CRAWFORD — Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks brought in $16.4 million in revenue from license and permit sales midway through FY2024. Jason Thompson, Director of Administrative Services, reported the good news to the MDWFP Commission Thursday. 

Thompson gives an update on revenue at each monthly commission meeting. Commission Chairman Bill Cossar usually reminds the audience the revenue report is important because it funds 90 percent of the MDWFP budget. 

The $16.4 million in revenue for FY2024 is a $210,000 increase from last year. Mississippi residents accounted for $5.6 million in license sales while Louisiana hunters accounted for $7 million in license sales. 

“I thought they were the sportsman’s paradise. I thought it was down there but they are coming to us,” Cossar said. 

Thompson reported 2,154 non-residents applied for the public land endorsement permit for the upcoming Spring Turkey Season. Last year, MDWFP reported 1,700 applications for the endorsement permit. An outside vendor conducts the drawing and picks about half of the applicant field. This permit is free but limits out-of-state hunters hunting public lands before April. 

Commissioner William Mounger asked about license purchases for legal visitors to the US, who are not residents. Thompson explained the visitors can call the office to buy a license. Mounger asked if they could set up the new license vendor system to allow legal visitors to purchase licenses online when it launches. 

Commissioner Leonard Bentz had high praise for Thompson. 

“I can all Jason at night, on the weekend and over holidays and he will answer the phone,” Bentz said. “He gets on things and handles them.”

Cossar chimed in. 

“He knows his job and we are fortunate he is here,” he said.