A. Regulations for
Pascagoula River Wildlife Management Area in George and Jackson Counties.
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SPECIES
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SEASON
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COMMENTS
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DEER
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For deer hunting regulations see DEER DATA
COLLECTION, LEGAL BUCKS, and AREA RESTRICTIONS in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
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Archery
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Oct. 15 through the Friday prior to
Thanksgiving
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Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
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Youth Gun
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Saturday two weeks prior to opening day of Gun
season through the Friday prior to Thanksgiving
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Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
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Gun
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Saturday prior to Thanksgiving -Dec. 1
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WITH DOGS in DEER HUNTING WITH DOGS AREA only.
Legal bucks only.
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Primitive Weapon
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Dec. 2 - Dec. 15
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Legal bucks only.
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Gun
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Dec. 16 - Dec. 23
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WITHOUT DOGS. Legal bucks only.
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Gun
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December 24 until 47 days of regular gun hunting
for entire deer season.
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WITH DOGS in DEER HUNTING WITH DOGS AREA only.
Legal bucks only.
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Primitive Weapon
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Day after the final day of Gun Season through
February 15
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Legal bucks only.
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YOUTH TURKEY
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March 8 - 14
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TURKEY
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March 15 - May 1
March 15 - March 31 - Non-Residents by permit only
through the Non-Resident Public Land Draw.
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YOUTH SQUIRREL
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Sept 24 - 30
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SQUIRREL
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Oct. 1 - Feb. 28
May 15 - June 1
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RACCOON
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Jul. 1 - Sep. 30
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Friday and Saturday nights only.
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RACCOON, OPOSSUM & BOBCAT
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Oct. 1 - Feb. 28
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TRAPPING
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Nov. 1 - Feb. 28
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WATERFOWL
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Same as statewide seasons.
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RABBIT
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Saturday nearest Oct. 15 - Feb. 28
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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.
PASCAGOULA RIVER WMA - LAND BETWEEN THE CREEKS UNIT
REGULATIONS.
A. Regulations
for Pascagoula Wildlife Management Area - Land between the Creeks Unit
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SPECIES
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OPENING DATE
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CLOSING DATE
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COMMENTS
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DEER
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For deer hunting regulations see BAG LIMITS, DEER
DATA COLLECTION, DEER HUNTING PERMITS, LEGAL BUCKS, and DOG RESTRICTIONS in
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
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Archery
- Permit Only
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Oct. 15
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Oct. 30
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Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
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Youth Gun
- Permit Only
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Nov. 1
Dec. 20
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Dec. 1
Dec. 29
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Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
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Gun
- Permit Only
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Dec. 6
Jan. 17
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Dec. 15
Jan. 26
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Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
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Gun
- Senior Adult by permit only
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Jan. 3
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Jan. 12
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Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
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YOUTH TURKEY
- Permit Only
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March 8
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April 6
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See YOUTH TURKEY HUNTING in SPECIAL
INSTRUCTIONS.
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TURKEY
- Permit Only
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April 11
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April 27
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See TURKEY HUNTING PERMITS in SPECIAL
INSTRUCTIONS.
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YOUTH SQUIRREL
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Sept 24
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Sept 30
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SQUIRREL
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Feb. 1
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Feb. 28
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See SQUIRREL HUNTING in SPECIAL
INSTRUCTIONS.
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NO OTHER SEASONS shall be open and no other animals
shall be hunted or disturbed.
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The Commission may expand, shorten, restrict or
otherwise alter, the hunting opportunities set forth herein, in order to best
manage the animal population(s) on the management area. Any changes in hunting
opportunities may be affected by Executive Order.
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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:
a. Deer: One (1) antlerless deer and one (1)
legal buck per permitted hunt. All harvested deer count towards statewide bag
limits, unless otherwise stated. Youth are allowed harvest of one (1)
antlerless deer during specified seasons. Accompanying adults may harvest an
antlerless deer Oct. 15 - Nov. 15.
b. Turkey: One (1) legal turkey per permitted
hunt.
c. Squirrel: Ten (10) per
day.
3. DEER DATA
COLLECTION: All harvested deer must be checked at the Unit deer data 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.
DEER HUNTING PERMITS: Deer hunting is 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.
5. YOUTH DEER
HUNTING PERMITS: Youth deer hunting is 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.
6. LEGAL BUCKS:
During the Land between the Creeks Unit Youth Only Hunt, ONLY hunters 15 years
of age or younger may harvest any antlered buck. During ALL other Permit Only
hunts, a youth hunter must harvest a buck with an inside spread of at least 12
inches OR one main beam length of at least 15 inches.
7. TURKEY HUNTING: Turkey hunting is 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.
8. YOUTH TURKEY HUNTING: Youth turkey hunting
is 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.
9. SQUIRREL HUNTING:
Squirrel hunting is allowed only during the youth squirrel season Sep. 24 - 30
and from Feb. 1 - Feb. 28
10. DOG
RESTRICTIONS: Hunting with dogs is prohibited, except squirrel hunting with
dogs is allowed during squirrel season.
11. LEGAL WEAPONS: Centerfire rifles,
shotguns with slugs, centerfire handguns, primitive weapons, and archery
equipment may be used for deer hunting. Buckshot is prohibited.
12. OFF-ROAD MOTORIZED VEHICLES/ATVs:
ORVs/ATVs are allowed to be driven to designated parking areas and for
retrieval of harvested deer or hogs. During Turkey Season, electric carts may
be used on any WMA road open to motorized vehicles for turkey hunting access
during turkey season only. During all WMA deer firearms seasons, no loaded
shoulder fired weapons allowed within 100 feet of any road within a WMA. Access
to the unit via watercraft is prohibited during permitted deer and turkey
hunts. The landings at Carter Landing (Black Creek) and Holly Landing (Red
Creek) may be accessed by watercraft for non-consumptive purposes.
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.
14. HORSES:
Horseback riding is allowed on roads outside of any open hunting
season.
15. CAMPING: Camping is
allowed in designated camping areas during permitted draw hunts only.
16. SCOUTING is allowed daily from May 2 -
October 14 and Feb. 1 - March 14. From October 15 - Jan 31 scouting is allowed
Wednesdays only and from March 15 - May 1 is allowed on Thursdays only. Only
those persons drawn to hunt and/or accompanying adult for youth will be allowed
on the area during permitted deer hunts. During permitted turkey hunts, only
the hunter and their partner will be allowed on the area.
17. FISHING: Fishing is only allowed on
Saturdays and Sundays from May - August in Doyle's Pond.
18. 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.
