40 Miss. Code. R. 2-1.17 - [Effective until 6/30/2025] OLD RIVER WMA REGULATIONS

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. No buckshot is allowed.

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.

Notes

40 Miss. Code. R. 2-1.17

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

Updated April 2014 Amended 7/5/2015 Updated April 2016 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