Hell Creek WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Hell Creek WMA is 2,344 acres of public hunting land in Tippah and Union counties, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 28 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (7 bucks, 21 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 10 seasons the area averaged 18 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 4 kinds of deer hunt: gun, senior adult gun, archery and youth gun, with archery Oct. 5 to Oct. 7, Oct. 12 to Oct. 14, Oct. 19 to Dec. 11 and Dec. 30 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 2024-25.
Hell Creek WMAOther MDWFP WMAsNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 2,344 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Tippah County, Union County |
| Deer hunts | Gun, Senior Adult Gun, Archery and Youth Gun |
| Archery deer | Oct. 5 to Oct. 7; Oct. 12 to Oct. 14; Oct. 19 to Dec. 11; Dec. 30 to Jan. 31 |
| Draw permit for deer | Yes, for some or all deer hunts (see below) |
| Spring turkey | Youth turkey (draw permit only): Apr. 1 to Apr. 30 |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 28 (7 bucks, 21 does) |
| WMA headquarters | (662) 685-4508 |
| Headquarters GPS | 34.620202, -89.064869 |
| Nearest towns | Myrtle (3 mi), Blue Mountain (4 mi) and New Albany (6 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Hell Creek WMA?
| Deer hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Legal deer and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gun - Permit Only | Oct. 1 to Oct. 4 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Gun - Permit Only | Oct. 8 to Oct. 11 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Gun - Permit Only | Oct. 15 to Oct. 18 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Gun - Permit Only | Dec. 12 to Dec. 20 | Legal bucks only. |
| Senior Adult Gun - Permit Only | Dec. 26 to Dec. 29 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Archery Only | Oct. 5 to Oct. 7 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Archery Only | Oct. 12 to Oct. 14 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Archery Only | Oct. 19 to Dec. 11 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Archery Only | Dec. 30 to Jan. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Youth Gun | Nov. 14 to Nov. 29 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Youth Gun | Dec. 30 to Jan. 1 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Youth Gun | Jan. 18 to Jan. 27 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
Turkey: Youth turkey (draw permit only): Apr. 1 to Apr. 30; see youth turkey permits under the area's rules below.
Small game and other seasons: Squirrel and rabbit Oct. 19 to Oct. 21 (see bag limits under the area's rules below), Nov. 16 to Nov. 29, Dec. 30 to Jan. 1, Jan. 18 to Jan. 27, Feb. 1 to Feb. 10, Feb. 15 to Feb. 28; Youth squirrel Sept. 24 to Sept. 30; Squirrel May 15 to June 1; Raccoon Jul. 1 to Sept. 30 (Friday and Saturday nights only); Raccoon, opossum Oct. 1 to Feb. 28; Quail Nov. 27 to Nov. 29, Jan. 18 to Jan. 27, Feb. 1 to Feb. 10, Feb. 15 to Feb. 28; Quail (training only) Nov. 17 to Nov. 19 (see bag limits under the area's rules below), Nov. 24 to Nov. 26; Youth dove Sept. 5.
Source: MDWFP, Hell Creek Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Hell Creek WMA?
Hunters checked 28 deer on Hell Creek WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 10 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 18 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 28 | 7 | 21 |
| 2023-24 | 17 | 2 | 15 |
| 2022-23 | 21 | 6 | 15 |
| 2021-22 | 17 | 5 | 12 |
| 2020-21 | 24 | 5 | 19 |
| 2019-20 | 26 | 3 | 23 |
| 2018-19 | 12 | 2 | 10 |
| 2017-18 | 23 | 8 | 15 |
| 2016-17 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2015-16 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Hell Creek WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Hell Creek 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: Rabbit - party limit of 6 rabbits per day. Quail - party limit of 15 quail per day. Deer - One legal buck per day, not to exceed two (2) per year and an antlerless deer is one (1) per day, not to exceed three (3) per year. All harvested deer count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated. Turkey - During permitted turkey hunts, the bag limit is one gobbler per permitted hunter. All harvested turkey count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated.
- Deer hunting permits: Deer hunting will be allowed by special permit only. You may apply online at mdwfp.com. See application for hunt dates, application deadlines, and other information about permitted hunts. Hunters on the October permitted gun hunt must check in a doe that is 1 and a half years or older during their permitted gun hunt to be issued a permit to harvest (1) legal buck. This buck permit will be valid for the duration of the permitted hunt and during the legal bucks only deer hunt (Dec. 12–Dec. 20). Senior Gun hunt permits will be valid for (1) legal buck and (1) doe, with no doe harvest prerequisite.
- Checking deer: All deer harvested must be checked at a check station and recorded on WMA Daily 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. All antlerless deer heads harvested on Hell Creek WMA must be deposited in a CWD Collection Freezer or submitted to WMA staff for CWD sampling.
- 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 centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting.
- Youth turkey permits: Turkey hunting from Apr. 1–Apr. 30 is allowed by special permit only. You may apply online at 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 for retrieval of harvested deer or hogs only. 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: During WMA deer and turkey seasons, horseback riding is restricted to roads open to motorized vehicles. 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 Hell Creek WMA?
From New Albany, take Hwy 15 north toward Ripley. At Cotton Plant community turn left onto county road 825. Headquarters building is 3.5 miles on the right. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 34.620202, -89.064869.
Highways within 5 miles: I-22, US 78, MS 15 and MS 178. Nearest towns: Myrtle (3 miles), Blue Mountain (4 miles), New Albany (6 miles) and Hickory Flat (6 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Upper Sardis WMA (11.6 miles), Tuscumbia WMA (32.6 miles), John Bell Williams WMA (34.4 miles) and Canal Section WMA (34.8 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 Hell Creek WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Hell Creek WMA lists these deer hunts: Gun - Permit Only, Oct. 1 to Oct. 4; Gun - Permit Only, Oct. 8 to Oct. 11; Gun - Permit Only, Oct. 15 to Oct. 18; Gun - Permit Only, Dec. 12 to Dec. 20; Senior Adult Gun - Permit Only, Dec. 26 to Dec. 29; Archery Only, Oct. 5 to Oct. 7; Archery Only, Oct. 12 to Oct. 14; Archery Only, Oct. 19 to Dec. 11; Archery Only, Dec. 30 to Jan. 31; Youth Gun, Nov. 14 to Nov. 29; Youth Gun, Dec. 30 to Jan. 1; Youth Gun, Jan. 18 to Jan. 27.
What is a legal buck on Hell Creek 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 Hell Creek WMA last season?
Hunters checked 28 deer on Hell Creek WMA in the 2024-25 season: 7 bucks and 21 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 10-season average is 18.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Hell Creek WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Hell Creek 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 Hell Creek WMA in?
Tippah County (1,258 acres) and Union County (1,149 acres), measured on MDWFP's boundary map. Those county figures come from the boundary map, which measures 2,407 acres in all; MDWFP's DMAP report gives the area as 2,344 acres.
Do you need a permit to deer hunt Hell Creek WMA?
Deer hunting will be allowed by special permit only. You may apply online at mdwfp.com. See application for hunt dates, application deadlines, and other information about permitted hunts. Hunters on the October permitted gun hunt must check in a doe that is 1 and a half years or older during their permitted gun hunt to be issued a permit to harvest (1) legal buck. This buck permit will be valid for the duration of the permitted hunt and during the legal bucks only deer hunt (Dec. 12–Dec. 20). Senior Gun hunt permits will be valid for (1) legal buck and (1) doe, with no doe harvest prerequisite.
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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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