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National forest · 2026-27
National forest in Franklin County and 6 more counties with 191,846 acres, run by the US Forest Service.
Photo: NatalieMaynor (CC BY 2.0)
Across 7 counties including Franklin, Amite and Wilkinson, Homochitto National Forest is a national forest national forest of 191,846 acres under the US Forest Service. Measured from the Homochitto National Forest point, Magnolia holds the nearest MDWFP office (MDWFP South Region Office), 32 miles away. Records for Homochitto National Forest list these quarry: deer and turkey.
Reach the office at 1200 Highway 184 East Meadville, MS 39653 or call 601-384-5876.
From the agency records read on November 14, 2026: Forest Service page.
Nearby
On Homochitto National Forest the dates are the state's; the table below gives the Forest Service conditions on top. 2 MDWFP wildlife management areas sit inside the forest and run their own seasons, as described below.
| Topic | Forest Service text |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| Safety distance | You may not hunt within 150 yards of a residence, building or developed recreation site [261.58(v)], and you may not display a firearm within a developed recreation site [261.53(e)]. See Supervisors Order DB-07-00.Please observe the general rules of gun safety and courtesy. |
| Wild hogs | Wild hogs are classified as nuisance animals in Mississippi. There's no designated season for wild hogs on the National Forests in Mississippi; however, wild hogs may be hunted during daylight hours with weapons legal to use for the hunting season open at the time. |
| Stands and blinds | Tree stands and blinds may be used on national forest land, but they must be portable and cannot be of a type that will deface or harm trees. Since national forest lands are open to public hunting, hunters cannot maintain exclusive rights to a hunting area. Wildlife Management Areas located on national forest land have specific regulations pertaining to tree stands and blinds. Please refer to MDWFP Basic WMA Public Notice for these regulation. |
| 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.
1 ranger district manage Homochitto National Forest: Homochitto Ranger District.
| Ranger district | Acres | County count |
|---|---|---|
| Homochitto Ranger District | 191,846 | 7 |
MDWFP runs 2 wildlife management areas on Homochitto National Forest, namely Caston Creek WMA and Sandy Creek WMA. Hunters on those WMAs buy the WMA User Permit in addition to a license.
| Area | Acres | Counties | Drawn hunts | Season rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caston Creek WMA | 28,214 | Amite, Franklin | Yes | 16 |
| Sandy Creek WMA | 16,407 | Adams, Franklin | Yes | 16 |
WMA list from the Forest Service FAQ matched to MDWFP boundaries; checked November 14, 2026.
None of the CWD management zones covers the 7 counties of Homochitto National Forest. The layer lists 7,299 samples and 0 positives for the 7 counties of Homochitto National Forest. The county layer gives no year for the counts, which makes them running totals. Deer units here follow highway and river boundaries, so no county can be assigned to one. Follow the links to the zone map page, the county table or the unit definitions.
| County | MDWFP region | District | CWD zone | Feeding | Positives of samples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | South | 3 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 691 |
| Amite | South | 3 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 880 |
| Wilkinson | South | 3 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 1,245 |
| Adams | South | 3 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 939 |
| Jefferson | South | 3 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 883 |
| Lincoln | South | 3 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 1,040 |
| Copiah | South | 3 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 1,621 |
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.
The map point for Homochitto National Forest is 31.5018, -90.8079, taken from the Forest Service boundary layer. You can reach it from Franklin County, Amite County, Wilkinson County, Adams County and Jefferson County and 2 more. For supplies, the closest listed town is Bude, 4 miles off.
From the area page and brochure (Forest Service page) and the Forest Service boundary layer; checked November 14, 2026.
Duck and goose dates are one statewide set with no zones, which means the rows for Homochitto National Forest match the rows for every other county.
| Species | Window | Paperwork | Reach | First | Last | Today? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Resident game, deer included, may be taken from half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset, and the Homochitto National Forest figures below are worked out with the NOAA solar formula.
| When | Event | First light | Last light | Deer legal | Migratory legal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery, Delta and Hills | 6:56 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. |
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery, Southeast | 7:05 a.m. | 6:32 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 7:02 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Youth gun deer | 6:24 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 5:54 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 6:36 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Quail season opens | 6:40 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:41 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Dec 2, 2026 | Primitive weapon deer | 6:45 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 6:58 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. |
| Mar 15, 2027 | Turkey season opens | 7:15 a.m. | 7:11 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 7:41 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 7:11 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.
The closest pin to the Homochitto National Forest point is Caston Creek WMA, 12 miles southwest. The six closest pins break down as 6 WMA. Distances are straight lines from the Homochitto National Forest point and ignore roads, rivers and closures.
| Area | Kind | Acres | County | Miles off | Compass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caston Creek WMA | WMA | 28,214 | Amite | 12 miles | southwest |
| Sandy Creek WMA | WMA | 16,407 | Adams | 23 miles | west |
| Copiah County WMA | WMA | 7,644 | Copiah | 24 miles | north |
| Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park WMA | WMA | 3,396 | Adams | 25 miles | west |
| Canemount WMA | WMA | 3,500 | Claiborne | 35 miles | northwest |
| Calling Panther WMA | WMA | 1,094 | Copiah | 39 miles | northeast |
Point from the Forest Service boundary layer; straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
The five towns closest to Homochitto National Forest range from 4 miles to 22 miles away. Brookhaven is the biggest of the five at 11,654 people in 2024. For CWD samples, the nearest drop-off is Natchez State Park (Natchez), 24 miles off.
| Town | County | Pop. 2024 | Miles off | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bude | Franklin | 772 | 4 miles | southwest |
| Meadville | Franklin | 430 | 5 miles | west |
| Roxie | Franklin | 466 | 16 miles | west |
| Fayette | Jefferson | 1,342 | 21 miles | northwest |
| Brookhaven | Lincoln | 11,654 | 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.
Plowed cotton rows glowing in low sunPhoto: Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel (CC BY 2.0)
Pascagoula River oxbow with a wooded shorelinePhoto: Ronnie Blackwell (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Tractor plowing a cotton field near EvansvillePhoto: Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel (CC BY 2.0)
Homochitto National Forest is a national forest across 7 counties including Franklin, Amite and Wilkinson. Its nearest listed town is Bude, about 4 miles in a straight line.
Homochitto National Forest covers 191,846 acres and answers to the US Forest Service. Its source is the Forest Service land statistics layer.
The Forest Service asks for a valid hunting license and MDWFP compliance, and a WMA User Permit if you hunt a WMA inside the forest.
Game on file: deer and turkey. Check the hunting seasons guide for dates and limits.
Hunting follows the statewide dates on the seasons page.
Camping is covered as follows. 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, deer included, runs from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, while migratory birds end at sunset; the sources print no hours for spring turkey. Daily times are on the hours page.
0 of 7,299 samples from its 7 counties tested positive on the layer, and 0 of 7 counties are zoned. Rules for each zone sit on the CWD page.
Closest by straight line: Caston Creek WMA (12 miles), Sandy Creek WMA (23 miles) and Copiah County WMA (24 miles).
Hunters resupply in Bude (4 miles), Meadville (5 miles) and Roxie (16 miles).
Caston Creek WMA and Sandy Creek WMA lie on the forest, by MDWFP boundary.
The Forest Service says hogs have no season and may be hunted by day with weapons legal for whatever season is open.
Look up weather, high water and road closures that affect Homochitto National Forest before the trip.
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.