2013 Mississippi Wild Turkey Report Available Online

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks just released the 2013 version of its Wild Turkey Program report. The annual report, entitled “Spittin’ and Drummin’,” contains a wealth of information about Mississippi’s wild turkey resource and is available in digital format and may be downloaded on the MDWFP website. Turkey hunters will find much of the information available in report to be a valuable resource in understanding regional and statewide trends in turkey numbers, gobbling activity, habitat management, WMA hunting opportunities, and much more. Additionally, the annual newsletter of the Mississippi Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Magnolia State Turkey Talk, is included within “Spittin’ and Drummin’.”

Much of the information presented in the Wild Turkey Report is a result of voluntary collection efforts by Mississippi’s dedicated turkey hunters. These individuals share observations of what they see, hear, and harvest during the spring season as a part of the Spring Gobbler Hunting Survey (SGHS). Since the inception of this survey in 1996, MDWFP Turkey Program biologists have worked with willing hunters to gather information from across the state to better understand trends in local turkey populations. Currently, the SGHS enrolls hundreds of volunteer turkey hunters throughout Mississippi, but more participation is needed in some portions of the state, so the MDWFP encourages all who hunt spring gobblers to participate in this important effort.

To view the 2013 Wild Turkey Program report, enroll in the Spring Gobbler Hunting Survey or for more information regarding wild turkeys in Mississippi and turkey hunting opportunities, visit our website at www.mdwfp.com/turkey or call us at (601) 432-2199.

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.).