Wildlife Management Area Information
Wildlife Management Area - Acres - Nearest Town
Bienville - 26,760 - Morton
Black Prairie - 6,001 - Brooksville
Calling Panther - 1,094 - Hazlehurst
Canal Section - 29,672 - Fulton
Canemount - 3,587 - Port Gibson
Caney Creek - 28,000 - Forest
Caston Creek - 28,286 - Meadville
Charles Ray Nix - 4,000 - Sardis
Charlie Capps - 600 - Cleveland
Chickasaw - 26,815 - Houston
Chickasawhay - 29,049 - Laurel
Choctaw - 21,705 - Ackerman
Copiah County - 7,466 - Hazlehurst
Cossar S.P - 604 - Oakland
Divide Section - 15,337 - Iuka
Hell Creek - 2,344 - New Albany
Howard Miller - 2,420 - Rolling Fork
John Bell Williams - 3,135 - Fulton
John W Starr - 8,244 - Starkville
Lake George - 8,383 - Holly Bluff
Leaf River - 41,350 - Wiggins
Leroy Percy - 1,642 - Hollandale
Little Biloxi - 13,687 - McHenry
Mahannah - 12,675 - Redwood
Malmaison - 9,953 - Greenwood
Marion County - 7,200 - Columbia
Mason Creek - 26,075 - Richton
Wildlife Management Area - Acres - Nearest Town
Muscadine Farms - 3,046 - Avon
Nanih Waiya - 8,243 - Philadelphia
Natchez State Park - 2,261 - Natchez
Okatibbee - 6,883 - Collinsville
O’Keefe - 6,794 - Lambert
Old River - 15,091 - Poplarville
Pascagoula River - 39,150 - Vancleave
Pearl River - 6,925 - Canton
Phil Bryant - 17,816 - Redwood
Red Creek - 22,789 - Wiggins
Riverfront - 1,000 - Rosedale
Sandy Creek - 19,125 - Natchez
Shipland - 3,642 - Mayersville
Sky Lake - 4,306 - Belzoni
Stoneville - 1,664 - Leland
Sunflower - 61,481 - Rolling Fork
Tallahala - 27,442 - Montrose
Theodore A. Mars, Jr. - 896 - Poplarville
Trim Cane - 891 - Starkville
Tuscumbia - 2,436 - Corinth
Twin Oaks - 5,675 - Rolling Fork
Upper Sardis - 50,485 - Oxford
Ward Bayou - 13,234 - Moss Point
William C. (Billy) Deviney - 1,203 - Indianola
Wolf River - 10,194 - Poplarville
Yockanookany - 2,379 - McCool
Sharing Your Wildlife Management Areas and National Forests
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) and the National Forests in Mississippi are committed to providing safe recreational experiences for all users. Growing demands for recreational trails, places to hunt, and other outdoor activities have resulted in increased use of wildlife management areas and National Forests. Interactions between recreational visitors are occurring more frequently. In response, the MDWFP and National Forests in Mississippi are increasing efforts to raise individual awareness by providing tips to our visitors. Please follow these tips to ensure a safe visit for yourself and others and “Live to Play Another Day”.
Tips for Trail Users
Trail Users: Know local hunting seasons—Specific dates for hunting seasons vary year-to-year and also by type of game hunted and the weapon used. Small-game seasons (dove, squirrel, rabbit, etc.) stretch from September through February. Deer seasons generally occur from October through January or mid-February. Turkey seasons usually run from mid-March through the beginning of May. Learn the regulations and hunting seasons for the areas where you will be recreating before you go. See www.mdwfp.com for specific information.
Trail Users: Wear hunter orange—Wear a hunter orange hat and vest (and pack cover if backpacking), or hooded outerwear when out in fall, winter, and spring. Horse riders should make or buy brightly colored rump sheets for their horses.
Trail Users: Other clothing tips—Avoid wearing colors that could be mistaken for game animals—white or brown during deer seasons; red or blue during turkey seasons.
Trail Users: Be heard—Make sure you are heard before you are seen by whistling, singing, talking, etc., while on a trail. Tie small bells to your stirrups.
Trail Users: Communicate—Conflicts between hunters and trail riders seem to be relatively rare. If you meet hunters tell them your planned route. Try to keep the communication open.
Trail Users: Avoid peak hunting times—Avoid riding at peak times such as the opening day of a particular hunting season or early mornings/late afternoons.
Trail Users: Try to avoid known hunting areas—If possible, use trails located outside of state WMAs during peak hunting periods.
Trail Users:
• Know when hunting seasons are open
• Wear hunter orange during open seasons
• Make your presence known
Tips for Hunters
Hunters: ID your target––Be sure of your target and what is in front of and beyond it. Before you pull the trigger you must properly identify game animals. Until your target is fully visible and in good light, do not even raise your scope to see it. Use binoculars!
Hunters: Don’t shoot—Across roads, trails or waterways. These areas may be occupied by people.
Hunters: Avoid—Avoid alcohol and medications that may impair judgment before or while handling firearms.
Hunters: Educate yourself—Obey all the rules of firearm safety and insist that those around you do the same.
Hunters: Know where trails are—National Forest trail maps can be obtained at U.S. Forest Service ranger district offices. WMA maps located at WMA visitor permit stations include maps showing trails on the areas.
Hunters: Be alert for trail users and make your presence is known to them—Trail users may be unfamiliar with hunting. Trail users may not be aware of hunting seasons or that they are in or near areas open to hunting. Trail users may not be wearing hunter orange. Please use appropriate caution and communicate openly.
Hunters:
• Always positively identify your target
• Be aware that trail users may be present
• Make your presence known
The websites below contain additional related information that visitors might find useful.
Leave No Trace:
www.lnt.org
Respected Access:
www.respectedaccess.org
Tread Lightly:
www.treadlightly.org
International Hunter Education
Association:
www.ihea.com
National Forests in Mississippi
100 West Capitol Street, Suite 1141
Jackson, MS 39269
(601) 965-1600
www.fs.usda.gov/mississippi
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks
1505 Eastover Drive
Jackson, MS 39211
(601) 432-2400
www.mdwfp.com
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write to:
USDA
Director, Office of Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20250-9410
800-795-3272 (voice) or 202-720-6382(TDD)
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
