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WMA · 12,695 acres
Wildlife management area in Issaquena County and Warren County, about 12,695 acres and managed by MDWFP.
Photo: Mike P. (CC BY 2.0)
The wildlife management area called Mahannah WMA holds 12,695 acres in Issaquena and Warren counties and answers to MDWFP. The 2026-27 brochure for Mahannah WMA names the Central Regional Office as the regional contact. Mahannah WMA carries the following game in its record: deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, opossum and bobcat, trapping, waterfowl, dove, quail, woodcock and snipe.
From the managing agency's own description. Mahannah Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is located in Warren and Issaquena counties, approximately 15 miles north of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The WMA consists of approximately 12,695 acres of bottomland hardwoods, agriculture fields, hardwood reforestation, and waterfowl impoundments. Mahannah WMA is part of one of the most ecologically intact and biologically diverse bottomland hardwood ecosystems in the Mississippi Delta. The area is a unique balance of flooding timber, cypress swamps, and controlled flooded agricultural lands. This diverse land provides habitat for some of the largest concentrations of wintering waterfowl in the Mississippi Delta. The area provides habitats for various species of wintering waterfowl.
From the agency records read on November 14, 2026: MDWFP area page, MDWFP WMA list, WMA brochure, source 4.
Nearby
Plot Mahannah WMA at 32.5486, -90.8709, the point on the MDWFP WMA boundary layer. Valley Park is the closest town with a page here, 6 miles in a straight line.
Directions as the agency prints them. Mahannah WMA is located in Issaquena and Warren Counties near Redwood. Approximately 18 miles north of Vicksburg on Highway 61. Turn left (west) at WMA sign on Floweree Road. Go approximately 3 miles to WMA sign turn left (west) on Anderson-Tully Road. WMA headquarters approximately 2 miles ahead.
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 2026-27 brochure for Mahannah WMA prints 15 dated season rows: 6 for deer and 9 for other game. The brochure PDF outranks this table whenever a note looks too short.
| Season | Opens | Closes | Entry | Notes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Jul 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | Open | Fri and Sat nights | |
| Youth squirrel | Sep 24, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | Open | – | |
| Deer, archery | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | Permit | Antlerless and bucks | |
| Raccoon, opossum, bobcat | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | Open | Fri nights | |
| Squirrel and rabbit | Oct 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | Open | Saturdays only | |
| Deer, youth gun | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | Open | – | |
| Deer, primitive weapon | Nov 5, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | Permit | Antlerless and bucks | |
| Quail | Nov 28, 2026 | Dec 30, 2026 | Open | – | |
| Deer, gun | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | Permit | Antlerless and bucks | |
| Deer, archery and youth gun | Jan 1, 2027 | Jan 14, 2027 | Open | Bucks only | |
| Quail | Jan 1, 2027 | Mar 6, 2027 | Open | Daily | |
| Raccoon, opossum, bobcat | Jan 1, 2027 | Feb 28, 2027 | Open | Daily | |
| Squirrel and rabbit | Jan 1, 2027 | Feb 28, 2027 | Open | Daily | |
| Trapping | Jan 1, 2027 | Feb 28, 2027 | Open | – | |
| Deer, senior adult | Jan 14, 2027 | Jan 15, 2027 | Permit | – |
From the 2026-27 WMA brochure (Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks), brochure dated April 2026; checked November 14, 2026.
Before you step onto Mahannah WMA, buy the annual WMA User Permit ($15.00 resident, $30.00 non-resident) unless you are exempt from licensing. Fees printed beside the resident price: $1.00 agent and $2.49 process. Add any license or stamp the game requires; the license page lists them. The MDWFP point layer maps these features on Mahannah WMA: 1 camp site, 1 check station, 4 duck blind, 1 headquarters and 1 permit station. Drawn hunts are part of the picture at Mahannah WMA, covered on the draw hunts page.
| Contact | Listed value |
|---|---|
| Phone | (601) 432-2199, (601) 661-0294, (601) 859-3421 |
| southdeltawmas@wfp.ms.gov | |
| HQ GPS | 32.5486, -90.8709 |
MDWFP price page and the area brochure (MDWFP area page, MDWFP WMA list, WMA brochure); checked November 14, 2026.
Plan your deer rig around centerfire rifles, slug shotguns, primitive weapons and centerfire handguns, the weapons the brochure names. Bucks must show 16 inches between the main beams or a 20 inch main beam, except that youth 15 and under may take any antlered buck. Every brochure repeats Rule 1.1, the general WMA safety and conduct rule, so it applies here as well. The WMA hub page sets Rule 1.1 out in one place.
| Topic | Condensed |
|---|---|
| Camping | Designated areas |
| Horses | Barred in deer season |
| Dogs | Small game only |
| ORVs and ATVs | Designated roads |
| Legal buck | 16 in. spread or 20 in. beam |
| Bag limits | Statewide, with exceptions |
| Topic | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Bag limits | Same as statewide bag limits except that during permit hunts on deer the legal buck bag limit is one per hunt. All harvested deer and turkey count towards statewide bag limits, unless otherwise stated. The bag limit during the Senior Adult Hunt will be 1 legal buck and 1 antlerless deer per hunt. Bag limit for turkeys is 1 gobbler per permitted hunter. |
| Deer check-in | All deer harvested must be checked at the WMA headquarters and recorded on WMA Daily Visitor Use Permit Card or WMA Check-In App by the hunter who harvested them before leaving the WMA. |
| Deer permits | Deer hunting, except for the youth gun hunt and the January archery hunt, is allowed by special permit only. |
| Waterfowl | All waterfowl hunts, except for the waterfowl youth/ veterans/ active military hunts, and the post season light goose conservation order, are draw hunts only. Shooting hours end at 12:00 pm Waterfowl hunters must be out of the assigned unit and back to Anderson-Tully Road by 1:00 pm |
| Horses | Raccoon hunting from horses is allowed on entire area during nighttime hunting hours. |
| ORVs | During all WMA deer firearms seasons, no loaded shoulder fired weapons allowed within 100 feet of any road within Mahannah WMA, including ATV trails. |
| Camping | The camping area is located next to the Mahannah |
| High water (brochure) | ALL activities, EXCEPT for waterfowl hunting, will close when the Mississippi River gauge at Vicksburg reaches forty-three (43.0) feet and shall remain so until the Mississippi River level falls below 41.0 feet and/or when the Steele Bayou landside gauge reaches 82.0 feet and shall remain so until the Steele Bayou level falls to or below 80.0 feet. |
| Closed area (brochure) | The Waterfowl Sanctuary, enclosed by the East Sanctuary Road on the east, Anderson Tully Road on the south and the main levee on the west, is closed to ALL ENTRY. |
| Waterfowl (brochure) | All waterfowl hunts, except for the waterfowl youth/ veterans/ active military hunts, and the post season light goose conservation order, are draw hunts only. Shooting hours end at 12:00 pm Waterfowl hunters must be out of the assigned unit and back to Anderson-Tully Road by 1:00 pm except during the youth/ veterans/ active military waterfowl hunt which shall run concurrent with the statewide waterfowl youth/. |
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.
1,142 permits are spread over 63 hunts in the draw tables that name Mahannah WMA. Apply inside the printed window for the draw type you want; they are listed beneath. After an unsuccessful application you receive a bonus point for that draw type, worth one extra entry in a later draw. No more than one permit in ten of a hunt's quota can go to a non-resident.
| Draw type | Hunts | Quota | Opens | Ends | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey, 2026 | 4 | 40 | April 3 – 5 | April 24 – 26 | Held in 2026 |
| Teal, 2026 | 9 | 72 | September 19 | September 27 | Held in 2026 |
| Deer Archery, 2026-27 | 9 | 180 | October 1 – 2 | October 29 – 30 | 2026-27 |
| Deer Gun, 2026-27 | 8 | 160 | December 3 – 4 | December 27 – 28 | 2026-27 |
| Deer Primitive Weapon, 2026-27 | 7 | 140 | November 5 – 6 | November 26 – 27 | 2026-27 |
| Deer Senior, 2026-27 | 1 | 100 | January 14 – 15 | January 14 – 15 | 2026-27 |
| Waterfowl, 2026-27 | 25 | 450 | November 28 (Saturday) | January 30 (Saturday) | 2026-27 |
| Draw | Applications open | Applications close |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | January 15 | January 31 |
| Deer | July 15 | August 15 |
| Early teal | July 15 | August 15 |
| Waterfowl | October 1 | October 15 |
Below are all 50 drawn hunts of the 2026-27 schedules, with 38 still to come.
| Type | Number | Days | Quota | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery deer | Archery Hunt 1 | October 1 – 2 | 20 | |
| Archery deer | Archery Hunt 2 | October 4 – 5 | 20 | |
| Archery deer | Archery Hunt 3 | October 8 – 9 | 20 | |
| Archery deer | Archery Hunt 4 | October 11 – 12 | 20 | |
| Archery deer | Archery Hunt 5 | October 15 – 16 | 20 | |
| Archery deer | Archery Hunt 6 | October 18 – 19 | 20 | |
| Archery deer | Archery Hunt 7 | October 22 – 23 | 20 | |
| Archery deer | Archery Hunt 8 | October 25 – 26 | 20 | |
| Archery deer | Archery Hunt 9 | October 29 – 30 | 20 | |
| Primitive deer | PW Hunt 1 | November 5 – 6 | 20 | |
| Primitive deer | PW Hunt 2 | November 8 – 9 | 20 | |
| Primitive deer | PW Hunt 3 | November 12 – 13 | 20 | |
| Primitive deer | PW Hunt 4 | November 15 – 16 | 20 | |
| Primitive deer | PW Hunt 5 | November 19 – 20 | 20 | |
| Primitive deer | PW Hunt 6 | November 22 – 23 | 20 | |
| Primitive deer | PW Hunt 7 | November 26 – 27 | 20 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 1 | November 28 (Saturday) | 18 | |
| Gun deer | Gun Hunt 1 | December 3 – 4 | 20 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 2 | December 5 (Saturday) | 18 | |
| Gun deer | Gun Hunt 2 | December 6 – 7 | 20 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 3 | December 9 (Wednesday) | 18 | |
| Gun deer | Gun Hunt 3 | December 10 – 11 | 20 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 4 | December 12 (Saturday) | 18 | |
| Gun deer | Gun Hunt 4 | December 13 – 14 | 20 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 5 | December 14 (Monday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 1 | December 16 (Wednesday) | 18 | |
| Gun deer | Gun Hunt 5 | December 17 – 18 | 20 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 2 | December 19 (Saturday) | 18 | |
| Gun deer | Gun Hunt 6 | December 20 – 21 | 20 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 3 | December 21 (Monday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 4 | December 23 (Wednesday) | 18 | |
| Gun deer | Gun Hunt 7 | December 24 – 25 | 20 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 5 | December 26 (Saturday) | 18 | |
| Gun deer | Gun Hunt 8 | December 27 – 28 | 20 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 1 | December 28 (Monday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 2 | December 30 (Wednesday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 3 | January 2 (Saturday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 4 | January 4 (Monday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 5 | January 6 (Wednesday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 1 | January 9 (Saturday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 2 | January 11 (Monday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 3 | January 13 (Wednesday) | 18 | |
| Senior deer | Senior Hunt 1 | January 14 – 15 | 100 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 4 | January 16 (Saturday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 5 | January 18 (Monday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 1 | January 20 (Wednesday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 2 | January 23 (Saturday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 3 | January 25 (Monday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 4 | January 27 (Wednesday) | 18 | |
| Waterfowl | Hunt 5 | January 30 (Saturday) | 18 |
From the MDWFP WMA draw hunts page and its schedules (Turkey table, Teal table, Deer Archery table); bonus points and the non-resident cap from the bonus point page; checked November 14, 2026. Deer draw hunts statewide.
Hunters reported 74 deer from Mahannah WMA in the 2024 DMAP report (45 bucks, 29 does). The density figure on the report is 170 acres per deer on 12,600 acres.
Only reported animals are in these agency totals.
From 2024 DMAP report; checked November 14, 2026.
2 of the 2 counties are inside a CWD management zone (Issaquena Management Zone). Samples tested for the 2 counties of Mahannah WMA: 3,924, with 13 positives, per the MDWFP county layer. The layer prints no season or date, so read the counts as running totals from the day we looked. Supplemental feeding is banned in Issaquena and Warren counties. Counties here are not on the North Central unit list; the Delta, Hills and Southeast units follow highways and rivers, so match your hunt to the unit map. Details are on the CWD zones page, the county results page and the deer units page.
| County | Region | MDWFP district | Zone | Supplemental feed | CWD positives |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issaquena | Central | 4 | Part of county | Banned | 3 of 1,220 |
| Warren | Central | 4 | Whole county | Banned | 10 of 2,704 |
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 sources print no separate spring turkey hours, so this Mahannah WMA table covers deer and waterfowl days only.
| Day | Note | Sunup | Sundown | Deer day | Duck day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7:06 a.m. | 6:32 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 7:02 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Youth gun deer | 6:25 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 6:38 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Quail season opens | 6:43 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:44 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Dec 2, 2026 | Primitive weapon deer | 6:48 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 7:01 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:02 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.
Next on the map is Phil Bryant WMA Goose Lake Unit, a 4 miles hop south. Around the point you will find 4 WMA unit, 1 WMA and 1 national forest. Miles are measured as the crow flies from the Mahannah WMA point; roads add to them.
| Name | Kind | Size (ac) | County | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Bryant WMA Goose Lake Unit | WMA unit | 3,678 | Issaquena | 4 miles | south |
| Phil Bryant WMA Backwoods Unit | WMA unit | 4,212 | Issaquena | 5 miles | west |
| Phil Bryant WMA Ten Point Unit | WMA unit | 6,477 | Issaquena | 5 miles | southwest |
| Phil Bryant WMA | WMA | 17,689 | Issaquena | 5 miles | southwest |
| Phil Bryant WMA Buck Bayou Unit | WMA unit | 3,163 | Issaquena | 6 miles | southwest |
| Delta National Forest | National forest | 61,472 | Sharkey | 16 miles | north |
Point from the MDWFP WMA boundary layer; straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
The nearest five towns stretch from 6 miles out to 21 miles from Mahannah WMA. With 20,032 residents in 2024, Vicksburg is the largest nearby. Deer heads for CWD testing can go to Mahannah WMA, under a mile from here in Redwood.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Park | Issaquena | – | 6 miles | north |
| Redwood | Warren | – | 7 miles | southeast |
| Eagle Bend | Warren | – | 9 miles | west |
| Vicksburg | Warren | 20,032 | 16 miles | south |
| Satartia | Yazoo | 38 | 21 miles | northeast |
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.
Yazoo River at sunset with reeds in the foreground, Warren CountyPhoto: David Brossard (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Riverboat docked on the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, Warren CountyPhoto: Charles Bell (CC0 1.0)
Green riverbank and bridges on the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, Warren CountyPhoto: TravelingOtter (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Mahannah WMA lies in Issaquena and Warren counties, as a wildlife management area under MDWFP. Valley Park is 6 miles away, the shortest hop to a town. The brochure names the Central Regional Office as the regional contact.
It is 12,695 acres of wildlife management area under MDWFP. The number is from the MDWFP area page.
Yes. The annual statewide WMA User Permit is required of everyone except those exempt from licensing: $15.00 for residents and $30.00 for non-residents. Some hunts here also need a drawn permit.
Game on file: deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, opossum and bobcat, trapping, waterfowl, dove, quail, woodcock and snipe. Dates for every species are on the seasons page.
Brochure seasons run from Jul 1, 2026 (raccoon) to Mar 6, 2027 (quail), 15 rows in all. 6 rows are for deer.
63 drawn hunts and 1,142 permits are on the schedules. You apply online within the type's window; unsuccessful applicants collect bonus points. The WMA draw hunts guide has the schedule rules.
Per the record: 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. The camping area is located next to the Mahannah
The rules in brief are dogs: small game only; ORVs and ATVs: designated roads; horses: barred in deer season; exceptions are in the brochure.
Deer and other resident game: half an hour before sunrise until half an hour past sunset. Ducks, geese and doves: until sunset. Spring turkey hours are not printed in the sources. Look up your date on the hours page.
For its 2 counties the layer lists 3,924 samples and 13 positives; 2 of 2 counties are in a zone. The CWD zones page has the rules.
The next public lands on the map are Phil Bryant WMA Goose Lake Unit (4 miles), Phil Bryant WMA Backwoods Unit (5 miles) and Phil Bryant WMA Ten Point Unit (5 miles).
The three closest are Valley Park (6 miles), Redwood (7 miles) and Eagle Bend (9 miles).
Every deer is recorded before you leave the area, on the card or in the app, with biological data taken at a check station.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain).