Ep. 447: Backwoods University - Turkey Stamps

In this episode of Bear Grease, host and guest reflect on a memorable spring turkey hunt in Mississippi, using the experience as a springboard to discuss the state's groundbreaking turkey stamp program. The conversation highlights the cultural and ecological significance of wild turkeys in Mississippi, tracing their restoration from near-extinction to widespread abundance, and now to a new era of sustained conservation. The turkey stamp, launched in 2026 as part of the 50th anniversary of Mississippi’s duck stamp program, is presented as a transformative tool for funding turkey-specific conservation efforts, including research, habitat improvement on public lands, and data collection. The episode emphasizes the role of hunters as stewards of the resource, citing strong public support and legislative backing. The guest, Caleb Hinton, Wild Turkey Program Coordinator, shares a personal connection to the work, having killed his first turkey on a WMA he now helps protect. The episode concludes with a celebration of the moment—sitting under trees with a gobbler in sight—symbolizing both the joy of the hunt and the responsibility to preserve it for future generations.