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Mississippi national forest ranger district
National forest ranger district in Perry County and 7 more counties, 381,023 acres, managed by the US Forest Service.
Photo: Joe Furr (myself) (Public domain)
De Soto Ranger District is a national forest ranger district national forest ranger district that the US Forest Service runs on 381,023 acres across 8 counties including Perry, Harrison and Stone. For agency business near De Soto Ranger District, the nearest MDWFP office is MDWFP South Region Office, 91 miles off in Magnolia. The sources name deer and turkey as huntable at De Soto Ranger District.
Look to De Soto National Forest for the whole complex.
Phone 601-528-6160 or call at 654 West Frontage Road Wiggins, MS 39577.
From the agency records read on November 14, 2026: Forest Service page.
Nearby
The Forest Service text for De Soto Ranger District is quoted below, and it defers to MDWFP seasons for most game.
| Rule | What the page says |
|---|---|
| Where hunting is open | Most of the general forest area is open to hunting, but designated recreation areas and administrative sites are not. Fourteen wildlife management areas are located on the National Forests in Mississippi that have special seasons and hunting regulations. These wildlife management areas are Bienville, Caney Creek, Caston Creek, Chickasaw, Chickasawhay, Choctaw, Leaf River, Little Biloxi, Mason Creek, Red Creek, Sandy Creek, Sunflower, Tallahala, and Upper Sardis. |
| Seasons | The hunting seasons set by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks for private land are the same for Mississippi's national forest land, except for special regulations which govern wildlife management areas, antlerless deer harvest, and youth hunting seasons. The Mississippi Outdoor Digest contains relevant information about seasons, limits and permits required. |
| License | The requirements for hunting on national forest land in Mississippi include having a valid hunting license and following all rules and regulations set forth by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks. |
| WMA permit | Residents and Non-Residents that hunt, fish, or trap on Wildlife Management Areas on national forest land must purchase a Wildlife Management Area User Permit in addition to any required hunting/fishing license. |
| Baiting and food plots | Baiting and hunting over baited areas to attract wildlife is not allowed on national forest lands. No food plots may be placed on national forest land except by official personnel. |
| Camping | Developed recreation areas offer conveniences such as showers, restrooms and picnic facilities. Primitive camping is allowed except in designated scenic areas or where otherwise prohibited. During hunting season, camping is permitted only in designated hunter camps in the Delta and Tombigbee National Forests. Camping in the national forests is limited to 14 days during a 30-day time period. Contact ranger offices for more information on camp locations. |
| Hours | Forest Service hunting page: Hours: sunrise to sunset. |
From the Forest Service FAQ page and hunting page; checked November 14, 2026.
On the Forest Service boundary layer, De Soto Ranger District sits at 30.8577, -88.9607. County lines cross it in Perry County, Harrison County, Stone County, Forrest County and Jackson County and 3 more. A straight line from the De Soto Ranger District point reaches Benndale in 9 miles.
From the area page and brochure (Forest Service page) and the Forest Service boundary layer; checked November 14, 2026.
Chickasawhay WMA, Leaf River WMA, Little Biloxi WMA, Mason Creek WMA and Red Creek WMA are the area brochures that replace the general rules inside De Soto Ranger District. Bring the WMA User Permit along with your license for any of these areas.
| WMA | Acres | Counties | Draw hunts | Brochure rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickasawhay WMA | 30,000 | Jones | Yes | 17 |
| Leaf River WMA | 41,411 | Perry | Yes | 16 |
| Little Biloxi WMA | 13,699 | Stone, Harrison | Yes | 15 |
| Mason Creek WMA | 28,000 | Greene | Yes | 17 |
| Red Creek WMA | 23,000 | Stone, Jackson | Yes | 15 |
WMA list from the Forest Service FAQ matched to MDWFP boundaries; checked November 14, 2026.
1 county here falls in Harrison Management Zone, which carries feeding and carcass rules. On the agency layer, sampling in the 8 counties of De Soto Ranger District totals 2,711 with 1 positives. MDWFP shows no date on these figures, so treat them as cumulative totals. A feeding ban applies in Harrison County. No county on this page is in the North Central unit, and the other three units are defined by roads and rivers. Full rules sit on the CWD zone page, the results by county and the deer unit page.
| County | Layer region | District | In a zone? | Feeding | Positives |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry | South | 2 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 246 |
| Harrison | South | 1 | Part of county | Banned | 1 of 233 |
| Stone | South | 1 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 316 |
| Forrest | South | 2 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 747 |
| Jackson | South | 1 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 144 |
| George | South | 1 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 114 |
| Greene | South | 2 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 254 |
| Pearl River | South | 1 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 657 |
MDWFP county layer (County_Info), CWD management zones and deer management units; region labels are the layer’s only county source; checked November 14, 2026.
Light goose Conservation Order days follow the deer rule and run half an hour past sunset, which no other waterfowl day does.
| Day | Why it matters | Sun up | Sun down | Deer window | Waterfowl window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery, Delta and Hills | 6:48 a.m. | 6:42 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. |
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery, Southeast | 6:57 a.m. | 6:26 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:26 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Youth gun deer | 6:15 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 5:45 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 5:45 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 6:27 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Quail season opens | 6:32 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:33 a.m. | 4:55 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 4:55 p.m. |
| Dec 2, 2026 | Primitive weapon deer | 6:37 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 6:49 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Mar 15, 2027 | Turkey season opens | 7:07 a.m. | 7:04 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:04 p.m. |
Hours rules from the MDWFP general hunting rules and the 2026-27 migratory game bird digest (Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks); sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula on Central Time; checked November 14, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Deer rows show the unit group because MDWFP draws the Delta, Hills and Southeast units along highways and rivers, not county lines, so find where De Soto Ranger District sits on those lines first.
| Quarry | Weapon and window | Paper needed | Applies to | Start | Stop | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery velvet season | Velvet permit | Delta, Hills, North Central | Sep 11, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery velvet season | Velvet permit | Southeast unit | Sep 11, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Oct 15, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless primitive | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Nov 9, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun (with dogs) | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun (with dogs) | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive weapon | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Dec 2, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Primitive weapon | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Dec 2, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun (without dogs) | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Dec 16, 2026 | Dec 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun (without dogs) | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Dec 16, 2026 | Dec 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun (with dogs) | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 20, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun (with dogs) | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 20, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, primitive | Hunting license | Delta, Hills, North Central | Jan 21, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, primitive | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Jan 21, 2027 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, primitive, buck | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth gun, buck | Hunting license | Southeast unit | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth turkey | Turkey stamp | Statewide | Mar 8, 2027 | Mar 14, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Regular turkey | Turkey stamp | Statewide | Mar 15, 2027 | May 2, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Bobwhite quail | Hunting license | Statewide | Nov 26, 2026 | Mar 7, 2027 | |
| Rabbit | Rabbit | Hunting license | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | Youth squirrel | Hunting license | Statewide | Sep 24, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Squirrel | Fall season | Hunting license | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Teal | September teal | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mergansers | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Mergansers | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Mergansers | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Coots | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Coots | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Coots | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Youth waterfowl days | Special days | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | September season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| White-fronted goose | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation Order | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Conservation Order | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 3, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Conservation Order | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 5, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation Order | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Feb 8, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Light geese | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 4, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Brant | Regular season | Stamps and HIP | Statewide | Dec 9, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mourning and white-winged dove | Dove | License and HIP | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Mourning and white-winged dove | Dove | License and HIP | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Mourning and white-winged dove | Dove | License and HIP | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 24, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock | License and HIP | Statewide | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | License and HIP | Statewide | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Season | License and HIP | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Season | License and HIP | Statewide | Nov 22, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Season | License and HIP | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Season | License and HIP | Statewide | Nov 22, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Season | License and HIP | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Season | License and HIP | Statewide | Nov 22, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Crow | Crow | Hunting license | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon, opossum and bobcat | Food and sport | Hunting license | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Raccoon, opossum and bobcat | Food, sport and pelt | Hunting license | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Mar 15, 2027 |
From the 2026-27 MDWFP hunting seasons sheet and the migratory game bird digest (Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks), checked November 14, 2026.
Supplies lie in one of five towns, between 9 miles and 22 miles off. Wiggins, 11 miles out, is the larger service town with 4,350 people. 11 miles away in McLain, Leaf River WMA takes CWD samples.
| Town | County | 2024 population | Away | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benndale | George | – | 9 miles | east |
| Wiggins | Stone | 4,350 | 11 miles | west |
| Leaf | Greene | – | 15 miles | northeast |
| Saucier | Harrison | – | 20 miles | southwest |
| Lucedale | George | 3,124 | 22 miles | east |
Towns from Census 2024 estimates; CWD drop-off sites from the MDWFP drop-off list; businesses from services listings; straight-line miles; checked November 14, 2026.
Head south about 9 miles to reach Red Creek WMA, the nearest neighbour. The nearest six are made up of 6 WMA. The mileage uses straight lines from the De Soto Ranger District point, so plan the drive separately.
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Creek WMA | WMA | 23,000 | Stone | 9 miles | south |
| Leaf River WMA | WMA | 41,411 | Perry | 11 miles | northeast |
| Little Biloxi WMA | WMA | 13,699 | Stone | 20 miles | southwest |
| Pascagoula River WMA | WMA | 37,415 | Jackson | 27 miles | southeast |
| Ward Bayou WMA | WMA | 13,234 | Jackson | 28 miles | southeast |
| Theodore A. Mars Jr. Memorial WMA | WMA | 887 | Pearl River | 33 miles | west |
Point from the Forest Service boundary layer; straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Sandy track through longleaf pine woods in the De Soto National ForestPhoto: Woodlot (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Wet pine savanna meadow with pitcher plants at De Soto National ForestPhoto: Phillip Stewart (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Old steel truss bridge over Black Creek in the De Soto National ForestPhoto: formulanone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The national forest ranger district is across 8 counties including Perry, Harrison and Stone. Benndale is the closest listed town, 9 miles off.
Acreage on file is 381,023, with the US Forest Service in charge. Acres are from the Forest Service land statistics layer.
National forest hunting takes a state license; the WMA User Permit is extra on the WMAs.
The sources list deer and turkey. The seasons page has the dates and bag limits.
The statewide MDWFP calendar governs, shown on the seasons page.
Here is the camping text from the source: Developed recreation areas offer conveniences such as showers, restrooms and picnic facilities. Primitive camping is allowed except in designated scenic areas or where otherwise prohibited. During hunting season, camping is permitted only in designated hunter camps in the Delta and Tombigbee National Forests.
Resident game hours begin a half hour before sunrise and end a half hour after sunset; migratory birds end at sunset; spring turkey has no printed hours. See the legal hours page.
The agency layer counts 1 positives out of 2,711 samples for its 8 counties; zone status covers 1 of 8. See the CWD zones page for feeding and carcass rules.
Neighbouring pins: Red Creek WMA (9 miles), Leaf River WMA (11 miles) and Little Biloxi WMA (20 miles).
Look to Benndale (9 miles), Wiggins (11 miles) and Leaf (15 miles).
See De Soto National Forest, the forest this district serves.
Carry your license and any permit the area needs, and check with the managers for closures before you set off for De Soto Ranger District.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4 · source 5 · source 6; statewide seasons from the 2026-27 MDWFP hunting seasons sheet. Checked November 14, 2026.