Charles Ray Nix WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Charles Ray Nix WMA is 4,000 acres of public hunting land in Panola County, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 52 deer on it in the 2025-26 season (21 bucks, 31 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 10 seasons the area averaged 71 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 4 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth deer, primitive weapon and archery/youth deer, with archery Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 and Jan. 9 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 2025-26.
Charles Ray Nix WMAOther MDWFP WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 4,000 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Panola County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth Deer, Primitive Weapon and Archery/Youth Deer |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1 to Nov. 20; Jan. 9 to Jan. 31 |
| Draw permit for deer | Yes, for some or all deer hunts (see below) |
| Spring turkey | Youth turkey Apr. 3 to Apr. 4 (permit); Youth turkey Apr. 10 to Apr. 11 (permit); Youth turkey Apr. 17 to Apr. 18 (permit); Youth turkey Apr. 24 to Apr. 25 (permit) |
| Deer checked, 2025-26 | 52 (21 bucks, 31 does) |
| Headquarters GPS | 34.437368, -90.004938 |
| Nearest towns | Sardis (4 mi), Como (6 mi) and Batesville (7 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Charles Ray Nix WMA?
| Deer hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Legal deer and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Youth Deer | Nov. 7 to Nov. 20 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Primitive Weapon - Permit Only | Nov. 21 to Nov. 25 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Primitive Weapon - Permit Only | Dec. 4 to Jan. 8 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Archery/Youth Deer | Jan. 9 to Jan. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
Turkey: Youth turkey (permit only): Apr. 3 to Apr. 4, Apr. 10 to Apr. 11, Apr. 17 to Apr. 18, Apr. 24 to Apr. 25; see youth turkey permits under the area's rules below.
Small game and other seasons: Youth squirrel Sept. 24 to Sept. 30; Squirrel Oct. 1 to Feb. 28, May 15 to June 1; Rabbit Oct. 17 to Feb. 28; Raccoon July 1 to Sept. 30 (Friday and Saturday nights only); Raccoon, opossum Oct. 1 to Feb. 28; Trapping Nov. 1 to Feb. 28; Quail Nov. 2 to Feb. 21.
Source: MDWFP, Charles Ray Nix Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Charles Ray Nix WMA?
Hunters checked 52 deer on Charles Ray Nix WMA in the 2025-26 season. Over the 10 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 71 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 52 | 21 | 31 |
| 2024-25 | 96 | 26 | 70 |
| 2023-24 | 68 | 27 | 41 |
| 2022-23 | 76 | 25 | 51 |
| 2021-22 | 71 | 27 | 44 |
| 2020-21 | 58 | 33 | 25 |
| 2019-20 | 57 | 23 | 34 |
| 2018-19 | 48 | 12 | 36 |
| 2017-18 | 87 | 32 | 55 |
| 2016-17 | 97 | 29 | 68 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Charles Ray Nix WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Charles Ray Nix 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 the bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) per day. All harvested deer and turkey count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated.
- Primitive weapon deer 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.
- Checking deer: All deer harvested must be checked at the WMA deer data collection station and recorded on the WMA Daily Visitor 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. 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 and primitive weapons 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.
- Youth turkey 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.
- 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 Nov. 21-25 and Dec. 4-Jan. 31. This area will be open to all other hunters outside of deer season.
- Closed area: The area designated as the shooting range shall be closed to hunting, fishing, and trapping.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles: 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 is 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.
- Camping: No camping allowed.
- 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.
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 Charles Ray Nix WMA?
From the intersection of HWY. 51 and HWY. 315 in Sardis, MS, travel west on HWY. 315 for approximately 4.5 miles. Turn left into the parking area. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 34.437368, -90.004938.
Highways within 5 miles: MS 315, US 51 and I-55. Nearest towns: Sardis (4 miles), Como (6 miles), Batesville (7 miles) and Sledge (10 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: George P. Cossar State Park WMA (19.4 miles), O'Keefe WMA (20.4 miles), Upper Sardis WMA (30 miles) and Alligator WMA (42.1 miles).
Directions and headquarters GPS: 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 Charles Ray Nix WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Charles Ray Nix WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery, Oct. 1 to Nov. 20; Youth Deer, Nov. 7 to Nov. 20; Primitive Weapon - Permit Only, Nov. 21 to Nov. 25; Primitive Weapon - Permit Only, Dec. 4 to Jan. 8; Archery/Youth Deer, Jan. 9 to Jan. 31.
What is a legal buck on Charles Ray Nix 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 Charles Ray Nix WMA last season?
Hunters checked 52 deer on Charles Ray Nix WMA in the 2025-26 season: 21 bucks and 31 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 10-season average is 71.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Charles Ray Nix WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Charles Ray Nix 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 Charles Ray Nix WMA in?
All of it is in Panola County, measured on MDWFP's boundary.
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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.
Mississippi hunting All Mississippi WMAs George P. Cossar State Park WMA O'Keefe WMA