Riverfront WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Riverfront WMA is 1,214 acres of public hunting land in Bolivar County, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 5 deer on it in the 2025-26 season (4 bucks, 1 doe), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 4 seasons the area averaged 14 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 2 kinds of deer hunt: archery and primitive weapon, with archery Oct. 31 to Nov. 30. Some or all deer hunts are by draw permit.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: MDWFP's 2026-27 WMA brochure. Harvest: MDWFP's DMAP report for the area, to 2025-26.
Riverfront WMAOther MDWFP WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 1,214 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Bolivar County |
| Deer hunts | Archery and Primitive Weapon |
| Archery deer | Oct. 31 to Nov. 30 |
| Draw permit for deer | Yes, for some or all deer hunts (see below) |
| Turkey | No turkey season listed |
| Deer checked, 2025-26 | 5 (4 bucks, 1 doe) |
| Headquarters GPS | 33.834235, -91.048425 |
| Nearest towns | Rosedale (2 mi), Beulah (3 mi) and Gunnison (9 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Riverfront WMA?
| Deer hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Legal deer and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery - Permit Only | Oct. 31 to Nov. 30 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Primitive Weapon - Permit Only | Dec. 1 to Dec. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
Source: MDWFP, Riverfront Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Riverfront WMA?
Hunters checked 5 deer on Riverfront WMA in the 2025-26 season. Over the 4 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 14 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | 10 | 8 | 2 |
| 2023-24 | 25 | 13 | 12 |
| 2022-23 | 14 | 5 | 9 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Riverfront WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Riverfront WMA?
- Legal bucks: Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 16 inches OR one main beam length of at least 20 inches. For hunters 15 years of age or younger any antlered buck is a legal buck.
- Bag limits: Same as statewide bag limits, except: Deer: One (1) legal buck per hunt and one (1) antlerless deer per day, not to exceed three (3) antlerless deer per hunt. All harvested deer count towards statewide bag limit.
- Deer hunting permits: Deer hunting is allowed by special permit only. You may apply online at mdwfp.com. See application for hunt dates, application deadlines, and other information about permitted hunts.
- 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 (how much the deer weighs, antler measurements and jawbone).
- Dogs: Deer hunting with dogs is prohibited. Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited. Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season.
- Legal weapons for deer: Only primitive weapons and archery equipment may be used for deer hunting.
- High water: The WMA will be closed when the Mississippi River gauge at Arkansas City reads 26 feet or higher and will reopen when the Mississippi River gauge at Arkansas City drops below 26 feet. The earliest daily reading will determine WMA closure for the entire day. River stages can be obtained from www.mdwfp.com/wma. SCOUTING is allowed daily Oct. 1–13 and on Thursdays only during permitted deer hunts. Only those persons drawn to hunt will be allowed on the area during permitted deer hunts.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles: ORVs/ATVs are allowed on designated roads or trails for hunting access only.
- Camping: Camping is prohibited on this area.
- Horses: Horseback riding is prohibited.
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 Riverfront WMA?
In Rosedale, traveling on Hwy 1, turn west on State Park Road, cross levee and go approximately 1.3 miles. The parking area will be on your right. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 33.834235, -91.048425.
Highways within 5 miles: MS 1 and MS 8. Nearest towns: Rosedale (2 miles), Beulah (3 miles), Gunnison (9 miles) and Pace (10 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Stoneville WMA (23.3 miles), Alligator WMA (24.5 miles) and Muscadine Farms WMA (38.9 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 Riverfront WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Riverfront WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery - Permit Only, Oct. 31 to Nov. 30; Primitive Weapon - Permit Only, Dec. 1 to Dec. 31.
What is a legal buck on Riverfront WMA?
Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 16 inches OR one main beam length of at least 20 inches. For hunters 15 years of age or younger any antlered buck is a legal buck.
How many deer were killed on Riverfront WMA last season?
Hunters checked 5 deer on Riverfront WMA in the 2025-26 season: 4 bucks and 1 doe, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 4-season average is 14.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Riverfront WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Riverfront WMA. Its dog rules: Hunting, running, or pursuing hogs with the use of dogs is prohibited. Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season.
What county is Riverfront WMA in?
All of it is in Bolivar County, measured on MDWFP's boundary.
Do you need a permit to deer hunt Riverfront WMA?
Deer hunting is allowed by special permit only. You may apply online at mdwfp.com. See application for hunt dates, application deadlines, and other information about permitted hunts.
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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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