wildlife habitat which will ultimately enhance WMA user enjoyment.

MDWFP Staff Honored as Conservation Award Recipients Each year the Mississippi Wildlife Federation hosts a reception to honor those whose achievements in natural resource conservation deserve statewide recognition. At its 2015 reception held in March, Keith meals, pictured left, was recognized as "Fisheries Biologist of the Year" for 2014, and Corporal Marc McClesky, pictured right, was recognized as the "Conservation Officer of the Year" for 2014. As veteran employees of MDWFP, both of these recipients havemade outstanding contributions to conservation in their respective fields and are well-deserving of these awards.

MDWFP Calendar of Events May 7 Pond Management Workshop--Paul B. Johnson State Park, Hattiesburg 6:30 p.m. (601) 582-7721 May 9 Youth Fishing Rodeo--Lake Lowndes State Park, Columbus 8 a. m. (662) 328-2110 Youth Fishing Rodeo--Mayes Lake, LeFleurs Bluff State Park 8:30 a. m. (601) 987-3923 Youth Fishing Rodeo--Gator Pond, Chickasawhay National Forest 9 a. m. (601) 428-0594 May 14 Pond Management Workshop--Hernando City Library, Hernando 7 p.m. (662) 469-8480 May 16 Movie Night at the Park--Roosevelt State Park, Morton 7:30 p.m. (601) 732-6316 Youth Fishing Rodeo--North Mississippi Fish Hatchery, Enid 7 a. m. (662) 563-8688 Youth Fishing Rodeo--McMillan Park, Carthage 7:30 a. m. (601) 267-8036 Youth Fishing Rodeo--Clarkco State Park, Quitman 7:30 a. m. (601) 888-6040 Youth Fishing Rodeo--George Harrison Park, Olive Branch 8 a. m. (662) 893-5219 Youth Fishing Rodeo--Trace State Park, Belden 9 a. m. (662) 489-2958 May 21 Pond Management Workshop--Lyman Community Center, Gulfport 6:30 p.m. (601) 582-7721 May 23 Youth Fishing Rodeo--Lake Claude Bennett, Rose Hill 7 a. m. (601) 727-3561 May 30 Wolf to Woof Exhibit Opening--MDWFP's Museum of Natural Science, Jackson 9 a.m. (601) 576-6000 Youth Fishing Rodeo--Natchez State Park, Natchez 7:30 a. m. (601) 442-2658

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Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks