40 Miss. Code. R. 2-1.26 - [Effective until 6/30/2025] NATCHEZ STATE PARK WMA REGULATIONS

The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks hereby declares that part of the property known as "Natchez State Park," located in Adams County, is and shall be a wildlife management project or refuge to be managed as a Wildlife Management Area, under the authority of Miss. Code Ann. Section 49-5-13.

A. Regulations for Natchez State Park in Adams County.

SPECIES	OPENING DATE	CLOSING DATE	COMMENTS
DEER			For deer hunting regulations see BAG LIMITS, DEER DATA COLLECTION, DEER HUNTING PERMITS, ELIGIBLE HUNTERS, LEGAL BUCKS, and DOG RESTRICTIONS in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
Archery - Permit Only	Oct. 3	Jan. 26	Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
Handicapped Gun - Permit Only	Oct. 10	Oct. 13	Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
Youth Gun - Permit Only	Oct. 19	Nov. 17	Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
Primitive Weapon - Permit Only	Nov. 21	Jan. 26	Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
Primitive Weapon Group Hunt - Permit Only	Dec. 12 Dec. 19	Dec. 15 Dec. 22	Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
YOUTH SQUIRREL	Feb. 1	Feb. 28	Saturdays and Sundays only. See YOUTH SQUIRREL HUNTING in Special Instructions.
YOUTH TURKEY - Permit Only	Mar. 8	May 1	See YOUTH TURKEY HUNTING PERMITS in Special Instructions.
NO OTHER SEASON shall be open and no other animals shall be hunted or disturbed.

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. HUNTING AREA: See map at mdwfp.com/wma.

3. BAG LIMITS: Same as statewide bag limits EXCEPT the bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed two (2) per year and on antlerless deer is one (1) per day, not to exceed three (3) per year. All harvested deer count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated.

4. PERMIT STATIONS: All hunters must check-in at the Park office or via the MDWFP WMA Check-In App.

5. DEER DATA COLLECTION: All deer harvested must be brought to the check station for biological data collection and recorded on the WMA Daily Use Permit Card or WMA Check-In App by the hunter who harvested them. 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.

6. 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.

7. ELIGIBLE HUNTERS:

a. Youth: Mississippi resident hunters 15 years of age or younger.

b. Handicapped: Any hunter who is quadriplegic, paraplegic, or disabled, requiring mobility support from braces and/or crutches.

c. Primitive Weapon: Restricted to Mississippi residents.

d. Archery: Restricted to Mississippi residents.

8. LEGAL BUCKS: 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.

9. DOG RESTRICTIONS: Deer hunting with dogs is prohibited. Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited.

10. YOUTH SQUIRREL HUNTING: See Map for areas open to youth squirrel hunting.

11. 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.

12. LEGAL WEAPONS: Only primitive weapons and archery equipment may be used for deer hunting, except for during the Youth and Handicap Gun hunts when archery equipment, centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs, muzzleloaders, or centerfire handguns may be used. Only shotguns may be used during the youth squirrel hunt.

13. OFF-ROAD MOTORIZED VEHICLES/ATVs: ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles are allowed only for the retrieval of harvested deer and hogs. Exception: handicapped hunters may access hunting area with ATVs/Electric Bicycles during handicapped hunt 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.

14. PARKING: Hunters must park in designated parking areas only.

15. HORSES: During deer and turkey seasons, horseback riding is restricted to roads open to motorized vehicles.

16. CAMPING: Camping is allowed under State Park regulation.

Notes

40 Miss. Code. R. 2-1.26

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 Updated May 2019 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