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.
I enjoy deer hunting during the fall in Michigan and I always take my randolph engineering aviator sunglasses to block the rays of the sun.
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