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Mississippi wildlife management area
Leaf River Wildlife Management Area: What Hunters Need to Know
Wildlife management area in Perry County; 41,411 acres under MDWFP.
Hunting gear
Photo: Joe Furr (myself) (Public domain)
Getting to Leaf River Wildlife Management Area
Know the ground at Leaf River WMA
MDWFP manages the 41,411 acres of Leaf River WMA, a wildlife management area wildlife management area in Perry County. For regional help, the brochure sends Leaf River WMA hunters to the South Regional Office. The game listed for Leaf River WMA is deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, opossum and bobcat and trapping.
41,411Acres
1Counties
SouthMDWFP region
8Game groups
$15User permit
8Draw hunts
From the agency records read on November 14, 2026: MDWFP area page, MDWFP WMA list, WMA brochure, source 4.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Leaf River Wildlife Management Area
Locating Leaf River WMA
Navigation point from the MDWFP WMA boundary layer: 30.9889, -88.8631. Leaf lies 5 miles from the Leaf River WMA point, the shortest hop to a town.
From the source, the route. Leaf River Wma: At New Augusta, take Highway 29 south to Benndale Road Veer left and travel to Forest Service Road 309. Turn left and follow to Forest Service Road 353. Turn left and follow to the WMA headquarters on the right.
From the area page and brochure (MDWFP area page, MDWFP WMA list, WMA brochure) and the MDWFP WMA boundary layer; checked November 14, 2026.
The Leaf River WMA season table
Read the Leaf River WMA brochure as 16 dated lines, split 7 to 9 between deer and other game. Each date comes straight from the brochure, while the notes cell condenses the printed comment.
| Season line | Start | End | Who may hunt | Remark | Today? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Jul 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | Open | Fri and Sat nights | |
| Youth squirrel | Sep 24, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | Open | – | |
| Raccoon, opossum, bobcat | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | Open | – | |
| Squirrel | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | Open | – | |
| Deer, archery | Oct 15, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | Open | Antlerless and bucks | |
| Rabbit | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | Open | – | |
| Trapping | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | Open | – | |
| Deer, youth gun | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | Open | Antlerless and bucks | |
| Deer, gun | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | Open | – | |
| Deer, primitive weapon | Dec 2, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | Open | Antlerless and bucks | |
| Deer, gun | Dec 16, 2026 | Dec 23, 2026 | Open | – | |
| Deer, gun | Dec 24, 2026 | Jan 20, 2027 | Open | – | |
| Deer, primitive weapon | Jan 21, 2027 | Feb 15, 2027 | Open | Bucks only | |
| Youth turkey | Mar 8, 2027 | Mar 14, 2027 | Open | – | |
| Turkey | Mar 15, 2027 | Mar 31, 2027 | Permit | Permit rules apply | |
| Turkey | Apr 1, 2027 | May 2, 2027 | Open | – |
From the 2026-27 WMA brochure (Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks), brochure dated April 2026; checked November 14, 2026.
Getting permitted for Leaf River WMA
The permit that covers Leaf River WMA is the annual statewide WMA User Permit ($15.00 resident, $30.00 non-resident), carried on your person. The price page adds an agent fee of $1.00 and a process fee of $2.49 for residents. A valid license is still required on top of the permit; see the Mississippi hunting license page for prices. On the map layer for Leaf River WMA you will find 17 camp site, 1 data collection, 1 headquarters and 3 permit station. Some or all hunting here is by permit or draw, so read the WMA draw hunts guide before you plan a trip.
| Contact | Listed value |
|---|---|
| Phone | (601) 432-2199, (601) 598-2323, (601) 783-2911 |
| south.central@wfp.ms.gov | |
| HQ GPS | 30.9901, -88.8651 |
MDWFP price page and the area brochure (MDWFP area page, MDWFP WMA list, WMA brochure); checked November 14, 2026.
What the brochure says about Leaf River WMA
The deer weapon list for Leaf River WMA reads centerfire rifles, slug or buckshot shotguns, primitive weapons and centerfire handguns. The legal buck test at Leaf River WMA is a spread of 12 inches or a beam of 15 inches, and hunters 15 and younger are exempt from it. Rule 1.1 is the statewide safety rule printed in each brochure, and it covers this area too. You will find Rule 1.1 laid out on the WMA hub page.
| Item | Summary |
|---|---|
| Camping | Forest Service rules |
| Horses | Hunting from horseback |
| Dogs | Small game dogs |
| ORVs and ATVs | Forest Service rules |
| Legal buck | 12 in. spread or 15 in. beam |
| Bag limits | Statewide, with exceptions |
| Rule | Quoted from the source |
|---|---|
| Deer check-in | 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. |
| Turkey | Turkey hunting for March 15 to March 31 is allowed by special permit only. Leaf River |
From the 2026-27 area brochure and the MDWFP area page (MDWFP area page, MDWFP WMA list, WMA brochure); Rule 1.1 and area texts; checked November 14, 2026.
Leaf River WMA lottery hunts
Leaf River WMA appears in 1 draw tables, together 8 hunts and 288 permits. Application windows are fixed by draw type and repeat each year, as the second table shows. A bonus point is added for every draw type you apply for and miss, and each point is one more entry next time. Ten percent of any hunt's quota is the most non-residents can draw.
| Category | Hunts | Quota | From | Through | Held |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey, 2026 | 8 | 288 | March 14 – 15 | March 29 – 31 | Held in 2026 |
| Kind of hunt | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | January 15 | January 31 |
From the MDWFP WMA draw hunts page and its schedules (Turkey table); bonus points and the non-resident cap from the bonus point page; checked November 14, 2026. Deer draw hunts statewide.
Leaf River WMA harvest figures from MDWFP
On the 2024 report, Leaf River WMA accounts for 152 reported deer: 91 bucks, 61 does. The report puts it at 272 acres for each deer reported, over 41,411 acres. 22 birds came off Leaf River WMA in spring 2025 after 1,202 man-days of hunting. The year before, spring 2024, recorded 1,096 man-days and 43 birds; the ten-year averages are 829 man-days and 22 birds.
1522024 deer reported
91Bucks
61Does
272Acres per deer
22Spring 2025 birds
1,202Man-days 2025
Both counts come from MDWFP and include only animals hunters reported.
From 2024 DMAP report and the spring 2025 WMA turkey totals; checked November 14, 2026.
CWD and deer unit status for Leaf River WMA
Perry county lies outside the three CWD management zones, so the zone feeding and carcass rules do not apply on county grounds. 0 positives came out of 246 samples counted for Perry County. Because the layer carries no date, these are totals as of our read, not a season figure. Read the unit lines on the map: only North Central is a county list, and none of these counties is on it. The CWD management zones, county test results and deer units each have a page.
| County | Region on layer | Dist. | Zone extent | Feed ban | Tested positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry | South | 2 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 246 |
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.
Leaf River WMA daylight and shooting hours by date
Wildlife management area brochures can set their own hours, so check the area page before you plan a dawn walk near Leaf River WMA.
| Date | Opener | Rise | Set | Deer hours | Duck and dove hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | 6:25 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:25 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. | 4:56 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 4:56 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 | 6:32 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 4:54 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. | 4:57 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 4:57 p.m. |
| Mar 15, 2027 | Turkey season opens | 7:07 a.m. | 7:03 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:33 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:03 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 Leaf River WMA neighbourhood on the land map
The closest pin to the Leaf River WMA point is De Soto Ranger District, 11 miles southwest. Neighbouring ground comes to 5 WMA and 1 ranger district. These are direct-line distances, measured from the Leaf River WMA point.
| Area | Kind | Acres | County | Miles off | Compass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Soto Ranger District | Ranger district | 381,023 | Perry | 11 miles | southwest |
| Red Creek WMA | WMA | 23,000 | Stone | 18 miles | south |
| Pascagoula River WMA | WMA | 37,415 | Jackson | 29 miles | southeast |
| Little Biloxi WMA | WMA | 13,699 | Stone | 30 miles | southwest |
| Mason Creek WMA | WMA | 28,000 | Greene | 30 miles | northeast |
| Ward Bayou WMA | WMA | 13,234 | Jackson | 32 miles | southeast |
Point from the MDWFP WMA boundary layer; straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Nearest towns and services for Leaf River WMA
From Leaf River WMA, the five closest towns are 5 miles to 19 miles away. The population leader is Wiggins (4,350 in 2024). The closest MDWFP CWD sample drop-off site is Leaf River WMA in McLain, under a mile away.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaf | Greene | – | 5 miles | northeast |
| Benndale | George | – | 9 miles | south |
| Lucedale | George | 3,124 | 16 miles | east |
| New Augusta | Perry | 541 | 18 miles | northwest |
| Wiggins | Stone | 4,350 | 19 miles | southwest |
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.
Sandy track through longleaf pine woods in the De Soto National ForestPhoto: Woodlot (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Old steel truss bridge over Black Creek in the De Soto National ForestPhoto: formulanone (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Wet pine savanna meadow with pitcher plants at De Soto National ForestPhoto: Phillip Stewart (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Leaf River WMA: questions and answers
Where does Leaf River WMA sit on the map?
In Perry County stands Leaf River WMA. For supplies, the closest town is Leaf at 5 miles. The area brochure lists the South Regional Office for the region.
What agency is in charge of Leaf River WMA?
MDWFP manages Leaf River WMA, which covers 41,411 acres. The acreage comes from the agency record.
Is a permit required at Leaf River WMA?
A WMA User Permit is part of the paperwork here: $15.00 resident, $30.00 non-resident, on top of the license. Drawn permits cover some seasons too.
Which quarry does Leaf River WMA offer?
Listed quarry is deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, opossum and bobcat and trapping. Bag limits and dates sit on the statewide seasons page.
When does hunting open at Leaf River WMA?
The brochure table starts on Jul 1, 2026 with raccoon and finishes on May 2, 2027, 16 lines. 7 lines concern deer.
How do draw hunts work at Leaf River WMA?
Count 8 hunts and 288 permits at Leaf River WMA. Apply online inside the application window, and unsuccessful applicants gain a bonus point. The WMA draw hunts guide covers the details.
Where can hunters camp near Leaf River WMA?
The agency wording is Camping is allowed subject to US Forest Service regulations.
Can I bring a dog or ride a horse at Leaf River WMA?
At a glance: dogs: small game dogs; ORVs and ATVs: forest service rules; horses: hunting from horseback. Check the PDF for conditions.
When does shooting light start and end at Leaf River WMA?
Statewide, resident game gets half an hour either side of daylight and migratory birds stop at sunset; no turkey hours are stated. The hours page has every county.
Does CWD affect Leaf River WMA?
On the layer, Perry County has 246 samples and 0 positives, with 0 of 1 in a zone. The zone guide covers carcass transport.
What are the closest alternatives to Leaf River WMA?
The three nearest records are De Soto Ranger District (11 miles), Red Creek WMA (18 miles) and Pascagoula River WMA (29 miles).
Which communities are near Leaf River WMA?
Nearest on the map: Leaf (5 miles), Benndale (9 miles) and Lucedale (16 miles).
What is the deer check-in rule at Leaf River WMA?
Yes. The brochure requires deer to be recorded on the daily use permit card or the WMA Check-In App before you leave, and biological data are collected at a check or data station.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0).