Mississippi Spring Turkey Season Underway on East Central WMAs

The 2013 spring turkey season opened on March 15 and will run through May 1. Many Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) across the state offer excellent spring turkey hunting opportunities; however, hunting regulations on some WMAs may differ. For example, within the Bienville National Forest, Bienville, Caney Creek, and Tallahala WMAs have permitted draw-only hunts from March 15 until March 28. Beginning March 29 until May 1, these WMAs are open for non-permitted hunts.

Hunters that wish to hunt on WMAs are urged to check the area-specific regulations before going afield as season dates and bag limits on some WMAs may differ from the statewide framework. Hunters must also purchase a WMA User Permit prior to hunting.

Bag limits for the spring turkey season are one adult gobbler or gobbler with at least a 6-inch beard per day, three per spring season. Youth hunters age 15 and under may harvest one gobbler of choice per day, three per spring season.

Mississippi Wildlife Fisheries and Parks

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP), formerly known as the Mississippi Game & Fish Commission, is an agency of the government of the U.S. state ofMississippi responsible for programs protecting Mississippi fish and wildlife resources and their habitats, as well as administering all state parks; it has its headquarters in Jackson. The agency issues hunting and fishing licenses, advises on habitat protection, and sponsors public education programs. It is also responsible for enforcement of Mississippi's fish and game laws. It is separate from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, which is the governing body for the state's natural salt-water resources and law enforcement thereof (i.e. Gulf of Mexico, ocean-going vessels, etc.).