Nanih Waiya WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Nanih Waiya WMA is 8,040 acres of public hunting land in Neshoba County, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 29 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (12 bucks, 17 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 12 seasons the area averaged 44 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 4 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth gun, 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.
Nanih Waiya WMAOther MDWFP WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 8,040 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Neshoba County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth Gun, Gun and Primitive Weapon |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 |
| Draw permit for deer | No draw listed; WMA user permit and check-in required |
| Spring turkey | Youth turkey Mar. 8 to Mar. 14; Turkey Mar. 15 to May 2 |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 29 (12 bucks, 17 does) |
| Headquarters GPS | 32.920572, -89.007442 |
| Nearest towns | Philadelphia (4 mi), Noxapater (6 mi) and Louisville (14 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Nanih Waiya WMA?
| Deer hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Legal deer and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Youth Gun | 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. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
Turkey: Youth turkey: Mar. 8 to Mar. 14; see bag limits under the area's rules below. Turkey: Mar. 15 to May 2; see bag limits under the area's rules below.
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 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, Nanih Waiya Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Nanih Waiya WMA?
Hunters checked 29 deer on Nanih Waiya WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 12 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 44 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 29 | 12 | 17 |
| 2023-24 | 48 | 18 | 30 |
| 2022-23 | 44 | 10 | 34 |
| 2021-22 | 40 | 12 | 28 |
| 2020-21 | 72 | 31 | 41 |
| 2019-20 | 42 | 14 | 28 |
| 2018-19 | 47 | 22 | 25 |
| 2017-18 | 35 | 14 | 21 |
| 2016-17 | 56 | 21 | 35 |
| 2015-16 | 40 | 17 | 23 |
| 2014-15 | 43 | 10 | 33 |
| 2013-14 | 34 | 13 | 21 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Nanih Waiya WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Nanih Waiya 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. All harvested deer count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated.
- 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: Deer hunting with dogs is prohibited. Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours Feb. 1–Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.
- Legal weapons for deer: Only archery equipment, cenerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles: ORVs/ATVs/Electric bicycles are allowed on designated graveled roads for hunting and fishing access only. Off-road use of ORVs/ATVs/Electric bicycles is allowed for retrieval of harvested deer or hogs. Additionally, electric bicycles may be ridden on marked foot-traffic trails only by users 65 years of age or older. They may not be ridden on any leveed roads or trails.
- Camping: Primitive camping is allowed. 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. CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 36, will be enforced. For additional information, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (662) 327-2142.
- Horses: No horses allowed.
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 Nanih Waiya WMA?
From Philadelphia, take Hwy 15 north to the Stallo Community. Turn right on CR 832. Continue on CR 832 (Asa Thomas Rd.) until you see a Nanih Waiya WMA sign on your right. Turn right into the WMA headquarters access. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 32.920572, -89.007442.
Highways within 5 miles: MS 21, MS 15, MS 19 and MS 490. Nearest towns: Philadelphia (4 miles), Noxapater (6 miles), Louisville (14 miles) and De Kalb (18 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Choctaw WMA (18.5 miles), Okatibbee WMA (22.4 miles), John W. Starr WMA (22.8 miles) and Yockanookany WMA (26 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 Nanih Waiya WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Nanih Waiya WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery, Oct. 1 to Nov. 20; Youth Gun, Nov. 7 to Nov. 20; Gun, Nov. 21 to Dec. 1; Primitive Weapon, Dec. 2 to Dec. 15; Gun, Dec. 16 to Jan. 31.
What is a legal buck on Nanih Waiya 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 Nanih Waiya WMA last season?
Hunters checked 29 deer on Nanih Waiya WMA in the 2024-25 season: 12 bucks and 17 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 12-season average is 44.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Nanih Waiya WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Nanih Waiya WMA. Its dog rules: Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours Feb. 1–Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.
What county is Nanih Waiya WMA in?
All of it is in Neshoba County, measured on MDWFP's boundary.
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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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