Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 40 - Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks › Part 2 - Wildlife › Chapter 1 - Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) › Rule 40-2-1.17 - OLD RIVER WMA REGULATIONS

Current through June 25, 2024
A. Regulations for
				Old River Wildlife Management Area in Pearl River County.
SPECIES
SEASON
COMMENTS
DEER
For deer hunting regulations see DEER DATA
								COLLECTION, LEGAL BUCKS, and DOG RESTRICTIONS in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
Archery
Oct. 15 through the Friday prior to
								Thanksgiving
Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
Youth Gun
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 - Dec. 1
Legal bucks only.
Primitive Weapon
Dec. 2 - Dec. 15
Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
Gun
Dec. 16 - Dec. 23
Legal bucks only.
Gun
December 24 until 47 days of regular gun hunting
								for entire deer season.
Legal bucks only.
Primitive Weapon
Day after the final day of Gun Season through
								February 15
Legal bucks only.
YOUTH TURKEY
Season Closed.
TURKEY
Season Closed.
YOUTH SQUIRREL
Sept. 24 - 30
SQUIRREL
Oct. 1 - Feb. 28
May 15 - June 1
RACCOON
Jul. 1 - Sep. 30
Friday and Saturday nights only.
RACCOON, OPOSSUM & BOBCAT
Oct.1 - Feb. 28
See BOBCAT in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
TRAPPING
Nov. 1 - Feb. 28
See TRAPPING in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
RABBIT
Saturday nearest Oct. 15 - Feb. 28
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 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 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 the bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) per
				day. All harvested deer count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise
				stated.
3. 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.
4. LEGAL BUCKS:
				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.
5.
				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.
6. LEGAL WEAPONS: Only centerfire rifles,
				shotguns with slugs, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for
				deer hunting.
7. OFF-ROAD MOTORIZED
				VEHICLES/ATVs: ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles are allowed only on designated
				trails for hunting and fishing access only. Off-road use of ORVs/ATVs/Electric
				Bicycles are allowed for the retrieval of harvested deer or hogs only.
				EXCEPTION: ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles are not allowed on that portion of the
				area within the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge. 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.
8. HORSES: 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.
9. CAMPING: Camping is allowed in designated
				areas only. Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days. After 14 consecutive
				days, all camping equipment must be removed for a minimum of 72 hours. Camping
				equipment may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours. All camping
				equipment and garbage must be removed before final departure.
10. HIGH WATER: Hunting seasons (excluding
				Waterfowl season) are closed on the WMA when the Pearl River gauge at Bogalusa
				reads 18.0 ft or higher. Horseshoe Lake Road will be closed when the river
				gauge at Bogalusa reads 16.0 ft or higher. Roads will be re-opened when
				conditions are suitable for vehicle use that will minimize road damage. River
				stages can be obtained from the internet at
www.mdwfp.com/wma
, the local newscast, or by
				calling 985-649-0357.
11. TRAPPING:
				Trapping is not allowed on that portion of the WMA within the Bogue Chitto
				National Wildlife Refuge.
12.
				BOBCAT: The harvest of bobcat is not allowed on that portion of the WMA within
				the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge.
13. TREE REMOVAL: No timber or firewood may
				be cut or removed from area without written permission from Area Manager, to
				include the removal of live, dead, floating or submerged timber.
14. SLAT BOXES: No slat boxes are allowed in
				or may be transported through the WMA.
15. WATERCRAFT: Watercraft left unattended
				must be registered or have the owner's name and phone number permanently and
				legibly written and attached to the hull. All watercraft left unattended in ALL
				waterways within the WMA boundaries must be registered or have the owner's name
				and phone number permanently and legibly written and attached to the hull.
				Watercraft left unattended in all area waterways for more than 30 days may be
				confiscated and disposed of by the MDWFP. ORVs/ATVs/Watercraft not in
				compliance with these regulations or left unattended on the area more than 30
				days may be confiscated and disposed of by the MDWFP.