JACKSON — A long list of expected public commenters are listed on the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Commission Meeting Agenda. Commissioners will meet Thursday at 1p.m. at the MDWFP headquarters in Jackson. 

Proposed rules and public comment for rule changes will be the biggest topic at the meeting based on the agenda. It could be an interesting meeting with the commission down to four members after former commissioner Leonard Bentz was not confirmed by the senate wildlife committee. 

Ron Seiss is listed as a public commenter on fall turkey hunting. Seiss asked the department to not close the fall turkey season at the April 2023 meeting unless there was a biological reason to. His suggestion was to make the fall season a gobbler-only season. MDWFP commissioners voted to close the fall season to help hen survival and protect young gobblers for the spring season in May 2023. 

Todd Williams will also give public comment on the fall turkey hunting season. He was adamantly opposed to the commission closing the fall season in May 2023 when he spoke to the commission. Public comments submitted by the public overwhelmingly voiced support for the closing of the fall turkey season. 

Robert Varner, John Overby and Dustin Hariel will provide public comment on dog hunting. 

Greg Duncan will speak about the potential supplemental feed ban. Commissioners have discussed a statewide supplemental feed ban to help prevent diseases such as Chronic Wasting Disease from spreading in wildlife. 

Daniel Seymour is listed as providing public comment on hunting season changes according to the agenda. 

Clark Gordon, Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Foundation CEO, will present an update on the Archery in Mississippi Schools program. Jason Thompson, Director of Administrative Services, will provide an update on license sales. 

Russ Walsh, Wildlife Chief of Staff, will present proposed rules for Wildlife Management Areas, deer, turkey, small game and animals inherently dangerous to humans. Jerry Brown, Fisheries Chief of Staff, will present proposed rules on statewide creel limits, state fishing lakes and community assistance lakes and regulations of state fishing lakes. 

Col. Jerry Carter, Chief of Law Enforcement, will provide an update on enforcement efforts.