Wildlife Management Area Information

Wildlife Management Area	Acres	Nearest Town
Bienville	26,760	Morton
Black Prairie	6,001	Brooksville
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
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:

• Know when hunting seasons are open
• Wear hunter orange during open seasons
• Make your presence known

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.

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.

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