Marion County WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Marion County WMA is 7,125 acres of public hunting land in Marion County, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 46 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (28 bucks, 18 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 10 seasons the area averaged 52 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 4 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth gun, shotgun/primitive weapon/handgun and archery/youth gun, with archery Oct. 15 to Nov. 20, Jan. 4 to Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 to Feb. 15.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: MDWFP's 2026-27 WMA brochure. Harvest: MDWFP's DMAP report for the area, to 2024-25.
Marion County WMAOther MDWFP WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 7,125 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Marion County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth Gun, Shotgun/Primitive Weapon/Handgun and Archery/Youth Gun |
| Archery deer | Oct. 15 to Nov. 20; Jan. 4 to Jan. 31; Feb. 1 to Feb. 15 |
| Draw permit for deer | No draw listed; WMA user permit and check-in required |
| Spring turkey | Youth turkey Mar. 27 to Mar. 28; Turkey Apr. 1 to May 2 |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 46 (28 bucks, 18 does) |
| WMA headquarters | (601) 736-0066 |
| Headquarters GPS | 31.17449, -89.733331 |
| Nearest towns | Columbia (6 mi), Purvis (16 mi) and Sumrall (17 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Marion County WMA?
| Deer hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Legal deer and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Oct. 15 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 Dec. 1 | Legal bucks only. |
| Shotgun/Primitive Weapon/Handgun | Dec. 2 to Dec. 15 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Shotgun/Primitive Weapon/Handgun | Dec. 16 to Jan. 3 | Legal bucks only. |
| Archery/Youth Gun | Jan. 4 to Jan. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Archery/Youth Gun | Feb. 1 to Feb. 15 | Legal bucks only. |
Turkey: Youth turkey: Mar. 27 to Mar. 28. Turkey: Apr. 1 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 and bobcat 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, Marion County Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Marion County WMA?
Hunters checked 46 deer on Marion County WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 10 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 52 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 46 | 28 | 18 |
| 2023-24 | 55 | 28 | 27 |
| 2022-23 | 48 | 19 | 29 |
| 2021-22 | 52 | 20 | 32 |
| 2020-21 | 58 | 23 | 35 |
| 2019-20 | 63 | 34 | 29 |
| 2018-19 | 48 | 20 | 28 |
| 2017-18 | 49 | 19 | 30 |
| 2016-17 | 50 | 22 | 28 |
| 2015-16 | 51 | 18 | 33 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Marion County WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Marion 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 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. 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.
- Closed area: The land areas within the road and firebreak boundary around Lake Bill Waller and Lake Columbia are closed to all hunting.
- No hunting: No hunting from or within 100ft of pipeline rights-of-way during any deer firearm season west of Game Reserve Road.
- 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 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 Marion County WMA?
Beginning at the intersection of Hwy 98 and Columbia-Purvis Road near Columbia, turn south on Columbia-Purvis Road. Travel approximately 6 miles to the intersection of Game Reserve Road. Turn south (right) onto Game Reserve Road and travel approximately 2.7 miles. The WMA headquarters is on the left. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 31.17449, -89.733331.
Highways within 5 miles: US 98, MS 13, MS 43 and MS 44. Nearest towns: Columbia (6 miles), Purvis (16 miles), Sumrall (17 miles) and Lumberton (17 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Wolf River WMA (8.3 miles), Old River WMA (23 miles), Theodore Mars WMA (28.4 miles) and Little Biloxi WMA (37.8 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 Marion County WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Marion County WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery, Oct. 15 to Nov. 20; Youth Gun, Nov. 7 to Nov. 20; Shotgun/Primitive Weapon/Handgun, Nov. 21 to Dec. 1; Shotgun/Primitive Weapon/Handgun, Dec. 2 to Dec. 15; Shotgun/Primitive Weapon/Handgun, Dec. 16 to Jan. 3; Archery/Youth Gun, Jan. 4 to Jan. 31; Archery/Youth Gun, Feb. 1 to Feb. 15.
What is a legal buck on Marion 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 Marion County WMA last season?
Hunters checked 46 deer on Marion County WMA in the 2024-25 season: 28 bucks and 18 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 10-season average is 52.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Marion County WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Marion 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 Marion County WMA in?
All of it is in Marion County, measured on MDWFP's boundary.
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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