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Mississippi national forest
National forest in Winston County and 4 more counties (67,449 acres, the US Forest Service).
Photo: David Wipf (CC BY 2.0)
Under the US Forest Service, Tombigbee National Forest serves as a national forest national forest spread across 67,449 acres across 5 counties including Winston, Chickasaw and Choctaw. The shortest drive to an MDWFP office from Tombigbee National Forest leads to Canton, 74 miles as the crow flies. Hunters can look for deer and turkey here, per the agency sources.
Office address 6052 Highway 15 Ackerman, MS 39735; telephone 662-285-3264.
From the agency records read on November 14, 2026: Forest Service page.
Nearby
Forest Service conditions for Tombigbee National Forest appear below; MDWFP dates still govern. Inside it, 2 wildlife management areas follow area brochures rather than the general forest rules.
| Item | Agency wording |
|---|---|
| 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.
On the Tombigbee National Forest map the Forest Service counts Chickasaw WMA and Choctaw WMA among its WMAs. The WMA User Permit is required inside those areas as well as the license.
| Name | Size (ac) | In | Draws | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickasaw WMA | 28,000 | Chickasaw, Pontotoc | Yes | 15 |
| Choctaw WMA | 21,396 | Choctaw, Winston | Yes | 16 |
WMA list from the Forest Service FAQ matched to MDWFP boundaries; checked November 14, 2026.
The Forest Service splits Tombigbee National Forest into 1 ranger district, Tombigbee Ranger District.
| District | National Forest acres | Counties |
|---|---|---|
| Tombigbee Ranger District | 67,449 | 5 |
The forest service boundary layer puts the Tombigbee National Forest point at 33.2416, -89.0303. The land reaches Winston County, Chickasaw County, Choctaw County, Pontotoc County and Oktibbeha County. Of the towns on this site, Louisville is nearest, 8 miles out.
From the area page and brochure (Forest Service page) and the Forest Service boundary layer; checked November 14, 2026.
CWD management zones touch 1 of the 5 counties behind Tombigbee National Forest: North MS Management Zone. The MDWFP county layer shows 3 CWD positives among 3,065 samples for the 5 counties of Tombigbee National Forest. Counts on the layer are undated, so we label them cumulative. Pontotoc: supplemental feeding is prohibited. The unit a hunt falls in depends on where it lies relative to highways and rivers, not the county. More detail: CWD zones, CWD by county, deer management units.
| County | Region label | District | Zone status | Feed rule | Positive of tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston | Central | 6 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 373 |
| Chickasaw | North | 8 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 393 |
| Choctaw | Central | 8 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 363 |
| Pontotoc | North | 9 | Part of county | Banned | 3 of 1,293 |
| Oktibbeha | North | 8 | Outside zones | No ban | 0 of 643 |
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.
Archery, primitive weapon and gun deer overlap through the winter, so most of the Tombigbee National Forest calendar sits well beyond the November gun weekends.
| Game | Season | Paperwork | Where | Opens | Closes | 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.
Migratory birds must be done at sunset, half an hour before deer hunters must stop, and the waterfowl column for Tombigbee National Forest makes that gap easy to see.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Gun and bow | Flyway birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | Archery, Delta and Hills | 6:49 a.m. | 6:42 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. |
| Oct 15, 2026 | Archery, Southeast | 6:59 a.m. | 6:24 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:54 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:24 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Youth gun deer | 6:19 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 5:49 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Gun deer opens | 6:32 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Quail season opens | 6:37 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Nov 27, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:38 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. |
| Dec 2, 2026 | Primitive weapon deer | 6:42 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Year's shortest day | 6:55 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Mar 15, 2027 | Turkey season opens | 7:08 a.m. | 7:03 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 7:33 p.m. | 6:38 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.
Going west, Choctaw WMA is 6 miles away and the next public land over. By type, the six nearest neighbours count as 5 WMA and 1 refuge. Every figure is a straight-line distance from the Tombigbee National Forest point, not a drive.
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choctaw WMA | WMA | 21,396 | Choctaw | 6 miles | west |
| Noxubee NWR | Refuge | 44,706 | Winston | 11 miles | east |
| John W. Starr WMA | WMA | 8,264 | Oktibbeha | 11 miles | northeast |
| Nanih Waiya WMA | WMA | 8,269 | Neshoba | 22 miles | south |
| Trim Cane WMA | WMA | 850 | Oktibbeha | 22 miles | northeast |
| Yockanookany WMA | WMA | 2,842 | Attala | 23 miles | west |
Point from the Forest Service boundary layer; straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Within 19 miles of Tombigbee National Forest you can reach five towns with pages on this site. Starkville has the most residents, 25,844 by the 2024 Census estimate. Choctaw WMA in Ackerman is the nearest freezer for deer heads, 6 miles out.
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Compass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | Winston | 5,899 | 8 miles | south |
| Ackerman | Choctaw | 1,544 | 9 miles | northwest |
| Longview | Oktibbeha | – | 12 miles | northeast |
| Noxapater | Winston | 379 | 17 miles | south |
| Starkville | Oktibbeha | 25,844 | 19 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.
Bluff Lake and its tree-lined shore at Noxubee National Wildlife RefugePhoto: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CC BY 2.0)
Bald cypress with fall color in Bluff Lake at Noxubee National Wildlife RefugePhoto: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CC BY 2.0)
Pine silhouettes against a pink sunrise at Noxubee National Wildlife RefugePhoto: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CC BY 2.0)
You will find Tombigbee National Forest across 5 counties including Winston, Chickasaw and Choctaw. Drive toward Louisville, the closest town, 8 miles from the point.
The record lists 67,449 acres, and the US Forest Service is the manager. That figure is taken from the Forest Service land statistics layer.
You need a hunting license and must follow MDWFP rules; hunting a WMA on forest land adds the WMA User Permit.
Hunters can take deer and turkey, according to the agency pages. Season dates for each are on the hunting seasons page.
Statewide MDWFP seasons apply, and the seasons page lists every dated row.
The source puts it this way. 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.
Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset covers resident game, migratory birds stop at sunset, and no spring turkey hours are printed. County times sit on the hours page.
MDWFP's county layer shows 3 positives in 3,065 samples for its 5 counties, and 1 of 5 county sits inside a CWD management zone. Carcass and feeding limits are on the CWD zones page.
Nearby you will find Choctaw WMA (6 miles), Noxubee NWR (11 miles) and John W. Starr WMA (11 miles).
The closest three towns are Louisville (8 miles), Ackerman (9 miles) and Longview (12 miles), each with a page on this site.
MDWFP areas on the forest are Chickasaw WMA and Choctaw WMA.
Hogs are classed as nuisance animals, with no set season, and may be taken in daylight with the weapons legal for the open season.
Recheck your permit, the county rules and the season dates for Tombigbee National Forest before packing up.
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.