Copiah County WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Copiah County WMA is 7,386 acres of public hunting land in Copiah County, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 59 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (36 bucks, 23 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 14 seasons the area averaged 97 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 4 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth gun, shotgun/primitive weapon/handgun and archery/youth gun/muzzleloader, with archery Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 and Jan. 8 to Jan. 31.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: MDWFP's 2026-27 WMA brochure. Harvest: MDWFP's DMAP report for the area, to 2024-25.
Copiah County WMAOther MDWFP WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 7,386 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Copiah County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth Gun, Shotgun/Primitive Weapon/Handgun and Archery/Youth Gun/Muzzleloader |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1 to Nov. 20; Jan. 8 to Jan. 31 |
| 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 Apr. 17 (permit); Turkey Apr. 18 to May 2 |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 59 (36 bucks, 23 does) |
| WMA headquarters | (601) 277-3636 |
| Headquarters GPS | 31.840625, -90.692926 |
| Nearest towns | Hazlehurst (14 mi), Beauregard (16 mi) and Wesson (17 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Copiah County WMA?
| Deer hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Legal deer and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Youth Gun | Nov. 7 to Nov. 20 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Shotgun/Primitive Weapon/Handgun | Nov. 21 to Jan. 7 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Archery/Youth Gun/Muzzleloader | Jan. 8 to Jan. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
Turkey: Youth turkey: Mar. 8 to Mar. 14. Turkey (permit only): Mar. 15 to Apr. 17; see turkey permits under the area's rules below. Turkey: Apr. 18 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; Raccoon July 1 to Sept. 30 (Friday and Saturday nights only); Raccoon, opossum Oct. 1 to Feb. 28; Trapping Nov. 1 to Feb. 28; Rabbit Oct. 17 to Feb. 28; Quail Nov. 26 to Mar. 6.
Source: MDWFP, Copiah County Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Copiah County WMA?
Hunters checked 59 deer on Copiah County WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 14 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 97 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 59 | 36 | 23 |
| 2023-24 | 100 | 30 | 70 |
| 2022-23 | 65 | 41 | 24 |
| 2021-22 | 77 | 53 | 24 |
| 2020-21 | 120 | 56 | 64 |
| 2019-20 | 104 | 51 | 53 |
| 2018-19 | 84 | 44 | 40 |
| 2017-18 | 112 | 49 | 63 |
| 2016-17 | 94 | 51 | 43 |
| 2015-16 | 72 | 34 | 38 |
| 2014-15 | 107 | 54 | 53 |
| 2013-14 | 121 | 59 | 62 |
| 2012-13 | 104 | 56 | 48 |
| 2011-12 | 144 | 83 | 61 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Copiah County WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Copiah County 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. All harvested deer count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated.
- Checking deer: All deer harvested must be checked at the WMA Headquarters and be recorded on DAILY USER PERMIT card or on the 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. 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 shotguns with slugs, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting. Exception: youth deer hunters, 15 years of age or younger, are allowed to use centerfire rifles.
- Turkey permits: Turkey hunting from Mar. 15–Apr. 17 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.
- 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: 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. Raccoon hunting from horses is allowed on entire area during nighttime hunting 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 Copiah County WMA?
Take exit 61 on I-55 near Hazlehurst. Go west on Hwy 28 8.2 miles to the intersection of Barlow Road. Turn right on Barlow Road and travel approximately 11 miles to the intersection of Henneberry Road. Turn right on Henneberry Road and go approximately 1 mile. Turn right onto a local road and travel approximately.11 miles. The WMA headquarters is on the left. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 31.840625, -90.692926.
Highways within 5 miles: MS 547, MS 28 and MS 548. Nearest towns: Hazlehurst (14 miles), Beauregard (16 miles), Wesson (17 miles) and Port Gibson (17 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Calling Panther WMA (11.6 miles), Canemount WMA (23 miles), Caston Creek WMA (27.3 miles) and Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park 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 Copiah County WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Copiah County WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery, Oct. 1 to Nov. 20; Youth Gun, Nov. 7 to Nov. 20; Shotgun/Primitive Weapon/Handgun, Nov. 21 to Jan. 7; Archery/Youth Gun/Muzzleloader, Jan. 8 to Jan. 31.
What is a legal buck on Copiah County 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 Copiah County WMA last season?
Hunters checked 59 deer on Copiah County WMA in the 2024-25 season: 36 bucks and 23 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 14-season average is 97.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Copiah County WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Copiah County 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 Copiah County WMA in?
All of it is in Copiah 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 Calling Panther WMA Canemount WMA