Quail Hunting in Mississippi

There are a number of public lands that are open to quail hunting in Mississippi, including Wildlife Management Areas, National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lands (see links below). The presence and abundance of quail on these areas vary depending on habitat quality and quantity. Black Prairie, Charles Ray Nix, and Hell Creek Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) are managed with an emphasis on quail and other small game by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Hell Creek WMA currently offers quail hunting through a permit process (hunt dates February 18-24, 2013). Permit applications, when available, can be completed at:

https://xnetsecure.mdwfp.com/drawings/public/wmaDrawings.aspx.

A limited number of permits are issued by a random drawing of applications. Black Prairie and Charles Ray Nix WMAs are currently closed to quail hunting. All of these areas are open to bird dog training during specified dates. Check area regulations for quail hunting and dog training dates. A Wildlife Management Area User Permit (may be purchased anywhere hunting licenses are sold) is required of anyone using a WMA, unless exempt from purchasing a hunting and fishing license.

Other WMAs offer some quail hunting opportunity. For more information, contact Rick Hamrick by email at rickh@mdwfp.state.ms.us or contact our Jackson Office at 601-432-2199 Monday - Friday, 8 am to 5 pm CT.

Photos by Marco Nicovich

Click on the Links Below for License or Season Information

Hunting License Information

Quail Hunting Season Dates

Click on the Links Below for Public Land Locations, Regulations, and More

Wildlife Management Areas

National Forests

National Wildlife Refuges

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lakes and Tenn-Tom Waterway

3-year Trends in Breeding Season Quail Call-counts on WMAs

North

wma_quail_north_10_12

Central

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South

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* Special permit quail hunts only.

** Quail season is currently closed on these areas.

A "zero" count does not necessarily mean there are no birds present, and large differences in counts between years are likely due to variation in calling activity rather than severe population "crashes." Population density, breeding pair status, weather, and other factors affect calling activity. Listening stations are established at regular intervals throughout a given area to get a general sample of relative population abundance. Evaluating a snapshot of several years of breeding season call-count data provides relative population trends on a given area.