Old River WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Old River WMA is 13,000 acres of public hunting land in Pearl River County, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 19 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (14 bucks, 5 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 10 seasons the area averaged 26 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 4 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth gun, gun and primitive weapon, with archery Oct. 15 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.
Old River WMAOther MDWFP WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 13,000 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Pearl River County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth Gun, Gun and Primitive Weapon |
| Archery deer | Oct. 15 to Nov. 20 |
| Draw permit for deer | No draw listed; WMA user permit and check-in required |
| Turkey | Season closed or by permit only |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 19 (14 bucks, 5 does) |
| WMA headquarters | (601) 722-9024 |
| Headquarters GPS | 30.747382, -89.77453 |
| Nearest towns | Picayune (11 mi), Poplarville (15 mi) and Lumberton (24 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Old River 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. |
| Gun | Nov. 21 to Dec. 1 | Without dogs. Legal bucks only. |
| Primitive Weapon | Dec. 2 to Dec. 15 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Gun | Dec. 16 to Jan. 23 | Legal bucks only. without dogs. |
| Primitive Weapon | Jan. 24 to Feb. 15 | Legal bucks only. |
Turkey: season closed on the area in 2026-27.
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.
Source: MDWFP, Old River Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Old River WMA?
Hunters checked 19 deer on Old River WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 10 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 26 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 19 | 14 | 5 |
| 2023-24 | 45 | 31 | 14 |
| 2022-23 | 11 | 7 | 4 |
| 2021-22 | 20 | 16 | 4 |
| 2020-21 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 2019-20 | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| 2018-19 | 26 | 12 | 14 |
| 2017-18 | 31 | 19 | 12 |
| 2016-17 | 44 | 23 | 21 |
| 2015-16 | 31 | 19 | 12 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Old River WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Old River 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 a WMA check station 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.
- 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. No buck shots allowed.
- High water: Hunting seasons (excluding Waterfowl season) are closed on the WMA when the Pearl River gauge at Bogalusa reads 18.0 ft or higher. Horseshoe Lake Road will be closed when the river gauge at Bogalusa reads 16.0 ft or higher. Roads will be re-opened when conditions are suitable for vehicle use that will minimize road damage.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles: ORVs/ATVs/Electric bicycles are allowed only on designated trails for hunting and fishing access only. Off-road use of ORVs/ATVs/Electric bicycles are allowed for the retrieval of harvested deer or hogs only. Exception: ORVs/ATVs/Electric bicycles are not allowed on that portion of the area within the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge. 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 in designated areas only. Camping is limited to 14 consecutive days. After 14 consecutive days, all camping equipment must be removed for a minimum of 72 hours. Camping equipment may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours. All camping equipment and garbage must be removed before final departure.
- Horses: 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 Old River WMA?
From Poplarville, take Hwy 26 west to Hwy 43. Turn left on Hwy 43 and continue for approximately 3 miles. The WMA headquarters is on the right. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 30.747382, -89.77453.
Highways within 5 miles: MS 43 and MS 26. Nearest towns: Picayune (11 miles), Poplarville (15 miles), Lumberton (24 miles) and Tylertown (30 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Theodore Mars WMA (14.9 miles), Wolf River WMA (15.1 miles), Marion County WMA (23 miles) and Little Biloxi WMA (29.7 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 Old River WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Old River WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery, Oct. 15 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. 23; Primitive Weapon, Jan. 24 to Feb. 15.
What is a legal buck on Old River 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 Old River WMA last season?
Hunters checked 19 deer on Old River WMA in the 2024-25 season: 14 bucks and 5 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 10-season average is 26.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Old River WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Old River 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 Old River WMA in?
All of it is in Pearl River County, measured on MDWFP's boundary.
Get a Mississippi hunt plan when they open
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Use the map while you wait for your plan.
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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