Updated turkey season changes for Non-Residents on Public Lands

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks announced that turkey hunters traveling to Mississippi in 2022 should be aware of changes on public lands during the spring season’s opening.

Hunters who are nonresidents must now obtain a special Public Land Endorsement, at no cost, in addition to regularly required licenses when hunting any open public lands between Mar. 15 – 28. A special drawing will be held for allotment of the new endorsement.

Those wishing to apply can do so between Jan. 15 – Feb. 15 on the MDWFP website Perspective hunters can apply between January 15 – February 15 on the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks’ website. Once the application period closes, a drawing will be conducted and winners will be notified by email.

The public land license endorsement requirement is not applicable to nonresidents hunting on private lands, nor to those visiting Mississippi’s public lands after Mar. 28th. Hunters desiring to hunt Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) with an existing permit-only season from Mar. 15 – 28 will still have to apply to those specific WMAs separately through the traditional process shared by residents.