Guest Post ~ MS Turkey Hunters Have It Good!

I was contacted recently by Jeff Stevenson who is a writer for HuntersGuide.org. They run a small blog for hunters and he wanted to do a guest post on my blog as a way to get the word out about their new site.  I was excited to help Jeff and I am very happy to promote his site!  Go by and check it out because it is a very informative and you can share articles with your friends to your favorite accounts like - Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin, etc., etc.

Why Mississippi Turkey Hunters 

Have it Good

Everyone seems to have a deer hunter in their family, but there’s another animal that’s becoming more commonly hunted for throughout the United States: turkeys. There are really six different classifications of wild turkeys, differentiated by their colors and sizes. These turkeys can be found in almost every part of the United States. But one state, Mississippi, stands out for turkey hunting and is most well-known for their specialties in the turkey species. Between the plentiful amount of turkeys, the climate, terrain, and passion, Mississippi is a just a great place to go turkey hunting.

Mississippi has wild turkey. LOTS of wild turkey.

The Mississippi Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks releases detailed updates about their turkey program each year with statistics and information for hunters and those interested in learning more.  One reason why turkey hunting in Mississippi is great: there are an abundance of turkeys located in this area. The state even claims to have the largest population of turkeys in the country. The turkey population was not always this large, however. At one point in time, turkeys were almost extinct due to the lack of wild game protection and poor forest conditions. Around 1950, residents of Mississippi began to become concerned for the turkey population and began trapping turkeys in order to save them instead of hunting them. Everything went as planned and by 1980s, turkeys became abundant again. There are now rules and regulations set in place in order to prevent the turkey population from being in danger again. If you are a hunter who is looking for a turkey, you won’t waste much time trying to find one in Mississippi: They’re all over the place.

Diverse terrain and prime climate makes for great hunting

A second reason why the turkey hunting scene in Mississippi is excellent is because of its diverse terrain and compatible climate. The majority of Mississippi is covered with forests, making it the perfect hunting ground. In addition to the forests, there are also many farmlands, rivers, and hills. And the climate of Mississippi is mild which is appealing to both animals and hunters. Since turkeys do not adapt well to cold climates, Mississippi is a perfect place for them to roam. Likewise, this is a comfortable climate for hunters to be able to wait in a blind for long periods of time without overheating or needing to warm up. The official turkey hunting season in Mississippi begins on March 12 and ends on May 1 of each year.

The state welcomes hunters

A third reason to hunt turkeys in Mississippi is that some resorts, such as the Thacker Mountain Lodge, offer guided turkey hunts where you can find turkeys that are as big as 18 pounds. Guided hunts are usually offered during the fall and spring seasons. You can bring your family or friends along on these guided hunts and make it an enjoyable, memorable experience. Just remember to bring your camera as you’ll likely catch some huge turkey!

Although you can find turkey in most states, Mississippi is an excellent place to hunt turkey and might just hold the honor as the best turkey hunting state in the country. The best part is that hunters in Mississippi are genuinely concerned about the well-being of the turkey population and conservation instead of just focusing on hunting. Mississippi turkey hunters got it made.

Jeff Stevens is an avid outdoorsman who loves all things hunting, fishing, and outdoors. He writes for the hunting and fishing blog Hunter's Guide.  He recently wrote an article that covers Tennessee Hunting dates for 2013.