Sandy Creek WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Sandy Creek WMA is 16,407 acres of public hunting land in Adams, Franklin and Wilkinson counties, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 18 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (10 bucks, 8 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 14 seasons the area averaged 47 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 4 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth deer, 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.
Sandy Creek WMAOther MDWFP WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 16,407 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County, Franklin County, Wilkinson County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth Deer, 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 Mar. 31 (permit); Turkey Apr. 1 to May 2 |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 18 (10 bucks, 8 does) |
| WMA headquarters | (601) 277-3636 |
| Nearest towns | Roxie (7 mi), Crosby (8 mi) and Natchez (12 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Sandy Creek WMA?
| Deer hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Legal deer and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Youth Deer | Nov. 7 to Nov. 20 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Gun | Nov. 21 to Dec. 1 | Legal bucks without dogs. |
| Primitive Weapon | Dec. 2 to Dec. 15 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Gun | Dec. 16 to Dec. 23 | Legal bucks only. |
| Gun | Dec. 24 to Jan. 20 | Legal bucks without dogs. |
| Primitive Weapon | Jan. 21 to Jan. 31 | Legal bucks only. |
Turkey: Youth turkey: Mar. 8 to Mar. 14. Turkey (permit only): Mar. 15 to Mar. 31; see turkey permits under the area's rules below. Turkey: Apr. 1 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 Jul. 1 to Sept. 30 (Friday and Saturday nights only); Raccoon, opossum Oct. 1 to Feb. 28; Trapping Nov. 1 to Feb. 28.
Source: MDWFP, Caston Creek and Sandy Creek Wildlife Management Areas 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Sandy Creek WMA?
Hunters checked 18 deer on Sandy Creek WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 14 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 47 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 18 | 10 | 8 |
| 2023-24 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| 2022-23 | 19 | 16 | 3 |
| 2021-22 | 13 | 12 | 1 |
| 2020-21 | 25 | 12 | 13 |
| 2019-20 | 31 | 20 | 11 |
| 2018-19 | 32 | 29 | 3 |
| 2017-18 | 37 | 29 | 8 |
| 2016-17 | 49 | 36 | 13 |
| 2015-16 | 57 | 38 | 19 |
| 2014-15 | 92 | 60 | 32 |
| 2013-14 | 91 | 60 | 31 |
| 2012-13 | 81 | 53 | 28 |
| 2011-12 | 102 | 81 | 21 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Sandy Creek WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Sandy Creek 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.
- Dogs: Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season.
- Legal weapons for deer: Only centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs or buckshot, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting.
- Turkey permits: Turkey hunting from Mar. 15–Mar. 31 is allowed by special permit only. You may apply online at www.mdwfp.com. See application for hunt dates, application deadlines, and other information about permitted hunts.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles: Off-road vehicle use, including electric bicycles, will be governed by U.S. Forest Service regulations.
- Camping: Camping is allowed subject to U.S. Forest Service regulations.
- Horses: Hunting from horseback is 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 Sandy Creek WMA?
Sandy Creek is located in Adams and Franklin Counties near Natchez. Beginning at the intersection of U.S. Highway 61 south and Liberty Road in Natchez travel southeast on Liberty Road for approximately 14.1 miles to the intersection of Garden City Road. Turn south(right) onto Garden City Road and continue for approximately 3.93 miles. The Sandy Creek WMA headquarters will be located on your right.
Highways within 5 miles: MS 33. Nearest towns: Roxie (7 miles), Crosby (8 miles), Natchez (12 miles) and Gloster (14 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA (7.6 miles), Caston Creek WMA (9.3 miles), Canemount WMA (29.2 miles) and Copiah County WMA (37.2 miles).
Headquarters phone: MDWFP's brochure. Directions: MDWFP's page for the area. 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 Sandy Creek WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Sandy Creek WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery, Oct. 1 to Nov. 20; Youth Deer, Nov. 7 to Nov. 20; Gun, Nov. 21 to Dec. 1; Primitive Weapon, Dec. 2 to Dec. 15; Gun, Dec. 16 to Dec. 23; Gun, Dec. 24 to Jan. 20; Primitive Weapon, Jan. 21 to Jan. 31.
What is a legal buck on Sandy Creek 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 Sandy Creek WMA last season?
Hunters checked 18 deer on Sandy Creek WMA in the 2024-25 season: 10 bucks and 8 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 14-season average is 47.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Sandy Creek WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure marks the gun hunts on Sandy Creek WMA as without dogs. Its dog rules: Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season.
What county is Sandy Creek WMA in?
Adams County (14,326 acres), Franklin County (2,481 acres) and Wilkinson County (59 acres), measured on MDWFP's boundary map. Those county figures come from the boundary map, which measures 16,867 acres in all; MDWFP's DMAP report gives the area as 16,407 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.
Mississippi hunting All Mississippi WMAs Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA Caston Creek WMA