Black Prairie WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest

Black Prairie WMA is 6,001 acres of public hunting land in Lowndes County, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 41 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (14 bucks, 27 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 12 seasons the area averaged 54 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 3 kinds of deer hunt: youth gun, gun and archery, with archery Oct. 1 to Oct. 30, Dec. 16 to Dec. 20, Jan. 4 to Jan. 8 and Jan. 18 to Jan. 22. Some or all deer hunts are by draw permit.

Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: MDWFP's 2026-27 WMA brochure. Harvest: MDWFP's DMAP report for the area, to 2024-25.

When are the 2026-27 seasons on Black Prairie WMA?

Turkey: Turkey (permit only): Apr. 2 to Apr. 4, Apr. 9 to Apr. 11, Apr. 16 to Apr. 18, Apr. 23 to Apr. 25; see turkey permits under the area's rules below.

Small game and other seasons: Squirrel and rabbit Oct. 17 to Oct. 30, Nov. 2 to Nov. 4, Nov. 9 to Nov. 11, Nov. 16 to Nov. 18, Dec. 1 to Dec. 4, Dec. 7 to Dec. 10, Dec. 16 to Dec. 20, Dec. 27 to Jan. 1, Jan. 11 to Jan. 14, Jan. 18 to Jan. 22, Jan. 25 to Jan. 29, Feb. 1 to Feb. 12, Feb. 15 to Feb. 19, Feb. 22 to Feb. 28; Raccoon July 1 to Sept. 30 (Friday and Saturday nights only); Raccoon, opossum, and bobcat Oct. 1 to Feb. 28.

Source: MDWFP, Black Prairie Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.

How many deer are taken on Black Prairie WMA?

Hunters checked 41 deer on Black Prairie WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 12 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 54 deer a season.

Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Black Prairie WMA, harvest history table.

What rules apply on Black Prairie WMA?

• 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.
• Bag limits: Same as statewide bag limits, except: Turkey - A bag limit of one (1) legal gobbler per permit. Rabbit - party limit of 8 rabbits per day. Deer - One legal buck and three antlerless deer per year.
• Deer hunting permits: Deer hunting 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. Hunters must check in a 1½ year old or older doe during their permitted gun hunt to be issued a permit to harvest one (1) legal buck. This buck permit will be valid for the duration of the permitted hunt and during the legal bucks only deer hunt (Dec. 11–Dec. 15).
• Checking deer: All deer harvested must be checked at the Area Headquarters by the hunters 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. Instructions and equipment will be provided.
• Dogs: Deer hunting with dogs is prohibited. Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season. Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited.
• Legal weapons for deer: Only archery equipment, centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting.
• Turkey permits: Turkey hunting 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.
• ATVs and off-road vehicles: 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 only trails by users 65 years of age and older. They may not be ridden on any leveed roads and trails.
• Camping: No camping allowed.
• Horses: During WMA deer seasons, horseback riding is restricted to roads open to motorized vehicles. Raccoon hunting from horses is allowed during nighttime hours.

From MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for the area. The brochure and 40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2 are the final word.

How do you get to Black Prairie WMA?

From Columbus, take Hwy 45 south toward Macon. Travel approximately 8 miles and turn right on Firetower Road. Headquarters building is 1 mile on right. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 33.33617, -88.559676.

Highways through the area: US 45. Nearest towns: Crawford (2 miles), Brooksville (5 miles), Artesia (5 miles) and Columbus (12 miles).

The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: John W. Starr WMA (14.5 miles), Trim Cane WMA (17.9 miles), Canal Section WMA (25.9 miles) and Choctaw WMA (26.8 miles).

Directions, headquarters GPS and headquarters phone: MDWFP's brochure. Highways and towns measured by FilledTag on U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads and U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer.

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Black Prairie WMA in 2026-27?

MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Black Prairie WMA lists these deer hunts: Youth Gun - Permit Only, Oct. 31 to Nov. 1; Youth Gun - Permit Only, Dec. 21 to Dec. 26; Gun - Permit Only, Nov. 5 to Nov. 8; Gun - Permit Only, Nov. 12 to Nov. 15; Gun - Permit Only, Nov. 19 to Nov. 22; Gun - Permit Only, Nov. 26 to Nov. 29; Gun - Permit Only, Dec. 11 to Dec. 15; Gun - Permit Only, Jan. 15 to Jan. 17; Archery Only, Oct. 1 to Oct. 30; Archery Only, Dec. 16 to Dec. 20; Archery Only, Jan. 4 to Jan. 8; Archery Only, Jan. 18 to Jan. 22.

What is a legal buck on Black Prairie WMA?

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.

How many deer were killed on Black Prairie WMA last season?

Hunters checked 41 deer on Black Prairie WMA in the 2024-25 season: 14 bucks and 27 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 12-season average is 54.

Can you hunt deer with dogs on Black Prairie WMA?

No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Black Prairie WMA. Its dog rules: Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season. Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited.

What county is Black Prairie WMA in?

All of it is in Lowndes County, measured on MDWFP's boundary.

Do you need a permit to deer hunt Black Prairie WMA?

Deer hunting 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. Hunters must check in a 1½ year old or older doe during their permitted gun hunt to be issued a permit to harvest one (1) legal buck. This buck permit will be valid for the duration of the permitted hunt and during the legal bucks only deer hunt (Dec. 11–Dec. 15).

What you need to hunt a Mississippi WMA

Unless exempt from buying a license, everyone hunting, fishing or trapping on a WMA must carry an annual statewide Wildlife Management Area User Permit, on top of the right license, and must check in and out with the Daily Visitor Use Permit card or the MDWFP WMA Check-In app. Hunters must wear 500 square inches of fluorescent orange or pink during any firearm season for deer. Full rules: MDWFP WMA rules (40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2).

Where these numbers come from

• Seasons, rules, directions: MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for each WMA (MDWFP Wildlife Management Areas).
• Deer harvest and DMAP acres: MDWFP Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) reports.
• Boundary: MDWFP WMA property boundaries. Counties, highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries; U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer. National forest and refuges: U.S. Forest Service land ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.

FilledTag is not part of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Numbers are copied from MDWFP or measured from public maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.

Mississippi hunting All Mississippi WMAs John W. Starr WMA Trim Cane WMA