Shipland WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Shipland WMA is 3,642 acres of public hunting land in Issaquena County, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 13 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (8 bucks, 5 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 9 seasons the area averaged 15 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 4 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth gun, primitive weapon and archery/youth gun, with archery Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 and Jan. 1 to Jan. 31.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: MDWFP's 2026-27 WMA brochure. Harvest: MDWFP's DMAP report for the area, to 2024-25.
Shipland WMAOther MDWFP WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 3,642 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Issaquena County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth Gun, Primitive Weapon and Archery/Youth Gun |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1 to Nov. 20; Jan. 1 to Jan. 31 |
| 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 | 13 (8 bucks, 5 does) |
| WMA headquarters | (662) 873-6958 |
| Headquarters GPS | 32.771515, -91.143021 |
| Nearest towns | Mayersville (9 mi), Cary (11 mi) and Rolling Fork (17 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Shipland 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 | Nov. 21 to Dec. 1 | Legal bucks only. |
| Primitive Weapon | Dec. 2 to Dec. 15 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Primitive Weapon | Dec. 16 to Dec. 31 | Legal bucks only. |
| Archery/Youth Gun | Jan. 1 to Jan. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
Turkey: Turkey (permit only): See turkey hunting under the area's rules below.
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, Shipland Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Shipland WMA?
Hunters checked 13 deer on Shipland WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 9 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 15 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 2023-24 | 25 | 20 | 5 |
| 2022-23 | 12 | 8 | 4 |
| 2020-21 | 11 | 7 | 4 |
| 2019-20 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 2018-19 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| 2017-18 | 36 | 13 | 23 |
| 2016-17 | 19 | 12 | 7 |
| 2015-16 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Shipland WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Shipland WMA?
- Legal bucks: Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 15 inches OR one main beam length of at least 18 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) and on legal bucks is two (2), and 1 adult gobbler per permitted hunter. All harvested deer and turkey count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated.
- 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 during the youth deer hunt. Other deer seasons are restricted to archery and primitive weapons.
- Turkey hunting: Turkey hunting is allowed by special permit only.
- High water: Hunting seasons (excluding waterfowl season) are closed when the Mississippi River gauge at Vicksburg reads 41.0 feet or higher, and re-open when the gauge reads 39.0 ft or lower. River stages can be obtained from www.mdfwp. com/wma. The earliest daily reading will determine WMA closure for the entire day.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles: Off-road use of ORVs/ATVs/ Electric bicycles is allowed 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 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. Camping equipment may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours. All camping equipment and garbage must be removed before final departure.
- Horses: Horseback riding is prohibited during WMA deer and turkey seasons. At all other times, horseback riding is restricted to roads open to motorized vehicles and designated ATV trails. Raccoon hunting from horses is allowed during nighttime hunting 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 Shipland WMA?
From Onward, follow Hwy. 1 approximately 15 miles to the Shipland WMA sign. Turn left and go to the Mississippi River Levee. Turn right and go north on the levee until you see another Shipland WMA sign. Turn left off levee and follow road to the WMA headquarters on the right. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 32.771515, -91.143021.
Highways within 5 miles: MS 1. Nearest towns: Mayersville (9 miles), Cary (11 miles), Rolling Fork (17 miles) and Anguilla (22 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Twin Oaks WMA (13.4 miles), Phil Bryant WMA (14.1 miles), Mahannah WMA (15 miles) and Sunflower WMA (15.2 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 Shipland WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Shipland WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery, Oct. 1 to Nov. 20; Youth Gun, Nov. 7 to Nov. 20; Primitive Weapon, Nov. 21 to Dec. 1; Primitive Weapon, Dec. 2 to Dec. 15; Primitive Weapon, Dec. 16 to Dec. 31; Archery/Youth Gun, Jan. 1 to Jan. 31.
What is a legal buck on Shipland WMA?
Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 15 inches OR one main beam length of at least 18 inches. For hunters 15 years of age or younger any antlered buck is a legal buck.
How many deer were killed on Shipland WMA last season?
Hunters checked 13 deer on Shipland WMA in the 2024-25 season: 8 bucks and 5 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 9-season average is 15.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Shipland WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Shipland 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 Shipland WMA in?
All of it is in Issaquena 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.
Mississippi hunting All Mississippi WMAs Twin Oaks WMA Phil Bryant WMA