Sky Lake WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Sky Lake WMA is 4,306 acres of public hunting land in Humphreys and Leflore counties, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 24 deer on it in the 2025-26 season (15 bucks, 9 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 10 seasons the area averaged 20 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 3 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth gun and primitive weapon, with archery Oct. 1 to Oct. 31. 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.
Sky Lake WMAOther MDWFP WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 4,306 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Humphreys County, Leflore County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth Gun and Primitive Weapon |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1 to Oct. 31 |
| Draw permit for deer | Yes, for some or all deer hunts (see below) |
| Turkey | Season closed or by permit only |
| Deer checked, 2025-26 | 24 (15 bucks, 9 does) |
| Headquarters GPS | 33.303901, -90.45646 |
| Nearest towns | Isola (5 mi), Belzoni (6 mi) and Inverness (6 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Sky Lake WMA?
| Deer hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Legal deer and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery - Permit Only | Oct. 1 to Oct. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. (Thursday, Friday, & Saturday only.) |
| Youth Gun | Nov. 5 to Nov. 7 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. (Thursday, Friday, & Saturday only.) |
| Primitive Weapon - Permit Only | Nov. 12 to Jan. 23 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. (Thursday, Friday, & Saturday only.) |
Turkey: season closed on the area in 2026-27.
Small game and other seasons: Youth squirrel Sept. 24 to Sept. 30 (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday only); Squirrel Oct. 1 to Jan. 31 (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday only), Feb. 1 to Feb. 28 (Daily); Raccoon July 1 to Sept. 30 (Friday and Saturday nights only); Raccoon, opossum Oct. 1 to Jan. 31 (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday only); Raccoon, opossum and bobcat Feb. 1 to Feb. 28 (Daily); Trapping Feb. 1 to Feb. 28; Rabbit Oct. 18 to Jan. 31 (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday only), Feb. 1 to Feb. 28 (Daily).
Source: MDWFP, Sky Lake Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Sky Lake WMA?
Hunters checked 24 deer on Sky Lake WMA in the 2025-26 season. Over the 10 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 20 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 24 | 15 | 9 |
| 2024-25 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| 2023-24 | 28 | 10 | 18 |
| 2022-23 | 16 | 6 | 10 |
| 2021-22 | 29 | 13 | 16 |
| 2020-21 | 19 | 10 | 9 |
| 2019-20 | 25 | 9 | 16 |
| 2018-19 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | 16 | 6 | 10 |
| 2016-17 | 15 | 9 | 6 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Sky Lake WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Sky Lake 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) per day. All harvested deer count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated.
- Deer hunting permits: Deer hunting, except for the youth gun hunt, 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.
- Checking deer: All deer harvested must be checked at a self-service deer check station located on Sky Lake WMA 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). 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 during the youth deer hunt. Other deer seasons are restricted to archery and primitive weapons.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles: ORVs/ATVs/Electric bicycles are allowed on designated roads or trails for hunting and fishing access only. Off-road use of ORV/ ATV/ 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 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.
- Scouting: Scouting is allowed daily from February 1 - September 30 and on Sunday - Wednesday from October 1 - January 31. CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 36, will be enforced. For additional information, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (601) 631-5000.
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 Sky Lake WMA?
From Belzoni, go north on Hwy 7 approximately 8 miles. Turn left on Four Mile Road. Go approximately 3 miles to permit station. Take left at permit station on Lake Road. Go approximately.25 miles to the WMA headquarters on the right. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 33.303901, -90.45646.
Highways within 5 miles: US 49 and MS 7. Nearest towns: Isola (5 miles), Belzoni (6 miles), Inverness (6 miles) and Morgan City (7 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Leroy Percy WMA (23.7 miles), Sunflower WMA (24.3 miles), Stoneville WMA (24.7 miles) and Muscadine Farms WMA (25.7 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 Sky Lake WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Sky Lake WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery - Permit Only, Oct. 1 to Oct. 31; Youth Gun, Nov. 5 to Nov. 7; Primitive Weapon - Permit Only, Nov. 12 to Jan. 23.
What is a legal buck on Sky Lake 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 Sky Lake WMA last season?
Hunters checked 24 deer on Sky Lake WMA in the 2025-26 season: 15 bucks and 9 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 10-season average is 20.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Sky Lake WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Sky Lake 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 Sky Lake WMA in?
Humphreys County (2,991 acres) and Leflore County (1,305 acres), measured on MDWFP's boundary map.
Do you need a permit to deer hunt Sky Lake WMA?
Deer hunting, except for the youth gun hunt, 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.
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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 Leroy Percy WMA Sunflower WMA