Sunflower WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Sunflower WMA is 60,000 acres of public hunting land in Sharkey and Yazoo counties, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 128 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (96 bucks, 32 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 10 seasons the area averaged 118 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.
Sunflower WMAOther MDWFP WMAsNational forestNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 60,000 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Sharkey County, Yazoo 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 |
| Turkey | Season closed or by permit only |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 128 (96 bucks, 32 does) |
| Headquarters GPS | 32.817221, -90.77744 |
| Nearest towns | Cary (5 mi), Rolling Fork (5 mi) and Anguilla (5 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Sunflower 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. |
| Primitive Weapon | Dec. 2 to Dec. 15 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
| Gun | Dec. 16 to Dec. 23 | Legal bucks. |
| Gun | Dec. 24 to Jan. 22 | Legal bucks with dogs. |
| Primitive Weapon | Jan. 23 to Jan. 31 | 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; 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, Sunflower Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Sunflower WMA?
Hunters checked 128 deer on Sunflower WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 10 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 118 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 128 | 96 | 32 |
| 2023-24 | 167 | 106 | 61 |
| 2022-23 | 77 | 45 | 32 |
| 2021-22 | 92 | 50 | 42 |
| 2020-21 | 106 | 72 | 34 |
| 2019-20 | 49 | 39 | 10 |
| 2018-19 | 90 | 75 | 15 |
| 2017-18 | 125 | 118 | 7 |
| 2016-17 | 177 | 127 | 50 |
| 2015-16 | 170 | 82 | 88 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Sunflower WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Sunflower 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 antlered deer is two (2), and 1 adult gobbler per permitted hunter. All harvested deer and turkey count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated.
- Checking deer: All deer harvested must be recorded on DAILY VISITOR USE PERMIT card before leaving the area. All deer harvested must be checked at a self-service data collection station 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 (weighed size, antler measurements, and jawbones). Instructions and equipment will be provided.
- Dogs: Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs season. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1–Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.
- Legal weapons for deer: Only centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs or buckshot, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting.
- Turkey hunting: Turkey hunting is allowed by special permit only.
- No hunting: No hunting from or within 100ft of the toe of the greentree reservoir levees or from or within 100ft of pipeline rights-of-ways during deer firearm seasons.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles: ORVs/ATVs/Electric bicycles are allowed on designated roads or trails, and only for the retrieval of harvested deer or hogs. Before operating ORVs/ ATVs/Electric bicycles, users must obtain an ATV/ UTV permit from the U.S.
- 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 Sunflower WMA?
From Rolling Fork, take Hwy. 16 east approximately 9 miles. Turn right onto Pipeline Road for approximately 1 mile. Turn right on the gravel road just before the WMA check station. Follow road approximately.25 miles to the WMA headquarters on the left. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 32.817221, -90.77744.
Highways through the area: MS 16. Nearest towns: Cary (5 miles), Rolling Fork (5 miles), Anguilla (5 miles) and Louise (5 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Twin Oaks WMA (next to it), Lake George WMA (next to it), Mahannah WMA (6.1 miles) and Phil Bryant WMA (8.4 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 Sunflower WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Sunflower 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. 22; Primitive Weapon, Jan. 23 to Jan. 31.
What is a legal buck on Sunflower 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 Sunflower WMA last season?
Hunters checked 128 deer on Sunflower WMA in the 2024-25 season: 96 bucks and 32 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 10-season average is 118.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Sunflower WMA?
Yes, on these hunts, which MDWFP's brochure marks as with dogs: Dec. 24 to Jan. 22. Its dog rules: Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during any deer with dogs season. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 1–Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.
What county is Sunflower WMA in?
Sharkey County (61,319 acres) and Yazoo County (39 acres), measured on MDWFP's boundary map. Those county figures come from the boundary map, which measures 61,361 acres in all; MDWFP's DMAP report gives the area as 60,000 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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