Outdoor news update

Ten-year-old Maddi Owen bagged her first turkey in Randolph County. The turkey weighed 23.7 pounds had a 9 ½-inch beard and 1 ¼-inch spurs. She comes from a long generation of hunters, but is the first girl in the family to take a bird.

Hunting seasons

Mississippi’s seasons on ducks and geese ended on Sunday. Only a single day of youth hunting remains for ducks and that will take place on Saturday, statewide.

The Light Goose Conservation Order, which allows unlimited hunting with greatly reduced restrictions for snow, blue and Ross’ geese, opened on Monday and will close after hunting on Friday due to the youth waterfowl day on Saturday. The Order will reopen on Sunday and continue to March 31. Before participating in a Conservation Order hunt, hunters must first apply for a free permit by visiting mdwfp.com and signing up online.

Deer hunters are in the extended primitive weapons and archery season in all three zones. The Hill and Delta Zones close on Jan. 31 and the Southeast Zone closes Feb. 15. In the Southeast, hunters over the age of 16 will be restricted to legal bucks only from Feb. 1-15.

During the late season, hunters on private lands only can continue to hunt with their firearm of choice.

WMA turkey applications 

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is accepting applications through Feb. 15 for draw turkey hunts on 19 of its Wildlife Management Areas. Additionally, special youth-only turkey draw hunts are available on Canemount WMA, Charles Ray Nix WMA, Sardis Waterfowl WMA, Ward Bayou WMA, Sunflower WMA, and Natchez State Park. Participants for these hunts must be 15 years of age or younger.

To apply for any of the hunts, visit mdwfp.com/draws and register online. Non-exempt hunters aged 16 and over must have a valid hunting license prior to applying.

Interactive fishing map available

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has announced a new online feature that will make it easier to find fishing regulations on Mississippi waters.

Agency officials have launched a new interactive map at mdwfp.com where users can click on a lake or stream name and be directed to a webpage with all of the special fishing regulations for that water body. Visit www.mdwfp.com/fishing-boating/map-of-fishing-regs.

About Bobby Cleveland 1340 Articles
Bobby Cleveland has covered sports in Mississippi for over 40 years. A native of Hattiesburg and graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Cleveland lives on Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson with his wife Pam.

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