Protecting Wetlands. Supporting Hunters. Conserving Mississippi.
The Mississippi State Waterfowl Stamp plays a vital role in both hunting and habitat conservation. Established by the Mississippi Legislature in 1976, the stamp ensures that all revenue supports projects for protecting and propagating migratory waterfowl and for the development, restoration, maintenance, and preservation of wetlands.
Get Your Stamp
Ready to support Mississippi’s wetlands and waterfowl? Purchase your Mississippi State Waterfowl Stamp today.
How Your Stamp Supports Conservation
Each year, the Mississippi Waterfowl Stamp generate over $500,000 in dedicated conservation funding.
Your Stamp Supports:
- Wetland Habitat Development: Leverages state funds with partner dollars to improve habitat and management capability on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).
- Infrastructure and Water Management: Repairs levees, pumps, and water-control structures; funds pumping to flood managed wetlands for public hunting.
- Research and Science: Supports research through Mississippi State University and other partners to better understand waterfowl and wetland systems.
- Private Landowner Partnerships: Provides cost-share programs for landowners developing wetland habitat on private lands.
- Waterfowl Breeding Habitat: Funds habitat work in Canadian breeding grounds that produce the ducks wintering in Mississippi.
- Surveys and Monitoring: Conducts aerial and ground surveys to track populations, migration, and harvest trends.
- Youth Education: Sponsors the Youth Waterfowl Hunting and Education Camp, introducing young hunters to the importance of wetland and waterfowl management.
Your Purchase Makes a Difference
When you buy a Mississippi Waterfowl Stamp, you’re not just buying a license requirement — you’re investing in the future of hunting and conservation in our state.
Your purchase helps maintain the places where we hunt, fish, and connect with nature — from the managed wetlands of our WMAs to the national refuges that attract thousands of waterfowl each winter.
The next time you’re sitting in a duck blind, watching the sunrise over a flooded field, know that your stamp helped make that moment possible.
Don’t Forget Your HIP Survey!
The Harvest Information Program (HIP) is an essential tool for understanding migratory bird harvests across the country. All licensed waterfowl hunters in Mississippi are required to participate each year.
When hunters register for HIP, they answer a few short questions about the types and numbers of migratory birds they harvested the previous season. These responses help biologists gather accurate data on harvest trends and hunter activity.
HIP Data Helps MDWFP:
- Estimate harvest rates and hunter participation
- Inform season frameworks and bag limits
- Guide conservation priorities based on species use
- Strengthen partnerships with other state and federal agencies
By completing HIP when you buy your license, you help ensure that Mississippi’s waterfowl management decisions are based on strong, science-driven data.
History of the Mississippi Waterfowl Stamp
Mississippi’s Migratory Waterfowl Stamp was first introduced in 1976 with a $2 fee for both residents and non-residents. Over the years, as conservation efforts expanded, the cost was gradually adjusted to meet program needs. From the beginning, every dollar collected has been invested in habitat work that sustains both wildlife and outdoor recreation opportunities across the state.
Unlike in many states, Mississippi’s waterfowl stamp is more than a collectible—it’s a cornerstone of wetland conservation and hunting opportunity.