JACKSON — A tentative agenda was released late Thursday afternoon for the upcoming Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Commission Meeting. The monthly meeting will open with an educational session at 9 a.m. and business session at 10 a.m. March 23 at MDWFP’s offices located at 1505 Eastover Drive in Jackson. 

Kris Godwin, State Director for the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, will give an agency update for APHIS’s wildlife services to the department in an educational session. APHIS is funding research and testing for Chronic Wasting Disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. 

MDWFP’s business session will open with public comments on E-bikes being allowed on Wildlife Management Areas. Robert Abbot of Flora, Mike Rouse of Morton and Jimmy Hodges of Jackson will present their comments to the commission. 

In 2022, a group of senior hunters presented a proposal to the commission to create two senior draw hunts at Malmaison and Phil Bryant WMA. The proposal passed and provided additional hunting opportunities to the seniors. 

Chairman Bill Cossar mentions at each meeting the importance of the license sales report presented by Jason Thompson, license and boat registration division director. License sales account for funding 90 percent of MDWFP’s budget. 

Russ Walsh, Wildlife Chief of Staff, will present wildlife bureau awards at the meeting. Col. Jerry Carter, chief of law enforcement, will present an update on law enforcement. Usually, he provides some details on any cases they have worked on and an update on the top violations committed for the month. 

There will be four license reinstatement requests. Hunter Smith, Timothy Raines, Wyatt Duncan and Alan Sullivan will make their official reinstatement requests before the commission. 

Items on the agenda are tentative and subject to change. Hunters, anglers or perhaps those who care about the outdoors can watch the live streamed meeting on MDWFP’s YouTube page.

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