Chickasaw WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Chickasaw WMA is 28,000 acres of public hunting land in Chickasaw and Pontotoc counties, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 31 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (26 bucks, 5 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 10 seasons the area averaged 44 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 4 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth deer, gun and primitive weapon, with archery Oct. 1 to Nov. 20.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: MDWFP's 2026-27 WMA brochure. Harvest: MDWFP's DMAP report for the area, to 2024-25.
Chickasaw WMAOther MDWFP WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 28,000 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Chickasaw County, Pontotoc County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth Deer, Gun and Primitive Weapon |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 |
| Draw permit for deer | No draw listed; WMA user permit and check-in required |
| Spring turkey | Youth turkey Mar. 8 to Mar. 14; Turkey Mar. 15 to May 2 |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 31 (26 bucks, 5 does) |
| WMA headquarters | (662) 862-2723 |
| Headquarters GPS | 33.986196, -88.935659 |
| Nearest towns | Houston (3 mi), New Houlka (3 mi) and Okolona (6 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Chickasaw 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. |
| Gun | Nov. 21 to Dec. 1 | Legal bucks with dogs. |
| Primitive Weapon | Dec. 2 to Dec. 15 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Gun | Dec. 16 to Dec. 23 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Gun | Dec. 24 to Jan. 20 | Legal bucks with dogs. |
| Primitive Weapon | Jan. 21 to Jan. 31 | Legal bucks only. |
Turkey: Youth turkey: Mar. 8 to Mar. 14. Turkey: Mar. 15 to May 2.
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 Jul. 1 to Sept. 30 (Friday and Saturday nights only); Raccoon, opossum Oct. 1 to Feb. 28; Trapping Nov. 1 to Feb. 28.
Source: MDWFP, Chickasaw Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Chickasaw WMA?
Hunters checked 31 deer on Chickasaw WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 10 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 44 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 31 | 26 | 5 |
| 2023-24 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 30 | 21 | 9 |
| 2021-22 | 29 | 24 | 5 |
| 2020-21 | 21 | 16 | 5 |
| 2019-20 | 36 | 29 | 7 |
| 2018-19 | 41 | 40 | 1 |
| 2017-18 | 43 | 40 | 3 |
| 2016-17 | 114 | 62 | 52 |
| 2015-16 | 83 | 41 | 42 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Chickasaw WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Chickasaw WMA?
- Legal bucks: Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 10 inches OR one main beam length of at least 13 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 and for permitted turkey hunts the bag limit is one gobbler per permitted hunter. ALL harvested deer and turkey count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated.
- Dogs: Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season.
- Deer hunting with dogs area: That portion of the WMA located north of Hwy. 32. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only from Feb. 1–Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs season.
- Deer hunting without dogs area: That portion of the WMA located south of Hwy. 32. Deer hunting with dogs is prohibited. Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only from Feb. 1–Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.
- Legal weapons for deer: Only centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting.
- Closed areas: Areas with boundaries marked with white paint around Davis Lake area, Girl Scout Camp area, Prairie U. M. Church, and area west of Chickasaw WMA work center are designated as NO SHOOTING/ NO HUNTING AREAS.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles: Off-road vehicle use, including electric bicycles, will be governed by U.S. Forest Service regulations.
- Camping: Camping is allowed subject to U.S. Forest Service regulations.
- Horses: Hunting from horseback is allowed.
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 Chickasaw WMA?
From Houston, take Hwy. 15 north to Hwy. 32. Turn right on Hwy. 32 and go approximately 3 miles. The WMA headquarters is on the left. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 33.986196, -88.935659.
Highways through the area: MS 385 and MS 41. Nearest towns: Houston (3 miles), New Houlka (3 miles), Okolona (6 miles) and Algoma (9 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Canal Section WMA (15.1 miles), John Bell Williams WMA (20.4 miles), Upper Sardis WMA (25.2 miles) and Trim Cane WMA (25.7 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 Chickasaw WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Chickasaw WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery, Oct. 1 to Nov. 20; Youth Deer, Nov. 7 to Nov. 20; Gun, Nov. 21 to Dec. 1; Primitive Weapon, Dec. 2 to Dec. 15; Gun, Dec. 16 to Dec. 23; Gun, Dec. 24 to Jan. 20; Primitive Weapon, Jan. 21 to Jan. 31.
What is a legal buck on Chickasaw WMA?
Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 10 inches OR one main beam length of at least 13 inches. For hunters 15 years of age or younger any antlered buck is a legal buck.
How many deer were killed on Chickasaw WMA last season?
Hunters checked 31 deer on Chickasaw WMA in the 2024-25 season: 26 bucks and 5 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 10-season average is 44.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Chickasaw WMA?
Yes, on these hunts, which MDWFP's brochure marks as with dogs: Nov. 21 to Dec. 1 and Dec. 24 to Jan. 20. Its dog rules: Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season.
What county is Chickasaw WMA in?
Chickasaw County (26,152 acres) and Pontotoc County (538 acres), measured on MDWFP's boundary map. Those county figures come from the boundary map, which measures 26,691 acres in all; MDWFP's DMAP report gives the area as 28,000 acres.
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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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