Mississippi Outdoors -- News and Notes

Summary

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Be safe: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/Vicksburg District recently issued a call for visitors to district recreational facilities over the Fourth of July holiday to stress safely, noting that national data indicates that public fatalities most often occur in accidents involving small classes of vessels (under 26 feet) and swimmers in non-designated swim areas. Among the facts to remember: Alcohol and water don't mix (more than half of all drowning deaths are related to alcohol consumption); watch your children (it only takes an average of 20 seconds to drown) and know your limits (don't give in to peer pressure about jumping off a bluff or swimming farther than you should). According to the latest figures from the U.S. Coast Guard , drowning was reported as the cause of death in two-thirds of all fatalities; approximately 90 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets and in 2008 the Coast Guard counted 4,789 accidents that involved 709 deaths, 3,331 injuries and approximately $54 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents. Only 10 percent of deaths occurred on boats where the operator had received boating safety instruction. Eleven children under age 13 lost their lives while boating in 2008. Sixty-three percent of children who died in 2008 died from drowning.

No authority: At the recent monthly meeting of the Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks in Jackson, the Commission was informed of an Attorney General's Opinion regarding Commission authority to regulate deer seasons. Of particular concern to the Commission was a finding that there is no authority to allow hunters to use bows and arrows to hunt deer during any hunting season other than archery season (Oct. 1 through the Friday prior to Thanksgiving). The Commission directed MDWFP staff to review the Attorney General's opinion and develop amended regulations that would allow for maximum deer hunting opportunities for all hunters in order to increase deer harvest and reduce the state deer herd. Based upon the findings and staff recommendations, the MDWFP has filed amended versions of applicable regulations which will establish a special extended archery season, running concurrently with the open seasons for hunting deer with guns and primitive weapons, to help reduce the surplus deer populations. The regulations also add an earlier primitive weapon season for antlerless deer only and are consistent with the findings of the Attorney General.

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Mississippi Outdoors -- News and Notes

Duck time: Waterfowl hunters can get an early start on the season by purchasing their 2010-11 state duck stamp. The stamp, which became available on July 1, features an image of a drake and hen mallard. The photograph was taken by award-winning photographer Joe Mac Hudspeth, Jr. of Brandon. The resident state stamp ($10 for resident...

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