Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 40 - Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks › Part 2 - Wildlife › Chapter 1 - Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) › Rule 40-2-1.18 - PASCAGOULA RIVER WMA REGULATIONS

Current through June 25, 2024
A. Regulations for
				Pascagoula River Wildlife Management Area in George and Jackson Counties.
SPECIES
SEASON
COMMENTS
DEER
For deer hunting regulations see DEER DATA
								COLLECTION, LEGAL BUCKS, and AREA 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
WITH DOGS in DEER HUNTING WITH DOGS AREA only.
								Legal bucks only.
Primitive Weapon
Dec. 2 - Dec. 15
Legal bucks only.
Gun
Dec. 16 - Dec. 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
March 8 - 14
TURKEY
March 15 - May 1
March 15 - March 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
Same as statewide seasons.
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. AREA RESTRICTIONS:
a. DEER HUNTING WITHOUT DOGS AREA: That
				portion of the WMA located in Jackson County east of the Pascagoula River and
				north of Big Slough. Deer hunting with dogs is prohibited. Small game hunting
				with dogs is allowed during any small game season. Hog hunting with dogs
				allowed during daylight hours only Feb. 16 - 28 with weapons legal for small
				game.
b. DEER HUNTING WITH DOGS
				AREA: That portion of the WMA located in George County and the portion located
				in Jackson County west of the Pascagoula River and south of Big Slough. Small
				game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season. Hog hunting
				with dogs is allowed during any deer with dog season. In addition, hog hunting
				with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 16 - 28 with
				weapons legal for small game.
3. 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.
4. DEER DATA COLLECTION:
				All deer harvested must be checked at the WMA Headquarters or at the first
				self-service data collection station encountered and recorded on WMA Daily Use
				Permit Card or WMA Check-In App by the hunter who harvested them before leaving
				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. 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.
6. LEGAL WEAPONS: Only centerfire rifles,
				shotguns with slugs or buckshot, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may
				be used for deer hunting.
7.
				OFF-ROAD MOTORIZED VEHICLES/ATVs/WATERCRAFT: 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 only allowed for retrieval of
				harvested deer or hogs. Deer hunting is not allowed from designated ORV/ATV
				trails. ORVs/ATVs/Watercraft left unattended in the Big Swamp must be stored at
				one of the three designated storage areas. These areas must be maintained in a
				neat and orderly manner. ORVs/ATVs left unattended must have the owner's name
				and phone number permanently and legibly written and attached to the
				handlebars. Watercraft left unattended must be registered or have the owner's
				name and phone number permanently and legibly written and attached to the hull.
				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. 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 only in designated areas, or 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.
10. HIGH WATER: Hunting
				seasons (excluding waterfowl season) are closed when the Pascagoula River gauge
				at Merrill reads 18.0 ft or higher or Graham Ferry reads 15.0 ft or higher.
				Deep Slough and Graham Lake Roads in Jackson County will be closed 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.
11. HOUSEBOATS: Houseboats are
				not allowed to be anchored, secured, or otherwise attached to any lands or
				structure within WMA boundaries.
12. TREE REMOVAL: No timber or firewood may
				be cut or removed from the WMA without written permission from the Area
				Manager, to include the removal of live, dead, floating, or submerged
				timber.