40 Miss. Code. R. 2-1.15 - [Effective until 6/30/2025] OKATIBBEE WMA REGULATIONS

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 - Non-Residents 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.

Notes

40 Miss. Code. R. 2-1.15

Miss. Code Ann. §§ 49-1-29, 49-4-4, and 49-5-13.

Updated April 2014 Amended 7/5/2015 Updated April 2015 Amended 6/26/2016 Updated April 2017 Amended 6/24/2017 Updated April 2018 Amended 7/7/2018 Amended 6/28/2019 Updated August 2019 Amended 10/28/2019 Amended 6/17/2020 Amended 6/17/2021 Amended 6/27/2022 Amended 6/26/2023 Amended 7/25/2024