Froggin in Mississippi
“It tastes like chicken,” says Lance Zender, a nature lover from the Choctaw Bayou area. Lance is such a southern species – he’s a frog.
More than 30 types of frogs and toads live in the state of Magnolia according to the ASA. These range from the tiny one-inch-long oak toad, which is the smallest toad in North America, to the huge American bullfrog, which is the largest at over 8 inches. In between are legions of chorus frogs, narrow-mouthed toads, hog frogs, barking tree frogs, leopard frogs, and gray and white Fowler’s toads. The most popular among frog hunters are the olive to brown pig frog that can reach 6 inches in length, the southern leopard that has green and brown spots, and of course the American bullfrog. To say the least, there is a very diverse and abundant frog population in the state.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fish and Parks (MDWFP) classifies frog hunting as small game along with rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, possums, and bobcats. Mississippi frog season lasts from April Fools’ Day to the end of September typically and as such is the longest season of any game in the state at a full six months. Currently, the bag limit is set at 25 frogs and toads per night, that is, fifty legs and a good meal for the whole family. Make sure you have your license, hunter education card (if required), and are up to date on your limits and seasons by visiting the MDWFP website.
Best areas for Frog
Lakes, rubber ponds, and just about anywhere you see lots of flying insects and water lilies will be an ideal place for the frog to practice his art.
The swamp-rich Gulf Coast area, with its many wetlands, swamps, rivers, and streams, is slightly warmer in the winter than areas north of I-20, and as such, the frog population continues breeding during winter in many coastal estuaries. . This means that in the spring there is an explosion among the water lilies and the swampy grass of the overpopulation of frogs. These fertile breeding grounds of the Pascagoula river system, for example, are home to up to 109 species of fish, a unique species of turtle found only there, and all 30 known frogs in the state in its 9,600 square miles of wetlands. It is literally a paradise for toads.
That’s where Lance works his magic.
Frog hunting techniques
Working from a flat-bottomed aluminum boat older than him, Lance prowls the swamp most weekend nights with a Q light bulb and his half-brother Monroe, looking for the great bullfrogs. The team share the hunt and wealth, with one driving the boat and the other perched off to the side, focus on hand.
“You look for eyes,” explains Lance. “As soon as you pass that spotlight through the water, your eyes widen like stars. Then, head to the nearest stage.”
Once you are close enough to a guardian toad, it is up to the individual frog how he takes them. Some people go “ old school ” and snatch the hypnotized fly-eater from its perch on a log or lily pad and then toss it into the bin. Others use a 22 rifle to blow up the creature and then scoop it up with a dip net. Still others perform for the frogs, channeling the ancient hunter-gatherer with a spear experience still locked within his DNA from before his time.
“I’m a paddler,” Monroe boasts. The leather skin toad explains that the term is what the locals use to describe the method of stunning the frog with a good shot of boat paddle and then retrieving it while floating wondering which truck hit it.
To hold your frogs, some type of solid container with a lid is preferred, such as a cooler, trash can, or rubber container. Lance is a fan of pickle cubes with the lid tied to the cube with string so it doesn’t fall out of the pot in the dark and float through the swamp. “Yes, that happened once.” Lance says
It is only natural that there is a higher-tech group that advocates more sophisticated means of toad control. Some froggers wear perch slippers. There are even local cottage industry manufacturers who sell specially made Frogging Baskets. Made with PVC-coated wire and a rubber lid, the baskets are designed to fit inside a 48-quart cooler and safely hold up to 150 frogs at a time.
They are many frog legs.