Old fields across Mississippi often lack the plant diversity needed to support healthy wildlife populations. Many are dominated by non-native grasses such as bermudagrass, bahiagrass, tall fescue, and johnsongrass, which can limit plant variety and wildlife productivity, according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.
However, these areas are not beyond recovery. With proper management—such as herbicide application, disking, or prescribed burning—landowners can restore them into high-quality early successional habitat. Promoting native grasses, forbs, and browse can benefit species like quail, turkey, and deer.
The department provides a guide on how to convert and manage old fields to support wildlife. The full guide is available online at the department’s website.
