A Crystal Springs man hauled in a 13-pound, 4-ounce largemouth bass on Lake Calling Panther near his hometown on Feb. 1. Ron Garavelli, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks fisheries bureau director, said while many people assume winter months are not an ideal time to fish, it’s not uncommon for big bass to be caught in cooler temperatures.

“Kind of like the elusive big buck, they seem to show themselves when there’s not as much pressure,” Garavelli said. “A lake like Calling Panther is good any time you fish it, and it’s always exciting to see a lake record broken.”

The state record largemouth, weighing 18.15 pounds, was caught by Anthony Denny on Dec. 31, 1992 at Natchez State Park Lake. For more information about fishing in Mississippi visit www.mdwfp.com.

Hunting and fishing generates $863 million

Annual spending by the estimated 537,000 hunters and anglers in Mississippi is more than the cash receipts for cotton and soybeans — the state’s second and third largest agricultural commodities, according to a recent report by the Congressional Sportsman’s Foundation.

The report also states that if the $76 billion sportsmen spend nationally on hunting and fishing were the gross domestic product of a country, sportsmen and women would rank 57 out of 181 countries. In Missisisppi, $863 million was generated via hunting and fishing last year, compared to $844 million via cotton and soybeans.

Sportsmen and women spend more money, support more jobs and pay more taxes than most industries and attractions in many states according to the Sportsman’s Foundation. Outdoors spending supports 17,000 jobs in Mississippi, compared to the 16,300 jobs supported by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems and Nissan America combined, two of the state’s largest employers.

That spending results in some $363 million paid in salaries and wages, $79 million in federal taxes, and $93 million in state and local taxes. The ripple effect is calculated at $1.3 billion. The Sportsman’s Foundation produces a report every five years in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Survey on the economic impact hunters and anglers have on the economy.

Light goose season open until March 31

Waterfowl hunters are reminded that even though the regular waterfowl season ended on January 25, ample hunting opportunity for light geese remains. The light goose conservation order is a special hunting season developed to help control expanding populations of snow, blue, and Ross’ geese. The light goose conservation season will remain open through March 31.

“Light goose populations have expanded in recent years beyond levels that their Arctic breeding habitats can sustain. Habitat degradation in the tundra is the primary reason for the liberal hunting season.” said Kevin Brunke, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Migratory Game Bird Program Biologist.

Regulations for the light goose conservation order do not include a daily bag limit or possession limit during the conservation order. However, snow, blue, and Ross’ geese are the only birds legal to harvest. A free permit number is required to hunt light geese during the conservation order, and permits can be obtained by calling 601-432-2199, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The use of electronic calling devices and unplugged shotguns is allowed during the hunt, however, hunters must use steel or other approved non-toxic shot shells. Legal shooting hours begin 30 minutes before sunrise and end 30 minutes after sunset. All hunters need a valid Mississippi hunting license to participate, and are required to have a valid state waterfowl stamp.

Houston Havens, MDWFP Migratory Game Bird Program Biologist added, “we observed high numbers of light geese throughout the Mississippi Delta region during our waterfowl aerial surveys.  We expect hunters to have plenty of opportunities to harvest geese on agricultural lands as they remain in Mississippi for the rest of the winter.”

More information about waterfowl and wetland habitat is available at www.mdwfp.com/waterfowl, or by calling the MDWFP Wildlife Bureau at 601-432-2199.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com.