New rules and regs question for guides on public land?????

[mississippi_duc_htr]

Anybody heard about a new law the prohibits waterfowling guides from guiding hunts on public land. My duck hunting buddy asked me if I had heard anything on this issue.Does anybody know or know of any new developments?

[Don Miller]

I don't think that Mississippi has made any changes dealing with guides on state owned WMA property. The state of Arkansas has banned all guided hunts on its WMAs. This should open up needed room for more of the Arkansas residents to hunt such prime green timber WMAs, such as Bayou Meto and Rex Hancock Black Swamp. I would bet that in the next year or two we will see the same thing happen in Mississippi.

[SB]

Guides aren't allowed on MDWFP WMAs. This will be the second year for that to be in effect. Go to MDWFP.com for more info.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Banning the guides from guiding on public land is a good move for both MS and Arkansas.
It is already competitive enough out there without adding to the mix guides under pressure to produce for their clients. I would think such would increase the incivility and unsportsmanship displayed by hunters on public areas --- sending out early boats to obtain holes, over agressive protection of holes, hunting with such large parties that the holes are tied up for the entire hunting day, etc.etc.

[Don Miller]

I did not know the guide ban was in effect in Ms. Hey, SB, How do you fellows enforce this ban. How would you distinguish between a local guy hunting with friends from out of state and a local guy being paid for hunting with clients from out of state? [img]images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]

[GulfCoast]

I did not know that there was a "ban."

Lord knows they were all over Malmaison last year.

I would drive through from Highway 8 most mornings to see if anyone was killing ducks and there would always be 4 South Carolina etc. SUV's and one pick up with a good ole boy from Tallahatchie or Leflore County telling 'em, "alright, it was slow this A.M., but this afternoon we are gonna.....

We also had to sic the wardens on "guides" trying to poach off our lease a couple of times during the week when they thought no one was home. Oh the sad stories I could tell from last season.....

Crappy society we live in.

[Wingman]

NO GUIDES ON PUBLIC LAND...PERIOD! I'll be the first to sign the paper. Heck, when I'm done guiding on my holes...I enjoy going public by myself...going waaaaayyyy back in the swamp and busting some ducks. And I don't want to be the one responsible for filling up the refuge with "guided" folks. Shoot, sometimes I charge myself 200 bucks for taking me to such a good hole [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Hey, Crow, we really gotta hook up this year and do some swamp-time.

Wingman
ISAIAH 40:31

[SB]

I can't tell all my secrets. If I did it would make things that much harder. If you know of a guide working on a State WMA let the area manager know. It is hard to be every where at once. We appreciate what help we can get.

[Hammer]

A careful reading of the WMA brochures reveals that no guided hunts are allowed for any species and federal law prohibits guided hunts on NWRs...If all the National Forest land in MS is part of a WMA, then the only public access legal for guiding in MS is public waterbodies such as rivers and lakes, provided they are not part of a WMA or NWR.

HAMMER

[crow]

Wingman, I hear you, amn! I think this year will be much better in "the hole." Water should be good this year. I've also taken a new position in the school system that will allow me to take more "strategic" vacation time. I hope to see more of the Delta this winter.

[mississippi_duc_htr]

I knew they were banned in MS but the AR boys could still guide on certain days. From what I have heard they have been debating this issue for awhile now. Looks like they finally did away with it all together.

[Don Miller]

It is a done deal in Arkansas, no guided hunts on state WMA lands as of the 2002-2003 hunting season.