Yockanookany WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and deer harvest
Yockanookany WMA is 2,379 acres of public hunting land in Attala County, run by MDWFP. Hunters checked 11 deer on it in the 2024-25 season (5 bucks, 6 does), by MDWFP's DMAP report; over 12 seasons the area averaged 10 a season. Its 2026-27 brochure sets 3 kinds of deer hunt: archery, youth gun and primitive weapon, with archery Oct. 1 to Nov. 20. 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 2024-25.
Yockanookany WMAOther MDWFP WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 2,379 acres (MDWFP's DMAP report) |
|---|---|
| County | Attala County |
| Deer hunts | Archery, Youth Gun and Primitive Weapon |
| Archery deer | Oct. 1 to Nov. 20 |
| Draw permit for deer | Yes, for some or all deer hunts (see below) |
| Spring turkey | Youth turkey Mar. 8 to Mar. 14; Turkey Mar. 15 to Mar. 31 (permit); Turkey Apr. 1 to May 2 |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 11 (5 bucks, 6 does) |
| WMA headquarters | (662) 272-8303 |
| Headquarters GPS | 33.166541, -89.425307 |
| Nearest towns | McCool (next to it), Ethel (3 mi) and Weir (6 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Yockanookany 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 - Permit Only | Nov. 21 to Jan. 31 | Antlerless deer and legal bucks. |
Turkey: Youth turkey: Mar. 8 to Mar. 14. Turkey (permit only): Mar. 15 to Mar. 31; see turkey permits under the area's rules below. Turkey: Apr. 1 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 (see dogs under the area's rules below); 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, Yockanookany Wildlife Management Area 2026-27 regulations.
How many deer are taken on Yockanookany WMA?
Hunters checked 11 deer on Yockanookany WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 12 seasons in MDWFP's report the area averaged 10 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| 2023-24 | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| 2022-23 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 2021-22 | 16 | 5 | 11 |
| 2020-21 | 12 | 5 | 7 |
| 2019-20 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 2018-19 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 2017-18 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 2016-17 | 10 | 3 | 7 |
| 2015-16 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| 2014-15 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2013-14 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
Source: MDWFP DMAP report, Yockanookany WMA, harvest history table.
What rules apply on Yockanookany WMA?
- Legal bucks: Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 12 inches OR one main beam length of at least 15 inches. For hunters 15 years of age or younger any antlered buck is a legal buck.
- Bag limits: Same as statewide bag limits except that for permitted turkey hunts the daily bag limit is one gobbler per permit, and the bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed three (3) per year and on antlerless deer is one (1) per day.
- Deer hunting permits: Deer hunting, except for the archery and 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 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. Hog hunting with dogs is allowed during daylight hours only Feb. 1 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.
- Legal weapons for deer: Deer seasons other than youth hunts are restricted to archery and primitive weapons.
- Turkey permits: Turkey hunting Mar. 15–Mar. 31 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.
- Closed area: The area North of Hwy 12 shall be closed to hunting, fishing, and trapping.
- 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 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 or 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 Yockanookany WMA?
From the intersection of Hwy 35 and Hwy 12 in Kosciusko, go east on Hwy 12 approximately 11.2 miles. Turn right into the WMA parking area at the red entrance gate. MDWFP gives the headquarters at 33.166541, -89.425307.
Highways within 5 miles: MS 12, MS 411 and MS 407. Nearest towns: McCool (next to it), Ethel (3 miles), Weir (6 miles) and French Camp (7 miles).
The closest other Mississippi WMAs with a page here: Choctaw WMA (12.3 miles), John W. Starr WMA (25.1 miles), Nanih Waiya WMA (26 miles) and Trim Cane WMA (35.2 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 Yockanookany WMA in 2026-27?
MDWFP's 2026-27 brochure for Yockanookany WMA lists these deer hunts: Archery, Oct. 1 to Nov. 20; Youth Gun, Nov. 7 to Nov. 20; Primitive Weapon - Permit Only, Nov. 21 to Jan. 31.
What is a legal buck on Yockanookany WMA?
Legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 12 inches OR one main beam length of at least 15 inches. For hunters 15 years of age or younger any antlered buck is a legal buck.
How many deer were killed on Yockanookany WMA last season?
Hunters checked 11 deer on Yockanookany WMA in the 2024-25 season: 5 bucks and 6 does, by MDWFP's DMAP report. The 12-season average is 10.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Yockanookany WMA?
No. MDWFP's brochure says deer hunting with dogs is prohibited on Yockanookany WMA. 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 Feb. 1 - Feb. 28 with weapons legal for small game.
What county is Yockanookany WMA in?
All of it is in Attala County, measured on MDWFP's boundary.
Do you need a permit to deer hunt Yockanookany WMA?
Deer hunting, except for the archery and 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 Choctaw WMA John W. Starr WMA