Mississippi Waterfowl News
Lull in waterfowl hunting success continues after holiday, but major cold front forces migration - Jan. 12, 2011Jackson, MS - Since early January, rains and winter precipitation have increased availability of flooded waterfowl habitat throughout the Delta. This additional habitat has continued to distribute duck numbers more uniformly across the state. Also, hunting pressure in general has decreased in the last week, providing birds with even more areas to find sanctuary. An extreme cold front over the weekend brought ice and snow to all parts of the country, and forced waterfowl to migrate south to Mississippi, central Arkansas, and Louisiana.
Final split of waterfowl season begins with first serious cold front of winter - Dec. 15, 2010
Last week, duck hunters throughout the southern portion of the Mississippi Flyway became excited when weather forecasters predicted the first major blizzard of the winter.
Weekly Waterfowl Report - Dec. 01, 2010
The first segment of the 2010-11 waterfowl season opened with some success on WMAs and intensively managed private lands even with low numbers of ducks observed during the first aerial survey. The November aerial survey reported that duck numbers in the Delta were much less than last year?s November estimates with significantly fewer mallards. These low numbers are likely due to drought conditions which dried cypress brakes and other areas, which in most years, provide consistent habitat for the first arriving waterfowl to Mississippi. In fact, the November survey observed the fewest ducks since 2007, which was also an extremely dry winter. However, after the survey was completed, a minor cold front reached the state which resulted in the first significant rainfall in quite awhile. As a result of these weather and habitat changes, waterfowl numbers have likely slightly increased throughout the Delta.
Youth Waterfowl Weekend: February 6 -7 - Jan. 27, 2010
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) would like to remind everyone that all Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) with waterfowl hunting opportunity will be open for the youth waterfowl hunting weekend on February 6 -7, 2010. All youth under age 16 are eligible to participate in this unique opportunity. Adult hunters are encouraged to participate by taking a youth on what could possibly be their first hunting trip.
Weekly Waterfowl Report - Jan. 06, 2010
The following report is a compilation of WMA reports and habitat assessments during the week ending January 3, 2010.
Cold Front Brings More Ducks to the Delta during the Second Split - Dec. 09, 2009
Jackson, MS ? The second segment of the 2009-10 waterfowl season opened to some frigid temperatures. The November aerial survey reported that duck numbers in the Delta were similar to last year with fewer mallards. After the survey was completed, a cold front reached the state with even some snow reported in South Mississippi. Perhaps more importantly, the northeast region of the Delta experienced some natural flooding from releases in the major Corps
Know baiting rules before hunting migratory birds - Oct. 20, 2009
The heavy rains this fall have made it difficult for many farmers to harvest crops. Waterfowl hunters utilizing agriculture fields for hunting need to understand the baiting regulations prior to hunting these areas. It is unlawful to take migratory game birds by the aid of bait or over a baited area where a person knows or reasonably should know the area is baited.
Mississippi Waterfowl Late-Season Dates Set - Aug. 20, 2009
Jackson- The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks approved dates for the 2009-2010 waterfowl hunting seasons on August 18, 2009 at their monthly meeting. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released late-season frameworks in early August providing a ?window? of dates from which states may select specific season dates.
