A. Regulations for
Bienville, Representative Richard L. Dick Livingston AND Dale O. Windham WMA at
Caney Creek, Caston Creek, Chickasaw, Chickasawhay, Choctaw, John Starr, Leaf
River, Little Biloxi, Mason Creek, Red Creek, Sandy Creek, Tallahala, Upper
Sardis, and Wolf River Wildlife Management Areas:
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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 LEGAL BUCKS, DEER
DATA COLLECTION, DOG RESTRICTIONS, and LEGAL WEAPONS in SPECIAL
INSTRUCTIONS.
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Archery
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Oct. 1 through the Friday prior to
Thanksgiving.
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Antlerless deer and legal bucks. Bienville, Caney
Creek, Caston Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, John Starr, Sandy Creek, Tallahala,
and Upper Sardis.
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Oct. 15 through the Friday prior to
Thanksgiving.
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Antlerless deer and legal bucks. Chickasawhay, Leaf
River, Little Biloxi, Mason Creek, Red Creek, and Wolf River.
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Youth Deer
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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 through Dec.
1
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Legal Bucks with Dogs: Bienville, Caney Creek,
Caston Creek, Chickasaw, Leaf River, Mason Creek, and Tallahala.
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Legal Bucks without Dogs: Chickasawhay, Choctaw,
Little Biloxi, Red Creek, Sandy Creek, and Wolf River.
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Antlerless deer and legal bucks without Dogs: Upper
Sardis and John Starr.
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Primitive Weapon
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Dec. 2 - 15
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Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
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Red Creek: Legal bucks only.
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Gun
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Dec. 16 - 23
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Legal bucks only: Caston Creek, Chickasawhay,
Choctaw, Leaf River, Little Biloxi, Mason Creek, Red Creek, Sandy Creek, and
Wolf River.
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Antlerless deer and legal bucks: Bienville, Caney
Creek, Chickasaw, John Starr, Tallahala, and Upper Sardis
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Gun
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Dec. 24 until 47 days of regular gun hunting for
entire deer season.
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Legal bucks with dogs: Caney Creek, Caston Creek,
Chickasaw, Leaf River, Mason Creek, and Tallahala.
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Legal bucks without dogs: Chickasawhay, Choctaw,
Little Biloxi, Red Creek, Sandy Creek, and Wolf River.
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Antlerless deer and legal bucks without dogs: Upper
Sardis and John Starr.
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Dec. 24 - 31
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Legal bucks without dogs: Bienville.
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Jan. 1 until 47 days of regular gun hunting for the
entire deer season.
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Legal bucks with dogs: Bienville.
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Primitive Weapon
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Day after the final day of Gun season -Jan.
31.
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Legal bucks only: Bienville, Caney Creek, Caston
Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Sandy Creek, and Tallahala.
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Antlerless deer and legal bucks: Upper Sardis and
John Starr.
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Day after the final day of Gun season - Feb.
15.
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Legal bucks only: Chickasawhay, Leaf River, Little
Biloxi, Mason Creek, Red Creek, and Wolf River.
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YOUTH TURKEY
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March 8 - 14
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Bienville, Chickasaw, Caney Creek, Caston Creek,
Chickasawhay, John Starr, Leaf River, Red Creek, Sandy Creek, Tallahala, Upper
Sardis, and Wolf River.
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YOUTH TURKEY
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Last Saturday and Sunday in March
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Choctaw, Little Biloxi, and Mason Creek
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TURKEY - PERMIT ONLY
TURKEY
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March 15 - March 31.
April 1 - May 1
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See TURKEY HUNTING PERMITS in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
Bienville, Caney Creek, Caston Creek, Leaf River, Sandy Creek, Tallahala, and
Upper Sardis.
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TURKEY (for WMAs without permitted hunts)
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March 15 - May 1
March 15 - Mar. 31 - Non-Residents by permit only
through the Non-Resident Public Land Draw.
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Chickasaw, Chickasawhay, John Starr, Red Creek, and
Wolf River.
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TURKEY (for WMAs without permitted hunts)
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Apr. 1 - May 1
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Choctaw, Little Biloxi, and Mason Creek
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YOUTH SQUIRREL
SQUIRREL
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Sept. 24 - 30
Oct. 1 - Feb. 28
May 15 - June 1
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Bienville, Caney Creek, Caston Creek, Chickasaw,
Chickasawhay, Choctaw, John Starr, Leaf River, Little Biloxi, Mason Creek, Red
Creek, Sandy Creek, Tallahala, Upper Sardis, and Wolf River.
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RABBIT
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Saturday nearest Oct. 15 - Feb. 28
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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, OPPOSUM, & 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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See Federal Regulations.
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See WATERFOWL in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
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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 participating
in hunting, fishing, or trapping on these wildlife management areas, 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
using the WMA Check-In App and any required license and may be purchased
wherever licenses are sold. Exceptions: Turkey Fork Lake, Davis Lake, Puskus
Lake, and Choctaw Lake where no WMA user permits are required.
2. All persons using the following wildlife
management areas, except those exempt from purchasing an annual hunting or
fishing license must carry on their person an annual statewide Wildlife
Management Area User Permit: John Starr and Wolf River. This permit is required
in addition to completing the daily visitor use permit or using the WMA
Check-In App and any required license and may be purchased wherever licenses
are sold.
C. CLOSED
AREAS:
1. Chickasaw: Areas with boundaries
marked with white paint around Davis Lake area, Girl Scout Camp area, Prairie
U. M. Church, and area west of Chickasaw WMA work center are designated as NO
SHOOTING/NO HUNTING AREAS.
2.
Choctaw: Area with boundary marked with white paint around Choctaw Lake and
Campground is designated as NO SHOOTING/NO HUNTING AREAS.
3. John Starr: Areas with boundaries marked
with red paint around Dorman Lake, School Forest hunter check station,
campground on St. Mark Road, and ranger residence are designated as NO
SHOOTING/NO HUNTING AREAS.
D. BAG LIMITS: Same as statewide bag
limits, except the bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) per day
and one of the three (3) bucks may be any antlered deer on Upper Sardis. ALL
harvested deer count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise
stated.
E. DEER DATA COLLECTION:
All deer harvested must be recorded on DAILY VISITOR USE PERMIT card or the WMA
Check-In App before leaving the area. All deer harvested must be checked at a
self-service data collection station 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. All heads from antlerless deer must be deposited in a Little Biloxi
WMA CWD collection freezer or a collection freezer inside the Harrison CWD
Zone.
F. LEGAL BUCKS:
1. Caston Creek, Chickasaw, Chickasawhay,
Choctaw, John Starr, Little Biloxi, Mason Creek, Red Creek, Sandy Creek, Upper
Sardis, and Wolf River: 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 FOR Mason Creek,
and Caston Creek where, during gun seasons with dogs, 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.
2. Bienville, Caney
Creek, Leaf River, and Tallahala: Legal bucks are those with an inside spread
of at least 12 inches OR one main beam length of at least 15 inches. For
hunters 15 years of age or younger any antlered buck is a legal buck, EXCEPT
FOR Bienville and Leaf River where, during gun seasons with dogs, a legal buck
is a buck with an inside spread of at least 12 inches OR one main beam length
of at least 15 inches.
G.
DOG RESTRICTIONS: Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game
season.
1. Caney Creek:
a. AREA I (Deer Hunting Without Dogs Area):
That portion of the WMA north of I-20, south of Hwy. 80, and east of Hwy. 501.
Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is
prohibited.
b. AREA II (Deer
Hunting With Dogs Area): That portion of the WMA south of I-20 and north of
Morton-Marathon Road (Road 506). Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during any
deer with dogs season. In addition, hog hunting with dogs is allowed during
daylight hours only during Feb. 1 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small
game.
c. AREA III (Deer Hunting
Without Dogs Area): That portion of the WMA south of Morton-Marathon Road (Road
506). Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1
- Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.
2. Caston Creek:
a. DEER HUNTING WITHOUT DOGS AREA: The
portion of the area west of Forest Service Road 155. Hog hunting with dogs is
allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal
for small game.
b. DEER HUNTING
WITH DOGS AREA: The portion of the area east of Forest Service Road 155. Hog
hunting with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs season. In addition, hog
hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1 - Feb. 28
with weapons legal for small game
i. From
November 1 - January 31, all dog hunting groups or individuals hunting with
dogs must obtain a permit to use dogs to hunt any animal or to train dogs on
areas open to deer hunting with dogs on Homochitto National Forest. There is no
cost for this permit. A permit will be issued to the dog hunting group. All
hunters hunting with this group must be listed on the permit prior to hunting;
except youth 15 years of age and younger. All hunters hunting with dogs or with
the dog hunting group must have the permit on their person while
hunting.
ii. Five (5) guest permits
will be available in addition the individuals listed on the permit. Guest
permits will be valid for 4 consecutive days and must be filled out with the
date, hunter's name, hunting license number, and signed by the hunter prior to
use. All guests must have the permit on their person while hunting. Guest
permits must be turned in to the USFS Meadville office for replacement guest
permits to be issued. When guest permits are turned in, a season permit will be
issued for these individuals and replacement guest permits will be issued to
the group.
iii. Permit numbers must
be visually displayed on the back window of all vehicles in the hunting group A
permit number will be provided with each individual permit issued. Hunters must
display this permit number using 3-inch, block numbers in contrast to the
background color.
iv. Permits will
be available from the U.S. Forest Service Meadville office. Office location:
1200 Highway 184 East, Meadville, MS 39653. Office hours: 8 am - 4:30 pm
(Monday - Friday).
v. Dogs must
wear a functional tracking collar and be identified at all times with the
permit number and the owner's contact information. Dogs must be kept on the
Homochitto National Forest lands that allow deer hunting with dogs.
vi. An administrative review panel of MDWFP
and U.S. Forest Service officials may, upon two (2) convictions or documented
evidence of two (2) violations of this regulation within a 3-year period,
revoke the dog hunting permit for a period of Twenty (20) days open to hunting
deer with dogs. Upon three (3) convictions or documented evidence of three (3)
violations of this regulation within a 3-year period, the dog hunting permit
may be revoked for a period of one (1) year.
vii. Any person who files a false affidavit
in justice court alleging a violation or violations of this rule, provides
false information regarding a violation of this rule, or facilitates a
situation which will cause a violation of this rule to occur may be subject to
prosecution for perjury and, if found guilty, punished under the provisions of
Miss. Code Ann. §
97-9-19, and/or be subject to a
civil suit for false prosecution by the person accused of the
violation.
3.
Chickasaw:
a. DEER HUNTING WITH DOGS AREA:
That portion of the WMA located north of Hwy. 32. Hog hunting with dogs is
allowed during daylight hours only from Feb. 1 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for
small game. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs
season.
b. DEER HUNTING WITHOUT
DOGS AREA: That portion of the WMA located south of Hwy. 32. Deer hunting with
dogs is prohibited. Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small
game season. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only from
Feb. 1 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.
4. Leaf River:
a. DEER HUNTING WITHOUT DOGS AREA: Hog
hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 16 - Feb.
28 with weapons legal for small game.
b. DEER HUNTING WITH DOGS AREA: That portion
of the WMA west of Forest Service Road 315. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed
during any deer with dogs season. In addition, hog hunting with dogs is allowed
during daylight hours only during Feb. 16 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for
small game.
5. Little
Biloxi, Wolf River, and Red Creek: Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during
daylight hours only during Feb. 16 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small
game.
6. Mason Creek: Hog hunting
with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs season. In addition, hog hunting
with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 16 - Feb. 28 with
weapons legal for small game.
7.
Sandy Creek and Upper Sardis: Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight
hours only during Feb. 1 - 28 with weapons legal for small game.
8. Tallahala:
a. DEER HUNTING WITH DOGS AREA: The portion
of the WMA north of Forest Service Road 506 and west of Cedar Creek. Hog
hunting with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs season. In addition, hog
hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1- Feb. 28
with weapons legal for small game.
b. DEER HUNTING WITHOUT DOGS AREA: Hog
hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1 - 28 with
weapons legal for small game.
9. Bienville: Hog hunting with dogs is
allowed during any deer with dogs season. In addition, hog hunting with dogs is
allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1 - 28 with weapons legal for
small game.
10. Chickasawhay,
Choctaw and John Starr: Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs
is prohibited.
H. TURKEY
HUNTING PERMITS: Turkey hunting for March 15 - March 31 is allowed by special
permit only on Bienville, Caney Creek, Caston Creek, Leaf River, Sandy Creek,
Tallahala, and Upper Sardis. You may apply online at
www.mdwfp.com. See application for hunt dates,
application deadlines, and other information about permitted hunts.
I. LEGAL WEAPONS: Only centerfire rifles,
shotguns with slugs or buckshot, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may
be used for deer hunting, EXCEPT FOR Chickasaw, Chickasawhay, Choctaw, John
Starr, Little Biloxi, and Upper Sardis where only centerfire rifles, shotguns
with slugs, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer
hunting and no buckshot is allowed.
J. NO HUNTING:
1. Caney Creek: No parking or hunting from
I-20.
K. OFF-ROAD
VEHICLES/ATVs: Off-road vehicle use, including electric bicycles, will be
governed by U. S. Forest Service regulations or the regulations below:
1. John Starr/Wolf River: ORVs/ATVs/electric
bicycles are allowed for the 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.
2. Little Biloxi:
Off-road vehicle use will be governed by U. S. Forest Service regulations. On
Weyerhaeuser property within the wildlife management area, ORVs/ATVs/electric
bicycles are allowed for the retrieval of harvested deer or hogs
only.
3. Upper Sardis: Off-road
vehicle use will be governed by U. S. Forest Service regulations. Off-road
vehicle use will be governed by U. S. Army Corps of Engineers regulations on
property owned by the Corps within Upper Sardis WMA. No motorized vehicles,
including electric bikes, are allowed off-road nor on closed roads on U.S.
Forest Service-owned portion of Upper Sardis WMA and the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers-owned portion of Upper Sardis WMA west of Twin Culverts
Road/Riverside. Use of ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles are allowed for the
retrieval of harvested deer or hogs. ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles are allowed on
the COE-owned portion of Upper Sardis WMA east of Twin Culverts Road/Riverside
for hunting and fishing access only.
L. HORSES: Hunting from horseback is allowed.
1. John Starr and Wolf River: 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.
2. Little Biloxi: USFS
Portion: Hunting from horseback is allowed. Weyerhaeuser Portion: During deer
and turkey seasons, horseback riding is restricted to roads open to motorized
vehicles. Raccoon hunting from horses is allowed during nighttime
hours.
M. CAMPING:
Camping is allowed subject to U.S. Forest Service regulations or the
regulations below:
1. Wolf River:
a. Camping is allowed in designated areas
only.
b. Camping is limited to 14
consecutive days.
c. Camping
equipment may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours.
d. All camping equipment and garbage must be
removed before final departure.
2. John Starr:
a. Camping is allowed in designated campsites
only.
b. Campers must obtain a
permit from MSU Forest Operations (662) 325-2191.
3. Little Biloxi:
a. USFS Portion: Camping is allowed subject
to U.S. Forest Service regulations.
b. Weyerhaeuser Portion: No camping
allowed.
N.
HUNTING PERMITS: John Starr: All hunters must obtain a hunting permit from the
College of Forest Resources, Forest Operations Office, and (662)
325-2191.
