40 Miss. Code. R. 2-1.36 - [Effective until 6/30/2025] CHARLES RAY NIX WMA REGULATIONS

A. Regulations for Charles Ray Nix Wildlife Management Area in Panola County.

SPECIES	SEASON	COMMENTS
DEER		For deer hunting regulations see LEGAL BUCKS, DEER DATA COLLECTION, DOG RESTRICTIONS, PRIMITIVE WEAPON DEER HUNTING PERMITS, HANDICAPPED DEER HUNTING AREA, and
		LEGAL WEAPONS in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
Archery	Oct. 1 through the Friday prior to Thanksgiving.	Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
Youth Deer	Saturday two weeks prior to opening day of Primitive Weapons-Permit Only season through the Friday prior to Thanksgiving.	Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
Primitive Weapon - Permit Only	Saturday prior to Thanksgiving - the day before Thanksgiving. First Friday in December continuing for 36 days.	Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
Archery/Youth Deer	Day after the end of the Primitive Weapon - Permit Only season - Jan. 31	Antlerless deer and legal bucks.
YOUTH TURKEY - Permit Only	All full weekends in April.	See TURKEY HUNTING PERMITS in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
YOUTH SQUIRREL	Sept. 24 - 30
SQUIRREL	Oct. 1 - Feb. 28 May 15 - June 1
RABBIT	Saturday nearest Oct. 15 - Feb. 28
RACCOON	Jul. 1 - Sept. 30	Friday and Saturday nights.
RACCOON, OPOSSUM, & BOBCAT	Oct. 1 - Feb. 28
TRAPPING	Nov. 1 - Feb. 28
QUAIL	First Monday in November through the third Sunday in February.
DOVE	See DOVE HUNTING in SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.

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. LEGAL BUCKS: Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 15 inches OR one main beam length of at least 18 inches. For hunters 15 years of age or younger any antlered buck is a legal buck.

4. 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.

5. PRIMITIVE WEAPON DEER HUNTING PERMITS: Deer hunting during the primitive weapon season 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. HANDICAPPED DEER HUNTING AREA: Only handicapped hunters are allowed to hunt in this area during deer season. Handicapped hunters may hunt with a rifle in the handicapped area from the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving - the day before Thanksgiving and the first Friday in December - January 31. This area will be open to all other hunters outside of deer season.

7. DOG RESTRICTIONS:

a. Deer hunting with dogs is prohibited.

b. Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season.

c. Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited.

8. TURKEY HUNTING PERMITS: 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. LEGAL WEAPONS: Only archery equipment and primitive weapon may be used for deer hunting. Youth hunters may use centerfire rifles or shotguns with slugs for deer during youth gun and primitive weapon seasons. Handicap hunters may use centerfire rifles or shotguns with slugs for deer in the handicapped area during the handicapped rifle season.

10. DOVE HUNTING: Hunting hours for opening day are 2:00 p.m. until sunset. No entry prior to 1:00 p.m. on opening day. During the remaining statewide season framework, dove hunting hours are from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.

11. OFF-ROAD MOTORIZED VEHICLES/ATVs: ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles are allowed on designated roads or trails for hunting access only from Sept. 1 - May 1. Off-road use of ORVs/ATVs/Electric Bicycles are allowed for retrieval of harvested deer or hogs. 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.

12. HORSES: Horseback riding is prohibited during WMA deer and turkey seasons. At all other times, horseback riding is restricted to roads open to motorized vehicles and designated ATV trails. Raccoon hunting from horses allowed on entire area during nighttime hours.

13. CAMPING: No camping allowed.

14. CLOSED AREA: The area designated as the shooting range shall be closed to hunting, fishing, and trapping.

Notes

40 Miss. Code. R. 2-1.36

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