40 Miss. Code. R. 2-1.23

Current through December 10, 2024
Rule 40-2-1.23 - SUNFLOWER WMA REGULATIONS
A. Regulations for Sunflower Wildlife Management Area in Sharkey County.

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.

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.

Primitive Weapon

Dec. 2 -15

Antlerless deer and legal bucks.

Gun

Dec. 16 -23

Legal bucks.

Gun

Dec. 24 - Jan 22

Legal bucks with dogs

Primitive Weapon

Jan 23 - 31

Legal bucks.

TURKEY

Permit only

See TURKEY HUNTING in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.

YOUTH SQUIRREL

Sept. 24 - 30

SQUIRREL

Oct. 1 - Feb. 28 May 15 - June 1

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

Same as statewide seasons.

See WATERFOWL in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.

YOUTH, VETERANS, and ACTIVE MILITARY WATERFOWL

Open concurrent with the statewide Youth Waterfowl Season

See WATERFOWL in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.

B. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
1. WMA USER PERMIT: All persons participating in hunting, fishing, or trapping on this wildlife management area, 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 by using the WMA Check-In App and any required license and may be purchased wherever licenses are sold.
2. BAG LIMITS: Same as statewide bag limits except that the bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) and on antlered deer is two (2), and 1 adult gobbler per permitted hunt. All harvested deer count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated.
3. DEER DATA COLLECTION: All deer harvested must be recorded on DAILY VISITOR USE PERMIT card before leaving the area. All deer harvested must be checked at a self-service data collection station and recorded on WMA Daily Use Permit Card or WMA Check-In App 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 jawbones). Instructions and equipment will be provided.
4. LEGAL BUCKS Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 15 inches OR one main beam length of at least 18 inches. For hunters 15 years of age or younger any antlered buck is a legal buck.
5. DOG RESTRICTIONS: Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs season. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1 - 28 with weapons legal for small game.
6. LEGAL WEAPONS: Only centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs or buckshot, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting.
7. WATERFOWL: Shooting hours end at 12:00 noon in the greentree reservoir, except during the youth, veterans, and active military waterfowl hunt which runs concurrent to statewide seasons.
8. NO HUNTING from or within 100ft of the toe of the greentree reservoir levees or from or within 100ft of pipeline rights-of-ways during deer firearm seasons.
9. OFF-ROAD MOTORIZED VEHICLES/ATVs: ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles are allowed on designated roads or trails, and only for the retrieval of harvested deer or hogs. Before operating ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles, users must obtain an ATV/UTV permit from the U.S. Forest Service and be familiar with the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) published annually by the U.S. Forest Service. The MVUM explains when and where ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles may be used. Permits and MVUMs are available from the Delta Ranger District office in Rolling Fork, MS, and MVUMs online at www.fs.usda.gov/main/mississippi/maps-pubs.
10. HORSES: Hunting from horseback is allowed.
11. CAMPING: Camping is allowed subject to U.S. Forest Service regulations.
12. HIGH WATER LEVEL CLOSURE: ALL activities, EXCEPT for waterfowl hunting, will close when the Steele Bayou landside gauge reaches 90.0 feet and shall remain so until the Steele Bayou level falls to or below 88.0 feet.

40 Miss. Code. R. 2-1.23

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 September 2019
Amended 10/28/2019
Amended 6/17/2020
Amended 6/17/2021
Amended 6/27/2022
Amended 6/26/2023
Amended 12/11/2023
Amended 7/25/2024