2021 Hunting and Outdoors Guide by The Daily Leader

PAGE 11

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2021

THE DAILY LEADER

HUNTING GUIDE 2021

Even a

‘house dog’

track can learn to

BY HUNTER CLOUD THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

THE

Hewitt Archery owner Homer Hewitt is a long-time hunter and outdoorsman who has built a business from his love for archery and bowhunting. He said hunters might consider placing trail cameras on the property they hunt so they know how many deer are there, and when the deer are in a spot on their property. Hunters should be careful placing attractants in front of trail cameras and checking game cards because they could leave their scent and scare off deer from the area. If a new trail camera is way out of their price range, hunters can use the old-school trick of using a string or yarn. He said you take the string or yarn and run it across the width of the game trail and about waist-high. Any lower, a varmint will break it. A hunter can tell which way a buck or doe is traveling by looking at which way the string broke. If hunters have stands on their property, it is wise to check them, he said. There is a possibility something such as a limb breaking during a storm could have impacted their stand. Hunters should also check their safety harness before getting in the tree. He said people should prepare their bodies physically over the summer. “When I did a lot of elk hunting I would run six miles a day to be where I would physically be

able to hunt in the field,” Hewitt said. “We have to walk and climb more, so you want to make sure your body is ready for it.” Hunters can use the summer to prepare for what he called the second hunt. It is the hunt for the deer after an arrow hits its target. Following a blood trail may be difficult for people with bad eyesight. There are a few tricks to still trail a deer. He said you can use a bottle of peroxide. You spray where you think a trail is in order to track a deer, or in the summertime hogs. If the peroxide foams up, then you take tissue paper and drop them on the trail to track the deer. You could also use lights to illuminate the trail. He said one was called Starbright and it would reflect a blood trail in the dark. Primos Hunting also has a light that picks up red and enhances it tenfold, he said. You could even train a man’s best friend to help track a deer. “Next time your wife takes a steak or deer meat out, save the blood off of that. Pen your dog up and put a few drops of blood throughout the yard,” Hewitt said. “Start out short and in the trail put a little treat. Then take your house dog and turn him loose. They will hit that trail. A smaller dog is better because they aren’t as fast and you can keep up with them. You can train your own house dog to trail a deer that way. It will pick it up and get you back on the trail. Right now would be a good time to train them.”

DAILY LEADER WEEKEND, OCTOBER 2-3, 2021

WMA RULES Wildlife Management Areas have rules, 13A

PARADISE

Concordia Parish is a fisherman’s dream, 14A

PRESERVATION Taxidermist offers helpful tips, 15A

PAGE 12

THE DAILY LEADER

WEEKEND, OCTOBER 2-3, 2021

Help prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease BY HUNTER CLOUD THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT JACKSON — As hunting season opens Oct. 1 in Mississippi, it is time to remind hunters of how they can help prevent the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease. CWD is a disease spread through abnormal pathogenic agents called prions and affects deer and other members of the cervidae family. This year, 28 positive cases of CWD have been found in Mississippi. Due to Warren County’s proximity to Issaquena County, which had a positive case in 2018, it is one of the zones in the CWD management area this deer season. People can drop off samples for CWD testing at the following locations: Phil Bryant WMA in Vicksburg, Communication Specialist on 760 Hwy 61 North in Vicksburg, Natchez State Park, Wilkinson County Sheriff ’s Office in Woodville, U.S. Forest Service Office in Bude, Jeff Davis Lake in Prentiss and Pike County Cooperative in McComb. Hunters are asked to preserve the head with at least six inches of neck attached. Antlers can be removed.

Supplemental feeding

Feeding deer supplements in the CWD management zones is prohibited. This includes salt licks, mineral licks and feeders. MDWFP has banned this because research suggests saliva has the highest concentration of prions and that is how CWD is transmitted.

Carcass Transportation

Deer carcasses are prohibited from being transported outside of CWD management zone. Research has shown that prions can bind to soil or plants, as a result moving a carcass outside of the zone could infect previously uninfected areas. Hunters can remove the following from a CWD management zone, cut and wrapped meat, deboned meat, hides with no head attached, bone-in-leg quarters, finished taxidermy, antlers with no tissue attached, and cleaned skulls or skull plates, no brains attached.

Precautions

Inspect the condition of deer at the time of harvest. Hunters are asked to not consume any deer which exhibits the symptoms of extreme weight loss, excessive salivation or erratic behavior. Hunters are asked to report any sick deer they see while in the woods by calling 1-800-BESMART or filing out a report on mdwfp. com/cwd. While hunting, avoid using natural deer urine attractants. Avoid unnatural concentration of deer by established sites.

Hewitt: Bow fishing not to be missed BY HUNTER CLOUD THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT FERRIDAY — As carp and gar roll at the surface for oxygen, it gives a bowfisherman the opportunity to release a pronged arrow attached to the fishing line to land their catch. Chris Poole, owner of Gill Busters Bowfishing in Jonesville, Louisiana, said the experience of bowfishing is not something he can describe, people just have to experience it. “You just have to go bow fishing one time to see how it is,” Poole said. “It is action-packed all day long.” Anglers can bowfish during the day or night, and it’s a method that Homer Hewitt said can be used to target trash fish such as gar and carp. While many consider these fish unfit for consumption, Hewitt said it is possible to eat gar if they are cleaned right. The owner of Hewitt’s Archery located at 21 S E.E. Wallace Blvd. in Ferriday, Hewitt first discovered bowfishing and bowhunting in the 1960s, and bowfishing is an activity he has kept up to stay ready for deer season. He said bow fishermen use an arrow with special prongs to snag the fish, a

reel attached to their bows and fishing line to reel the arrow in. Hewitt said arrows should be equipped with a safety slide to prevent injury or death. Poole said guide services such as Gill Busters provides all the equipment needed, except for drinks and snacks. He said a trip costs $100 a person and trips can last between 6 to 8 hours. Anglers need a fishing permit for bowfishing in Mississippi or Louisiana according to the respective departments of Wildlife and Fisheries. In addition to a fishing permit, anglers need a bow with lower poundage than used for deer hunting. Hewitt said the typical poundage used for bow fishing is 15 to 30 pounds. He said recurve and compound bows could be used for bowfishing. He said bowfishing is another way for deer hunters to stay active with a bow and arrow outside of deer season. He said you do not need a boat to bowfish. You can use a light and a pier, or even wade in the shallows when the water is warm. “In the summertime when you go out they are always biting,” Hewitt

said. “If you can see them they are biting, because you can shoot them.” Poole said there is a need for more bowfishing to try and control an invasive carp species. He said he believes he is the only bowfishing guide in the Concordia/Catahoula Parish area. The more people who target silver carp he said the better. Poole and Hewitt said silver carp are destroying the river habitat. Hewitt said he used to be able to pilot his boat at 60 mph on the Tensas River until silver carp made it too dangerous to do so. He said silver carp would jump into the air and hit people in the boat and one hit his son. Poole said they do more than make the journey on the water dangerous, silver also pose a threat to other fish. “They are destroying our waterways and our structure, because they eat all the grass around the sides to where there is no cover,” Poole said. “There is nothing for the other fish. They are an invasive species. It is a population control, but we aren’t hurting the population any. You can’t kill enough of them and they are breeding constantly.”

WEEKEND, OCTOBER 2-3, 2021

THE DAILY LEADER

PAGE 13

2021–2022 Hunting Seasons White-tailed Deer

Delta Unit: Areas west of I-55 and north of I-20 plus areas south of I-20 and west of U.S. Highway 61. North Central Unit: All private and open public lands in Alcorn, Benton, Desoto, Marshall, Tate, and Tippah counties.

Northeast Unit: Areas east of I-55, north of U.S. Highway 82 , and excluding counties in the North Central Unit.

Public lands include national forests (excluding Holly Springs NF), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons without special regulations. East Central Unit: Areas east of I-55, east of U.S. Highway 49, south of U.S. Highway 82, and north of U.S. Highway 84. Southwest Unit: Areas east of U.S. Highway 61, south of I-20, west of U.S. Highway 49, and west of MS Highway 35. Southeast Unit: Areas south of U.S. Highway 84 and east of MS Highway 35. DESOTO

69 § ¨ ¦

ALCORN

BENTON TIPPAH

MARSHALL TATE

TUNICA

TISHOMINGO

NORTH CENTRAL

PRENTISS

Delta

UNION PANOLA

LAFAYETT E LEE

NORTHEAST

SUNFLOWER

DELTA

WASHINGTON

HUMPHREYS

CARROLL

HOLMES

YAZOO MADISON

WARREN

HINDS

55 § ¨ ¦ LINCOLN

JEFF DAVIS

SOUTHWEST

WILKINSON

AMITE

COVINGTON

FRANKLIN

CLARKE

SIMPSON

COPIAH JEFFERSON

LAUDERDA LE

JASPER

SMITH

CLAIBORNE

ADAMS

20 § ¨ ¦

RANKIN

LAWRENCE

DELTA

NEWTON

SCOTT

20 § ¨ ¦

FORREST MARION

PIKE

WAYNE

JONES

59 § ¨ ¦

LAMAR

WALTHALL

PERRY

GREENE

GEORGE

STONE

HARRISON HANCOCK

13”

Any hardened antler

Antlerless Deer: Private lands: The statewide annual bag limit on antlerless deer is five (5). The antlerless bag limit for private lands in the North Central DMU is ten (10) antlerless deer per season. Antlerless deer are male or female deer which do not have hardened antler above the natural hairline. Only two (2) antlerless deer may be harvested from the Southeast Unit. There is no daily bag limit on antlerless deer in the Northeast, North Central, East Central, Southwest, and Delta units. Only one (1) antlerless deer per day may be harvested in the Southeast DMU. U.S. Forest Service National Forests: The bag limit is one (1) per day, not to exceed five (5) per annual season except in the Southeast Unit, which is two (2) per annual season.

SOUTHEAST PEARL_RIV ER

13”

Antlered Buck Deer: The statewide bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day and three (3) per annual season. One (1) of these three (3) may have hardened antlers that do not meet the unit legal antler requirements on private land and Holly Springs National Forest. For youth hunters fifteen (15) years of age and younger, hunting on private land and authorized state and federal lands, all three (3) of the three (3) buck bag limit may be any antlered deer. Antlered buck bag limit in the North Central Deer Management Unit (DMU) is one (1) buck per day and four (4) per annual season. No antler restrictions apply to this DMU. All four bucks may have any sized hardened antlers.

KEMPER

NESHOBA

LEAKE

10”

Bag Limits

NOXUBEE

WINSTON

ATTALA

15”

10”

North Central

CHOCTAW

10”

Southeast

OKTIBBEHA LOWNDES

EAST CENTRAL

SHARKEY

ISSAQUENA

55 § ¨ ¦

LEFLORE

CLAY

WEBSTER

12” 10”

Southwest

MONROE

GRENADA

MONTGOMERY

BOLIVAR

CALHOUN CHICKASAW

INSIDE SPREAD OR MAIN BEAM

East Central

YALOBUSHA

TALLAHATCHIE

UNIT

Northeast

ITAWAMBA

PONTOTOC

COAHOMA QUITMAN

LEGAL BUCKS

JACKSON

10 § ¨ ¦

Legal Weapons

Legal Bucks Fall Turkey Youth Gun: Youth may carry and use any firearm with which they can safely hunt, and in compliance with other applicable laws, NORTHEAST, EAST CENTRAL, SOUTHWEST, AND SOUTHEAST UNITS

rules, and regulations. A legal buck is defined as having EITHER a minimum inside spread of 10 inches OR one main beam at least 13 inches long.

SEASON

DATES

BAG LIMIT

2021–2022 Hunting Seasons Archery: Longbows, recurves, compound bows, and crossbows. There is no minimum or maximum draw weight. There is no minimum How to estimate a 10 inch inside spread:

How to estimate a 13 inch main beam:

10” Inside Spread

13” Main Beam

Estimating a 10 inch spread is accomplished by observing a To estimate a 13 inch main beam, the buck’s arrow length. Fixed or mechanical broadheads may be used. buck’s ears in the alert position. When in the alert position, head must be observed from the side. If the the distance from ear-tip to ear-tip measures approximately 14 inches. If the OUTSIDE of each antler beam is 1 inch inside the ear-tip, the inside spread is approximately 10 inches.

Fall turkey season is open BY PERMIT ONLY from October 15-November 15 on private lands in the following counties or portions of counties where the landowner/leaseholder completes a fall turkey hunting application to the MDWFP Jackson Office and receives tags. The fall season bag limit is two (2) turkeys, which may be of either sex.

White-tailed Deer

Delta Unit: Bolivar County - west of the main Mississippi River levee and those lands east of the main Mississippi River levee known as 27 Break Hunting Club; Coahoma, Desoto, Issaquena, Tunica, and Washington counties - west of the main Mississippi River levee.

tip of the main beam extends to the front of the eye, main beam length is approximately 13 inches.

DeltaUnit: Unit: Areas west of I-55 and north of I-20 plusand areas southcounties. of I-20 and west of U.S. Highway 61. North Central Benton, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Tippah, Union North Central Unit: All private and open public lands in Alcorn, Benton, Desoto, Marshall, Southwest Unit: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Warren, Wilkinson, and Yazoo counties. Tate, and Tippah counties. Northeast Unit: Areas east of I-55, north of U.S. Highway 82 , and excluding counties in the North Central Unit. Public lands include national forests (excluding Holly Springs NF), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lands, etc., that have statewide seasons without special regulations. East Central Unit: Areas east of I-55, east of U.S. Highway 49, south of U.S. Highway 82, and north of U.S. Highway 84. SEASON BAG Southwest Unit: Areas east of U.S. Highway 61, southDATES of I-20, west of U.S. Highway 49, and west of MSLIMIT Highway 35. SoutheastYouth Unit: Areas south of U.S. Highway 84 and east of MS Highway 35. One (1) adult gobbler or 1 gobbler with a

Primitive Weapons: Weapons legal for use during the Primitive Weapons season are all archery equipment and primitive firearms.

”Primitive firearms,” for the purpose of hunting deer, are defined as single or double-barreled muzzleloading rifles of at least .38 caliber; DELTA ZONE OR single shot, breech loading, metallic cartridge rifles (.35 caliber or larger) and replicas, reproductions, or reintroductions of those type Spring Turkey A legal buck is defined as having EITHER a minimum inside spread of 12 inches OR one main beam at least 15 inches long. rifles with an exposed hammer; OR single or double-barreled muzzleloading shotguns, with single ball or slug. All muzzleloading primitive How to estimate a 12 inch inside spread: How to estimate a 15 inch main beam: firearms must use black powder or a black powder substitute with percussion caps, #209 shotgun primers, or flintlock ignition. “Blackpow12” Inside Spread 15” Main Beam Estimating a 12 inch spread is accomplished by observing a To estimate a 15 inch main beam, the buck’s (Private and authorized state and federal 8 - 14 6-inch or longer beard per day, or 3 per Spring der substitute” is defined as a substance designed, manufactured, and specifically intended to be used as aMar.propellant in season. muzzleloading NORTH buck’s ears in the alert position. When in the alert position, head must be observed from the side. If the LEGAL BUCKS public lands. Youth 15 and Hunters 15 years of age and young§ ¨ ¦ under) CENTRAL the distance from ear-tip to ear-tip measures approximately 15* tip of the main beam extends between the er may harvest 1 gobbler of choice (any UNIT INSIDE powder SPREAD OR MAIN BEAM other black powder firearms, excludingfrontmodern smokeless powder. Metallic cartridges may be loaded with either black or modern Spring Mar. 15 - May 1 age) per day, 3 per Spring season. inches. If the OUTSIDE of each antler beam reaches the ear-tip, of the eye and the tip of the nose, main Delta 12”LIMIT OR 15” SEASON DATES DAILY BAG POSSESSION LIMIT the inside spread is approximately 12 inches. (Therefore, if the purchased beamat length is approximatelygoods 15 inches. stores). Telescopic sights are allowed while hunting with any primitive firearm smokeless powder (cartridges sporting Northeast 10” OR 13” outside of both antler beams reach the ear tips, the buck is legal). NORTHEAST East magnification. Central 10” OR 13” during the primitive weapon seasons. A telescopic sight is defined as an optical sighting any Small Sept. Teal device with Sept. 11 - Sept. 26 Game 6 During any open 18 Southwest 10” OR 13” *Due to body size differences in the Delta Unit, ear-tip to ear-tip measurements on are slightly larger with compared to the other units. weapons after November 30, a person may use any legal season deer primitive weapon of choice, including pre-charged pneumatic Southeast 10” OR DAILY 13” § ¨ ¦ SEASON DATES BAG LIMIT Sept. CanadaDELTA Geese* Sept. 1 -North Sept.Central 30 5 Any hardened antler 15 weaponsDELTA, (airNORTHEAST, guns or bows), on private lands only, if the person is the title owner ofSquirrel* the land, the lessee of land, a Youth Sept.the 24 - 30 hunting rights on the 8 NORTH CENTRAL, EAST CENTRAL, AND SOUTHWEST UNITS Squirrel - Fall Season Oct. 1 the - Feb. 28 EAST CENTRALabove. Dec. 18Bag - Jan. 31 9 member of a hunting club rights person specified IfLimits person 3is required to8 have a METHOD SEASON DATES leasing the hunting LEGAL DEER on the land, or a guest of a Woodcock Antlered Buck Deer: The statewide bag limit on antlered buck deer is one Squirrel - Spring Season May 15 - June 1 4 Archery Oct.person 1 - Nov. 19 land, open public land, and Hollylicense, Springs NF hunting license, the mustEither-Sex haveon aprivate primitive weapon Sportsman’s License, or a Lifetime Sportsman’s License. (1) buck per day and three (3) per annual season. One (1) of these three (3) may Snipe Nov. 14 - Feb. 28 8 24

Migratory Game Birds ALCORN

BENTON

TIPPAH

MARSHALL

TATE

TISHOMINGO

DESOTO

TUNICA

PRENTISS

UNION

PANOLA

LAFAYETTE

COAHOMA QUITMAN

ITAWAMBA

PONTOTOC

LEE

YALOBUSHA

CALHOUN CHICKASAW

CARROLL

WASHINGTON

Nov. 6 - Nov. 19

SHARKEY

ISSAQUENA

HUMPHREYS

Youth Season (15 and under)

HOLMES

YAZOO

CLAY

WEBSTER

OKTIBBEHA LOWNDES

CHOCTAW

NOXUBEE

WINSTON

ATTALA

KEMPER

NESHOBA

LEAKE

MADISON

SEASON 20 § ¨ ¦

Either-Sex on private lands and authorized state and federal lands.

WARREN

NEWTON

SCOTT

20 § ¨ ¦

LAUDERDALE

Gun: There are no caliber or magazine capacity restrictions on firearms. Primitive weapons (as Gallinules (Common & Purple) Gun (with dogs)

Nov. 20 - Dec. 1

Antlerless Deer Only on private lands.

Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land.

Either-Sex on private land, open public land, and Holly Springs NF. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.

Dec. 16 - 23

Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land.

Gun (with dogs)

Dec. 24 - Jan. 19

Either-Sex on private land and Holly Spring NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land.

Archery/Primitive Weapon

Jan. 20 - 31

Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs NF. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.

Gun (without dogs)

SEASON DATES

LEGAL DEER

Archery

Oct. 15 - Nov. 19

Either-Sex on private and open public land.

Nov. 6 - Nov. 19

Either-Sex on private lands and authorized state and federal lands.

Nov. 20 - Feb. 15

Either-Sex on private lands. On open public lands, youth must follow below legal deer criteria.

Gun (with dogs)

Nov. 20 - Dec. 1

Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land.

Primitive Weapon

Dec. 2 - 15

Either-Sex on private and open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.

Gun (without dogs)

Dec. 16 - 23

Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land.

Gun (with dogs)

Dec. 24 - Jan. 19

Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land.

Jan. 20 - 31

Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.

Feb. 1 - 15

Legal Bucks only on private and open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.

Migratory Game Birds DATES

DAILY BAG LIMIT

POSSESSION LIMIT

Sept. Teal

Sept. 11 - Sept. 26

Sept. Canada Geese*

Sept. 1 - Sept. 30

Woodcock

Dec. 18 - Jan. 31

Snipe

Nov. 14 - Feb. 28

Gallinules (Common & Purple)

Sept. 1 - Oct. 3 Nov. 26 - Jan. 1

15 Singly or in aggregate

45 Singly or in aggregate

Rails: Clapper and King

Sept. 1 - Oct. 3 Nov. 26 - Jan. 1

15 Singly or in aggregate

45 Singly or in aggregate

Rails: Sora and Virginia

Sept. 1 - Oct. 3 Nov. 26 - Jan. 1

25 Singly or in aggregate

75 Singly or in aggregate

Mourning and White-winged Doves (North Zone)**

Sept. 4 - Oct. 17 Oct. 30 - Nov. 28 Dec. 25 - Jan. 9

15 Singly or in aggregate

45 Singly or in aggregate

Mourning and White-winged Doves (South Zone)***

Sept. 4 - Sept. 19 Oct. 9 - Nov. 7 Dec. 19 - Jan. 31

15 Singly or in aggregate

45 Singly or in aggregate

Crows

Nov. 6 - Feb. 28

No Limit

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots****

Nov. 26 - Nov. 28 Dec. 3 - Dec. 5 Dec. 9 - Jan. 31

See below****

Geese: Canada, White-fronted, Snow, Blue, Ross’, and Brant

Nov. 12 - Nov. 28 Dec. 3 - Dec. 5 Dec. 9 - Jan. 31

Canada Geese : 5 Snow, Blue, & Ross’: 20 White-fronted: 3 Brant: 1

Canada Geese : 15 Snow, Blue, & Ross’: No limit White-fronted: 9 Brant: 3

Youth, Veterans, and Active Military Waterfowl Days

Feb. 5 - Feb. 6

Same as regular season

Light Goose Conservation Order***** (Special Permit Needed)

Oct. 1 - Nov. 11 Nov. 29 - Dec. 2 Dec. 6 - Dec. 8 Feb. 1 - Feb. 4 Feb. 7 - Mar. 31

No Limit*****

COPIAH

JEFFERSON

Frog

FRANKLIN

LINCOLN

JEFF DAVIS

SOUTHWEST

Rails: Clapper and King Raccoon WILKINSON

AMITE

MARION

PIKE

WALTHALL

JONES

59 § ¨ ¦

WAYNE

FORREST LAMAR

PERRY

GREENE

SOUTHEAST

Opossum, Raccoon, and Bobcat Rails: Sora and Virginia

GEORGE

STONE

PEARL_RIVER

HARRISON

JACKSON

10 § ¨ ¦

is one (1) buck per day and four (4) per annual season. No antler restrictions April 1 - Sept. 30 25/Night

Sept. 1apply - Oct.to3this DMU. All four bucks may have any sized hardened antlers. 45Party/Night Singly or in aggregate 30 15 Singly or in aggregate 1 per Nov. 26Antlerless - July Jan.11- Sept. Deer:

Private The statewide annual bag limit on antlerless deer is five (5). The Oct. 1lands: - Oct. 31

bag sport) limit for private lands in the North Central is ten (10) antlerSept. 1antlerless -(Food Oct. 3and 5/Day;DMU 8/Party Singly or in are aggregate Singly or do in aggregate deer1per season. Antlerless deer male or female75 deer which not have Nov. - Feb. 28 25 No Limit Nov. 26less Jan. 1 hardened antler above the natural hairline. Only two (2) antlerless deer may be

(Food, sport, and pelt) harvested from the Southeast Unit. There is no daily bag limit on antlerless deer

Nov. 1 - Mar. 15 Noand Limit the Northeast, North Central, East Central, Southwest, Delta units. Only Sept. 4in- Oct. 17 Mourning and White-winged Doves (1) antlerless deer per day may be harvested in the Southeast DMU. 30one - Nov. 28 Service Singly or Forests: in aggregate 45 Singly or in aggregate *On private lands and authorized state and federalOct. lands only in those areas 15 open for squirrel hunting. U.S. Forest National The bag limit is one (1) per day, not (North Zone)** Dec. 25to-exceed Jan. 9 five (5) per annual season except in the Southeast Unit, which is two (2) per annual season.

Legal Weapons Sept. 4 - Sept. 19 Mourning andYouth White-winged Doves Youth Gun: may carry and use any firearmOct. with9 which hunt, and compliance with45 other applicable laws, - Nov. they 7 can safely 15 Singly or ininaggregate Singly or in aggregate (South Zone)*** rules, and regulations. Dec. 19 - Jan. 31 Archery:

Longbows, recurves, compound bows, and crossbows. There is no minimum or maximum draw weight. There is no minimum arrow length. Fixed or mechanical broadheads may be used.

Crows

Primitive Weapons:

Nov. 6 - Feb. 28

No Limit

Weapons legal for use during the Primitive Weapons season are all archery equipment and primitive firearms. ”Primitive firearms,” for the purpose of hunting deer, are defined as single or double-barreled muzzleloading rifles of at least .38 caliber; Nov. 26 - Nov. 28 OR single shot, breech loading, metallic cartridge rifles (.35 caliber or larger) and replicas, reproductions, or reintroductions of those type and Coots**** Dec. 3 -muzzleloading Dec. 5 below**** See below**** riflesDucks, with anMergansers, exposed hammer; OR single or double-barreled shotguns,See with single ball or slug. All muzzleloading primitive firearms must use black powder or a black powder substitute caps, #209 shotgun primers, or flintlock ignition. “BlackpowDec. 9 -with Jan.percussion 31 der substitute” is defined as a substance designed, manufactured, and specifically intended to be used as a propellant in muzzleloading or other black powder firearms, excluding modern smokeless powder. Metallic cartridges may be loaded with either black powder or modern Canada Geese : 5hunting with any Canada Geese : 15 smokeless powder (cartridges purchased at sporting goods stores). Telescopic sights are allowed while primitive firearm Nov.is 12 - Nov.as28an optical sighting device with any magnification. During any open during primitive weapon seasons. telescopic sight defined Geese:the Canada, White-fronted, Snow,A Blue, Snow, Blue, & Ross’: 20 Snow, Blue, & Ross’: No limit season on deer with primitive weapons after November 30, 3a -person Dec. Dec. 5may use any legal weapon of choice, including pre-charged pneumatic Ross’, Brant 3 of the hunting White-fronted: weapons (air guns or and bows), on private lands only, if the person is the title owner of White-fronted: the land, the lessee rights on the 9 land, a Dec. 9 - Jan. 31 member of a hunting club leasing the hunting rights on the land, or a guest of a person specified Brant: 1 above. If the person is required Brant: 3to have a hunting license, the person must have a primitive weapon license, Sportsman’s License, or a Lifetime Sportsman’s License.

Gun: There are no caliber or magazine Youth, Veterans, and Active Militarycapacity restrictions on firearms. Primitive weapons (as defined above) and archery equipment

Waterfowl Days

may be used during gun seasons.

Light Goose Conservation Order***** (Special Permit Needed)

SEASON

The merganser daily bag limit is a total of 5 mergansers, only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers.

SIMPSON

Bobwhite§ Quail 55 ¨ ¦

have hardened legal antler on DATES antlers that do not meet the unit DAILY BAG requirements LIMIT private land and Holly Springs National Forest. For youth hunters fifteen (15)

28 8 of16 and younger, hunting on private land and authorized state and fedSept. 1years - Oct. Oct. 3age- Feb. defined above) and archery equipment eral lands, all three (3) of the three (3) buck bag limit45 may be any antlered deer. 15 Singly or in aggregate Singly or in aggregate - Mar. 8 Nov. 26Antlered - Nov. Jan. 25 1buck bag5limit in the North Central Deer Management Unit (DMU)

CLARKE

Trapping

Youth Season (15 and under)

Archery/Primitive Weapon

CLAIBORNE

DELTA

JASPER

SMITH

HANCOCK

SOUTHEAST UNIT METHOD

Rabbit

ADAMS

Dec. 2 - 15

Primitive Weapon

RANKIN

COVINGTON

Antlerless Primitive Weapon 8 - 19seasons. may be used during Nov. gun

HINDS

LAWRENCE

Either-Sex on private lands. On open public lands, youth must follow below legal deer criteria.

Nov. 20 - Jan. 31

MONROE

GRENADA

LEFLORE

MONTGOMERY

BOLIVAR

SUNFLOWER

TALLAHATCHIE

Feb. 5 - Feb. 6

Same as regular season

Oct. 1 - Nov. 11 Nov. 29 - Dec. 2 Dec. 6 - Dec. 8 Feb. 1 - Feb. 4 Feb. 7 - Mar. 31

No Limit*****

*Sept. Canada Goose season is closed on Roebuck Lake in Leflore county. **(Dove North Zone) Areas north of U.S. Hwy. 84 plus areas south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and west of MS Hwy. 35. ***(Dove South Zone) Areas south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and east of MS Hwy. 35. ****The duck daily bag limit is a total of 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 1 mottled duck, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, and 2 redheads. The daily bag limit for scaup is 1 scaup per day Nov. 26 – 28, Dec. 3 – 5, and Dec. 9 – 17; and is 2 scaup per day Dec. 18 – Jan. 31. The merganser daily bag limit is a total of 5 mergansers, only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers. The coot daily bag limit is a total of 15 coots. The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit for ducks, mergansers, and coots. Shooting hours for all migratory game birds are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except for the Light Goose Conservation Order (see below). *****The Light Goose Conservation Order is a special opportunity designed to reduce the population of overpopulated snow, blue, and Ross’ geese when no other waterfowl seasons are open. This order allows for expanded methods of take that are not allowed during regular waterfowl seasons. To participate in the Light Goose Conservation Order, hunters need a valid Mississippi hunting license, state waterfowl stamp, and a free Light Goose Conservation Order permit number. Hunters can obtain a permit number by visiting mdwfp.com/waterfowl. Light Goose Conservation Order Methods: Shooting hours are from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset. Only snow, blue, and Ross’ geese are eligible for harvest. The use of electronic calls is allowed. The use of unplugged shotguns is allowed. There is no daily or possession limit for snow, blue, or Ross’ geese. Hunters must use non-toxic shot. Hunters must possess a valid Mississippi hunting license and a Mississippi state waterfowl stamp. Hunters do not need a federal waterfowl stamp.

WEEKEND, OCTOBER 2-3, 2021

PAGE 14

THE DAILY LEADER

Diamond J produces specialty products, traditional deer cuts BY HUNTER CLOUD THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT BROOKHAVEN —Diamond J Meat Market is a family owned and operated deer processing and meat market located on U.S. 84. Will and Debbie Jordan first began processing deer meat in 2010. Their mission is to provide customers with a quality product at an affordable price for both their retail meat products and processing. While white tailed deer are a focus in processing, Diamond J is able to process feral hogs and exotics. “We will skin and debone the deer if you want, or you can bring it in already cleaned,” Debbie said. “We have a list of products people can choose from. We strive to provide the best quality products for our customers.” Smoked sausage is one of their products they take a lot of pride in. Will Jordan tries to create different options for sausage flavors. Spinach and mozzarella sausage have become pretty popular, she said. This year, Diamond J will offer new flavors such as apple, peach and blueberry. They are also looking at offering burri-

tos as a product for their deer customers, she said. When an animal is processed at Diamond J, it is individually processed, so there is no mixing of meat, she said. “We are conscious that if you bring your deer in that is what you get,” Debbie said. “We are hunters and understand the time and money invested in deer hunting.” Additionally, Diamond J takes deer year round. Some states have different hunting seasons than Mississippi’s, so the deer is processed whenever it is brought in. Typically at the beginning of the season, it takes seven to 10 days to process deer. As the season progresses, they get more deer in and it slows down. She said they do their best to get deer processed as quickly as possible. “Every deer that comes in the store we are grateful to the hunters for,” Debbie said. “We know what goes into it and know it is an expensive hobby. We want to give you the best product we can give you.” Diamond J is open from 7 a.m. to six p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturdays they are open from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.

COURTESY PHOTO | GLENN E. WILSON

Swamp rabbits pictured above and eastern cottontails are two wild species of rabbits found in Mississippi. They could be infected with the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Virus Disease Type 2 which was found in domesticated rabbits in Rankin County this week. Hunters are asked to be mindful of the disease this hunting season which opens Oct. 15.

Rabbit hunters warned of new disease BY HUNTER CLOUD THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT JACKSON — Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Small game biologist Rick Hamrick confirmed there is a positive case of a new strain of rabbit disease in Mississippi called Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Type 2, or RHDV2. The virus infected about 20 domesticated rabbits in Rankin County. According to the Mississippi Board of Animal Health, experts are investigating to determine where the source of the infection originated. RHDV2 is a novel strain of RHD. Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease is a disease caused by a virus in the calicivirus family. Until 2018, this disease was only found in European rabbits before it was detected in Canada. By 2020, the disease had spread in the west to New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Texas and California. He said it is safe to assume RHDV2 could spread to native species of wild eastern cottontail and swamp rabbits. “Until recently, we had not seen it in the wild, but it is new in North America,” Hamrick said. “It was previously seen in Europe. Starting last year, they discovered a newer strain in wild rabbits out west. Now it has popped up in domestic rabbits in the southeast.” According to the MDWFP website, the disease enters a rabbit’s body through the mouth, nose or eyes. The virus persists in the environment for a very long time and is resistant to deactivation. The virus spreads through direct contact with infected live or dead rabbits. Humans, pets and livestock are not susceptible to the disease. Humans can spread the disease with rabbit fur on their clothing. It could spread through rabbit urine or feces in the bedding of domesticated rabbits, Hamrick said. RHD has a mortality rate of 20 percent, on average. In localized settings, the mortality rate ranges from 5 to 70 percent. In this instance, 21 out of 22 rabbits died within a 6 to eight-day period. Currently, there is no vaccine for the disease approved for sale in the US. According to MBAH’s website, there is a vaccine for the disease in development and two vaccines, which could be imported with special approval. People can call (601) 3591170 if they have any questions. As of right now, there is no evidence of the disease in wild rabbit populations in Mississippi. “It is something we know we will eventually deal with,” Hamrick said. “We encourage people to not spread diseases around by being sanitary with carcass disposal.” Proper disposal of rabbits harvested while hunting would be field-dressing the animal on site. If you remove the animal from their home range area, it is best to place the remains in a garbage bag so it could be buried in a landfill rather than throwing it out into the woods, he said. “People can also use bleach to disinfect hard surfaces and knives,” Hamrick said. “It is going to be next to impossible to eliminate any risk of it, but we can be precautious. There is a suspicion that blood-feeding insects could spread it too. We ask hunters to remain aware.” People should contact Rick Hamrick via email at Rick. Hamrick@wfp.ms.gov or the MDWFP at 601-432-2199 if they find large numbers of dead wild rabbits with no apparent signs of death. Those who have domesticated rabbits should contact the MBAH if they notice several domesticated rabbit deaths by calling 1-888-722-3106.

This is Thomas Arnold’s tracking dog Ruby. She is a bloodhound but has been retrained to follow the scents from deer’s interdigital gland. She actually used wind to help find the hooves Arnold uses to train his dogs.

Experts help hunters recover their game with pride.

BY HUNTER CLOUD THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT CROSBY — Deer hunting requires investments of time, energy and money by the hunters. It is because of this investment that hunters want to recover any game they have shot while hunting. Team BrakeDown offers both the manpower and man’s best friend to aid in the recovery of deer which were mortally wounded. The deer tracker group can also give confirmation to a deer hunter if they missed a deer, group member Thomas Arnold said. “There is help out there if a hunter makes a bad shot,” Arnold said. “Help is there. If you are willing to let us come and look. We do not charge anything.” He is one of six original group members along with Jeffery Nunnery, JD Thomas, Justin and Rudy Everett, Bo Bryant and Justin Williams. They started the group six years ago. At first they covered an area from Natchez to Tylertown, but have grown to cover an area from Columbia to Catahoula Parish, as far north as Crystal Springs and as far south as West Feliciana Parish. Members are one phone call away, while many have jobs, they can get hunters in touch with a member in the group to recover an animal. Smithdale resident Nunnery said he likes to do a little interview before he gets into the woods. “I ask what they shot with, which direction the deer went, what time did they shoot and what was

Tracking

Thomas Arnold with his dachshund Joey who will be tracking deer with Team BrakeDown this year. the size of it,” Nunnery said. “Every piece of information would help you. The more information you can get before you get in the woods the better. We want to help people.”

Training

The recovery of deer would not be possible without the furry, tail wagging and barking companions of group members. Nunnery trains his dogs while they are young by taking a liver and cutting them into little cubes. He sets up a training track and over time it gets more and more challenging. Liver is also a treat and keeps the dogs engaged because their attention span is short. As dogs get older, he creates a conditioning track using a hoof off of a deer. He will create a shot site with hair and drag the

hoof to create a trail for the dog to track. When a deer is shot, it releases a scent through its hoofs which helps the dog track. “Many times there are multiple deer in an area,” Nunnery said. “They can not spread the smell of the interdigital gland. I want them to key in on that.” Building trust and bonding with a dog is another crucial part of training tracking dogs. While certain dogs may be more equipped to track deer, any dog is capable of doing the job, Arnold said. He has a long haired dachshund, named Joey, that will track a deer as he sniffed out a trail around his property and to a tree behind a pond where a hoof dangled from a branch. Joey started chewing on the hoof while his tail wagged, Arnold smiled

When a hunter takes a shot and believes they hit a deer, they must make a mental note of something in the background. This is helpful in the late evening as the light changes from twilight to darkness and scenery changes drastically. Hunters can also use a 100 yards rule when tracking a deer they shot, Nunnery said. If they are unable to find a deer within 100 yards, or if anything changes in the trail they should back out, flag the last spot and call. “If you shoot a deer and you have any doubt go ahead and call us,” Nunnery said. “If you second guess, then call us.If you are going to track a deer, take maybe three people. Try your best to not straddle the blood trai, you can spread the blood trail too, which makes tracking harder.” Additionally, if a deer may have crossed property lines it is best to go ahead and get permission to enter that land before you call Team BrakeDown, he said. Tracking wounded deer is an adventure all in itself. Smithdale resident Justin Williams said every track is different. “The ideal track is one that is straight and in the clear,” Williams said. “They aren’t all like that. Most of them are not like that.” Team BrakeDown members can be contacted through a list found on their Facebook page.

Concordia Parish: A fisherman’s paradise BY HUNTER CLOUD THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT VIDALIA — Concordia Parish is a fisherman’s paradise. It is a land of oxbows, old river channels and bayous. Vidalia mayor Buz Craft said he sees the quality fishing found in the parish as an economic development tool. A former professional fisherman, Craft competed in the Fishing League Worldwide before he ran out of time to fish. Now, he is making an effort to bring Major League Fishing back to the region with help from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Craft’s plan is to have the LDWF stock Lake St. John, Lake Bruin, Lake Concordia and Black River Lake each with 100,000 fingerlings of Florida strain largemouth bass. This stocking would take place each year and would improve the quality of fishing, he said. “When you put 100,000 fingerlings in a lake, many of those will be caught before they reach their big size,” Craft said. “You put that many fish in the lake and many will survive. In three years, you could have 300,000 more Florida bass in the lakes. They can cross breed and improve the gene pool of the fish in our lakes.” Black River Lake is connected to Horseshoe Lake by Workinger Bayou. Many of the fish stocked in Black River could make their way to Horseshoe Lake, also known as Cocodrie Lake, which was the site of a Major League Fishing tournament in 2018. Florida strain largemouth bass have the capability of growing bigger, Craft said. Fishing in Concordia Parish attracts people from all over

and creates business opportunities. “When people are here fishing they are buying food and buying groceries,” Craft said. “It is something people don’t see. We are trying to enhance it and expand the knowledge and opportunities. I want people to come fish our lakes and rivers and stay in our hotels.”

Community

Residents of the Miss-Lou region have great fishing opportunities around them. On U.S. 61 South, Wilkinson County has a county pond sprawling with pine trees providing shade along the bank. Across the river, Vidalia offers a city pond at the Concordia Parish Recreational Complex. Each year, the LDWF stocks the pond with catfish and in the winter they stock it with rainbow trout. People are welcome to fish the pond and keep catfish or trout to take home but are asked to catch and release any game fish such as bass, crappie or panfish. Craft said the pond was originally built because the previous administration needed dirt to level out the ball fields. It has now been developed to include a fishing pier, which has been reopened after boards were replaced. “Not that many people have a boat and can go fishing,” Craft said. “They can come out here and fish.” In years past, there have been tournaments for people to clean trash out of lakes and cut

lines out of the trees. It was a part of the Mossy Oak National Day of Conservation, and he hopes to bring it back next year. Last spring, high schools competed in a bass fishing tournament on the local lakes. Getting the youth involved in fishing is one of his other goals, he said. “I’m interested in it because it is a good sport for our kids to get involved in,” Craft said. “It is really fun and wholesome. Who knows, the next young fisherman might be growing up right here in Vidalia.”

Water therapy

Fishing offers an opportunity to create memories, he said. Each of the lakes in Concordia Parish have a special place in his history and memory. “If I can get on one of them at this stage in my life, I’m a happy man,” Craft said. “All of them have the potential to give you a great day on any day. I call it water therapy. I enjoy the challenge and being on the water. I think if people focus more on catching than the experience, they are missing the boat. My favorite time to fish is the time I can go.”

WEEKEND, OCTOBER 2-3, 2021

THE DAILY LEADER

PAGE 15

Perfecting the art of preservation Taxidermist shares his insights BY HUNTER CLOUD THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT NATCHEZ — Tucker Crisp got his start in taxidermy because he was too tight with his money to get his deer mounted, so he tried it himself. The first project took three remounts, he said. “I had no idea I would do it for a living,” Crisp said. While working at the paper mill, his co-workers started asking him to mount their deer. Word spread the mill was shutting down, so he told his wife Donna Crisp he was going to start a taxidermy business. “She said, ‘you can’t make a living doing that,’ but she let me try,” Crisp said. “That was 17 years ago. I have been bowed up ever since and couldn’t think about doing anything else.” In those 17 years, Crisp has taxidermied everything from squirrels, ducks, fish, deer, hogs, alligators, turkeys and an El Chupacabra. He said the El Chupacabra was a coyote who had the mange. People have asked him to taxidermy pets, but it’s not something he is interested in. He said the carnivorous animals such as bobcats or foxes can be challenging because if a hunter doesn’t get them straight in the freezer or on ice their hair will fall out. The same goes for coyotes, and their intestines start to stink even if the hide is good, he said. His number one goal while taxiderming is to present an animal as it would in the wild. “A lot of people call me an artist, but I’m by no means an artist. I can’t even draw,” Crisp said. “I have been in the woods long enough to where I can get my mounts ana-

tomically correct. To get a turkey to look right is the hardest.” Hunters or fishermen can do a few things to help taxidermists before they bring an animal to be mounted. He said to ensure a quality mount, people should start with the preservation of their harvest.

Preserving Fish

Back in the day, people thought the best way to preserve a fish you wanted to mount was to roll it up in a towel, he said. Instead, fishermen who want to freeze their fish should put their catch in a garbage bag and then squeeze all of the air out of the bag. This keeps the fins from drying out, he said. “Once those fins dry out, they get in a bad shape and you can’t do a mount,” Crisp said. “If you can’t get it into a freezer for a few days, you can put them in an ice chest. You have to keep them on ice. Those scales will fall off once it gets to a rot stage and you can’t get a quality mount.” Fishermen do not need to clean the fish. The same goes for other small game such as ducks or squirrels, he said.

Preserving Deer

With bow season opening Oct. 1, hunters have a challenge keeping their deer heads preserved in the warm weather. He said the best thing hunters can do is get their deer processed and put in the cooler as quickly as possible. One mistake people make is putting their deer head in the fridge, he said. It is just above freezing and after a week or so, the head will start to rot on people. If you are at a hunting club, placing a plastic bag over the head

ABOVE: Natchez taxidermist Tucker Crisp paints around the eyes and nose of a deer head mount he is working on. His experience as an avid hunter gives him knowledge in presenting wildlife as it would be seen in their natural habitat. RIGHT: Crisp has a collection of different skulls at his shop. This is the skull of a bobcat. To preserve bobcats, or other predators, for taxiderming it is best to get it on ice immediately. If a hunter does not do this their hair will fall out very quickly, Crisp said. to keep the eyes and nose from drying out is a good idea, he said. “The best thing a hunter can do is to drop the head down in a big garbage bag, like the thick leaf bags, you can get the antlers in it too,” Crisp said. “This keeps the hide and ears away from the freezer air, which preserves them.”

Skull mounts

Deer head mounts are his favorite taxidermy

to work on because he knows the timeline, he said. Taxidermy is a tedious job, especially when it comes to doing skull mounts. Hunters who want a skull mount should cut the head off right behind the skull where it connects to the spinal cord. He said people do not need to bring the whole neck and to have the best munt they should not cut into the skull. “Everyone needs to do

one skull mount to see what kind of work you have to do,” Crisp said. “I have a tool I use to get the brains out, I have bugs I use too. You have to degrease the skull afterwards or else yellow spots will appear on it.” Those bugs are called dermestid beetles and they can clean a

skull in 12 to 24 hours. He said keeping the beetles alive is a challenge in the gap between hunting seasons. Soon, business will begin to pick up with a peak in activity from Thanksgiving to New Years. He said, “From Christmas to the end of the year it is wide open (full throttle).”

PAGE 16

WEEKEND, OCTOBER 2-3, 2021

THE DAILY LEADER