MANDATORY TAGGING AND HARVEST REPORTING FOR WILD TURKEYS

MANDATORY TAGGING AND HARVEST REPORTING FOR WILD TURKEYS A. The MDWFP harvest reporting system shall be known as “Game Check” to maintain uniform terminology across states. B. When hunting spring turkey, all hunters, regardless of license exemption status, shall obtain a valid turkey harvest tag issued by the MDWFP. This requirement will be enacted during the 2026 spring turkey hunting season. 1. Only harvest tags issued by the MDWFP shall be valid. The harvest tag may take a physical or electronic form. 2. Before moving a turkey from the point of harvest, hunters must invalidate the turkey harvest tag via a methodology approved by the MDWFP. 3. Hunters utilizing physical harvest tags must attach the invalidated tag to the bird’s leg before moving the carcass from the location of harvest; these must remain attached until the bird is processed. C. All hunters, regardless of license exemption status, must report their harvest to the MDWFP by 10:00 PM on the day of harvest. Reporting may occur via the MDWFP smartphone application, MDWFP web portal, or by telephone. D. A violation of this rule may be a Class III violation, punishable as provided in MISS. CODE ANN. §49-7-101, and upon conviction, further subject to the administrative penalties provided in MISS. CODE ANN. §49-7-26(4).