Okatibbee WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Okatibbee WMA is 6,883 acres of public hunting land in Lauderdale and Kemper counties, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 15 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (4 bucks, 11 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 15 seasons the area averaged 14 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 4 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth gun, primitive weapon/shotgun and handicapped hunt, 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.
Okatibbee WMAOther MDWFP WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 6,883 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Lauderdale County, Kemper County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth Gun, Primitive Weapon/Shotgun and Handicapped Hunt |
| 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 | 15 (4 bucks, 11 does) |
| WMA headquarters | (601) 737-5831 |
| Headquarters GPS | 32.524334, -88.813446 |
| Nearest towns | Marion (8 mi), Meridian (8 mi) and Chunky (12 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Okatibbee 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. |
| Primitive Weapon/Shotgun | Nov. 21 to Jan. 28 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Handicapped Hunt | Jan. 29 to Jan. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. See handicapped hunt under the area's rules below. |
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; 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, Okatibbee Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Okatibbee WMA?
Hunters checked 15 deer on Okatibbee WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 15 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 14 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 15 | 4 | 11 |
| 2023-24 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| 2022-23 | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| 2021-22 | 15 | 3 | 12 |
| 2020-21 | 19 | 9 | 10 |
| 2019-20 | 22 | 12 | 10 |
| 2018-19 | 27 | 13 | 14 |
| 2017-18 | 10 | 4 | 6 |
| 2016-17 | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| 2015-16 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| 2014-15 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| 2013-14 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| 2012-13 | 22 | 10 | 12 |
| 2011-12 | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| 2010-11 | 18 | 3 | 15 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Okatibbee WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Okatibbee 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.
- 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. Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited.
- Legal weapons for deer: Only shotguns with slugs and primitive weapons may be used for deer hunting, EXCEPT that youth may use centerfire rifles during the youth deer hunt and during the shotgun/primitive weapon season.
- Handicapped hunt: To apply, hunters must register at the WMA Office prior to Jan. 1. This is a three day hunt starting at 12:00 noon on Jan. 29 and ending at 12:00 noon on Jan. 31.
- 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. 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 Okatibbee WMA?
From Meridian, take Hwy 19 north towards Philadelphia. At the 4-way stop in Collinsville, turn right (east) on West Lauderdale Road. Go 1.8 miles and turn right on Center Hill-Martin Road. Go approximately ½ mile. The WMA headquarters is on the left. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 32.524334, -88.813446.
Highways within 5 miles: MS 19, MS 493, MS 495 and MS 494. Nearest towns: Marion (8 miles), Meridian (8 miles), Chunky (12 miles) and De Kalb (15 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Nanih Waiya WMA (22.4 miles), Tallahala WMA (29.7 miles), Caney Creek WMA (33.7 miles) and Bienville WMA (39.7 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 Okatibbee WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Okatibbee WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery, Oct. 1 to Nov. 20; Youth Gun, Nov. 7 to Nov. 20; Primitive Weapon/Shotgun, Nov. 21 to Jan. 28; Handicapped Hunt, Jan. 29 to Jan. 31.
What is a legal buck on Okatibbee 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 Okatibbee WMA last season?
Hunters checked 15 deer on Okatibbee WMA in the 2024-25 season: 4 bucks and 11 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 15-season average is 14.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Okatibbee WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Okatibbee 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 Okatibbee WMA in?
Lauderdale County (6,239 acres) and Kemper County (318 acres), measured on MDWFP's boundary map. Those county figures come from the boundary map, which measures 6,556 acres in all; MDWFP's DMAP report gives the area as 6,883 acres.
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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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