Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA is 3,396 acres of public hunting land in Adams County, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 28 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (15 bucks, 13 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 13 seasons the area averaged 32 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 5 kinds of deer hunt: archery, handicapped gun, youth gun, primitive weapon and primitive weapon group hunt, with archery Oct. 1 to Jan. 31. 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.
Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMAOther MDWFP WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 3,396 acres (measured on MDWFP's boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Handicapped Gun, Youth Gun, Primitive Weapon and Primitive Weapon Group Hunt |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1 to Jan. 31 |
| Draw permit for deer | Yes, for some or all deer hunts (see below) |
| Spring turkey | Youth turkey Mar. 8 to May 2 (permit) |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 28 (15 bucks, 13 does) |
| WMA headquarters | (601) 277-3636 |
| Headquarters GPS | 31.598486, -91.209692 |
| Nearest towns | Roxie (9 mi), Natchez (10 mi) and Fayette (10 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA?
| Deer hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Legal deer and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery (Permit Only) | Oct. 1 to Jan. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Handicapped Gun (Permit Only) | Oct. 8 to Oct. 11 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Youth Gun (Permit Only) | Oct. 17 to Nov. 15 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Primitive Weapon (Permit Only) | Nov. 19 to Jan. 24 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Primitive Weapon Group Hunt (Permit Only) | Dec. 10 to Dec. 13 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Primitive Weapon Group Hunt (Permit Only) | Dec. 17 to Dec. 20 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
Turkey: Youth turkey (permit only): Mar. 8 to May 2.
Small game and other seasons: Youth squirrel Feb. 1 to Feb. 28 (Saturdays & Sundays only).
Source: MDWFP, Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA?
Hunters checked 28 deer on Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 13 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 32 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 28 | 15 | 13 |
| 2023-24 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| 2022-23 | 22 | 13 | 9 |
| 2021-22 | 25 | 17 | 8 |
| 2020-21 | 34 | 11 | 23 |
| 2019-20 | 42 | 27 | 15 |
| 2018-19 | 40 | 13 | 27 |
| 2017-18 | 32 | 19 | 13 |
| 2016-17 | 33 | 20 | 13 |
| 2015-16 | 22 | 12 | 10 |
| 2014-15 | 31 | 16 | 15 |
| 2013-14 | 40 | 22 | 18 |
| 2012-13 | 59 | 30 | 29 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA?
- 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.
- 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.
- Deer hunting permits: Deer hunting is allowed by special permit only. You may apply online at mdwfp.com. See application for hunt dates, application deadlines, and other information about permitted hunts.
- Checking deer: All deer harvested must be brought to the check station for biological data collection 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. Instructions and equipment will be provided.
- Dogs: Deer hunting with dogs is prohibited. Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited.
- Legal weapons for deer: 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.
- Youth turkey permits: Youth turkey hunting is allowed by special permit only. You may apply online at 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 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.
- Camping: Camping is allowed under State Park regulation.
- Horses: During deer and turkey seasons, horseback riding is restricted to roads open to motorized vehicles.
- Parking: Hunters must park in designated parking areas only.
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 Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA?
Beginning at the intersection of Hwy 84/61 and Hwy 61 south, travel north-northeast for approximately 8.78 miles to the Stanton community. Turn south (right) on State Park Road and travel approximately.41 miles to the intersection of Wickliff Road. Turn east (left) on Wickliff Road and travel approximately 1.91 miles and arrive at the Natchez State Park headquarters on the right. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 31.598486, -91.209692.
Highways within 5 miles: US 84, US 98, US 61 and MS 554. Nearest towns: Roxie (9 miles), Natchez (10 miles), Fayette (10 miles) and Meadville (19 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Sandy Creek WMA (7.6 miles), Canemount WMA (19.3 miles), Caston Creek WMA (20.5 miles) and Copiah County WMA (31.8 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 Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery (Permit Only), Oct. 1 to Jan. 31; Handicapped Gun (Permit Only), Oct. 8 to Oct. 11; Youth Gun (Permit Only), Oct. 17 to Nov. 15; Primitive Weapon (Permit Only), Nov. 19 to Jan. 24; Primitive Weapon Group Hunt (Permit Only), Dec. 10 to Dec. 13; Primitive Weapon Group Hunt (Permit Only), Dec. 17 to Dec. 20.
What is a legal buck on Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA?
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.
How many deer were killed on Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA last season?
Hunters checked 28 deer on Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA in the 2024-25 season: 15 bucks and 13 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 13-season average is 32.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA. Its dog rules: Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited.
What county is Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA in?
All of it is in Adams County, measured on MDWFP's boundary.
Do you need a permit to deer hunt Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA?
Deer hunting is allowed by special permit only. You may apply online at mdwfp.com. See application for hunt dates, application deadlines, and other information about permitted hunts.
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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.
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