Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 40 - Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks › Part 2 - Wildlife › Chapter 1 - Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) › Rule 40-2-1.15 - OKATIBBEE WMA REGULATIONS

Current through June 25, 2024
A. Regulations for
				Okatibbee Wildlife Management Area in Lauderdale and Kemper Counties.
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 Gun
Saturday two weeks prior to the opening day of
								Primitive Weapon/Shotgun season through the Friday prior to
								Thanksgiving.
Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
Primitive Weapon/Shotgun
Saturday prior to Thanksgiving - Jan. 28
Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
Handicapped Hunt
Jan. 29 - Jan. 31
Antlerless deer and legal bucks. See HANDICAPPED
								HUNT in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
YOUTH TURKEY
March 8 - 14
TURKEY
March 15 - May 1
March 15 - Mar. 31 - NonResidents by permit only
								through the Non-Resident Public Land Draw.
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
TRAPPING
Nov. 1 - Feb. 28
WATERFOWL
Shooting hours end at 12 p.m.
RABBIT
Saturday nearest Oct. 15 - Feb. 28
QUAIL
Thanksgiving Day through the first Saturday in
								March.
DOVE
Same as statewide seasons.
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. 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.
4. DEER DATA
				COLLECTION: All deer harvested must be checked at the check station near the
				WMA Headquarters building 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.
5. HANDICAPPED HUNT: To
				apply, hunters must register at the WMA Office prior to Jan. 1. This is a three
				day hunt starting at 12 p.m. on Jan. 29 and ending at 12: p.m. on Jan. 31.
				Eligible handicapped hunters must meet the criteria specified in 40 Miss Admin
				Code Part 2, Rule 1.4. During the Handicapped Hunt, weapons will be hunter's
				choice. Hunters may be accompanied by someone to assist, but not participate in
				the hunt.
6. 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.
7. LEGAL WEAPONS:
				Only shotguns with slugs and primitive weapons may be used for deer hunting,
				EXCEPT that youth may use centerfire rifles during the youth deer hunt and
				during the shotgun/primitive weapon season.
8. OFF-ROAD MOTORIZED VEHICLES/ATVs:
				ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles are allowed for retrieval of harvested deer or hogs
				only. 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.
9. HORSES:
				No horses allowed.
10. CAMPING: No
				camping allowed.