‘It’s just to give hunters a little more time, especially for those archery hunts that happen earlier in the season.’
Brian BroomMS application period for draw hunts is early this year. See when
Mississippi Clarion Ledger
July 15, 2026, 2:12 p.m. CT
If you’re a procrastinator and you plan to enter a drawing for a public land draw hunt like the primitive weapon deer hunts at the new Alligator Wildlife Management Area in the Delta, you’d better not wait until the end of August to apply like you did last year.
The application period for these permit-only hunts across the state is early this year. So early, you can apply right now.
“It’s to give hunters a little more notification that hunters are drawn and have more time to plan vacation,” said Amy Blaylock, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks’ wildlife division director. “It’s just to give hunters a little more time, especially for those archery hunts that happen earlier in the season. The general public has asked us in the past and our staff thought it was a good idea.”
The permit-only draw hunts are popular. They take place at desirable wildlife management areas and are designed to better manage the properties as well as keep the numbers of hunters in the woods down so those who are drawn have a higher-quality experience.
And the hunting opportunities aren’t limited to deer.Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
MS draw hunts are offered for these game species
While deer are the most popular game species in Mississippi, there are draw hunts for other species, too. Draw hunts in Mississippi include:
- Deer
- Waterfowl
- Early teal
- Dove
- Rabbit
- Turkey
More: MS deer hunting season is almost here. See dates for 2026-27
How, when to hunt Mississippi’s new Alligator Wildlife Management Area
The latest addition to Mississippi’s public hunting land is Alligator Wildlife Management Area. Why is it named Alligator WMA? It’s because it’s near Alligator, Mississippi; not because it’s infested with alligators.
Alligator WMA is located in the Mississippi Delta, a region known for producing big bucks. It is open for archery hunting for deer from October 1-November 20 and January 4-31. Hunts for deer with primitive weapons, including archery equipment, are by permit only from November 21-January 3.
Here’s the complete list of hunting seasons at Alligator WMA for 2026-27.
- Deer, archery: October 1-November 20
- Deer, Youth: November 7-20
- Deer, primitive weapons, permit only: November 21-January 3
- Deer, archery/youth: January 4-31
- Squirrel, youth: September 24-30
- Squirrel: October 1-February 28, May 15-June 1
- Rabbit: October 17-February 28
- Raccoon: July 1-September 30
- Raccoon, opossum, bobcat: October 1-February 28
- Trapping: November 1-February 28
- Waterfowl: same as statewide seasons
More: South MS bear numbers exploding? Here’s why so many have been spotted
When to apply for draw hunts on Mississippi WMAs
Many draw hunts, including those for deer, traditionally took place during August. This year, the August drawings have been moved up two weeks. Here are the draw hunt application periods for the 2026-27 hunting seasons.
- Turkey: January 15-31
- Deer: July 15-August 15
- Early Teal: July 15-August 15
- Rabbit: July 15-August 15
- Dove: July 15-August 15
- Waterfowl: October 1-15
Hunters interested in participating in permit-only hunts should visit www.mdwfp.com for more information and to apply.