Following the successful example of Duck Stamps, the Wild Turkey Stamp adopts a user-pay, user-benefit approach that ensures funds are directly reinvested into the priorities of those who pay. The creation of the Wild Turkey Stamp helps ensure Mississippi will remain the epicenter of wild turkey management and research and will shine above its peer states in investment toward this popular resource. With strong public support, and the potential to leverage federal funds, the Wild Turkey Stamp represents a win for conservation, hunters, and Mississippi as a whole.

 

Wild Turkey Stamp

New for 2026, any persons 16 years or older, unless exempt, must obtain a Wild Turkey Stamp prior to hunting wild turkeys in Mississippi. This pertains to both resident and non-resident hunters. 

The proceeds of the Wild Turkey Stamp provide dedicated annual funding that will be directly dispersed into the conservation, management, protection, or scientific research of wild turkeys.

Those classified as exempt for the Wild Turkey Stamp include:

  • All hunters under 16 years of age.
  • Resident hunters over the age of 64.
  • Resident hunters who are blind, paraplegic, a multiple amputee, or deemed totally disabled by the Veterans Administration or Social Security Administration
  • Lifetime License Holders

Game Check

In 2026, hunters will notice an update to the standard mandatory Game Check process for Wild Turkeys. Beginning with the upcoming season, hunters who purchase a Wild Turkey Stamp will receive three unique harvest identifiers electronically. Exempt hunters must also obtain three unique identifiers. These identifiers will be linked to the hunter's license and used to monitor statewide turkey harvests throughout the season.

At the time of harvest, hunters will report their turkey through the standard Game Check system and the system will automatically utilize one of these identifiers. 

For more details on how to successfully report your harvest, click here.

 

Wild Turkey Stamp Art Contest

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks is proud to announce the inaugural Mississippi Wild Turkey Stamp Art Contest, an exciting opportunity for artists to showcase their talent while supporting conservation. The winning artwork will be featured on the state’s first-ever Mississippi Wild Turkey Stamp, issued to hunters who purchase the new Wild Turkey Stamp as part of their hunting license. 

Learn more about the art contest by clicking here.