By Hunter Cloud
The Brookhaven Daily Leader

Hunters, anglers and citizens can take advantage of a new holiday license sales special by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Marketing Director Jeremy Bass said the campaign will be underway this month. 

“We have come together to work this out over the next few months with a Hunter Holiday Campaign. We want to focus on current license holders and new license holders with a recruitment and loyalty campaign,” Bass said. “Any new license sale or renewal from November to January, and possibly February, will be entered into a Hunter’s Holiday Package drawing.” 

A license holder renewing could be drawn to win a Winchester 20 Gauge Shotgun, a 75 quart cooler and a $100 Van’s Sporting Goods gift certificate. Any new license holder could win a .22 rifle, a 75-quart cooler and a $100 Van’s Sporting Goods gift certificate. 

Bass said they plan to market the campaign in Alabama and Louisiana. Online mapping company OnX is a new partner with the MDWFP. Subscribers can earn a 20 percent discount on their subscription. Visit the MDWFP Facebook page for more. 

License sales

Jason Thompson presented October’s license sales report for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks at Thursday’s commission meeting. Sales had tapered off in October but had increased in November. 

Thompson said it is common for license sales to fluctuate from month to month. Hunters typically buy Mississippi licenses when they feel like it with no set expiration date. 

MDWFP’s revenue is $4.8 million a quarter into Fiscal Year 2024. Resident license sales accounted for $2.8 million and nonresident license sales accounts for 2 million with 1.6 million from Louisiana residents. 

Deer permits are up $150,000 in revenue from last year largely due to a non-resident license increase, Thompson said. One commissioner asked him how the new licensing system was going. 

“We are having weekly meetings on our new licensing system. January 2025 is the go live date,” Thompson said.