MCCOMB — A tentative agenda released by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks states a summary on supplemental feeding will take center stage in an educational session. MDWFP Commissioners will meet at Percy Quin State Park for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting on March 21. 

William McKinley, MDWFP”s Deer Program Coordinator, and Wildlife Bureau Chief of Staff Russ Walsh will present a summary about supplemental feeding as it pertains to disease management. This summary was requested by commissioners in February. The educational session starts at 9 a.m. with a business session at 10 a.m. 

Chronic wasting disease was detected in Claiborne County this year moving one county closer to Lincoln and Pike Counties and is one of the reasons supplemental feeding is a concern. 

Supplemental feed ban discussion

The education session follows the commissioners entertaining a discussion about a statewide supplemental feed ban with disease management in mind. Walsh said in February the thought is the discussion could start a public comment process. 

The new supplemental feed debate would not focus on the ethics of supplemental feeding nor the economic impact or quality buck management. Instead, the discussion would focus on disease management for all wildlife. 

MDWFP Commissioner Leonard Bentz asked Walsh what the wildlife bureau thought about a statewide feed ban at a February commission meeting. Walsh said in the commission meeting the way they could discuss a statewide feed ban was for disease management.

Commissioners seem to have directed the wildlife bureau to compile a list of the pros and cons of supplemental feeding when it comes to disease management in the meeting. Commissioner Scott Coopwood asked specifically if they had any research to show if a feed ban would slow down CWD spread. 

Mississippi State University Deer Lab has conducted several research projects on disease risks associated with feeders in regards to parasites, ticks and aflatoxins. Recently, Steve Demarais, co-director of the MSU Deer Lab, gave a presentation on the risks of CWD spread at feeder sites following research conducted by MSU in conjunction with the University of Minnesota. 

According to the business session agenda, William Orso will provide public comment about supplemental feeding. 

Other business

Ronald Seiss and Van Ditta will make public comments about the fall turkey season. MDWFP commissioners voted to suspend the fall season to help bolster hen survival. MSU research has shown a 2 percent increase in hen survival would help Mississippi’s turkey population grow by 2.5 times and the closure of the fall season protects jakes and toms for the spring season. 

Walsh is expected to give a wildlife update. Jason Thompson, Administrative Director, will provide a license sales report. Parks Chief of Staff Brian Ferguson will provide a parks update. Col. Jerry Carter, Chief of Law Enforcement, will provide a law enforcement update. There is a chance for license reinstatement requests.