Spring/Summer 2002

President's Message

Since the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation was established in the Winter of 1997, your organization has been recognized as a leader in fish and wildlife conservation. Many of you benefit directly from quality habitat for fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing or just sitting back and enjoying the natural beauty of our great state.

In the past few months, Wildlife Mississippi has grown to almost 1,500 members and has been the driving force behind many projects benefiting conservationists like you.

In the past five years we have worked with private landowners to protect over 10,000 acres of habitat. We have placed over 1,000 wood duck and 750 bluebird boxes, promoted quail management, signed agreements for waterfowl management on over 5,000 acres, planted 2.7 million bottomland hardwood trees on 9,000 acres, restored approximately 2,000 acres of wetlands, provided 16 physically challenged shooting houses on public lands, provided low-cost seed to enhance over 50,000 acres with food plots, started a decoy deer program with 55 decoys to curtail the poaching of deer and assisted in the writing of essential, federal conservation policy.

And all of this activity has been conducted from two small, but functional offices in the Delta and South Mississippi. We are slated to open a new field office in Northeast Mississippi later this year.

As a member of Wildlife Mississippi you are part of this team that is working not only for your own enjoyment, but for the pleasure of future generations. And, if we don't do it, who will?

On August 23-25 we will host the Third Annual Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Expo at the Forrest County Multi-Purpose Center in Hattiesburg. The three-day Expo will feature approximately 125 conservation exhibits and exhibitors selling hunting and fishing gear, wildlife art and books, outdoor apparel, trucks, ladies gifts, game calls, guided trips, children's exhibits and more. We are also very fortunate to have some top quality seminars. Last year's Expo was attended by over 13,000 people and more than 15,000 are expected this year.

I'm excited about our programs as well as our progress. Please continue to be the good stewards that you are. Our children and grandchildren will have a better world because of your work.

Leila Clark Wynn President