Theodore Mars WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Theodore Mars WMA is 887 acres of public hunting land in Pearl River County, run by MDWFP. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 2 kinds of deer hunt: youth archery and youth gun, with archery Oct. 15 to Nov. 6.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: MDWFP's 2026-27 WMA brochure. Harvest: MDWFP's DMAP report for the area.
Theodore Mars WMAOther MDWFP WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 887 acres (measured on MDWFP's boundary) |
|---|---|
| County | Pearl River County |
| Deer hunts | Youth Archery and Youth Gun |
| Archery deer | Oct. 15 to Nov. 6 |
| Draw permit for deer | No draw listed; WMA user permit and check-in required |
| Spring turkey | Youth turkey Mar. 8 to May 2 |
| WMA headquarters | (228) 588-3878 |
| Headquarters GPS | 30.76071, -89.49789 |
| Nearest towns | Poplarville (5 mi), Lumberton (17 mi) and Picayune (18 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Theodore Mars WMA?
| Deer hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Legal deer and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Archery | Oct. 15 to Nov. 6 | |
| Youth Gun | Nov. 7 to Feb. 15 |
Turkey: Youth turkey: Mar. 8 to May 2.
Small game and other seasons: Youth squirrel Sept. 24 to Sept. 30; Squirrel Oct. 1 to Feb. 28; Trapping Nov. 1 to Feb. 28; Rabbit Oct. 17 to Feb. 28; Quail Nov. 26 to Mar. 6.
Source: MDWFP, Theodore A. Mars Jr. Memorial Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
What rules apply on Theodore Mars WMA?
- Bag limits: Same as statewide.
- Checking deer: All deer harvested must be checked at the Area Headquarters by the hunters 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. 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 or buckshot, primitive weapons, and centerfire handguns may be used for deer hunting.
- Camping: No camping allowed.
- Horses: Horseback riding is allowed on designated roads and trails outside of deer hunting season.
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 Theodore Mars WMA?
From the intersection with I-59 at Poplarville, follow Hwy. 53 south 4 miles. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 30.76071, -89.49789.
Highways within 5 miles: I-59, US 11 and MS 53. Nearest towns: Poplarville (5 miles), Lumberton (17 miles), Picayune (18 miles) and Wiggins (22 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Little Biloxi WMA (12.8 miles), Wolf River WMA (13.3 miles), Old River WMA (14.9 miles) and Red Creek WMA (26.8 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 Theodore Mars WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Theodore Mars WMA lists these deer hunts: Youth Archery, Oct. 15 to Nov. 6; Youth Gun, Nov. 7 to Feb. 15.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Theodore Mars WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Theodore Mars 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 Theodore Mars WMA in?
All of it is in Pearl River County, measured on MDWFP's boundary.
Get a Mississippi hunt plan when they open
Mississippi plans are not open yet. They are coming soon. Join the waiting list; the first 50 hunters get one plan free.
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 Little Biloxi WMA Wolf River WMA