Calling Panther WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Calling Panther WMA is 1,500 acres of public hunting land in Copiah County, run by MDWFP. Its 2026-27 brochure sets one kind of deer hunt: archery, 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.
Calling Panther WMAOther MDWFP WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 1,500 acres (measured on MDWFP's boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | Copiah County |
| Deer hunts | Archery |
| 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 Apr. 25 (permit) |
| WMA headquarters | (601) 277-3636 |
| Headquarters GPS | 31.985072, -90.476376 |
| Nearest towns | Crystal Springs (6 mi), Hazlehurst (9 mi) and Utica (11 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Calling Panther WMA?
| Deer hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Legal deer and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery (Permit Only) | Oct. 1 to Jan. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
Turkey: Youth turkey (permit only): Mar. 8 to Apr. 25; see youth turkey hunting under the area's rules below.
Small game and other seasons: Squirrel Feb. 1 to Feb. 28 (Shotguns only).
Source: MDWFP, Calling Panther Lake Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
What rules apply on Calling Panther 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 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. (how much the deer weighs, antler measurements and jawbone). Instructions and equipment will be provided.
- Dogs: Deer hunting with dogs is prohibited. Squirrel hunting with dogs is allowed. Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited.
- Legal weapons for deer: Only archery equipment may be used for deer hunting. Only shotguns may be used for squirrel hunting.
- Youth turkey hunting: 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. 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 Lake regulation (40 Miss Admin Code Part 3 Chap. 2.1).
- Horses: Horseback riding is prohibited.
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 Calling Panther WMA?
From Hwy 51 in Crystal Springs, travel West on West Georgetown St. Continue onto Utica Rd, for approx. 0.8 miles. Take a left onto New Zion Rd and travel approx. 5.2 miles. Take a left on Gaddy Ln and travel approx. 1.8 miles, then turn left onto the lake access road. The lake office will be on the right. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 31.985072, -90.476376.
Highways within 5 miles: I-55, MS 27 and US 51. Nearest towns: Crystal Springs (6 miles), Hazlehurst (9 miles), Utica (11 miles) and Terry (13 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Copiah County WMA (11.6 miles), Canemount WMA (36 miles), Phil Bryant WMA (38.7 miles) and Mahannah WMA (42.5 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 Calling Panther WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Calling Panther WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery (Permit Only), Oct. 1 to Jan. 31.
What is a legal buck on Calling Panther 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.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Calling Panther WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Calling Panther WMA. Its dog rules: Squirrel hunting with dogs is allowed. Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited.
What county is Calling Panther WMA in?
All of it is in Copiah County, measured on MDWFP's boundary.
Do you need a permit to deer hunt Calling Panther 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.
Get a Mississippi hunt plan when they open
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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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