Bills prohibiting buying and selling of whitetail deer die in Mississippi legislature March 20, 2023 Mississippi, SuperTalk Mississippi

... House Bill 1026 and Senate Bill 2536 were introduced to outlaw buying and selling whitetail deer but did not make it out of their respective chambers. Proponents of the bills argue that a handful of wealthy elites are looking to change the laws so they can breed, sell, and transport deer between high-fenced enclosures in Mississippi...

Another Mississippi county going into CWD zone, more may follow as cases in deer spike March 10, 2023 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

... The number of CWD cases found each year is increasing Sampling years for the disease run from July 1-June 30. So far, in the 2023 sampling year, 79 cases have been detected according to MDWFP data. In that same period, 7,374 deer were tested...

Chronic Waste Diseases case found in Tunica County March 4, 2023 Mississippi, WAPT 

... a positive test of Chronic Wasting Disease was found for a hunter-harvested doe from Tunica County. This is the first CWD-positive detection for this county... detected across 10 counties in Mississippi ..,

Not the end: Bills to clarify laws on trade of game animals, establish wildlife as public entity die February 16, 2023 Mississippi, Daily Leader

...  “We didn’t see a need for those bills to be brought forward this year but they will still be out there. It is something we will try to get done. We are going to make sure the wildlife is protected in this state. It is a public property and we want to keep it as a public entity.”  [Bill Kinkade, chairman of the House Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee] ...

Helicopters Used for Deer Research Project at Elm Creek Park Reserve January 26, 2023 Mississppi, CCX Media 

... “We think that our deer move as far as the Mississippi River,” Moriarty said.  To answer those questions, they’ve partnered with the University of Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and a team of expert helicopter pilots. [video]

Will buying and selling white-tailed deer be allowed in Mississippi? Here's what we know. January 20, 2023, Missssppi, Yahoo News

...  114 regulated high-fence enclosures in Mississippi and four deer breeding facilities ... enclosure and breeding facility owners would like to be able to buy and sell deer that have been captive-bred to carry genes that can produce larger antlered bucks and have formed an organization called the Private Landowners Association of Mississippi..,

Senate introduces new legislation to tackle wildlife issues January 19, 2023 Mississippi, 

The Natchez Democrat

... Senate Bill 2536 would clarify that it is unlawful to buy or sell, or offer to sell, any game birds, game animals or game fish unless specifically permitted by law as an exception passed by the legislature. The bill tackles an important issue where the sale of deer could be legalized under a new official opinion ..,

Mississippi's Deer not for Sale January 5, 2023 Spot On Mississippi

... State law (Miss. Code Ann. § 49-7-51(1)(a)) prohibits the buying and selling of white-tailed deer. Up until last month, our Attorneys General have all agreed with established law. However, a new opinion from the current Attorney General, Lynn Fitch, has concluded: “the Commission could craft a regulation allowing for the commercial trade of white-tailed deer held within high-fenced enclosures between registered captive breeders without specifically contravening an express legislative act.” ...

'It's asinine': Wildlife expert expresses discontent with the possible sale of white-tailed deer December 22, 2022 Mississippi, SuperTalk Mississippi

...  “If we go back to one of the basis, one of the fundamentals of what wildlife management in this country, in this state is founded on is — they belong to the public. Decisions like this, of this magnitude, trying to be made and it being so ‘hush, hush,’ I don’t like that at all.” [Lake Pickle] ..,

CWD Update: Additional positives detected, Louisiana receives DNA results October 13, 2022 The Natchez Democrat

... They detected two CWD suspect positives from a deer harvested in Benton County, which is already in the CWD Management Zone.   Currently, seven other deer are suspect positives and 127 deer have been confirmed positive ... since Mississippi’s first detection in 2018..,

Attorney general's opinion could open door for sale of white-tailed deer in Mississippi December 12, 2022 SuperTalk Mississippi

... While Mississippi law explicitly prohibits the buying and selling of white-tailed deer, Attorney General Lynn Fitch noted ... since the commission has plenary authority, they can legally promulgate a regulation allowing white-tailed deer to be purchased and held within high-fenced enclosures — an opinion former Attorney General Jim Hood did not share when asked about the matter in 2013...,

GPS-collared deer that crossed the Mississippi River 4 times leaves clue to his location December 7, 2022 The Clarion-Ledger

... Buck No. 140's collar stopped transmitting prematurely in August, but released and fell off as it was programmed to do. It was found 200-300 yards from where Resop captured the buck and outfitted him with ear tags and the collar... The Clarion Ledger has published numerous articles about Buck No. 140's travels that were read by hundreds of thousands of people...

CWD reducing Mississippi's deer population. December 9, 2022 Yahoo! Sports

... Because of the social behavior of bucks, they are infected at a higher rate than does.  "They just disappeared," Abby said. "... We haven't seen any mature deer this year at all. All we've seen is small bucks. We'd have 180s right now if it weren't for CWD." ...

20-year effects of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) herbivory on vegetation composition and structure 2023  Forest Ecology and Management

...  three different ecoregions in Mississippi ...  From May-June, vegetation structure and composition were measured among 10 systematic sampling points per plot during 2000, 2005, and 2021. While no treatment effects on vegetation composition and structure were observed, among-year differences suggested a shift in overstory canopy conditions between 2005 and 2021 towards greater basal area and canopy coverage resulting in a decrease in forbs, legumes, shade intolerant species, and high year-round deer-preferred forage species...

Commission votes to rescind feed ban in Claiborne County with new rule November 17, 2022 Mississippi, Natchez Democrat

... first positive CWD deer near Yucatan Lake in Tensas Parish. This positive buck was confirmed in 2022 and was found a mile from Davis Island, Mississippi, and about six miles from the right bank of the Mississippi River.  MDWFP’s Commissioners placed Claiborne County in a supplemental feed ban due to the positive’s proximity to Mississippi. MSU Deer Lab research has shown bucks along the Mississippi River swim across the river and cover up to 18 miles in their movements...

CWD Update: Early detection crucial in Louisiana's fight against disease November 15 2022 Mississippi, Natchez Democrat

... Eight new positive cases of CWD have been detected in Mississippi this season. One of those was in Warren County and the rest have been in north Mississippi..,

Chronic Wasting disease is still a whitetail deer threat October 28, 2022 Mississippi, Daily Journal

... As of the beginning of hunting season, there have been 134 deer that have tested positive for CWD since the first case was reported in 2018. The Mississippi Counties with positive cases include Alcorn (3), Benton (87), Issaquena (2), Marshall (35), Panola (1), Pontotoc (1),Tallahatchie (1),Tippah (2), and Warren (2).

5 Best Whitetail Hunting States in the Southeastern U.S. October 23, 2022 Mississippi, Wide Open Spaces

... Mississippi ... deer population estimated at about 1.8 million animals and also has 1.2 million acres of public hunting land available... It has a 79% harvest rate of bucks older than three and a half years old ..,

MSU Deer lab receive funding for CWD research October 19, 2022 Mississippi, Natchez Democrat

...   the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it is providing $9.4 million to 27 States and 6 Tribes or Tribal organizations to further develop and implement Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) management and response activities ...

Look who's back: GPS-tracked deer crosses Mississippi River into South Delta, again August 26, 2022 Yahoo

... Buck No. 140 has crossed the Mississippi River on a journey from his summer range in Louisiana to his winter range in the South Delta... "We prefer hunters refrain from harvesting collared deer until Dec. 1 when our data collection ends," ...

Changes in CWD policy could devastate deer populations in Mississippi. Here's why. August 22, 2022 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

... Removal of the minimum sampling threshold — It is incredibly difficult to detect chronic wasting disease when a relatively small proportion of deer have it... without a minimum threshold, there is a disincentive for deer to be tested. No testing means no detected positives and that means the disease can spread completely unchecked...

MDWFP to hold meeting on Chronic Wasting Disease in Vicksburg August 19, 2022 Mississippi,  WJTV

... According to MDWFP, there have been 127 confirmed CWD positive cases in Mississippi since February 2018, and there have been seven suspected positive cases..,

Are farmers with special permits decimating Mississippi's deer herd? In a word, no July 22, 2022 The Clarion-Ledger

... According to the 2019-2020 Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Deer Report, which is the most recent deer report, just over 250 permits were issued in 2019 and just over 2,100 deer were reported killed...

“Blue Tongue” is next deer disease to watch out for July 21, 2022 Mississippi, The Vicksburg Post

... the disease is cyclic, and every three to five years there is a fairly high mortality rate in the state’s herd.

Already, he is getting reports from the northern part of the state of dead deer who show the common signs of having HD, or “blue tongue.” ...

What to know about 2022 velvet buck season in Mississippi July 13, 2022 WJTV

... The velvet buck season will be from September 16 to 18 on private lands only...

Adopted deer returns home after 7-months away, and brings a surprise with her June 25, 2022 Mississippi, Magnolia State Live

... She’s going to have a baby or two of her own... Gigi was the Mardises first experience with raising orphaned wildlife of that size...  the law says you can’t fence in a deer. We haven’t done that...

Mississippi deer hunting: Counties added to CWD management zones, other counties removed June 25, 2022 Yahoo! Sports

... In its meeting on Wednesday, the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks passed a regulation to remove any county from a CWD management zone that has not had a positive case in three years. Counties removed would no longer be under CWD management regulations such as a ban of supplemental feeding of wildlife...

Best to leave young wildlife alone June 11, 2022 Mississippi,  Daily Leader

... Mississippi law prohibits the rehabilitation of fawns. Mississippi also outlaws the capture, possession or caging of any wild animal.  Does take great care in hiding fawns ..,

CWD in Mississippi deer: State sees increase in cases, more counties to be affected March 10, 2022 YAHOO!News

... "We started out the year with 82 positives," said Russ Walsh, Wildlife chief of staff for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. "As of (Tuesday), we have 50 positives for the sample year, including suspects." ..,

CWD management zones expand in Mississippi February 15, 2022 WJTV

... Claiborne County would be added to the zone because the deer was discovered in Tensas Parish. Under Mississippi’s regulations, any count within 10 miles of a CWD-positive deer will be placed in the zone...

USFWS announces $1.5 billion in annual funding for state wildlife agencies February 15, 2022 Mississippi, The Natchez Democrat

... The WSFR Program, also known as Pittman-Robertson Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux, apportions excise taxes on hunting, shooting and fishing equipment, and boat fuel to all 50 states and U.S. territories.

Chronic Wasting Disease testing behind due to equipment malfunction January 26, 2021 Mississippi, The Natchez Democrat

... They are currently 4,888 samples shy of their goal for 10,000 CWD samples ... To date, MDWFP detected two CWD suspect positives in deer about three to four miles from where the first case of CWD was found in Issaquena County... 30 suspect positives ...

Chronic Wasting Disease detected in second Warren County deer  January 13, 2022 Mississippi, WJTV 

... the deer was found close to the Issaquena County line...

Harvest reporting and tagging deer in Mississippi? It's in the Legislature again January 12, 2022  The Clarion-Ledger

... Representative Ken Morgan (R-Morgantown) introduced House Bill 258 which calls for physical tagging of deer and turkeys along with harvest reporting. Although he's introduced such legislation for about 10 years without success  ...

Deer Hunters have submitted more than 3000 samples for Chronic Wasting Disease this Season  January 7, 2022 Mississippi, The Natchez Democrat

... Each time a hunter submits a sample for CWD testing they enter their name in a CWD raffle for a chance to win $1,000 and two people will win $500... 

Deer with chronic wasting disease found in Warren County December 30, 2021 Mississippi, WAPT

... about 4 miles north of Vicksburg, and 4 1/2 miles south of where the first CWD-positive white-tailed deer was found in Mississippi ...

Deer season is here and causing collisions December 10, 2021 Mississippi, WCBI

...  there are around 3,700 deer collisions in the state every year. So far, this year 1,915 crashes have been reported...

MSU look into the habits of bucks during deer season November 30, 2021 Mississippi, The Clarksdale Press Register

... “Compared to past research and the differences our team found, we can see that deer have personalities and are unique in how they act, live and survive,” ... one sedentary buck had an annual home range of 116 acres while another was pushing 1,300 acres...

Chronic wasting disease hits state deer herd hard November 17, 2021, Mississippi,  The Clarksdale Press Register

... The first positive in the state was detected in February 2018 in Issaquena County.  Since then, there have been 83 positive deer reported in the state in eight counties  ... “Many areas of the state are not well sampled, so we cannot rule CWD out in those areas,” McKinley said ...

MSU deer study finds some are travelers, others homebodies  October 31, 2021 Mississippi State University

... “Despite the lack of ecological pressure that would require deer to relocate, we have found that 30 percent of the adult bucks we studied have multiple home ranges,” Resop said. “These white-tailed deer are exhibiting migratory behavior, which historically was thought to be isolated to deer in the North...

You might be surprised how many crashes were caused by deer on Mississippi’s highways last year. Officials warn drivers to be alert.  October 28, 2021 Mississippi, Magnolia State Live

... In 2020, there were 3,784 reported deer-related crashes in Mississippi...“There are approximately 3,700 reported deer crashes in Mississippi every year,” ...

MSU Extension Service encourages hunters to help control CWD October 21, 2021 WJTV

... There have been 83 positive deer reported in the state in eight counties in Mississippi: Issaquena (2), Pontotoc (1), Marshall (20), Benton (56), Panola (1), Tallahatchie (1), Tippah (1) and Alcorn (1)..,

Wildlife official dispels common myths about deer October 9, 2021 Mississippi, The Natchez Democrat

...In 2016, the winter was so warm people could go swimming on Christmas ...This abnormally warm weather caused deer to not move. It made observations go down ... “I received more complaints from hunters who claimed our deer population had fallen.,” McKinley [Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks Deer Program Coordinator]

Reports of sick deer in Mississippi are on the rise September 29, 2021 WJTV... Wildlife Biologists suspect Mississippi may be experiencing an outbreak of Hemorrhagic Disease (HD), commonly called blue-tongue...

Deer crosses Mississippi River, treks 18 miles into Louisiana June 12, 2021 The Clarion-Ledger

... When Buck No. 140 decided to cross, he had quite a hurdle to overcome. The water was high, the current strong and the river was roughly a mile wide... "He kind of went to the river for a week or two before he decided to cross."...

Bill raising license fees in stretch run as session winds down; look at proposed costs June 6, 2021 Mississippi, The Daily Iberian

... Resident big game deer hunting licenses will go from $14 to $15 for a total of $35 (including the basic resident hunting license). Texas’ combo is $22, Arkansas’ is $25,  Alabama is $28.20 and Florida’s is $32...

Food plots give deer a food source in late summer May 21, 2021 Mississipi, Natchez Democrat

...  in May ... You have to deworm them to have a healthy herd ... using a mixture of 1 tablespoon of Ivomec for every two pints of water and spraying it on a 50-pound bag of feed... puts out deworm feed for deer every two weeks in a month as one would do with cattle...

Deer hunting changes: What you need to know about taxidermy, bag limits, CWD zones in Miss. May 15, 2021 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

 ... "The change was an amendment that would allow a hunter to take a deer head out of a CWD management zone if they plan to take it to a taxidermist," ... it should allow the department to obtain more tissue samples from mature bucks ...

'Completely inhumane.' South MS men charged after graphic deer hanging video surfaces March 17, 2021 Mississippi, Biloxi Sun Herald

... watched and recorded video as an injured deer strung up by its neck struggled to stay alive, flailing around with its lower body and hind legs.  The deer died, and the video was posted on Facebook ...

Will Mississippi allow air bows for deer hunting? Here's what you need to know January 20, 2021 The Clarion-Ledger

... Bill would allow use of pneumatic air bows for deer during primitive weapon seasons after Nov. 30... Air bows are legal to use for deer and turkeys in neighboring Alabama...

CWD found in 2 additional MS counties: How will it affect deer hunting in nearby areas? Januay 5, 2021 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger 

... CWD was found in Alcorn and Tippah counties; each with one case of the disease...  the Alcorn County positive pushed the range of the disease considerably farther east..,

Deer disease detected in Tippah and Alcorn counties December 31, 2020 Mississippi, WTVA

...  Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) positive test results from two hunter-harvested deer from Tippah and Alcorn counties.  These are the first CWD-positive detections for these counties...

Wildlife officials again tracking Chronic Wasting Disease in state deer population November 24, 2020 Mississippi, WLOX

... Since CWD was first found in our state in 2018, there have been 59 positive deer identified. Five of those cases have been found this hunting season... they’ve collected 8,000 deer samples every hunting season ..,

'Right now it's booming': Deer population on the rise November 21, 2020 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

...  It was a mild summer for Mississippi. We had substantial rain. Temperatures were moderate ... One main reason for the apparent increase in deer in Mississippi is thought to be a reduction in bag limits for does..,

See a deer sporting an orange collar? MSU Deer Lab has message for hunters November 14, 2020 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

... Equipment malfunctions have left tracking collars on several mature bucks that were part of a study in Mississippi, so hunters are being asked to harvest the animals if encountered this season...

Deer lab seeks to bridge gap between hunters and science November 9, 2020 Mississippi, The Reflector online

... According to the annual CWD report published by MDWFP, low-intensity sampling began in 2003 and continued through 2015 with a total of around 10,000 sampled deer over the timespan. After the first positive case was reported in Arkansas, sampling was switched to an intensive program, with nearly 20,000 sampled deer in the period of 2016 through 2019. Since the first positive in the state, the sampling program reports a total of 54 CWD positive deer, a number that is slowly increasing..,

CWD could devastate deer populations October 11, 2020 Mississippi, The Commercial Dispatch

... "Rather than adult females and adult males living to five years of age, or eight years of age, they're only living to two years of age, or three," he said. "And over time, you will start to see the population decline... In Mississippi ... there have been 56 reported cases of CWD ..,

EHD, Conservation department reports decrease in deer disease October 10, 2020 Mississippi, News-Press NOW

... the conservation department has received at least 100 reports of additional suspected cases from locations throughout the state... The public is asked to report suspected cases of hemorrhagic disease to local conservation offices or to email information to WildlifeHealth@mdc.mo.gov...

Mississippi Forestry Commission: Good fires prevent bad ones September 30, 2020 WJTV

... Experts who study wildfires agree that good land management practices can go a long way in helping reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires... including ... prescribed fire... after a fire, a lot of the vegetation is brought back down to ground level within reach and it’s more nutritious and the deer are much healthier...

MDOT warns drivers to be alert for deer along highways September 30, 2020 Mississippi, WJTV

... In 2019, there were 4,058 reported deer-related crashes in Mississippi. However, the number of incidents could be as high as 22,000 according to one insurance industry analysis...

Deer season 2020 in Mississippi September 25, 2020 The Clarion-Ledger

... "Conditions in our state have been excellent for fawn production and antler growth. The number of deer seems to be increasing across the state... "The deer had a lot of high-quality forage to eat in the form of the green-up in the fall last year and the outstanding acorn crop," ..,

Wildlife commission eases deer feeding restrictions, changes CWD management zones September 19, 2020 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

... In its July meeting, the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks changed its decision to reduce the chronic wasting disease management zones. Areas included in the management zones and feeding restrictions are currently the same as they were prior to the commission's May meeting...

Deer estimate increases, wild hog numbers skyrocket, Mississippi harvest survey shows August 22, 2020 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

...  due to meat prices and shortages the number is expected to increase this year...  rounding up slightly, 221,000 deer [taken during hunt]," said William McKinley, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Deer Program coordinator. "That's up from 197,000 in 2018...  estimated deer population is about 1.5 million ..,

This man found a fawn where? Its momma had a good hiding spot  August 9, 2020 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

... a deer fawn hiding behind a planter on his front porch ... Does have been known to bed their fawns near homes, apparently for safety... if you find a fawn, leave it alone because the mother is most likely nearby and will return to care for it...

CWD management zones: Reduction in size tabled, management changes are ahead July 18, 2020 Mississippi,  The Clarion-Ledger 

... When the public comments came, it was clear there were concerns about insufficient data and that reducing the size of the management zones and allowing supplemental feeding within the surveillance zones was a premature move which could facilitate the spread of the disease...

Bill to allow air bows during archery season makes its way through Legislature June 17, 2020 MIssissippi, The Clarion-Ledger

... The original bill allowed the use of air bows by disabled hunters during archery season for deer, but was amended to allow any hunter to use them... House Bill 1309 ...

Wildlife commission eases deer feeding restrictions, changes CWD management zones May 29, 2020 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

... "The North Mississippi Zone and the Issaquena Zone ... now surveillance zones ... Supplemental feeding, salt licks and mineral licks remain banned in the four management zones. In areas outside the management zones, but within the surveillance zones, hunters may resume supplemental feeding and the use of salt and mineral licks ...

CWD, flooding prompts proposed new rules for parts of Mississippi April 29, 2020 The Clarion-Ledger

...  in the South Delta ... In 2019, the area was flooded much of the year and animals were seen starving and dying... the agency responded with a reduced bag limit of one buck per day ... In the Issaquena and North Mississippi CWD Management zones, hunters may be required to submit samples of harvested deer on Nov. 21-22..,

Wildlife department announces special season for deer in Mississippi. Here's why and when January 23, 2020, The Clarion-Ledger

... The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks needs more deer tissue samples to test for chronic wasting disease and has established a special hunting season for deer in the North Mississippi CWD Management Zone...

Mississippi: Up to 40 deer tested had deadly brain disease January 12, 2020 Wichita Eagle

... Chronic wasting disease, or CWD ... Nearly all the infected and suspected deer were in north Mississippi, including 25 killed or found in Benton County and 10 in adjacent Marshall County ...

CWD in Mississippi: Number of cases expected to double this season January 7, 2020, Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

... "We started out the season with 19," said Russ Walsh, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Wildlife Bureau chief of staff. "The 18 new positives we've had this season have all been in Benton and Marshall counties ... The total number of suspected and confirmed cases is currently 37 ..,

Confirmed CWD cases are on the rise in Mississippi December 17, 2019 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

... "We have 12 (new) cases," said Russ Walsh, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Wildlife Bureau chief of staff. "Ten are in the process of being confirmed...

He's off the charts again: This deer made another amazing journey December 5, 2019 MIssissippi, The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson) on MSN.com

...  last year when he traveled over 13 miles from his capture site and set up shop in another location for winter. This year, the highly mobile deer did it again and another buck in the study group may have traveled even farther...

Chronic Wasting Disease, Fatal deer disease slows hunt in Mississippi national forest December 3, 2019 Mississippi, The Commercial Appeal

... unsettled by the outbreak of a fatal deer sickness, many hunters sat out the traditional opening day ... Two years ago, a few members of wild herds around Memphis looked emaciated. Since then, about 200 deer were found with the brain disease ...

Should this deer be culled? The answer may not be what you think November 14, 2019 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger 

... a deer with a spike on one side and a normal antler on the other ... "Most of those are injury-related. Deer just aren't genetically built to have crazy antlers like that. Most of the time, if the animal is allowed to live, he'll drop those antlers and you won't see it in future years." ...

Wildlife biologist updates public on chronic wasting disease October 28, 2019 Mississippi, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

... Of all the carcasses tested statewide from February of last year to March, he reported that 19 positive cases of CWD were identified in North Mississippi and adjoining areas in Tennessee... MDWFP advises that hunters should preserve the head with at least six inches of the neck attached to submit for sampling...

MSU deer study: Why you may not be seeing many bucks October 24, 2019 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledge

... northern deer are known to migrate ... some of the bucks had two home ranges, but why that happens in Mississippi's mild climate is unknown... about a third of the bucks ... when more people are hunting ... deer begin to alter what their using on the landscape ...

Please, shoot them: 12 bucks on MSU Deer Lab's most wanted list. Here's why.  October 17, 2019 MIssissippi, The Clarion-Ledger

... Deer collars failed to drop ... we had a fairly significant failure rate... The collars cost $3,000 each ... about 90% of the data is stored in the collars," Demarais said. "We have about 10% of the data. That was transmitted by satellite." ...

Deer dogs: Change could be coming to hunting on national forest land in Mississippi October 8, 2019 Jackson Clarion Ledger

... "The No.1 problem is ruined still hunts — people trying to hunt on their land and a pack of dogs come running through their food plots," ...  the report's executive summary says the amount of land currently available to hunt deer with dogs may be greatly reduced...

Flooding and Chronic Waste Disease October 7, 2019 Mississippi, Delta Business Journal

... The deer population across the Magnolia State was estimated to be 1.5 million to two million animals prior to the flooding according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. to the flooding... This year the record setting flood stage levels wreaked havoc ...  In some areas there will be no fawn crop to other areas with a very low fawn crop ..,

CWD: Where to take your deer samples for testing September 18, 2019 MIssissippi,The Clarion-Ledger

... there is a higher concentration of drop-off locations in the northern part of the state because the bulk of CWD-positive cases have been found there.  ...

Shorter deer season a possibility for new South Delta hunting zone September 13, 2019 Mississippi, Vicksburg Post

...Deer and other wildlife in the area have suffered as their feeding and breeding grounds were inundated.  ... the proposal is intended to give the area’s herd time to recover and to study the long-term effects of the flood..,

'What concerns me most is the steady decline.' Deer harvest estimate remains at record low September 13, 2019 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

... According to the Mississippi Resident and Nonresident Hunter Survey, the deer harvest during the 2018-19 season remained at the lowest recorded level as biologists face increasing challenges in deer management. The survey indicates about 197,000 deer were taken in the 2018 season. It's a slight increase from 2017's 195,000 estimate, but because it's an estimate, the difference is negligible..,

Wildlife commission takes action on south Delta deer season, urine ban August 23, 2019 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

... Much of the south Delta has been under water for most of the year due to historic flooding ... "Among private land hunters (in the south Delta), the majority of them said they wanted some semblance of a season. Public land hunters who took the survey, the majority said they wanted the season closed."...

Estimation of Deer Damage to Soybean Production in Mississippi: A Temporal and Spatial Context August, 2019 HumanWildlifeConflicts.msstate.edu

... Mississippi's deer population is currently estimated to be ≥ 1.75 million animals, with an economic impact to Mississippi in excess of $800 million.Although both soybeans and white-tailed deer are very important to the Mississippi economy, white-tailed deer readily consume soybeans and soybean production has been linked to population dynamics of deer in Mississippi..,

Chronic wasting disease and deer season 2019: What you need to know August 1, 2019 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

... The bag limit for antlerless deer on private land will be five in all zones except the Southeast Zone ...  the bag limit and antler requirements were changed to help manage chronic wasting disease ... " ... when prevalence (of chronic wasting disease) reaches a certain point you start seeing a decline (in population)," ...

No deer season in the south Delta? It's possible July 26, 2019 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

... Mississippi's south Delta has been flooded for most of the year and that has taken its toll on wildlife. Pictures of dead and emaciated deer have been seen untold times on social media ...

The flood will recede, but deer, wildlife still won't be out of the woods June 28, 2019 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

... Displaced deer and other animals have depleted food resources in some areas of the south Delta. Some appear to be on the brink of starvation while others have already died...Acorns are a primary food source for deer in fall ... months of standing water in the south Delta have stressed trees ..,

'The only things thriving are the buzzards.' Limited deer feeding allowed in Delta flood June 20, 2019 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

...Mississippi's south Delta has been flooded for months and some wildlife populations are struggling as a result. In response, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks recently announced limited supplemental feeding of deer is now allowed in Issaquena and Warren counties...

'We've never seen this before': What will south Delta flooding do to fawns? May 22, 2019 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

... "We know it's bad. We know it's going to have an impact. A reduced fawn crop is what I expect to see. How much? We have to wait and see." ..."Does will start dropping fawns in late June in the south Delta," McKinley said. "The peak is in early July." ..,

New deer hunting regulations are in place to combat CWD May 16, 2019 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

... "It will be the five antlerless bag limit everywhere but the Southeast Zone," said Russ Walsh, Mississippi Department of Wildlife ... in states where the deer density has been reduced, prevalence of the disease has been somewhat managed...

CWD count now 19; zones grow closer April 26, 2019 Mississippi, Mississippi Sportsman

... The two latest confirmed cases of chronic wasting disease in Mississippi’s free-ranging deer herd brings the total to 19, causing the North CWD Management Zone to expand south..,

New deer regulations, WMA proposal: Here's what you need to know. April 19, 2019 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

... We know from our data and Tennessee's that yearling bucks can be CWD-positive."  Under current regulations yearling bucks are largely protected by the minimum antler requirements, so that class of deer is underrepresented in the department's testing effort for chronic wasting disease...

     Changes coming for deer hunters as Chronic Wasting Disease continues in the state April 19, 2019 Mississippi, WLOX

...  “We are proposing that we increase the bag limit on does in parts of the state as well as the bucks. One of those deer would be any antlered bucks on any private lands.” ...

Disease containment grows as positives mount April 12, 2019 Mississippi, djournal.com

... Since October of 2018, the state has collected and tested tissue samples from more than 7,600 deer, 19 of which have proven to have the disease ..,

Kelly introduces bill to address Chronic Wasting Disease in deer March 29, 2019 Mississippi, djournal.com 

... U.S. Representative Trent Kelly (MS-01) introduced H.R. 1919 ... would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to work in cooperation with state departments of wildlife and agriculture to enhance CWD surveillance, testing, management, and response...

Flooding continues to impact wildlife in the Delta March 28, 2019 Mississippi, KFVS

... really stressed are the thousands of deer ... a growing concern about the spread of chronic wasting disease as the deer congregate in high numbers...

More cases of CWD found: Here's what we know March 14, 2019 Mississippi, Hattiesburg America

... brings the total number of cases to 19 in six counties. The counties included are Benton, Issaquena, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc and Tallahatchie...

This deer went on a journey like no other March 8, 2019 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

..."The total lengths of both of those home ranges is typically two to three kilometers up to about six at the higher end," Jones said. "He's off the charts at 22...  walked through the town of Bentonia. And he survived many potential perils along the way including US 49 where dead deer are a common sight...

More cases of CWD were found. What will the management zones look like now? February 25, 2019 Mississippi Jackson Clarion Ledger

... Four additional samples came back positive last week bringing the total number of cases in Mississippi to 16. Two were in Benton County, which is included in the northern management zone. One was found in Panola County and another in Tallahatchie County ...

Chronic Wasting Disease, Deer disease found in 2 more Mississippi counties February 20, 2019 WREG

... making it present in five counties ... A total of 15 cases have been confirmed statewide, with others found in Benton, Issaquena, Marshall and Pontotoc counties. Four more cases await confirmation...

Once again, Mississippi hunters are No. 1 at harvesting mature deer February 15, 2019 The Clarion-Ledger 

... 77 percent of antlered deer harvested in the 2017-2018 season were 3½ years old or older... Wisconsin harvested the lowest percentage of 3½-year-old bucks at 12 percent. The second lowest state was New York at 19 percent ...

Fate of bill calling for deer feeding ban appears sealed January 31, 2019 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

...  calling for a statewide ban of supplemental feeding of deer in Mississippi appears to have drawn its last breath ... an effort to slow the spread of chronic wasting disease... Feeding deer is popular among Mississippi deer hunters who want to attract deer and keep them in good physical condition ...

Steps being made to limit the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in deer January 28, 2019 Mississippi, Oxford Eagle

... Three more Mississippi deer have been found containing Chronic Wasting Disease, bringing the statewide count to nine deer spanning four counties... a 25-mile area ban of supplemental feeding surrounding the known counties...

Mystery of chronic wasting disease: More cases confirmed in Miss., but how did it get here?  January 25, 2019 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger ·

... given the distances between theses locations with no known cases of CWD between them, how was the disease introduced into Tennessee and Mississippi? ... "The most plausible explanation is through movement of live deer."  Bringing live cervids into Mississippi has been illegal for many years... But that didn't stop it...

'We could possibly lose deer hunting.' Bill calls for feeding ban, more in Mississippi January 23, 2019 Jackson Clarion Ledger

... Chronic wasting disease was first confirmed in Mississippi in 2018 ... calls for a ban of hunting deer with the aid of supplemental feed and man-made mineral sites, as they bring deer close together and can increase the rate of transmission...

MDOT is assisting the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks in its efforts to monitor chronic wasting disease, an infectious deer disease. - January 16, 2019

More chronic wasting disease cases found in Mississippi, Tennessee January 11, 2019 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

... bring the total to six in Mississippi — three cases in Marshall County, one in Pontotoc County and two in Issaquena County.  Since the department found Mississippi's first case of CWD in Issaquena County in January 2018, Walsh said about 6,000 deer have been tested ..,

Deer meat, trophy restrictions continue January 5, 2019 Mississippi,

djournal.com 

... meat and trophy parts of deer may not be brought home from Chronic Wasting Disease-positive states without being deboned or completely cleaned and tanned...

Poachers are suspected of killing two Mississippi State research deer December December 21, 2018 The Clarion-Ledger ·

... "He still had the collar on him. They shot him with a small caliber rifle." ... second buck ...  the collar was missing and has not transmitted in several weeks...

Chronic Wasting Disease, Test Points to Mississippi's Fourth Case of Deer Disease December 7, 2018 Mississippi, U.S. News & World Report

... A tissue sample will be further tested ...

     Marshall County deer tests positive for Chronic Wasting Disease December 6, 2018 Mississippi, KPLC

...  the first animal to test positive for the disease in Marshall County...

Mississippi: Wildlife Group Wants Ban on Supplemental Deer Feeding December 4, 2018 AgFax 

... With the discovery of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Pontotoc and Issaquena Counties, and the frequency that CWD is now being discovered in Mississippi, the Mississippi Wildlife Federation is strongly urging the Wildlife Commission to impose a statewide ban on supplemental feeding of white-tailed deer and other wildlife...

CWD Update November 30, 2018 Mississippi, MDWFP.com

... The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) received confirmation from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory that the hunter-harvested 2.5-year-old, female white-tailed deer voluntarily submitted in Issaquena County on November 1, 2018, tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)..,

Chronic Wasting Disease Sampling in Ecru November 17, 2018 Mississippi, WCBI

... Pontotoc County had a confirmed case of Chronic Wasting Disease ...“We’ve been testing for chronic wasting disease the department has since 2005, and since 2005 we’ve tested over 16,000 animals this is only so far there’s only been three positives in the entire state, and this is one of them,” ..,

3rd CWD case suspected in Issaquena County November 12, 2018 Mississippi, Mississippi Sportsman

... A free-range 2.5-year-old female deer collected Nov. 1 has tested positive for CWD in initial testing ..,

Expect to see plenty of deer this season  November 10, 2018 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger 

...  one of the poorer acorn crops I've seen in a while ... Hunters have harvested fewer and fewer deer for a number of years. In some areas, officials have said fewer deer have been harvested due to an apparent decline in the population ..,

2018 Mississippi Deer Forecast November 6, 2018 Game & Fish

... Statewide harvest estimates for last season appear to be higher, with a reversal of the declining trend seen in previous seasons...  deer numbers trend downward in areas where wild pig numbers are on the rise...

Chronic Wasting Disease Found in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, White-tailed Deer October 31, 2018 Mississippi

...  a white-tailed deer from Pontotoc County, Mississippi, tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). According to MDWFP, a 1.5-year-old, free-ranging male white-tailed deer, that appeared to be emaciated and was behaving abnormally ..,

Mississippi confirms second deer found with fatal disease October 31, 2018 NewsChamber

... the 1.5-year-old deer was found in Pontotoc earlier this month ...  first-ever case of CWD was confirmed back in February in Issaquena County ..,

Details emerge on Pontotoc County CWD-positive deer October 23, 2018 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

 ...the caller described the deer as attacking his dog ...  the dog was going crazy because the deer wouldn't leave. ... caller attempted to scare the deer by firing two shots into the air and the deer didn't react. The resident then shot the deer and killed it... A second case of chronic wasting disease ..,

Mississippi announces second deer found with fatal disease October 20, 2018 WRAL

...  a white-tailed deer found Oct. 8 in Pontotoc County has tested positive for chronic wasting disease..,

Drivers warned to be on the lookout for deer in Mississippi October 15, 2018 WLOX

... state averages over 3,000 deer-related crashes each year...

This study may have explained why that big buck disappeared September 28, 2018 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

... "Sixty percent of the bucks have a sedentary personality," said Steve Demarais, professor of wildlife ecology and management at the Mississippi State University Deer Lab. "They basically live in one contiguous area... Forty percent are living in two home ranges during the (hunting) season that are separated by several miles...

Wildlife commission votes for multiple hunting regulation changes September 21, 2018 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

...  hunters were required to be at least 100 yards away ... the commission voted in favor of removing the 100-yard minimum distance between ...

Two men sentenced in deer smuggling case September 13, 2018 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

... sentenced in Hattiesburg Tuesday on charges of conspiring to smuggle live white-tailed deer into Mississippi... also ordered that the 1,031 acre high-fenced enclosure known as Turkey Trot to be quarantined by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks for five years ...

Well-managed food plots nourish and attract deer September 7, 2018 MIssissippi, extension.msstate.edu 

... For more information about wildlife food plots, look for MSU Extension Service Publication 3102, “Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck: A Guide for Liming and Fertilizing Wildlife Food Plots,” or Publication 2111, “Supplemental Wildlife Food Planting Manual for the Southeast.” These publications are located at http://extension.msstate.edu/publications. For more guidance on wildlife food plots, download the Food Plot app from the MSU Deer Lab (http://msudeerlab.com/apps.asp)...

Mississippi 2017-18 deer harvest lowest on record August 30, 2018 Clarion Ledger

... Harvest estimates reflected an upward trend from 1976 through the mid-1990s when it peaked at over 330,000 deer for three years. After that, harvest estimates showed a steady decline. The harvest estimate for the 2016-17 season fell to 244,795 deer, making it the lowest harvest since 1981. The 2017-18 estimate is 194,975 which is a 50,000-deer drop from the prior season..,

Wildlife commission takes final vote on CWD zone changes August 17, 2018 Mississippi, The Clarion-Ledger

... Response operations in Mississippi's portion of the CWD Management Zone provided 481 samples for testing and CWD was not detected in any of them. Statewide, 1,800 samples have been collected since October 2017 and none tested positive. In Louisiana's portion of the CWD Management Zone ... none tested positive ..

Misinformation about chronic wasting disease circulating August 1, 2018 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

... One recent claim on an internet video stated that CWD is not always fatal... "Another thing that's in the news is deer that are genetically less susceptible to it," Demarais said. "Some say they are immune.  "It's way too soon to make that conclusion at this point. The occurrence of the disease is less in the deer with this genetic element ...

State acquires nearly 18,000 acres in south Delta July 21, 2018 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

... With its rich soil, the Delta is known for producing trophy deer and lots of them ... The land, which is currently named Steele Bayou Wildlife Management Area, is located in Issaquena and Warren counties ...

MDWFP stops actively testing for CWD July 17, 2018 Mississippi, Picayune Item

... between October 1, 2017 and the end of June, 2018, more than 1,500 white-tailed deer were brought in for testing. The only deer that tested positive for the disease was collected on January 25 in Issaquena County ...

Abraham bill has plan to curb Chronic Wasting Disease. Fatal ailment is in 25 states July 12, 2018 Mississippi, Monroe News Star

...Abraham, a former veterinarian, introduced a bill that requires the Secretary of Agriculture to partner with the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science to study and.. identify the ways CWD is transmitted between wild, captive and farmed cervids...

Changes proposed for Canemount WMA hunts June 23, 2018 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

... permits are assigned to a certain block of land which they and a guest may exclusively hunt for three consecutive days. The cost of the permit is $300...  but two-day hunts will be $200...

Hogs and CWD threaten habitat June 12, 2018 Mississippi, News Mississippi

... Wild hogs and chronic wasting disease within deer are currently the two largest threats to Mississippi’s wildlife ... Mississippi is home to over 1,750,000 white-tailed deer, and the growth rate of the wild hog doubles that of the white-tailed deer. ..,

Good nutrition key to best deer herds June 1, 2018 Mississippi,  Farm Press

... Researchers at the Mississippi State University Deer Lab ... Improve nutrition, and most everything else will take care of itself. ... about 70 percent of the yearling bucks will disperse from their birth area. Even if you could use selective harvest to improve genetics, the young bucks you are producing on your property are leaving... 

Black fly populations kill livestock, deer June 1, 2018 Arkanas, Farm Press

... “we’re seeing a bumper crop of black flies, likely as a result of floods in February and March ... there were some deer lying dead in fields ... had one farmer tell me he was met at his carport by a deer who was inside trying to get away from the gnats ..."

The Effects of Common Forest Management Practices on Community Structure in a Southern Pine Forest  Mississippi, DP Chance - 2018

..  I assessed the impacts of common forest management practices (canopy reduction, prescribed fire, and selective herbicide application)   .... Combining canopy reductions with prescribed fire, which closely mimicked historical intermediate disturbance intensities in this vegetation type, led to the greatest invasion resistance due to high abundances of native plants. Both deer and turkey increased use in areas with high levels of understory cover. Coupling canopy reductions with prescribed fire created the most favorable conditions for both species ...

CWD update: No news is apparently good news April 27, 2018 Mississippi, Mississippi Sportsman

... animals within this enclosure had been transported from Texas facilities that were linked to CWD-positive animals.  In January 2017, a tornado struck the Hattiesburg area and damaged approximately 6,845 feet of the enclosure fence, releasing animals into the surrounding area... the first confirmed case of chronic wasting disease in Mississippi was reported in February ...  in Issaquena County ..,

Chronic Wasting Disease sampling continues for two years, says MDWFP April 5, 2018 Mississippi, HubcitySPOKES.com

... Sampling for the disease in Lamar County began after an EF3 tornado struck the area on Jan. 21, 2017, damaging an illegally-operated, high-fence deer operation between Purvis and Hattiesburg and allowing several deer to escape... several deer within the enclosure had been transported from Texas facilities that were linked to animals that had tested positive for chronic wasting disease...

Department of Wildlife asks public to submit samples for CWD testing April 2, 2018 Mississippi, News Mississippi

... In 2013, a non-permitted high-fenced enclosure was discovered by Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks law enforcement just southwest of Hattiesburg in Lamar County. An extensive investigation by MDWFP and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service revealed that animals within the enclosure had been transported from Texas facilities that were linked to CWD-positive animals. In January 2017, a tornado struck the Hattiesburg area and damaged approximately 6,845 feet of the enclosure fence, releasing the animals into the surrounding area...

Good nutrition offers keys to best deer herds March 29, 2018 Mississippi, extension.msstate.edu

... Studies that track the response of deer exposed to the best nutrition always produce positive results. Managing forests, timely use of prescribed fire and creating food plots are all tools to improve available nutrients...

Wildlife officials meet Warren County hunters, residents concerned over chronic wasting disease March 19, 2018 Mississippi, Mississippi News Now

... an infected deer was found in Issaquena County last month, marking the first time the disease has ever been documented in Mississippi... Supplemental feeding ban extended after disease found in white-tailed deer ..,

Vicksburg, MDWF&P to host public meeting in Vicksburg to discuss fatal deer disease March 12, 2018 Mississippi, The Vicksburg Post

... a public meeting Monday at the Vicksburg Convention Center to discuss its response plan to chronic wasting disease, a fatal infectious deer disease that has been confirmed in the state...

Mississippi considers voluntary reporting of deer, turkey kills March 7, 2018 WTOK

... The original version of House Bill 1390 proposed a mandatory program for hunters to report their deer and turkey harvest numbers to the state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks...

Origin of Mississippi CWD deer found March 3, 2018 Mississippi, Jackson Clarion Ledger

... The genetics match those of samples taken from the Mississippi Delta, which means the deer was not imported, as many have speculated...

Wildlife discusses Chronic Wasting Disease February 25, 2018 Mississippi, News Mississippi

...  an information session Thursday evening to answer the public’s questions about the disease ... there is a ban on supplemental feeding within the six-county buffer zone, but the MDWFP said that they are not looking to expand it right now...