The annual Hunting and Fishing Day Event at the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge is set for Saturday.

Hosted by the refuge, the celebration will take place at the visitor center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Young hunters may register for the drawing of the Special Lottery Youth Deer Hunts on Dec. 22 and 29. These hunts are different from other general youth hunts in that they consist of only the few whose names are drawn from the lottery. All interested youth between the ages of 8 and 15 are encouraged to register for the hunt, which will be on designated parcels of the refuge.  To be eligible, youths must register between  9 a.m. and 2 p.m.  The Hunting and Fishing Day is an annual event promoting a healthy environment and public education about the outdoors, as well as supporting the Tensas River Refuge Association. Admission is free.  For more information contact the refuge at 318-574-2664.

Wetland enhancements

set at two state refuges

The Morgan Blake and Panther Swamp refuges will undergo $921,209 of wetland enhancements, thanks to a federal grant awarded to the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

The Morgan Blake Refuge, in Holmes County, will have more than 380 acres revitalized. Seventeen new wetland impoundments will be developed via new water control structures and 44,464-feet of levee work. Panther Swamp, near Yazoo City, will receive similar developments on 460 acres, including 15,956 feet of levee and the installation of 11 water-control structures and two wells to improve three wetland impoundments.

The projects are aimed at improving habitat conditions for thousands of waterfowl that migrate through the refuges each spring and fall. Donny Browning, project manager of the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex — which encompasses seven refuges and more than 100,000 acres — anticipates the funds to become available and the work to begin next year.

The grant provided to the complex is a portion of over $41 million awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enhance wetlands nationwide. Seven of the 34 projects in the country funded by the grants will take place in the Southeast, with the Theodore Roosevelt NWRC the only one in Mississippi to receive a grant award.

Deer kill suspended

at Oxford sites

A permit to allow the killing of deer inside the city of Oxford — at the municipal airport and golf course — was suspended Thursday.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and Oxford Mayor Pat Patterson met in Jackson Thursday and “made a mutual decision” to suspend the deer depredation permit issued to the city.

“A meeting with Oxford city officials will be held before Oct. 1 to discuss current deer management challenges,” MDWFP Chief of Wildlife Larry Castle said.

The department had issued a permit to allow the killing of some deer under direct supervision of the state department, to thin out the deer population on University golf course and near the Oxford airport.

City officials say deer have damaged $15,000 worth of landscaping on University of Mississippi property.

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Contact Everett Bexley at ebexley@vickburgpost.com