Mississippi Outdoors Podcast

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 traditionsMississippi Outdoors is produced by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Matt Wyatt sits down with wildlife biologist Luke Pearson of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to explore one of Mississippi's most fascinating and misunderstood creatures: the alligator snapping turtle. Mississippi holds some of the highest populations in the entire world, especially in the Delta region, where food-rich rivers help these reptiles grow to extraordinary sizes — sometimes 150 pounds or more. 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.

In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, Matt Wyatt sits down with Mississippi author Brooks Eason to talk about his book The Scoutmaster — the story of his father’s extraordinary 61 years leading Troop 85 in Tupelo. Eason shares memories of monthly campouts dating back to 1947, rope-bridge traditions at Tishomingo State Park, canoe trips on Bear Creek, and the hundreds of boys who grew up under his father’s leadership.Brooks also explains what he learned while researching the book, including long-lost stories from taped interviews, letters, and conversations with Scouts from the 1940s through the 1990s. He talks about his other books, his adoption story, and the camping and hiking adventures that shaped his writing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, host Matt Wyatt sits down with longtime Mississippi Outdoors TV host Amanda Mills — a familiar face to anyone who’s watched the show over the past two decades.Amanda shares how she started with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks back in 2005, the surprising phone call that put her on Mississippi Outdoors TV for the first time, and what it was like to grow up watching Melvin Tingle before eventually working beside him. She talks about her favorite hunts, deep-sea trips, bear den checks, alligator checks, and the people who shaped her journey.The conversation touches on her childhood in Clinton, raising two daughters, juggling multiple jobs, and why she still drops everything for an opportunity to hunt or fish. Amanda also reflects on the legacy of Mississippi Outdoors TV — the longest-running state agency outdoor show in the entire country — and the joy of being recognized by viewers who grew up watching her.Mississippi Outdoors is produced by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.