In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, host Matt Wyatt sits down with Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Executive Director Lynn Posey for a wide-ranging conversation about how Mississippi manages wildlife, deer, parks, law enforcement, licensing, and conservation efforts across all 82 counties.

Posey shares how he went from growing up in Union Church to serving in the Mississippi Senate, to the Public Service Commission, and eventually being appointed director of MDWFP. He explains what the job looks like day to day, how the agency is structured, and why strong communication with the public and lawmakers is essential.

The conversation covers major topics, including:

• How Mississippi manages the largest deer population ever recorded

• Chronic Wasting Disease and why managing does is critical

• Mississippi’s state parks upgrades, funding, and rebuilding projects

• How hunting & fishing licenses fund MDWFP

• Keeping conservation officers through pay raises and career ladders

• The challenge of maintaining facilities like Sky Lake

• What MDWFP’s Commission does and how decisions are made

• The history of youth hunting weekend and conservation legislation

• Posey’s own journey as a sixth-generation landowner passing down outdoor traditions

Mississippi Outdoors is produced by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Winter doesn’t shut bass fishing down in Mississippi — it just changes the game. In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, Matt Wyatt talks winter bass fishing with longtime fisheries expert and former MDWFP Deputy Director Larry Pugh.

Larry explains why water temperature — not air temperature — drives everything, how bass become more predictable in cold water, and why January and February offer some of the best chances of the year to catch a double-digit fish. He breaks down where bass position in winter, how to find baitfish, and why deeper structure like creek channels, ditches, and ledges matter when water temps fall into the 40s.

The conversation also covers winter-specific bait choices — including umbrella rigs, suspending jerkbaits, spoons, underspins, finesse rigs, and minnow presentations — along with techniques Larry doesn’t use this time of year. They discuss how modern electronics have changed winter fishing, why more anglers are fishing in cold weather, and how a few warm days can suddenly trigger shallow movement even in the middle of winter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.