JACKSON — A bill to create a mandatory wild turkey stamp for turkey hunters hit a hang up Thursday morning. The Senate decided to recommit the bill for further conference according to the History of Actions Thursday morning. 

Similar to a gobbler hanging up on an obstacle or creek, the bill is close to passing into law but is not quite there. According to the joint rules of the house and senate, conference reports that are recommitted must be adopted by the 123rd day or else die on the calendar. Friday was the 116th day. 

The bill’s conference report was officially adopted by the House Thursday morning before it was recommitted by the senate. Under the conference report adopted by the house, if the bill becomes law, hunters would be required to purchase a turkey stamp to hunt wild turkeys in Mississippi. Money raised by the stamp would go towards habitat work, conservation and research of wild turkeys. 

According to the conference report for House Bill 1298, lifetime license holders would be exempt from purchasing a wild turkey stamp, residents would be charged $10 for turkey stamps and non-residents would be charged $100 for turkey stamps. 

Turkey stamps would be valid from the date of purchase to the final day of turkey season following its purchase. The stamp would thus expire and a new one would have to be purchased for the next season.