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Mississippi's Turkey Regs

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Beekeeper

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First, states putting antler restrictions on Deer.

Now states putting beard, spurs and/or feather restrictions on Turkeys.

What next? Tail length restrictions on Squirrels or ear length restrictions on Rabbits? Maybe a wing span limit on quail?

Does MS have a separate wildlife resources or DNR that is not controlled by their state legislature or are all their regulations made by elected politicians?
 
Poser said:
The bag limit for each permit holder is one (1) adult gobbler or 1 gobbler with a 6 inch or longer beard. An adult gobbler is defined as a gobbler with at least one of the following characteristics: 1) a tail fan that has an unbroken, rounded contour to the outer perimeter of the tail feathers, 2) spurs at least 1/2 inch long, 3) a beard at least 6 inches long, or 4) 9th and 10th primary wing feathers with white barring extending to the outer tips of the feathers.

Those are pretty specific regulations defining a adult gobbler.
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I could be wrong, but I think all those "or" criteria is to make ANY male turkey old than a year old "legal".

You could have a 3-yr-old Tom that has lost his beard.
Or how would you like to take an old Tom with 1.5-inch spurs, but his his beard only measured 5 3/4"?

Those extra "or" criteria simply "legalize" older birds that might have a beard less than 6" long. This is somewhat similar to having antler restrictions followed by additional caveats such as "or" any buck aged 3 1/2 or older.
 
Bigg'un4214 said:
Tn once allowed #2 shot for turkeys. The change was made mainly for safety.
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And it was a good change imo, whereby we currently can't use shot larger than #4 for turkey.

Wish TN would change it again to make the cut-off at #5 shot. Many people don't realize it, but turkey hunting is the most dangerous hunting in TN, in terms of being shot and killed by another hunter. Up close, it may not matter what size shot is being used, but if a turkey hunter is shot at 40 or 50 yards, the difference in smaller vs. larger pellets can be living vs. dying.

More interesting, many accomplished turkey hunters are turning to #7 shot (very small shot) as they find it more effective in dirt-rolling any turkey under 50 yards with a head-shot vs. using larger shot for a "body" shot. Not to mention, for those of us who enjoy eating our turkeys, it's much better to only take them with head shots.
 
Terrible regs, I have been there and there are plenty of birds 6in beard rule should be thrown out!
I wouldn't buy No2 to go to Miss thats stupid as well!
 
spitndrum said:
Terrible regs, I have been there and there are plenty of birds 6in beard rule should be thrown out!
I wouldn't buy No2 to go to Miss thats stupid as well!
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Good, stay in TN.

The regs are PERFECT in accomplishing what they are designed to do... ensure there is always an ample male segment of the population capable of breeding the hens.

Since only 20% of jakes are sexually mature, it's IMPERATIVE that there are a small number of 2+yr olds capable of fertilization prior to opening of season. By absolutely protecting jakes (which the regs are designed to do), it ensures birds capable of continuing the species are present at breeding time.

Some parts of MS subject to severe flooding absolutely need this reg, or there would be parts of the state completely devoid of turkey hunting.

I get a little frustrated when you guys fuss at the non-biologists for recommending changes to deer season, but when the turkey BIOLOGISTS make a sound recommendation for our state, you are quick to slam them. The regs aren't complicated- you just can't shoot a jake... all the additional language is to make EVERY other male legal- in other words, it's to the hunter's benefit. And if you can't or won't spend enough time looking at the bird before you pull the trigger... well maybe you shouldn't have even pulled the trigger in the first place.
 
megalomaniac said:
The regs are PERFECT in accomplishing what they are designed to do... ensure there is always an ample male segment of the population capable of breeding the hens.

Since only 20% of jakes are sexually mature, it's IMPERATIVE that there are a small number of 2+yr olds capable of fertilization prior to opening of season. By absolutely protecting jakes (which the regs are designed to do), it ensures birds capable of continuing the species are present at breeding time.

The regs aren't complicated- you just can't shoot a jake... all the additional language is to make EVERY other male legal- in other words, it's to the hunter's benefit.
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Personally, I like those Mississippi regs.
Makes a world of sense for the reasons stated.
 
:)
At the same time, how is requiring a turkey to have beard of a certain length any different than requiring a deer to have antlers of at least 3 inches before it's considered "antlered"?
 
Kids can shoot one jake per year out of their 3 bird limit.

Same way with the AR's on deer... they don't apply to kids for thier first buck of the season.
 
I'm all about increasing the number of longbeards. The more jakes we let walk, the more longbeards we have next year. I say letting the kids shoot a jake on their first bird is appropriate. After that, its longbeards or bust. JMO
 
bvoss said:
I'm all about increasing the number of longbeards. The more jakes we let walk, the more longbeards we have next year. I say letting the kids shoot a jake on their first bird is appropriate. After that, its longbeards or bust. JMO
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I agree.
 
Poser said:
Again, I don't have a problem with the MS regs, just thought all of the language was interesting.

Now the one MS reg I do have a major problem with is the following:

A non-resident may not kill antlerless deer except on lands he owns or on lands where he leases the hunting or fishing rights,

A state with 2 million deer and a $400 non resident license and I can't shoot does on public land or land that I have permission to hunt? Before its over with, this regulation will be the deal breaker for me in MS. I have a small property that I lease for $1 a year so that I can take some does, but the property is presently for sale. Once its gone, I don't expect I'll continue to spend that kind of money.
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Agree COMPLETELY!!! There's more than enough does, perhaps too many in many areas. That reg makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Heck, in a few more years, we may actually have to PAY someone to shoot the extra does :)
 
Poser said:
Again, I don't have a problem with the MS regs, just thought all of the language was interesting.

Now the one MS reg I do have a major problem with is the following:

A non-resident may not kill antlerless deer except on lands he owns or on lands where he leases the hunting or fishing rights,

A state with 2 million deer and a $400 non resident license and I can't shoot does on public land or land that I have permission to hunt? Before its over with, this regulation will be the deal breaker for me in MS. I have a small property that I lease for $1 a year so that I can take some does, but the property is presently for sale. Once its gone, I don't expect I'll continue to spend that kind of money.
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Poser,

I spent 3 years working on public lands in MS. The no doe for a nonresident law is from before my time. Apparently, there was a time when LA hunters would hunt in MS and kill a large number of does. So a state politician from South MS got the no does for nonresidents reg into law. A few years ago the state's deer biologists tried to change it. The same politician blocked it, and commented that as long as he lives the law will stand. I'm told the polotician is very old so hope remains. :)

So, there you have it.
 
WMAn said:
. . . . . politician from South MS got the no does for nonresidents reg into law. A few years ago the state's deer biologists tried to change it. The same politician blocked it, and commented that as long as he lives the law will stand.
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I've noticed that nearly all the wildlife regs unpopular with hunters have been imposed by politicians. Fortunately, as long as TWRA remains more under the control of wildlife biologists, we will have less of these problems in TN.

But we still have some.
One is that albino deer are illegal game.
 
megalomaniac said:
spitndrum said:
Terrible regs, I have been there and there are plenty of birds 6in beard rule should be thrown out!
I wouldn't buy No2 to go to Miss thats stupid as well!
Click to expand...

Good, stay in TN.

The regs are PERFECT in accomplishing what they are designed to do... ensure there is always an ample male segment of the population capable of breeding the hens.

Since only 20% of jakes are sexually mature, it's IMPERATIVE that there are a small number of 2+yr olds capable of fertilization prior to opening of season. By absolutely protecting jakes (which the regs are designed to do), it ensures birds capable of continuing the species are present at breeding time.

Some parts of MS subject to severe flooding absolutely need this reg, or there would be parts of the state completely devoid of turkey hunting.

I get a little frustrated when you guys fuss at the non-biologists for recommending changes to deer season, but when the turkey BIOLOGISTS make a sound recommendation for our state, you are quick to slam them. The regs aren't complicated- you just can't shoot a jake... all the additional language is to make EVERY other male legal- in other words, it's to the hunter's benefit. And if you can't or won't spend enough time looking at the bird before you pull the trigger... well maybe you shouldn't have even pulled the trigger in the first place.
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100% agree, there is a reason Miss is one of the best states in the SE to hunt year in and year out.

No one there has any issues with the rules, we grow up shooting mature birds only, and it is a good mantra to take to all states.

I also loved it when Bama had decoys outlawed as well.
 
If you think about it, what Mississippi does with the turkey regs is a real boon to juvenile hunters, as only they can shoot jakes.

Juveniles have the benefit of both more longbeards (since adults not shooting jakes allows for more older birds) and the option of taking the jakes the adults cannot.

Not to mention, with more older Toms in the population, better breeding/nesting success is facilitated, resulting in more turkeys period.

I certainly have no criticism for how they're managing their turkey regs in Mississippi. The kids love it. :)
 

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