2012-2013 Deer Hunting Season Closes Published Feb. 19, 2013 By Frank Lockhart 14th Civil Engineer Squadron COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 2013 Mississippi deer hunting season officially closed on Jan. 31. Forty-one hunters from Columbus AFB have participated in the 42-day hunting season. Those hunters harvested 21 deer on Columbus AFB: one 9-point, one 8-point, two 7-points, two six-points and 15 does. Hunters aren't the only ones who benefited from this year's harvest. Controlling the deer population on-base significantly reduces the probability of deer entering the airfield area where they could endanger our pilots and aircraft. Don't worry if you missed this deer hunting season! The latest deer survey by the USDA biologists indicated between 70 and 80 deer remain on-base and continually enter from off-base property. The 2013-2014 hunting season will open on Oct 1, 2013. All hunting is not over yet this year. There are still a few days left for the rabbit and squirrel hunting season which ends Feb. 28. All hunting on Columbus AFB will close Feb 28, 2013 due to the absence of turkeys. Turkey season is open from March 15 until May 1, 2013 at Shuqualak (Gunshy) Auxiliary Field only. Members are reminded that during open hunting seasons on Columbus AFB, Shotgun Road is closed to pedestrian, non-hunting traffic. Shotgun Road is the un-paved road off of Independence Avenue across from Tin pusher Circle (just past the Fire Department) as you travel towards the old SAC area. For more information, contact the Columbus AFB Game Warden, Frank Lockhart at 434-7958.
