Wild Turkey Stamp FAQ

The Wild Turkey Stamp is a new annual stamp required for turkey hunters in Mississippi beginning with the 2026 spring season. Revenue from the stamp funds habitat work, research, and management for wild turkeys. 

The stamp was created to provide a dedicated funding source for wild turkey conservation. It supports habitat projects, population monitoring, research, and science-based management across Mississippi. The Mississippi Wild Turkey Stamp was passed in legislation in the Spring of 2025 and will be a required privilege for all Mississippi turkey hunters (minus those who are exempt) starting Spring of 2026.

The Wild Turkey Stamp requirement begins with the 2026 Spring Turkey Season. 

Youth Season: March 7–13, 2026 

Regular Season: March 14–May 1, 2026 
All hunters participating in either season must have a valid Wild Turkey Stamp (minus those who are exempt).

Any person 16 years or older, unless exempt, must purchase the Wild Turkey Stamp before hunting wild turkeys in Mississippi. This applies to both resident and non-resident hunters hunting on private and public lands. Exempt hunters will need to go into the licensing system and claim the Exempt Turkey Game Check privilege for no cost in order to complete harvest reporting requirements (more on this below).

The following hunters are exempt and are not required to purchase a stamp: 

• Mississippi Lifetime License holders  
• Youth under 16 years of age
• Resident hunters 65 and older
• Resident hunters 100% Disabled by Veteran's Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board, or Social Security Administration

Exempt hunters (youth under 16, resident hunters 65+, qualifying disabled residents, and Lifetime License holders) must still go into the licensing system and claim the Exempt Turkey Game Check privilege for no cost. This step is required for the system to generate and associate the three digital Game Checks required for mobile harvest reporting in the MDWFP HuntFish app. Hunters who do not use the mobile app can acquire their Exempt Turkey Game Check privileges at point-of-sale vendor locations, where they will receive printed tags.

No. Hunters under 16 are exempt from the Wild Turkey Stamp requirement. They will still need the Exempt Turkey Game Check privilege in order to complete harvest reporting requirements.

Adult hunters accompanying a youth on a hunt should be a licensed hunter, including having the Wild Turkey Stamp (unless exempt).

Yes. Any non-exempt hunter must have the Wild Turkey Stamp regardless of land ownership.

Yes. The Wild Turkey Stamp is required statewide on all lands—public and private.

The stamp can be purchased anywhere standard license sales occur: 

• MDWFP HuntFish app
• MDWFP website
• Any license vendor location

The Wild Turkey Stamp is an electronic only privilege and is not required to be carried on your person. If you purchase the Wild Turkey Stamp on the mobile app, website, or by phone, you will receive a physical commemorative stamp by mail. If purchased at MDWFP headquarters, you’ll receive your stamp onsite. This commemorative stamp is for display and collection purposes and is not valid on its own or for use as USPS postage.

Exempt hunters who claim the Exempt Turkey Game Check (for no cost) will not receive the physical commemorative stamp.

Game Check is now tied to the Wild Turkey Stamp or the free Exempt Turkey Game Check privilege. When these are acquired, three Wild Turkey Game Checks will appear in your MDWFP mobile app account under "Licenses & Draw Applications," or under "My Purchases," if on the web within 48 hours. Hunters who purchase a Wild Turkey Stamp or acquire Exempt Turkey Game Check privileges from license vendor locations will additionally receive three physical turkey tags.

For hunters who choose to complete Game Check on a mobile device, the process is similar to the past, with one difference: digital Game Checks in the MDWFP app must be completed at the point of harvest before moving the bird. You can complete your mobile Game Check while offline in the MDWFP HuntFish app, and your stored information will be submitted when service is acquired.

For hunters who choose not to use the MDWFP HuntFish app to submit their required Game Checks, physical tags (available only from license vendors) must be notched at the point of harvest and attached to the turkey’s leg before moving. Turkey tags have perforated holes which allow hunters to utilize an attachment of their choice (rubber band, string, zip tie, etc.) to fix the tag to the bird. All information on the tag must remain visible after securing. These hunters then have until 10:00 PM to report the harvest via the website or by calling 1-800-BE-SMART.

Every dollar is earmarked specifically for wild turkey conservation, management, protection, and research. Funds support both private and public land projects, including: 

• Expansion of programs to expand capacity for prescribed burning, herbicide treatments, and other habitat improvements;
• Public land habitat projects;
• Expansion of public hunting opportunities;
• Enhanced population monitoring;
• Collaborative research to advance turkey management;
• Better estimates of hunter participation to improve decision making.

No. All Wild Turkey Stamp revenue stays in a dedicated fund that can only be used to help turkeys or their habitats.

No. The stamp does not provide preference or additional opportunities. Its purpose is strictly to allocate conservation funding for wild turkeys.

No. The stamp requirement does not affect season structure or bag limits. These are determined through the standard regulatory process.

Yes. The Wild Turkey Stamp must be purchased annually for each turkey season. The electronic only stamp is valid through the end of the spring turkey season.

The 2026 stamp artwork was created by Johnny Granberry from Lexington, MS. Mr. Granberry was the overall winner of the 2025 Turkey Stamp Art Contest.

Hunting without the required Wild Turkey Stamp is a violation of Mississippi hunting regulations and may result in citations and fines.

The stamp provides long-term, dedicated funding for habitat improvements, stronger population monitoring, better research, and healthier turkey populations—ultimately supporting continued hunting opportunities for future generations.

No, you are not required to have the Wild Turkey Stamp or the Exempt Turkey Game Check before applying for WMA Draws. However, a WMA User Permit is required before applying. 

No, you are not required to have the Wild Turkey Stamp to apply for the Non-Resident Public Land Draw. However, if you are drawn, you will be required to purchase your Non-Resident Wild Turkey Stamp and must also possess a valid All Game Hunting License before claiming your endorsement.