Page 43 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2022

Periodically, Adam B. Butler and his associates head into the forests with nets attached to rockets to “hunt” wild turkeys. They bait an area to attract birds. When they get enough turkeys in the area, they fire the rockets. The rockets carry a net over the flock.
Of course, that doesn’t sound very sporting, but don’t worry. Butler works as a biologist for the Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks and heads the state wild turkey program. All the birds soon return to strutting through their home grounds, just carrying a little extra jewelry with them.
“We’re trying to get an idea of harvest rates and other information,” Butler explains. “The birds are not harmed. We just catch them, put bands on their legs and turn them loose as soon as we can where we caught them.”
Anyone who bags a turkey with a band reports it to the state and provides information about that bird. From banded birds, biologists like Butler obtain valuable data that they can use to manage the flock.
In the past few years, wild turkey numbers declined across most of Mississippi. During the season, sportsmen typically bag two-year-old gobblers, or male birds. Poor hatching rates in the past several years led to fewer gobblers in the woods.
“The 2021 season was a tough one statewide,” Butler recalls. “The 2019 hatch rate was below average. The good news, I feel pretty confident this year will be better for everybody. The 2020 hatch was better statewide. In Southeast Mississippi, turkeys had really good hatches during the last couple of years. All factors indicate that the population in Southeast Mississippi should be growing.”
Historically, South Mississippi held some of the best turkey SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net
populations in the Magnolia State – until Katrina hit in 2005. The hurricane destroyed habitat and killed animals. However, Butler predicts better times for South Mississippi sportsmen.
“About 20 years ago, South Mississippi was a turkey stronghold.” Butler reports. “I’m really excited to see the hatch data from recent years in southern Mississippi. Data indicate that part of the state is getting back closer to what it used to
be for wild turkeys before Katrina. I’m hesitant to say that numbers are all the way back to what they were 20 years ago, but in three of the past four years, South Mississippi has had really good hatch rates. I’ve heard that hunters saw many birds during deer season.”
For people who hunt on public lands, the DeSoto National Forest offers considerable acreage. In addition, Butler recommends turkey hunters visit Mason Creek, Little Biloxi and Marion County Wildlife Management Areas.
Also, the state added a new 2,396-acre section called
the Land Between the Creeks Unit to the west side of the Pascagoula River WMA. That tract opens for public turkey hunting by drawing for the first time this season. The habitat contains more upland pine forests than bottomlands usually associated with much of that management area, but some hardwood-lined creeks flow through the unit.
The Mississippi spring turkey season runs from March 15 through May 1, but young hunters can go during a special youth season lasting from March 8-14. Season dates and regulations might differ on public hunting areas so always check before hunting anywhere.
For more information on hunting turkeys in Mississippi, visit www.mdwfp.com.
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story by John N. Felsher