Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 40 - Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks › Part 2 - Wildlife › Chapter 1 - Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) › Rule 40-2-1.25 - WARD BAYOU WMA REGULATIONS

Current through June 25, 2024
A. Regulations for
				Ward Bayou Wildlife Management Area in Jackson County.
SPECIES
SEASON
COMMENTS
DEER
For deer hunting regulations see DEER DATA
								COLLECTION, LEGAL BUCKS, DOG RESTRICTIONS, and LEGAL WEAPONS 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
WITH DOGS IN DEER HUNTING WITH DOGS AREA only.
								Legal bucks only.
Primitive Weapon
Dec. 2 - 15
Legal bucks only.
Gun
Dec. 16 - 23
WITHOUT DOGS. Legal bucks only.
Gun
December 24 until 47 days of regular gun hunting
								for entire deer season.
WITH DOGS IN DEER HUNTING WITH DOGS AREA only.
								Legal bucks only.
Primitive Weapon
Day after the final day of Gun Season through
								February 15.
Legal bucks only.
YOUTH TURKEY - Permit Only
March 8 - May 1
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday by permit only. See
								SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
YOUTH SQUIRREL
Sept. 24 - 30
SQUIRREL
Oct. 1 - Feb. 28
May 15 - June 1
RACCOON
Jul. 1 - Sept. 30
Friday and Saturday nights only.
RACCOON, OPOSSUM & BOBCAT
Oct. 1 - Feb. 28
TRAPPING
Nov. 1 - Feb. 28
WATERFOWL
See Federal Regulations.
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 self-service data collection station
				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, except during gun seasons with
				dogs, when a legal buck is a buck with an inside spread of at least 10 inches
				OR one main beam length of at least 13 inches.
5. DOG RESTRICTIONS: Deer and small game
				hunting with dogs is allowed EXCEPT in the Still Hunting Only Area. 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. YOUTH TURKEY HUNTING PERMITS: Youth turkey
				hunting on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from March 8 - May 1 will be 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.
7. LEGAL WEAPONS: Only centerfire rifles,
				shotguns with slugs, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for
				deer hunting.
8. WATERFOWL HUNTING:
				Waterfowl hunting in and entering into any ponds west of the hill road from the
				WMA headquarters to the large power line is prohibited.
9. OFF-ROAD MOTORIZED VEHICLES/ATVs:
				ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles are allowed for the retrieval of harvested deer or
				hogs only. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on sandbars. 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.
10. 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.
11. CAMPING: Camping is
				allowed only on sandbars and along rivers and creeks, provided such camp is
				visible from a boat. Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days. All campsites
				must be maintained in a neat and orderly manner. Camping equipment may not be
				left unattended for more than 24 hours. All camping equipment and garbage must
				be removed before final departure.
12. HIGH WATER: Hunting seasons (excluding
				waterfowl season) are closed on the WMA when the river gauge at Graham Ferry
				reads 15.0 ft. or higher. Ward Bayou Road will be closed from the Ward Bayou
				bridge eastward when the river gauge at Graham Ferry reads 12.0 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
www.mdwfp.com/wma
or by calling
				228-769-6508. The earliest daily reading will determine WMA closure for the
				entire day.
13. TREE REMOVAL: No
				timber or firewood may be cut or removed from area without written permission
				from the Area Manager, to include the removal of live, dead, floating, or
				submerged timber.
14. COMMERCIAL
				FISHING: Commercial fishing is not allowed within the WMA.
15. CLOSED SANDBARS: Sandbars within the WMA
				boundaries are closed for the protection of nesting endangered species. No
				overnight camping allowed during this time. No dogs allowed on
				sandbars.
16. HOUSEBOATS:
				Houseboats are not allowed to be anchored, secured, or otherwise attached to
				any lands or structure within WMA boundaries.
17. NATURE TRAILS: Use of designated nature
				trails is allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset
				only.
18. ROADS: The gate at
				Kirkwood Road will be closed to vehicular traffic from June 1 - October
				1.