40 Miss. Code. R. 2-1.25 - [Effective until 6/30/2025] WARD BAYOU WMA REGULATIONS

A. Regulations for Ward Bayou Wildlife Management Area in Jackson County.

SPECIES	SEASON	COMMENTS
DEER		For deer hunting regulations see DEER DATA COLLECTION, LEGAL BUCKS, DOG RESTRICTIONS, and LEGAL WEAPONS 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 - 15	Legal bucks only.
Gun	Dec. 16 - 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 - Permit Only	March 8 - May 1	Friday, Saturday, and Sunday by permit only. See SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
YOUTH SQUIRREL	Sept. 24 - 30
SQUIRREL	Oct. 1 - Feb. 28 May 15 - June 1
RACCOON	Jul. 1 - Sept. 30	Friday and Saturday nights only.
RACCOON, OPOSSUM & BOBCAT	Oct. 1 - Feb. 28
TRAPPING	Nov. 1 - Feb. 28
WATERFOWL	See Federal Regulations.
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 self-service data collection 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. 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.

5. DOG RESTRICTIONS: Deer and small game hunting with dogs is allowed EXCEPT in the Still Hunting Only Area. 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. YOUTH TURKEY HUNTING PERMITS: Youth turkey hunting on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from March 8 - May 1 will be 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.

7. LEGAL WEAPONS: Only centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting.

8. WATERFOWL HUNTING: Waterfowl hunting in and entering into any ponds west of the hill road from the WMA headquarters to the large power line is prohibited.

9. OFF-ROAD MOTORIZED VEHICLES/ATVs: ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles are allowed for the retrieval of harvested deer or hogs only. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on sandbars. 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.

10. 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.

11. CAMPING: Camping is allowed only 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.

12. HIGH WATER: Hunting seasons (excluding waterfowl season) are closed on the WMA when the river gauge at Graham Ferry reads 15.0 ft. or higher. Ward Bayou Road will be closed from the Ward Bayou bridge eastward 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.

13. TREE REMOVAL: No timber or firewood may be cut or removed from area without written permission from the Area Manager, to include the removal of live, dead, floating, or submerged timber.

14. COMMERCIAL FISHING: Commercial fishing is not allowed within the WMA.

15. CLOSED SANDBARS: Sandbars within the WMA boundaries are closed for the protection of nesting endangered species. No overnight camping allowed during this time. No dogs allowed on sandbars.

16. HOUSEBOATS: Houseboats are not allowed to be anchored, secured, or otherwise attached to any lands or structure within WMA boundaries.

17. NATURE TRAILS: Use of designated nature trails is allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset only.

18. ROADS: The gate at Kirkwood Road will be closed to vehicular traffic from June 1 - October 1.

Notes

40 Miss. Code. R. 2-1.25

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