The Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge will hold its annual National Hunting and Fishing Day on Saturday, Sept. 27.

The event will be at the refuge’s visitor center on Quebec Road, off U.S. 80 in Tallulah from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

One of the yearly attractions to the event is the registration and drawing for the special lottery youth deer hunts. The special lottery hunts are open to the general public youth, and will be held on Dec. 23 and 30 in designated parcels of the Tensas NWR.

To register for the drawing, interested youths aged 8 to 15 (as of the day of the hunts) must sign up between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon during the Sept. 27 event. All participants must be present for the drawing, which will be held shortly after registration ends, to be selected for the youth hunts.

Admission to the National Hunting and Fishing Day event and all activities are free.   

Meanwhile, the 2008-09 Tensas NWR hunting and fishing regulations and limited hunt applications are now available. The general refuge permit grants users access for refuge hunts and other permissible activities. Special limited access hunts require permits, which are drawn by lottery. All application for the limited gun deer hunts must be returned to the headquarters office by 4 p.m. on Sept. 30.

The dates for the hunts are Nov. 28 and 29, and Dec. 13 and 14. The use of crossbows (unless aged 60-and-over or with doctor’s permission) and breach-loading firearms will not be allowed on Tensas NWR property. This year’s recent acquisition to the refuge known as the Indian Lake area will be open for archery and muzzle-loader hunting this season. All ATV trails have been opened as of Sept. 15, however, some may be impassable due to inclement weather and flooding. For more information regarding the National Hunting and Fishing Day call the refuge at 318-574-2664. 

DWFP wins award for deer management

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks was awarded the Quality Deer Management Association Agency of the Year award at the recent QDMA national convention held in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The award recognizes the state or federal agency that has made the most significant contribution to quality deer management during the previous year.

Brian Murphy, QDMA Executive Director, cited numerous reasons why the MDWFP was selected for the award, including the creation of a internet-based data entry system and analysis program and a strong partnership with Mississippi State University researchers and biologists.

“In 1995 Mississippi was the first state to adopt mandatory antler restrictions, and in 2003 an exemption to the regulation was granted to youth hunters to allow one of their bucks to be any antlered deer,” he explained. “Then, in 2006, the wildlife bureau reorganized, creating regional deer biologists … now there are species specific biologists stationed across the state.”

Corps steps up use of life jackets

Life jacket requirements are being stepped up at four Vicksburg District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes in North Mississippi next spring to initiate a three-year test program to study life jacket use. The lakes selected for the study are Arkabutla, Sardis, Enid and Grenada, and it will require a greater degree of life jacket use than existing regulations.

National data indicates deaths on lakes most often occur in accidents involving small classes of vessels, specifically those 26 feet and smaller. Swimmers in non-designated swim areas also contribute to a large number of deaths. With this in mind, the Corps have developed the following life jacket requirements for everyone at the four lakes:

• A life jacket must be worn while swimming outside of designated swim areas. Waivers may be issued by park managers to exempt participants of special events, such as triathlons, from the requirement while participating in the event.

• A life jacket must be worn while skiing or being pulled behind a vessel, regardless of size.

• A life jacket must be worn on vessels measuring 16 to 26 feet whenever under power by the main propulsion unit. This does not include when the vessel is powered by a trolling motor or is stationary.

• A life jacket must be worn on all powered vessels less than 16 feet long and all non-powered vessels, which include canoes, kayaks, flat bottoms, johnboats, sailboats and paddleboats.

The new requirements will be in effect beginning May 22, 2009, and will last for three years.