Deer Hunting

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Water Torture

June 27, 2011 Michael O. Giles

With record-breaking flood levels along the mighty Mississippi from Tunica to Natchez, outdoorsmen and wildlife fans were left wondering if the Delta’s deer would survive. Did the deer losses number in the hundreds, or maybe in the thousands? Will the surviving deer starve? And how long will it take them to starve? Would there be any deer left in the Mississippi Delta? Would their numbers ever rebound to allow hunting again? How long would it take for the population to rebound, if it ever does? […]

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Never Too Early

June 27, 2011 Cliff Covington

When it comes to hunting whitetails with stick and string, Jimmy Cassell of Port Gibson takes this challenging sport quite seriously. While most archers consider it an achievement to harvest any legal buck, Cassell sets his standards much higher. In fact, he has passed up more 140+-class whitetails than most hunters ever encounter in a lifetime. His bowhunting success is evident by the numerous trophy bucks that adorn the walls of his Claiborne County home. […]

Deer Hunting

Fawns should be left alone

June 22, 2011 MDWFP news release

The beginning of summer marks the appearance of white-tailed deer fawns throughout Mississippi, and the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks is asking people to leave these young deer alone.

“In late June we begin receiving many calls and reports that someone has found a fawn,” MDWFP Deer Program Biologist William T. McKinley said. “We always tell people the same thing, ‘Leave the fawns alone.’” […]

Breaking News

No changes to deer-hunting season anticipated in wake of Mississippi River flooding

June 8, 2011 MDWFP news release

The massive flooding of the Delta by the Mississippi River will not change the 2011-12 deer season, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks announced yesterday (June 7).

“While the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has the authority to close hunting seasons in emergency situations, closure of deer seasons in the Delta has not been recommended by (MDWFP) Deer Program biologists and is not currently under consideration,” the MDWFP news release read. […]

Breaking News

New dog-hunting regulations for Homochitto National Forest approved

May 25, 2011 Cliff Covington

The Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks on yesterday (May 24) adopted four 2011-12 deer-hunting regulations changes, including a provision that places new restrictions on dog hunters in the Homochitto National Forest.

What surprised many in attendance was the fact that there was no one present to speak either for or against any of the proposals, included the much-debated Homochitto National Forest dog-hunting proposal that will require hunters within the national forest to take a series of new steps to legally use dogs.

“We had met previously with groups representing both sides of the issue, and had already had multiple public comment sessions,” MDWFP’s Director of Technical Programs Larry Castle said. “And since neither side requested to speak at the Commission meeting, we can only assume that they were satisfied with the answers provided to their concerns about this proposal.” […]

Deer Hunting

Flood waters take over Washington County club

May 24, 2011 Andy Crawford

Greg Hackney spends most of his year chasing bass on the Bassmaster Elite Series trail, but when it’s time to relax he usually can be found at his Washington County hunting club. But he was stunned by what he found when he stopped to check things out on his way home from a recent tournament.

“There was 4 feet of water over the floor of the lodge,” Hackney said. “And the camp is on a 13-foot mound and is probably another 4 feet above that mound, so the water had to be 17 feet over the ground to get to the floor.”

What was so shocking was that the camp is on the second-highest point on the 5,000-acre island. […]

Breaking News

Commission to consider changes to deer season May 24

May 20, 2011 Cliff Covington

When the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks meets on May 24, they will decide whether to adopt four amendments to the regulations concerning the 2011-12 deer seasons and bag limits. Three of the amendments are expected to pass without much debate. However, the fourth change, which would implement new restrictions on dog hunters, has garnered some controversy.

The first change is a no-brainer. This amendment is directed solely toward the youth deer hunts, and helps clear up some confusion that exists about the season dates for these hunts. […]