MSU offers Oct 17-18 waterfowl workshop

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- A two-day event in mid-October will help those with waterfowl and wetland management responsibilities learn how to improve wetlands for waterfowl.

Hosted by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the waterfowl weekend will be held Oct. 17-18 at Gumbo Flats Hunting Lodge in Lambert. The $100 registration fee covers all meals and educational aspects of the event.

“The event begins with a Friday night social where Houston Havens, waterfowl program coordinator with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, will give an update on the current status of waterfowl populations and habitat enhancement projects in the state,”  said James Callicutt, event organizer and Extension waterfowl and upland gamebird specialist. “Then there will be a panel discussion with biologists and representatives from conservation organizations.”

Panelists include Callicutt and Havens along with Brian Davis with the MSU Forest and Wildlife Research Center; Kevin Nelms with the Natural Resources Conservation Service; Johnathan Dew with Ducks Unlimited and Rance Mooring with Yorkwoods.

The majority of Saturday will be a waterfowl and wetland management workshop. Topics covered will include waterfowl biology, wetland management planning and landowner assistance programs. Participants will go into the field to see habitat management techniques in action. Planned field demonstrations are wetland disturbance, forest management and duck banding.

Gumbo Flats Hunting Lodge is located in Quitman County at 5400 Caffey Road in Lambert. Register for the workshop at: https://tinyurl.com/3mw3t6yx.

MSU is an equal opportunity institution. For disability accommodation, please contact Callicutt at 662-325-2478 or james.callicutt@msstate.edu.