Mississippi’s Lower Delta region is home to 7 National Wildlife Refuges, the Delta National Forest – the only national bottomland hardwood forest in the U.S., and 7 Wildlife Management Areas. These public lands are full of wildlife – alligators, migratory birds, waterfowl, white-tailed deer, opossums, songbirds, and so much more.
Activities permitted on each of these public lands differ as do the entrance fees. Read the information below to find the perfect spot for your next outdoor adventure.
National Wildlife Refuges
Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex consists of seven refuges. It is the largest refuge complex in the state of Mississippi providing over 100,000 acres of vital habitat for fish and wildlife in the Mississippi Delta. Located in the Mississippi Flyway, the complex provides overwintering habitat for thousands of migratory waterfowl each year.
NWR LICENSE REQUIREMENTS & FEES
There is no admission fee. All State Regulations apply. Annual Public Use Permit required for hunting and fishing. Commercial photography requires a Special Use Permit.
Panther Swamp NWR
Bottomland hardwood forests, swamps, streams, wetlands, and reforested agricultural land make up this refuge, which is the largest in the state. The headquarters for the Refuge Complex is located here. The lobby includes exhibits of native wildlife. Visitor facilities are handicap accessible.
LOCATION
10 miles west of Yazoo city
SIZE
~40,000 acres
WEBSITE
ACTIVITIES
Hunting
Fishing
Boating
Boat Launch
Hiking
Bicycling
Wildlife Watching
Nature Photography
Yazoo NWR
This is the oldest national wildlife refuge
in the state. It is home to American alligators, migratory waterfowl, wading birds, song birds, butterflies, white-tailed deer, squirrel, and rabbits. Swan Lake Indian Mound is in the refuge and the visitor center exhibits Native American artifacts. These facilities are handicap accessible.
ACTIVITIES
Hunting
Boating
Hiking
Bicycling
Wildlife Watching
Nature Photography
Holt Collier NWR
The first refuge named in honor of an African-American, it provides habitat and resources for more than 250 songbirds. Small fur bearers, such as rabbit, are plentiful.
ACTIVITIES
Hunting
Bicycling
Wildlife Watching
Nature Photography
Theodore Roosevelt NWR
Named in honor of President Theodore
Roosevelt, whose famous 1902 black bear hunt led to the naming of stuffed toy bears as Teddy Bears, this refuge is still in the acquisition stage and is not open to the visiting public at this time.
ACTIVITIES
Not open to the public at this time.
National Forests
Delta National Forest
Off of Highway 16 near Rolling Fork, you can visit the only National Bottomland Hardwood Forest in the United States, Delta National Forest. Containing 5 greentree reservoirs for waterfowl, the forest is an excellent place to watch migratory species of waterfowl. Hunting is allowed during the season. There are several lakes for fishing in the forest.
National forests are protected and managed by the U.S. Forest Service for recreational usage.
Delta National Forest
Located in Sharkey County, this is the only bottomland hardwood forest in the national forest system. It provides habitat for numerous species of wildlife and migrating waterfowl. The forest is cooperatively managed by MDWFP as Sunflower Wildlife Management Area.
LOCATION
25 miles north of Vicksburg
SIZE
60,000 acres
WEBSITE
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mississippi/about-forest/districts/?cid=stelprdb5209587
ACTIVITIES
Hunting
Fishing
Boating
Boat Launch
Hiking
Camping
Horseback Riding
Bicycling
Wildlife Watching
Nature Photography
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS & FEES
Camping is by reservation only and has a fee. There is a day or annual fee for trail use. No day fee is needed for the boat landing. Special use permits are needed for events or weddings. See Sunflower WMA for hunting and fishing requirements.
State Wildlife Management Areas
The Lower Delta boasts 7 Wildlife Management Areas for game hunting and fishing. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) manages all wildlife management areas (WMA) in the state. Visit the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, www.mdwfp.com, for hunting restrictions and regulations on each of these. Some of the best hunting areas in the state are located in this region.
WMA LICENSE REQUIREMENTS & FEES
A state hunting license is required for hunting. Special permits for certain activities are required in some WMAs. Handicapped hunter access is available. An additional WMA camping permit is required on Sunflower WMA. Primitive camping only.
Shipland WMA
Established in 1982 on land purchased from the Nature Conservancy, this is the only WMA in the Mississippi batture lands – the land between the Mississippi River and the main-line river levee.
LOCATION
45 miles north of Vicksburg
SIZE
3,500 acres
WEBSITE
https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/wma/region/delta/shipland/
ACTIVITIES
Hunting
Fishing
Boating
Camping
Horseback Riding
Wildlife Watching
Nature Photography
Howard Miller WMA
Composed of a former rice and soybean farm that is now divided into 24 eighty-acre hunt units managed for waterfowl. Waterfowl hunting is by draw only.
LOCATION
13 miles southwest of Rolling Fork
SIZE
2,400 acres
WEBSITE
https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/wma/region/delta/howard-miller/
ACTIVITIES
Hunting
Nature Photography
Twin Oaks WMA
Adjoining the Delta National Forest to the east, this WMA provides habitat for various species of wintering waterfowl.
LOCATION
40 miles north of Vicksburg
SIZE
5,847 acres
WEBSITE
https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/wma/region/delta/twin-oaks/
ACTIVITIES
Hunting
Camping
Horseback Riding
Nature Photography
Mahannah WMA
Located in Warren and Issaquena counties, it is part of one of the most ecologically intact and biologically diverse bottomland hardwood ecosystems in the Mississippi Delta. It provides habitat for a large concentration of overwintering waterfowl.
LOCATION
15 miles north of Vicksburg
SIZE
12,695 acres
WEBSITE
https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/wma/region/delta/mahannah/
ACTIVITIES
Hunting
Camping
Horseback Riding
Wildlife Watching
Nature Photography
Sunflower WMA
Located in the Delta National Forest, the WMA is owned by the USFS and managed cooperatively with MDWFP.
LOCATION
3 miles south of Holly Bluff
SIZE
~60,000 acres
WEBSITE
https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/wma/region/delta/sunflower/
ACTIVITIES
Hunting
Fishing
Boat Launch
Boating
Hiking
Camping
Wildlife Watching
Nature Photography
Lake George WMA
Located in Yazoo County, it is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but managed by MDWFP.
LOCATION
3 miles south of Holly Bluff
SIZE
8,383 acres
WEBSITE
https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/wma/region/delta/lake-george/
ACTIVITIES
Hunting
Horseback Riding
Nature Photography
Leroy Percy WMA
The oldest state park in Mississippi, it is characterized by artesian springs, cypress trees, and ancient oaks dripping with Spanish moss. The park has various amenities for visitors including cabins, RV parking, and pavilions. Reservations and additional fees apply for some of the facilities. Leroy Percy WMA is inside the park.
LOCATION
5 miles west of Hollandale
SIZE
WMA 1,640 acres
WEBSITE
ACTIVITIES
Hunting
Fishing
Boating
Boat Launch
Hiking
Camping
Horseback Riding
Bicycling
Wildlife Watching
Nature Photography
