DEER PROGRAM REPORT DEER ROGRAM REPORT

AcknowledgementsNumerous people are responsible for the information presented in this report. The vision and work of Mississippi Game and Fish Commissionpatriarchs like Fannie Cook and Bill Turcotte initiated plans in the 1930’s that ultimately provided Mississippi Sportsmen with thedeer population we enjoy today.Leaf River Refuge Manager Quinton Breeland, Upper Sardis Refuge Manager Garald Mize, and other dedicated Commission employeesprotected, trapped, and relocated hundreds of deer throughout the state during the days of Mississippi’s deer restoration. In addition, gamewardens of the deer restoration era protected a growing deer population through the early period of wildlife conservation. During this timein the history of Mississippi’s Wildlife Management Agency, game wardens provided their own gun and vehicle. Mobile communication withother officers was little more than a futuristic dream. Wildlife enforcement, or the game warden that interfered with the “jacklighting” of deerand illegal harvest of game, was not a welcome sight to some hunters at that time. Refuge managers and game wardens of the restorationera are pioneers of the deer population restoration success of today.Today the conservation officer is considered differently. Most men and women who enjoy the bountiful wildlife that exist today regard theconservation officer as a partner in wildlife conservation. As those who are responsible for the deer populations we treasure are remembered,the conservation officers of today should not be forgotten.The Mississippi Legislature is also to be thanked for their historic and sustained funding of this agency. Since the establishment of theGame and Fish Commission in the days of the Great Depression, the Mississippi Legislature has funded efforts necessary for the wildlifeconservation success story of the white-tailed deer.Mississippi landowners have made deer in the Magnolia State a reality. Without landowner desire to have deer, most agency efforts wouldhave proved ineffective. Those of us who hunt, study, or admire the white-tailed deer truly thank you.This report would not have been possible without the efforts and cooperation of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, andParks (MDWFP) Wildlife Bureau technical staff and district field personnel. An extra-special appreciation is extended to Dene Smith for assistancewith many aspects of producing and mailing this report. And to Cindy Clark who was responsible for the report design.Additionally, Mississippi’s deer hunters deserve special recognition. Your data collection efforts, concern, and support for white-tailed deerare vital to the success of the White-tailed Deer Program.Look for this information on www.mdwfp.com/deer. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.Cover photo courtesy of Steve Gulledge Photography.Special thanks and recognition goes out to Bill Lunceford. Bill had the vision and foresight to put the first DMAP Annual Report togetherin 1988. In 1993 the report changed to the Mississippi Deer Data book. Without Bill’s vision of the DMAP program and the DeerData Book, today’s report would not have been possible.Chad DacusDeer Program CoordinatorChris McDonaldRegional Deer BiologistWilliam T. McKinleyRegional Deer BiologistLann WilfRegional Deer BiologistFEDERAL AID IN WILDLIFERESTORATIONA PITTMAN-ROBERTSONFUNDED PROJECTThis report is produced by the Technical Guidelines Project, Statewide Wildlife Development Project and Statewide Wildlife InvestigationsProject and is primarily funded by Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration.vi2006-2007 Mississippi Deer Program Report