WMA TURKEY HUNTERS: NEW SEASON FRAMEWORKS
1/30/2019 8:52:09 AM
From MDWFP
Several Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) will be receiving new turkey season frameworks in 2019. On Malmaison, Choctaw, Marion County, Mason Creek, and Little Biloxi WMAs, the start of the regular spring turkey season will be delayed until April 1. These changes were made to proactively address long-term declines in harvest by delaying the opening day so that it more closely aligns with the timing of peak gobbling and nesting. This change will potentially carry more gobblers over from year to year, which will help to mitigate the negative effects of bad hatch years when they occur. These changes are planned to remain in place for a minimum of three years, over which time biologists will measure their effectiveness. Similar experimental approaches to turkey harvest management on public lands are being tried in several other southeastern states. The closure of spring turkey season on these five areas will remain May 1.
