40 MAC Pt. 2, R. 1.12
MAHANNAH WMA REGULATIONS
Cite as 40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, R. 1.12
MAHANNAH WMA REGULATIONS.
A. Regulations for Mahannah Wildlife Management Area in Issaquena and Warren
Counties.
SPECIES
OPENING
DATE
CLOSING
DATE
COMMENTS
DEER
For deer hunting regulations see
BAG LIMITS, DEER DATA
COLLECTION, DEER
HUNTING PERMITS, LEGAL
BUCKS, SPECIAL BUCK TAGS,
and DOG RESTRICTIONS in
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
Archery
– Permit Only
Oct. 1
Oct. 30
Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
Youth Gun –
Oct. 31
Nov. 1
Antlerless deer and any antlered
buck.
Primitive Weapon
Nov. 5
Nov. 29
Antlerless deer and legal bucks
– Permit Only
Gun - Permit
Only
Dec. 1
Dec. 31
Antlerless deer and Legal bucks.
Archery/
Youth Gun
Jan. 1
Jan. 14
Legal bucks only.
Senior Adult –
Permit Only
Jan. 14
Jan. 15
Antlerless deer and Legal bucks.
See bag limits.
TURKEY
Permit Only
See Turkey HUNTING in
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
YOUTH
SQUIRREL
Sept. 24
Sept. 30
SQUIRREL &
RABBIT
Oct. 1
Dec. 31
Saturdays only, except closed on
Oct. 31
SQUIRREL &
RABBIT
Jan. 1
Feb. 28
Daily.
SQUIRREL
May 15
June 1
Daily.
RACCOON
Jul. 1
Sep. 30
Friday and Saturday nights only.
RACCOON,
OPOSSUM &
BOBCAT
Oct. 1
Jan. 1
Dec. 25
Feb. 28
Friday nights only.
Daily.
FISHING
Feb 1
Oct 1
Sept 30
Jan 31
Daily.
Saturdays only. Fishing not
allowed in waterfowl and timber
hunting units.
TRAPPING
Jan. 1
Feb. 28
WATERFOWL -
Permit Only -
Except for youth.
Veterans, and
active military
See WATERFOWL in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
waterfowl hunts,
and the post season
light goose
conservation order.
YOUTH,
VETERANS, AND
ACTIVE
MILITARY
WATERFOWL
Open concurrent with the
statewide Youth, Veterans, and
Active Military Waterfowl Season
See WATERFOWL in SPECIAL
INSTRUCTIONS.
POST SEASON
LIGHT GOOSE
CONSERVATION
ORDER
See Federal Regulations.
Open after waterfowl season.
QUAIL
Nov. 28
Jan. 1
Dec. 30
Mar. 6
Saturdays and Wednesdays Only.
Daily.
DOVE
See DOVE in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS. Migratory Bird Hunting in
Special Instructions.
WOODCOCK and
SNIPE
Same as Statewide Seasons.
Saturdays and Wednesdays only
prior to Dec. 31.
Daily from Jan. 1 to the close of
the season.
See Migratory Bird Hunting in
Special Instructions.
Mahannah WMA Will Be Closed To ALL ACTIVITES On Tuesdays from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31.
SCOUTING IS ALLOWED ON SATURDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS
B. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
1. WMA USER PERMIT: All persons using 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 using the WMA Check-In App and any required license
and may be purchased wherever licenses are sold.
2. CLOSED AREA: The Waterfowl Sanctuary, enclosed by the East Sanctuary
Road on the east, Anderson Tully Road on the south and the main levee on the west, is closed to
ALL ENTRY.
3. BAG LIMITS: Same as statewide bag limits except that during permit hunts on
deer the legal buck bag limit is one per hunt and 1 adult gobbler per permitted hunter. All harvested
deer and turkey count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated. The bag limit during
the Senior Adult Hunt will be 1 legal buck and 1 antlerless deer per hunt.
4. DEER DATA COLLECTION: All deer harvested must be checked at the WMA
headquarters 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 jawbone). Instructions and equipment will be provided. ALL antlerless
deer heads harvested on Mahannah WMA must be deposited in the Mahannah or Phil Bryant CWD
Collection freezer.
5. DEER HUNTING PERMITS: Deer hunting, except for the youth gun hunt and
the January archery hunt, is allowed by special permit only. You may apply online at
www.mdwfp.com. See application for hunt dates, application deadlines, and other information
about permitted hunts.
6. LEGAL BUCKS: Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 16
inches OR one main beam length of at least 20 inches. During the Youth Only Hunt ONLY,
hunters 15 years of age or younger may harvest any antlered buck. During ALL other Permit Only
hunts, and the Archery/Youth Gun season (Jan. 1 – Jan 14), a youth hunter must harvest a buck
with an inside spread of at least 16 inches OR one main beam length of at least 20 inches.
7. DOG RESTRICTIONS: Deer hunting with dogs is prohibited. Small game
hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season. Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs
with the use of dogs is prohibited.
8. TURKEY HUNTING: Turkey hunting is allowed by permit only.
9. LEGAL WEAPONS: Only centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs, primitive
weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting.
10. WATERFOWL: All waterfowl hunts, except for the waterfowl youth,
Veterans, and Active Military hunts, and the post season light goose conservation order, are draw
hunts only. You may apply online at www.mdwfp.com. See application for hunt dates, application
deadlines, and other information about permitted hunts. Shooting hours end at 12 p.m. Waterfowl
hunters must be out of the assigned unit and back to Anderson-Tully Road by 1 p.m. except during
the youth, Veterans, and Active Military waterfowl hunt which shall run concurrent with the
statewide waterfowl youth, Veterans, and Active Military hunt. No boats, blinds, or decoys are to
be left out overnight. No persons may leave the Anderson-Tully Road or launch a boat until the
waterfowl draw process has been completed. Waterfowl draw hunts will be conducted for
Mahannah/Buck Bayou on Mondays. Wednesdays, and Saturdays only.
11. OFF-ROAD MOTORIZED VEHICLES/ATVs: ORVs/ATVs/Electric
Bicycles are allowed on designated roads or trails for hunting and fishing access only. Off-road
use of ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles is allowed for retrieval of harvested deer or hogs. During
all WMA deer firearms seasons, no loaded shoulder fired weapons allowed within 100 feet of
any road within Mahannah WMA, including ATV trails. 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. No ATV/ORV/Electric Bicycle or boat may be left on the
WMA overnight.
12. HORSES: Horseback riding is prohibited during WMA deer and turkey
seasons. At all other times, horseback riding is restricted to roads open to motorized vehicles and
designated ATV trails. Raccoon hunting from horses is allowed on entire area during nighttime
hunting hours.
13. CAMPING: Camping is allowed in designated areas only. Camping is limited
to 14 consecutive days. Camping equipment may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours.
All camping equipment and garbage must be removed before final departure. The camping area
is located next to the Mahannah WMA Headquarters.
14. SCOUTING is allowed daily prior to Oct. 1, and on any Saturdays,
Wednesdays, and on any small game hunting days thereafter. Only those persons drawn to hunt,
and waterfowl hunters during waterfowl season, will be allowed on the area during permitted
hunts.
15. HIGH WATER: ALL activities, EXCEPT for waterfowl, woodcock, and snipe
hunting, will close when the Mississippi River gauge at Vicksburg reaches forty-three (43.0) feet
and shall remain so until the Mississippi River level falls to or below 41.0 feet and/or when the
Steele Bayou landside gauge reaches 82.0 feet and shall remain so until the Steele Bayou level
falls to or below 80.0 feet. Small game hunting during high water is restricted to the area north of
Anderson Tully Road and east of the Waterfowl Sanctuary. Closings will be posted at
www.mdwfp.com/wma.
16. MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING: Dove hunting will be allowed daily from 2 p.m. until sunset
during the first dove season. No entry prior to 1:00 p.m. on opening day. During waterfowl season,
only permitted waterfowl hunters may hunt in the designated waterfowl impoundments.