Wolf River WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Wolf River WMA is 10,000 acres of public hunting land in Pearl River and Lamar counties, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 30 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (23 bucks, 7 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 10 seasons the area averaged 36 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 4 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth deer, gun and primitive weapon, with archery Oct. 15 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.
Wolf River WMAOther MDWFP WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 10,000 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Pearl River County, Lamar County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth Deer, Gun and Primitive Weapon |
| Archery deer | Oct. 15 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 May 2 |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 30 (23 bucks, 7 does) |
| WMA headquarters | (601) 722-9024 |
| Headquarters GPS | 31.001721, -89.576897 |
| Nearest towns | Lumberton (6 mi), Poplarville (8 mi) and Purvis (13 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Wolf River WMA?
| Deer hunt | Dates, 2026-27 | Legal deer and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Oct. 15 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 Jan. 23 | Legal bucks only. without dogs. |
| Primitive Weapon | Jan. 24 to Feb. 15 | Legal bucks only. |
Turkey: Youth turkey: Mar. 8 to Mar. 14. Turkey: Mar. 15 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 July 1 to Sept. 30 (Friday and Saturday nights only); Raccoon, opossum Oct. 1 to Feb. 28; Trapping Nov. 1 to Feb. 28.
Source: MDWFP, Wolf River Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Wolf River WMA?
Hunters checked 30 deer on Wolf River WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 10 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 36 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 30 | 23 | 7 |
| 2023-24 | 34 | 19 | 15 |
| 2022-23 | 34 | 25 | 9 |
| 2021-22 | 28 | 18 | 10 |
| 2020-21 | 40 | 19 | 21 |
| 2019-20 | 34 | 19 | 15 |
| 2018-19 | 41 | 31 | 10 |
| 2017-18 | 20 | 19 | 1 |
| 2016-17 | 47 | 34 | 13 |
| 2015-16 | 49 | 25 | 24 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Wolf River WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Wolf River 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.
- Checking deer: All deer harvested must be checked at a WMA check station and recorded on WMA Daily Visitor 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: Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 16 - 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.
- ATVs and off-road vehicles: ORVs/ATVs/ Electric bicycles are allowed on designated trails for hunting and fishing access only and for the retrieval of harvested deer or hogs only. 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 and be checked at a self-service data collection station.
- Horses: During WMA deer and turkey seasons, horseback riding is restricted to roads open to motorized vehicles. Raccoon hunting from horses is allowed during nighttime 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 Wolf River WMA?
From Columbia, take Hwy 13 south to Baxterville. Turn right at the Baxterville School on Bilbo Road. The WMA headquarter is located 6.5 miles on the right. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 31.001721, -89.576897.
Highways within 5 miles: US 11, MS 43 and MS 13. Nearest towns: Lumberton (6 miles), Poplarville (8 miles), Purvis (13 miles) and Columbia (19 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Marion County WMA (8.3 miles), Theodore Mars WMA (13.3 miles), Old River WMA (15.1 miles) and Little Biloxi WMA (22.7 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 Wolf River WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Wolf River WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery, Oct. 15 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 Jan. 23; Primitive Weapon, Jan. 24 to Feb. 15.
What is a legal buck on Wolf River 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 Wolf River WMA last season?
Hunters checked 30 deer on Wolf River WMA in the 2024-25 season: 23 bucks and 7 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 10-season average is 36.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Wolf River WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure marks the gun hunts on Wolf River WMA as without dogs. Its dog rules: Small game hunting with dogs is allowed during any small game season. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only during Feb. 16 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.
What county is Wolf River WMA in?
Pearl River County (5,544 acres) and Lamar County (4,626 acres), measured on MDWFP's boundary map.
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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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