40 Miss. Code. R. 2-1.2

Current through October 31, 2024

Rule 40-2-1.2 - NON-STATE OWNED, NON-COE WMA REGULATIONS

A. Regulations for Bienville, Representative Richard L. Dick Livingston AND Dale O. Windham WMA at Caney Creek, Caston Creek, Chickasaw, Chickasawhay, Choctaw, John Starr, Leaf River, Little Biloxi, Mason Creek, Red Creek, Sandy Creek, Tallahala, Upper Sardis, and Wolf River Wildlife Management Areas:

SPECIES	SEASON	COMMENTS
DEER		For deer hunting regulations see LEGAL BUCKS, DEER DATA COLLECTION, DOG RESTRICTIONS, and LEGAL WEAPONS in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
Archery	Oct. 1 through the Friday prior to Thanksgiving.	Antlerless deer and legal bucks. Bienville, Caney Creek, Caston Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, John Starr, Sandy Creek, Tallahala, and Upper Sardis.
	Oct. 15 through the Friday prior to Thanksgiving.	Antlerless deer and legal bucks. Chickasawhay, Leaf River, Little Biloxi, Mason Creek, Red Creek, and Wolf River.
Youth Deer	Saturday two weeks prior to opening day of Gun season through the Friday prior to Thanksgiving.	Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
Gun	Saturday prior to Thanksgiving through Dec. 1	Legal Bucks with Dogs: Bienville, Caney Creek, Caston Creek, Chickasaw, Leaf River, Mason Creek, and Tallahala.
		Legal Bucks without Dogs: Chickasawhay, Choctaw, Little Biloxi, Red Creek, Sandy Creek, and Wolf River.
		Antlerless deer and legal bucks without Dogs: Upper Sardis and John Starr.
Primitive Weapon	Dec. 2 - 15	Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
		Red Creek: Legal bucks only.
Gun	Dec. 16 - 23	Legal bucks only: Caston Creek, Chickasawhay, Choctaw, Leaf River, Little Biloxi, Mason Creek, Red Creek, Sandy Creek, and Wolf River.
		Antlerless deer and legal bucks: Bienville, Caney Creek, Chickasaw, John Starr, Tallahala, and Upper Sardis
Gun	Dec. 24 until 47 days of regular gun hunting for entire deer season.	Legal bucks with dogs: Caney Creek, Caston Creek, Chickasaw, Leaf River, Mason Creek, and Tallahala.
		Legal bucks without dogs: Chickasawhay, Choctaw, Little Biloxi, Red Creek, Sandy Creek, and Wolf River.
		Antlerless deer and legal bucks without dogs: Upper Sardis and John Starr.
	Dec. 24 - 31	Legal bucks without dogs: Bienville.
	Jan. 1 until 47 days of regular gun hunting for the entire deer season.	Legal bucks with dogs: Bienville.
Primitive Weapon	Day after the final day of Gun season -Jan. 31.	Legal bucks only: Bienville, Caney Creek, Caston Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Sandy Creek, and Tallahala.
		Antlerless deer and legal bucks: Upper Sardis and John Starr.
	Day after the final day of Gun season - Feb. 15.	Legal bucks only: Chickasawhay, Leaf River, Little Biloxi, Mason Creek, Red Creek, and Wolf River.
YOUTH TURKEY	March 8 - 14	Bienville, Chickasaw, Caney Creek, Caston Creek, Chickasawhay, John Starr, Leaf River, Red Creek, Sandy Creek, Tallahala, Upper Sardis, and Wolf River.
YOUTH TURKEY	Last Saturday and Sunday in March	Choctaw, Little Biloxi, and Mason Creek
TURKEY - PERMIT ONLY TURKEY	March 15 - March 31. April 1 - May 1	See TURKEY HUNTING PERMITS in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS. Bienville, Caney Creek, Caston Creek, Leaf River, Sandy Creek, Tallahala, and Upper Sardis.
TURKEY (for WMAs without permitted hunts)	March 15 - May 1 March 15 - Mar. 31 - Non-Residents by permit only through the Non-Resident Public Land Draw.	Chickasaw, Chickasawhay, John Starr, Red Creek, and Wolf River.
TURKEY (for WMAs without permitted hunts)	Apr. 1 - May 1	Choctaw, Little Biloxi, and Mason Creek
YOUTH SQUIRREL SQUIRREL	Sept. 24 - 30 Oct. 1 - Feb. 28 May 15 - June 1	Bienville, Caney Creek, Caston Creek, Chickasaw, Chickasawhay, Choctaw, John Starr, Leaf River, Little Biloxi, Mason Creek, Red Creek, Sandy Creek, Tallahala, Upper Sardis, and Wolf River.
RABBIT	Saturday nearest Oct. 15 - Feb. 28
RACCOON	Jul. 1 - Sep. 30	Friday and Saturday nights only.
RACCOON, OPPOSUM, & BOBCAT	Oct. 1 - Feb. 28
TRAPPING	Nov. 1 - Feb. 28
WATERFOWL	See Federal Regulations.	See WATERFOWL in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.

Whenever the opening date set above falls on a Sunday, the season shall begin on the preceding Saturday.

B. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. WMA USER PERMIT: All persons participating in hunting, fishing, or trapping on these wildlife management areas, except those exempt from purchasing an annual hunting or fishing license must carry on their person an annual statewide Wildlife Management Area User Permit. This permit is required in addition to completing the daily visitor use permit or using the WMA Check-In App and any required license and may be purchased wherever licenses are sold. Exceptions: Turkey Fork Lake, Davis Lake, Puskus Lake, and Choctaw Lake where no WMA user permits are required.

2. All persons using the following wildlife management areas, except those exempt from purchasing an annual hunting or fishing license must carry on their person an annual statewide Wildlife Management Area User Permit: John Starr and Wolf River. This permit is required in addition to completing the daily visitor use permit or using the WMA Check-In App and any required license and may be purchased wherever licenses are sold.

C. CLOSED AREAS:

1. Chickasaw: Areas with boundaries marked with white paint around Davis Lake area, Girl Scout Camp area, Prairie U. M. Church, and area west of Chickasaw WMA work center are designated as NO SHOOTING/NO HUNTING AREAS.

2. Choctaw: Area with boundary marked with white paint around Choctaw Lake and Campground is designated as NO SHOOTING/NO HUNTING AREAS.

3. John Starr: Areas with boundaries marked with red paint around Dorman Lake, School Forest hunter check station, campground on St. Mark Road, and ranger residence are designated as NO SHOOTING/NO HUNTING AREAS.

D. BAG LIMITS: Same as statewide bag limits, except the bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) per day and one of the three (3) bucks may be any antlered deer on Upper Sardis. ALL harvested deer count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated.

E. DEER DATA COLLECTION: All deer harvested must be recorded on DAILY VISITOR USE PERMIT card or the WMA Check-In App before leaving the area. All deer harvested must be checked at a self-service data collection station by the hunter who harvested them before leaving the WMA. If WMA personnel are not available to check the deer, the hunter is responsible for collecting and legibly recording ALL biological data (weight, antler measurements, and jawbone). Instructions and equipment will be provided. All heads from antlerless deer must be deposited in a Little Biloxi WMA CWD collection freezer or a collection freezer inside the Harrison CWD Zone.

F. LEGAL BUCKS:

1. Caston Creek, Chickasaw, Chickasawhay, Choctaw, John Starr, Little Biloxi, Mason Creek, Red Creek, Sandy Creek, Upper Sardis, and Wolf River: Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 10 inches OR one main beam length of at least 13 inches. For hunters 15 years of age or younger any antlered buck is a legal buck, EXCEPT FOR Mason Creek, and Caston Creek where, during gun seasons with dogs, a legal buck is a buck with an inside spread of at least 10 inches OR one main beam length of at least 13 inches.

2. Bienville, Caney Creek, Leaf River, and Tallahala: Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 12 inches OR one main beam length of at least 15 inches. For hunters 15 years of age or younger any antlered buck is a legal buck, EXCEPT FOR Bienville and Leaf River where, during gun seasons with dogs, a legal buck is a buck with an inside spread of at least 12 inches OR one main beam length of at least 15 inches.

G. DOG RESTRICTIONS: Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season.

1. Caney Creek:

a. AREA I (Deer Hunting Without Dogs Area): That portion of the WMA north of I-20, south of Hwy. 80, and east of Hwy. 501. Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited.

b. AREA II (Deer Hunting With Dogs Area): That portion of the WMA south of I-20 and north of Morton-Marathon Road (Road 506). Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs season. In addition, hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.

c. AREA III (Deer Hunting Without Dogs Area): That portion of the WMA south of Morton-Marathon Road (Road 506). Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.

2. Caston Creek:

a. DEER HUNTING WITHOUT DOGS AREA: The portion of the area west of Forest Service Road 155. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.

b. DEER HUNTING WITH DOGS AREA: The portion of the area east of Forest Service Road 155. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs season. In addition, hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game

i. From November 1 - January 31, all dog hunting groups or individuals hunting with dogs must obtain a permit to use dogs to hunt any animal or to train dogs on areas open to deer hunting with dogs on Homochitto National Forest. There is no cost for this permit. A permit will be issued to the dog hunting group. All hunters hunting with this group must be listed on the permit prior to hunting; except youth 15 years of age and younger. All hunters hunting with dogs or with the dog hunting group must have the permit on their person while hunting.

ii. Five (5) guest permits will be available in addition the individuals listed on the permit. Guest permits will be valid for 4 consecutive days and must be filled out with the date, hunter's name, hunting license number, and signed by the hunter prior to use. All guests must have the permit on their person while hunting. Guest permits must be turned in to the USFS Meadville office for replacement guest permits to be issued. When guest permits are turned in, a season permit will be issued for these individuals and replacement guest permits will be issued to the group.

iii. Permit numbers must be visually displayed on the back window of all vehicles in the hunting group A permit number will be provided with each individual permit issued. Hunters must display this permit number using 3-inch, block numbers in contrast to the background color.

iv. Permits will be available from the U.S. Forest Service Meadville office. Office location: 1200 Highway 184 East, Meadville, MS 39653. Office hours: 8 am - 4:30 pm (Monday - Friday).

v. Dogs must wear a functional tracking collar and be identified at all times with the permit number and the owner's contact information. Dogs must be kept on the Homochitto National Forest lands that allow deer hunting with dogs.

vi. An administrative review panel of MDWFP and U.S. Forest Service officials may, upon two (2) convictions or documented evidence of two (2) violations of this regulation within a 3-year period, revoke the dog hunting permit for a period of Twenty (20) days open to hunting deer with dogs. Upon three (3) convictions or documented evidence of three (3) violations of this regulation within a 3-year period, the dog hunting permit may be revoked for a period of one (1) year.

vii. Any person who files a false affidavit in justice court alleging a violation or violations of this rule, provides false information regarding a violation of this rule, or facilitates a situation which will cause a violation of this rule to occur may be subject to prosecution for perjury and, if found guilty, punished under the provisions of Miss. Code Ann. § 97-9-19, and/or be subject to a civil suit for false prosecution by the person accused of the violation.

3. Chickasaw:

a. DEER HUNTING WITH DOGS AREA: That portion of the WMA located north of Hwy. 32. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only from Feb. 1 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs season.

b. DEER HUNTING WITHOUT DOGS AREA: That portion of the WMA located south of Hwy. 32. Deer hunting with dogs is prohibited. Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only from Feb. 1 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.

4. Leaf River:

a. DEER HUNTING WITHOUT DOGS AREA: Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 16 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.

b. DEER HUNTING WITH DOGS AREA: That portion of the WMA west of Forest Service Road 315. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs season. In addition, hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 16 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.

5. Little Biloxi, Wolf River, and Red Creek: Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 16 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.

6. Mason Creek: Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs season. In addition, hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 16 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.

7. Sandy Creek and Upper Sardis: Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1 - 28 with weapons legal for small game.

8. Tallahala:

a. DEER HUNTING WITH DOGS AREA: The portion of the WMA north of Forest Service Road 506 and west of Cedar Creek. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs season. In addition, hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1- Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.

b. DEER HUNTING WITHOUT DOGS AREA: Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1 - 28 with weapons legal for small game.

9. Bienville: Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs season. In addition, hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1 - 28 with weapons legal for small game.

10. Chickasawhay, Choctaw and John Starr: Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited.

H. TURKEY HUNTING PERMITS: Turkey hunting for March 15 - March 31 is allowed by special permit only on Bienville, Caney Creek, Caston Creek, Leaf River, Sandy Creek, Tallahala, and Upper Sardis. You may apply online at www.mdwfp.com. See application for hunt dates, application deadlines, and other information about permitted hunts.

I. LEGAL WEAPONS: Only centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs or buckshot, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting, EXCEPT FOR Chickasaw, Chickasawhay, Choctaw, John Starr, Little Biloxi, and Upper Sardis where only centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting and no buckshot is allowed.

J. NO HUNTING:

1. Caney Creek: No parking or hunting from I-20.

K. OFF-ROAD VEHICLES/ATVs: Off-road vehicle use, including electric bicycles, will be governed by U. S. Forest Service regulations or the regulations below:

1. John Starr/Wolf River: ORVs/ATVs/electric bicycles are allowed for the retrieval of harvested deer or hogs only. Additionally, electric bicycles may be ridden on marked foot-traffic trails only by users 65 years of age and older. They may not be ridden on any leveed roads or trails.

2. Little Biloxi: Off-road vehicle use will be governed by U. S. Forest Service regulations. On Weyerhaeuser property within the wildlife management area, ORVs/ATVs/electric bicycles are allowed for the retrieval of harvested deer or hogs only.

3. Upper Sardis: Off-road vehicle use will be governed by U. S. Forest Service regulations. Off-road vehicle use will be governed by U. S. Army Corps of Engineers regulations on property owned by the Corps within Upper Sardis WMA. No motorized vehicles, including electric bikes, are allowed off-road nor on closed roads on U.S. Forest Service-owned portion of Upper Sardis WMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-owned portion of Upper Sardis WMA west of Twin Culverts Road/Riverside. Use of ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles are allowed for the retrieval of harvested deer or hogs. ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles are allowed on the COE-owned portion of Upper Sardis WMA east of Twin Culverts Road/Riverside for hunting and fishing access only.

L. HORSES: Hunting from horseback is allowed.

1. John Starr and Wolf River: During WMA deer and turkey seasons, horseback riding is restricted to roads open to motorized vehicles. Raccoon hunting from horses is allowed during nighttime hours.

2. Little Biloxi: USFS Portion: Hunting from horseback is allowed. Weyerhaeuser Portion: During deer and turkey seasons, horseback riding is restricted to roads open to motorized vehicles. Raccoon hunting from horses is allowed during nighttime hours.

M. CAMPING: Camping is allowed subject to U.S. Forest Service regulations or the regulations below:

1. Wolf River:

a. Camping is allowed in designated areas only.

b. Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days.

c. Camping equipment may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours.

d. All camping equipment and garbage must be removed before final departure.

2. John Starr:

a. Camping is allowed in designated campsites only.

b. Campers must obtain a permit from MSU Forest Operations (662) 325-2191.

3. Little Biloxi:

a. USFS Portion: Camping is allowed subject to U.S. Forest Service regulations.

b. Weyerhaeuser Portion: No camping allowed.

N. HUNTING PERMITS: John Starr: All hunters must obtain a hunting permit from the College of Forest Resources, Forest Operations Office, and (662) 325-2191.

40 Miss. Code. R. 2-1.2

Miss. Code Ann. §§ 49-1-29, 49-4-4, and 49-5-13.

Updated April 2014

Amended 7/5/2015

Updated April 2016

Amended 6/26/2016

Updated April 2017

Amended 6/24/2017

Updated August 2017

Amended 10/22/2017

Updated April 2018

Amended 7/7/2018

Updated May 2019

Amended 6/28/2019

Updated August 2019

Amended 10/28/2019

Amended 6/17/2020

Amended 6/17/2021

Amended 6/27/2022

Amended 6/26/2023

Amended 7/25/2024