John W. Starr WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
John W. Starr WMA is 8,244 acres of public hunting land in Oktibbeha and Winston counties, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 18 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (7 bucks, 11 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 14 seasons the area averaged 29 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.
John W. Starr WMAOther MDWFP WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 8,244 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Oktibbeha County, Winston County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth Deer, Gun and Primitive Weapon |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 |
| Draw permit for deer | No draw listed; the area's own hunting permit is required (see the rules below), on top of the WMA user permit and check-in |
| Spring turkey | Youth turkey Mar. 8 to Mar. 14; Turkey Mar. 15 to May 2 |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 18 (7 bucks, 11 does) |
| Nearest towns | Starkville (6 mi), Sturgis (7 mi) and Artesia (12 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on John W. Starr 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 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Primitive Weapon | Dec. 2 to Dec. 15 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Gun | Dec. 16 to Jan. 20 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Primitive Weapon | Jan. 21 to Jan. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
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 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 John W. Starr WMA?
Hunters checked 18 deer on John W. Starr WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 14 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 29 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 18 | 7 | 11 |
| 2023-24 | 11 | 4 | 7 |
| 2022-23 | 18 | 8 | 10 |
| 2021-22 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 2020-21 | 19 | 10 | 9 |
| 2019-20 | 22 | 19 | 3 |
| 2018-19 | 22 | 14 | 8 |
| 2017-18 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 2016-17 | 36 | 17 | 19 |
| 2015-16 | 49 | 27 | 22 |
| 2014-15 | 26 | 16 | 10 |
| 2013-14 | 45 | 22 | 23 |
| 2012-13 | 51 | 26 | 25 |
| 2011-12 | 64 | 39 | 25 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, John W. Starr WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on John W. Starr 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.
- Hunting permits: All hunters must obtain a hunting permit from the College of Forest Resources, Forest Operations Office, (662) 325-2191.
- 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: Areas with boundaries marked with red paint around Dorman Lake, School Forest hunter check station, and ranger residence are 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 or the regulations below: ORVs/ATVs/Electric bicycles are allowed for the 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: Camping is allowed subject to U.S. Forest Service regulations.
- Horses: Hunting from horseback is allowed. During WMA deer and turkey seasons, horseback riding is restricted to roads open to motorized vehicles. Raccoon hunting from horses is allowed 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 John W. Starr WMA?
John W. Starr WMA is located in Oktibbeha and Winston Counties near Starkville. From Starkville, take Hwy 25 south toward Louisville. Travel approximately 10 miles and turn left onto Dorman Lake Rd. Permit station is on the left. (there is no headquarters building on this area).
Highways through the area: MS 25. Nearest towns: Starkville (6 miles), Sturgis (7 miles), Artesia (12 miles) and Crawford (13 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Choctaw WMA (6.5 miles), Trim Cane WMA (8.1 miles), Black Prairie WMA (14.5 miles) and Nanih Waiya WMA (22.8 miles).
Directions: MDWFP's page for the area. 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 John W. Starr WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for John W. Starr 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 John W. Starr 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 John W. Starr WMA last season?
Hunters checked 18 deer on John W. Starr WMA in the 2024-25 season: 7 bucks and 11 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 14-season average is 29.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on John W. Starr WMA?
No deer hunt with dogs is listed: MDWFP's brochure marks none of the deer hunts on John W. Starr WMA as with 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 John W. Starr WMA in?
Oktibbeha County (5,792 acres) and Winston County (2,472 acres), measured on MDWFP's boundary map.
Do you need a permit to hunt John W. Starr WMA?
No draw is listed for deer, but the area has its own hunting permit. All hunters must obtain a hunting permit from the College of Forest Resources, Forest Operations Office, (662) 325-2191. The statewide WMA user permit and check-in apply as well.
Get a Mississippi hunt plan when they open
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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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