George P. Cossar State Park WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
George P. Cossar State Park WMA is 460 acres of public hunting land in Yalobusha County, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 4 deer on it in the 2025-26 season (1 buck, 3 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 7 seasons the area averaged 6 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 2 kinds of deer hunt: group deer hunts and senior adult hunts. 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.
George P. Cossar State Park WMAOther MDWFP WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 460 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Yalobusha County |
| Deer hunts | Group Deer Hunts and Senior Adult Hunts |
| Draw permit for deer | Yes, for some or all deer hunts (see below) |
| Turkey | No turkey season listed |
| Deer checked, 2025-26 | 4 (1 buck, 3 does) |
| Headquarters GPS | 34.132721, -89.886682 |
| Nearest towns | Oakland (5 mi), Pope (7 mi) and Courtland (8 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on George P. Cossar State Park WMA?
| Deer hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Legal deer and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Group Deer Hunts - Permit Only | Dec. 2 to Dec. 6 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Group Deer Hunts - Permit Only | Dec. 9 to Dec. 13 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Group Deer Hunts - Permit Only | Dec. 16 to Dec. 20 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Group Deer Hunts - Permit Only | Dec. 23 to Dec. 27 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Group Deer Hunts - Permit Only | Dec. 30 to Jan. 3 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Senior Adult Hunts - Permit Only | Jan. 6 to Jan. 10 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Senior Adult Hunts - Permit Only | Jan. 13 to Jan. 17 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Senior Adult Hunts - Permit Only | Jan. 20 to Jan. 24 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Senior Adult Hunts - Permit Only | Jan. 27 to Jan. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
Source: MDWFP, George P. Cossar State Park Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on George P. Cossar State Park WMA?
Hunters checked 4 deer on George P. Cossar State Park WMA in the 2025-26 season. Over the 7 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 6 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2024-25 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022-23 | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| 2020-21 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 2019-20 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2018-19 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2017-18 | 17 | 2 | 15 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, George P. Cossar State Park WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on George P. Cossar State Park 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: Deer - Same as statewide bag limits, except the bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per permitted hunter and on antlerless deer is one (1) per day. All harvested deer count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated. Squirrel may be hunted during the permitted hunt. Statewide bag limit applies. Park regulations apply, including those regarding pets.
- Deer hunting permits: Deer 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.
- 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. Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited.
- Legal weapons for deer: Archery equipment, muzzleloading rifles, and shotgun with slugs.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles: ORVs/ATVs/Electric bicycles are allowed only for retrieval of harvested deer. 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 leveed roads or trails.
- Camping: Camping is allowed under State Park regulations. CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 36, will be enforced. For additional information, visit: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36, or contact the Corps of Engineers at (662) 226-5911.
- Parking: Hunters must park in designated parking areas only.
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 George P. Cossar State Park WMA?
Traveling I-55, take exit #227. After taking exit 227 you will turn left going on Hwy. 32 toward Water Valley. Travel approximately 5 miles from I-55 to County Road 170, turn left and stay on the park road. Jones Creek campground will be the first road to the right. Keep going straight and the next campground will be Yocona Ridge campground to the right. Keep going straight and the cabins are to the left. Keep going and the office is on the left. From Water Valley take Hwy. 32 west, go 12 miles to County Road 170, take a right at CR 170, travel 2.3 miles to park entrance. Jones Creek campground will be the first road to the right. Keep going straight and the next campground will be Yocona Ridge campground to the right. Keep going straight and the cabins are to the left. Keep going and the office is on the left. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 34.132721, -89.886682.
Highways within 5 miles: I-55, MS 32, US 51 and MS 724. Nearest towns: Oakland (5 miles), Pope (7 miles), Courtland (8 miles) and Tillatoba (9 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Charles Ray Nix WMA (19.4 miles), O'Keefe WMA (19.8 miles), Malmaison WMA (26.4 miles) and Upper Sardis WMA (28.5 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 George P. Cossar State Park WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for George P. Cossar State Park WMA lists these deer hunts: Group Deer Hunts - Permit Only, Dec. 2 to Dec. 6; Group Deer Hunts - Permit Only, Dec. 9 to Dec. 13; Group Deer Hunts - Permit Only, Dec. 16 to Dec. 20; Group Deer Hunts - Permit Only, Dec. 23 to Dec. 27; Group Deer Hunts - Permit Only, Dec. 30 to Jan. 3; Senior Adult Hunts - Permit Only, Jan. 6 to Jan. 10; Senior Adult Hunts - Permit Only, Jan. 13 to Jan. 17; Senior Adult Hunts - Permit Only, Jan. 20 to Jan. 24; Senior Adult Hunts - Permit Only, Jan. 27 to Jan. 31.
What is a legal buck on George P. Cossar State Park 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 George P. Cossar State Park WMA last season?
Hunters checked 4 deer on George P. Cossar State Park WMA in the 2025-26 season: 1 buck and 3 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 7-season average is 6.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on George P. Cossar State Park WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on George P. Cossar State Park WMA. Its dog rules: Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited.
What county is George P. Cossar State Park WMA in?
All of it is in Yalobusha County, measured on MDWFP's boundary.
Do you need a permit to deer hunt George P. Cossar State Park WMA?
Deer 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.
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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 Charles Ray Nix WMA O'Keefe WMA