Mahannah WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest

Mahannah WMA is 12,600 acres of public hunting land in Issaquena and Warren counties, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 74 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (45 bucks, 29 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 10 seasons the area averaged 115 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 6 kinds of deer hunt: archery, primitive weapon, youth gun, gun, archery/youth gun and senior adult, with archery Oct. 1 to Oct. 30 and Jan. 1 to Jan. 14. 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.

When are the 2026-27 seasons on Mahannah WMA?

Turkey: Turkey (permit only): See turkey hunting under the area's rules below.

Small game and other seasons: Youth squirrel Sept. 24 to Sept. 30; Squirrel and rabbit Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 (Saturdays only, except closed on Oct. 31), Jan. 1 to Feb. 28 (Daily); Squirrel May 15 to June 1 (Daily); Raccoon July 1 to Sept. 30 (Friday and Saturday nights only); Raccoon, opossum Oct. 1 to Dec. 25 (Friday nights only); Raccoon, opossum and bobcat Jan. 1 to Feb. 28 (Daily); Fishing Feb. 1 to Sept. 30 (Daily), Oct. 1 to Jan. 31 (Saturday Only. Fishing not allowed in waterfowl and timber hunting units); Trapping Jan. 1 to Feb. 28; Quail Nov. 28 to Dec. 30 (Saturdays and Wednesdays only), Jan. 1 to Mar. 6 (Daily).

Source: MDWFP, Mahannah Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.

How many deer are taken on Mahannah WMA?

Hunters checked 74 deer on Mahannah WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 10 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 115 deer a season.

Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Mahannah WMA, harvest history table.

What rules apply on Mahannah WMA?

• Legal bucks: Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 16 inches OR one main beam length of at least 20 inches. During the Youth Only Hunt ONLY, hunters 15 years of age or younger may harvest any antlered buck. During ALL other Permit Only hunts, and the Archery/Youth Gun season (Jan. 1–Jan. 14), a youth hunter must harvest a buck with an inside spread of at least 16 inches OR one main beam length of at least 20 inches.
• Bag limits: Same as statewide bag limits except that during permit hunts on deer the legal buck bag limit is one per hunt. All harvested deer and turkey count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated. The bag limit during the Senior Adult Hunt will be 1 legal buck and 1 antlerless deer per hunt. Bag limit for turkeys is 1 gobbler per permitted hunter.
• Deer hunting permits: Deer hunting, except for the youth gun hunt and the January archery hunt, 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 headquarters and recorded on 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. ALL antlerless deer heads harvested on Mahannah WMA must be deposited in the Mahannah or Phil Bryant CWD Collection freezer.
• 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.
• Turkey hunting: Turkey hunting is allowed by special permit only.
• Closed area: The Waterfowl Sanctuary, enclosed by the East Sanctuary Road on the east, Anderson Tully Road on the south and the main levee on the west, is closed to ALL ENTRY.
• High water: ALL activities, EXCEPT for waterfowl hunting, will close when the Mississippi River gauge at Vicksburg reaches forty-three (43.0) feet and shall remain so until the Mississippi River level falls below 41.0 feet and/or when the Steele Bayou landside gauge reaches 82.0 feet and shall remain so until the Steele Bayou level falls to or below 80.0 feet. Woodcock and Snipe hunting during high water is restricted to the area north of Anderson Tully Road and east of the Waterfowl Sanctuary.
• ATVs and off-road vehicles: ORVs/ATVs/Electric bicycles are allowed on designated roads or trails for hunting and fishing access only. Off-road use of ORVs/ATVs/Electric bicycles is allowed for retrieval of harvested deer or hogs. During all WMA deer firearms seasons, no loaded shoulder fired weapons allowed within 100 feet of any road within Mahannah WMA, including ATV trails. Additionally, electric bicycles may be ridden on marked foot-traffic trails only by users 65 years of age and older.
• Camping: Camping is allowed in designated areas only. Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days. Camping equipment may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours. All camping equipment and garbage must be removed before final departure. The camping area is located next to the Mahannah WMA Headquarters. SCOUTING is allowed daily prior to Oct. 1 and on any Saturdays, Wednesdays, and any small game hunting days thereafter. Only those persons drawn to hunt and waterfowl hunters during waterfowl season will be allowed on the area during permitted hunts.
• 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 and designated ATV trails. 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 Mahannah WMA?

From Vicksburg, follow Hwy 61 north for about 18 miles. Turn left on Floweree Road at the WMA sign. Go approximately 3 miles to the next WMA sign. Turn left on Anderson-Tully Road. The WMA headquarters is approximately 2 miles on the left. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 32.548554, -90.870912.

Highways within 5 miles: MS 465, US 61 and MS 3. Nearest towns: Vicksburg (13 miles), Cary (16 miles), Satartia (19 miles) and Edwards (20 miles).

The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Phil Bryant WMA (next to it), Sunflower WMA (6.1 miles), Lake George WMA (12.8 miles) and Shipland WMA (15 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 Mahannah WMA in 2026-27?

MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Mahannah WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery - Permit Only, Oct. 1 to Oct. 30; Primitive Weapon - Permit Only, Nov. 5 to Nov. 29; Youth Gun, Oct. 31 to Nov. 1; Gun - Permit Only, Dec. 1 to Dec. 31; Archery/Youth Gun, Jan. 1 to Jan. 14; Senior Adult - Permit Only, Jan. 14 to Jan. 15.

What is a legal buck on Mahannah WMA?

Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 16 inches OR one main beam length of at least 20 inches. During the Youth Only Hunt ONLY, hunters 15 years of age or younger may harvest any antlered buck. During ALL other Permit Only hunts, and the Archery/Youth Gun season (Jan. 1–Jan. 14), a youth hunter must harvest a buck with an inside spread of at least 16 inches OR one main beam length of at least 20 inches.

How many deer were killed on Mahannah WMA last season?

Hunters checked 74 deer on Mahannah WMA in the 2024-25 season: 45 bucks and 29 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 10-season average is 115.

Can you hunt deer with dogs on Mahannah WMA?

No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Mahannah 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 Mahannah WMA in?

Issaquena County (12,407 acres) and Warren County (443 acres), measured on MDWFP's boundary map.

Do you need a permit to deer hunt Mahannah WMA?

Deer hunting, except for the youth gun hunt and the January archery hunt, 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.

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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