One of the responsibilities of hunting public lands is becoming familiar with all the rules and regulations that come with these wildlife management areas. Unless you want to lose future hunting privileges at Old River WMA, it’s important to know some of the most basic regulations.
Here are some key rules for deer hunters as presented in the 2012-13 Old River Regulations:
• Hunter orange — During firearm seasons on Mississippi’s WMAs, hunters must wear a minimum of 500 square inches of solid, unbroken fluorescent orange. This regulation applies for both deer and hog hunters during open firearm seasons.
• Youth primitive weapon — Hunters 15 years old or younger may carry and use any firearm allowed in the legal weapons for deer hunting descriptions for that specific WMA. That means they may carry centerfire rifles.
• Legal bucks — At Old River WMA, legal bucks are those with an inside spread of at least 10 inches OR one main beam length of at least 13 inches. Youth hunters 15 years old or younger may shoot any antlered buck.
• Fall-arrest systems — While climbing a tree, installing a tree stand that uses climbing aids or while hunting from a tree stand on a WMA, hunters must use a full-body harness that is manufactured to Treestand Manufacturers Association standards.
• User permits — Everyone using Old River WMA except those exempt from purchasing an annual hunting or fishing license must carry on them an annual Wildlife Management Area User Permit. This permit is required in addition to the daily visitor use permit and any required license, and may be purchased wherever licenses are sold.
All visitors must also obtain a Daily Visitor Use Permit card from a self-service permit station. Both parts of the permit must be filled out prior to using the WMA, and part A must be put in the return boxes at the permit stations before using the property. Part B must be kept with the visitor while on the WMA, and it must be filled out and returned at the permit station at the end of the visit.
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