Choctaw WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Choctaw WMA is 24,314 acres of public hunting land in Choctaw, Winston and Oktibbeha counties, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 54 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (45 bucks, 9 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 14 seasons the area averaged 57 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.
Choctaw WMAOther MDWFP WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 24,314 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Choctaw County, Winston County, Oktibbeha 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. 27 to Mar. 28; Turkey Apr. 1 to May 2 |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 54 (45 bucks, 9 does) |
| WMA headquarters | (662) 272-8303 |
| Nearest towns | Ackerman (2 mi), Sturgis (3 mi) and Louisville (5 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Choctaw 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 without dogs. |
| Primitive Weapon | Dec. 2 to Dec. 15 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Gun | Dec. 16 to Jan. 20 | Legal bucks without dogs. |
| Primitive Weapon | Jan. 21 to Jan. 31 | Legal bucks. |
Turkey: Youth turkey: Mar. 27 to Mar. 28. Turkey: Apr. 1 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 July 1 to Sept. 30 (Friday and Saturday nights only); Raccoon, opossum Oct. 1 to Feb. 28; Trapping Nov. 1 to Feb. 28.
Source: MDWFP, Choctaw and John Starr Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Choctaw WMA?
Hunters checked 54 deer on Choctaw WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 14 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 57 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 54 | 45 | 9 |
| 2023-24 | 44 | 35 | 9 |
| 2022-23 | 37 | 29 | 8 |
| 2021-22 | 23 | 17 | 6 |
| 2020-21 | 40 | 30 | 10 |
| 2019-20 | 48 | 35 | 13 |
| 2018-19 | 27 | 25 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | 25 | 22 | 3 |
| 2016-17 | 61 | 29 | 32 |
| 2015-16 | 83 | 26 | 57 |
| 2014-15 | 76 | 36 | 40 |
| 2013-14 | 85 | 36 | 49 |
| 2012-13 | 102 | 39 | 63 |
| 2011-12 | 87 | 52 | 35 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Choctaw WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Choctaw 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.
- 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: 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 centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting.
- Closed areas: Area with boundary marked with white paint around Choctaw Lake and Campground is designated as NO SHOOTING/NO HUNTING AREAS.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles: Off-road vehicles, including electric bicycles, use 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 Choctaw WMA?
From Ackerman, take Hwy 15 south 3.3 miles to Choctaw Lake Road. Turn east (left) and follow signs to Choctaw WMA headquarters.
Highways within 5 miles: MS 25, MS 15, MS 12 and MS 14. Nearest towns: Ackerman (2 miles), Sturgis (3 miles), Louisville (5 miles) and Weir (7 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: John W. Starr WMA (6.5 miles), Yockanookany WMA (12.3 miles), Trim Cane WMA (18 miles) and Nanih Waiya WMA (18.5 miles).
Directions 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 Choctaw WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Choctaw 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 Jan. 20; Primitive Weapon, Jan. 21 to Jan. 31.
What is a legal buck on Choctaw 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 Choctaw WMA last season?
Hunters checked 54 deer on Choctaw WMA in the 2024-25 season: 45 bucks and 9 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 14-season average is 57.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Choctaw WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure marks the gun hunts on Choctaw WMA as without dogs. 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 Choctaw WMA in?
Choctaw County (11,599 acres), Winston County (9,752 acres) and Oktibbeha County (46 acres), measured on MDWFP's boundary map. Those county figures come from the boundary map, which measures 21,396 acres in all; MDWFP's DMAP report gives the area as 24,314 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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