Pearl River WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Pearl River WMA is 6,000 acres of public hunting land in Madison and Rankin counties, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 22 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (11 bucks, 11 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 12 seasons the area averaged 24 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 3 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth season 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.
Pearl River WMAOther MDWFP WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 6,000 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County, Rankin County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth Season 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 | 22 (11 bucks, 11 does) |
| WMA headquarters | (601) 469-1918 |
| Headquarters GPS | 32.526354, -89.967657 |
| Nearest towns | Canton (6 mi), Gluckstadt (8 mi) and Madison (10 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Pearl River WMA?
| Deer hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Legal deer and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Youth Season | Nov. 7 to Nov. 20 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Primitive Weapon | Nov. 21 to Jan. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
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; Rabbit Oct. 17 to Feb. 28; 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.
Source: MDWFP, Pearl River Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Pearl River WMA?
Hunters checked 22 deer on Pearl River WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 12 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 24 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 22 | 11 | 11 |
| 2023-24 | 27 | 17 | 10 |
| 2022-23 | 17 | 7 | 10 |
| 2021-22 | 18 | 15 | 3 |
| 2020-21 | 21 | 10 | 11 |
| 2019-20 | 24 | 12 | 12 |
| 2018-19 | 27 | 14 | 13 |
| 2017-18 | 30 | 17 | 13 |
| 2016-17 | 28 | 16 | 12 |
| 2015-16 | 23 | 8 | 15 |
| 2014-15 | 28 | 10 | 18 |
| 2013-14 | 23 | 15 | 8 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Pearl River WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Pearl 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. All harvested deer count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated.
- Checking deer: All deer harvested must be checked at one of the self-service deer check stations located on the Madison County Pipeline Road, on Rocks Road, or on Beach Bluff Road and recorded on DAILY USER PERMIT card or on the 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. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only Feb. 1–Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.
- Legal weapons for deer: Only archery equipment and primitive weapons may be used by adults for deer hunting. Youth hunters 15 years of age and younger may use centerfire rifles, primitive weapons or shotguns with slugs during the youth season and primitive weapon season for deer.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles: ORVs/ATVs/Electric bicycles are allowed only 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: No camping allowed.
- 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 Pearl River WMA?
From Jackson, go north on Hwy 25 approximately 18 miles to Hwy 43. Take Hwy 43 north approximately 6 miles. The WMA entrance is located on the right. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 32.526354, -89.967657.
Highways within 5 miles: MS 25, MS 43, MS 16 and MS 471. Nearest towns: Canton (6 miles), Gluckstadt (8 miles), Madison (10 miles) and Lena (13 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Bienville WMA (12.7 miles), Caney Creek WMA (23.3 miles), Tallahala WMA (33.9 miles) and Lake George WMA (41.6 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 Pearl River WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Pearl River WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery, Oct. 1 to Nov. 20; Youth Season, Nov. 7 to Nov. 20; Primitive Weapon, Nov. 21 to Jan. 31.
What is a legal buck on Pearl 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 Pearl River WMA last season?
Hunters checked 22 deer on Pearl River WMA in the 2024-25 season: 11 bucks and 11 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 12-season average is 24.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Pearl River WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Pearl River 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 only Feb. 1–Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.
What county is Pearl River WMA in?
Madison County (6,929 acres) and Rankin County (54 acres), measured on MDWFP's boundary map. Those county figures come from the boundary map, which measures 6,983 acres in all; MDWFP's DMAP report gives the area as 6,000 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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