MDWFP halts hunting in flooded river areas around Vicksburg

Published 6:49 pm Thursday, January 10, 2019

JACKSON — Flooding along the Mississippi River has brought an early end to the 2018-19 hunting season in parts of the Vicksburg area.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks announced that all hunting except for waterfowl was to close at the end of legal shooting hours on Thursday in several zones along the river.

The decision was based on parameters set out by MDWFP policy to suspend hunting seasons when the Mississippi River reaches flood stage at Greenville and Vicksburg.
Areas closed to hunting include the western edge of Warren County, all but the northeast corner of Issaquena County, and the southern two-thirds of Sharkey County.

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Areas in Warren County east of U.S. 61, as well as all of Claiborne, Jefferson and Hinds counties, remain open to hunting. The gun deer season is scheduled to run through Jan. 16, and a final archery and primitive weapon season from Jan. 17-31.

The ruling applies specifically to the following areas:

• Lands in Issaquena, Sharkey and Warren counties which lie south of Highway 14, west of Highway 61 and north of the Big Black River.

• Lands in Sharkey, Humphreys, Yazoo, Issaquena and Warren counties which lie south of Highway 14, west of Highway 149, south of Highway 16/149, west of Highway 3, and east of Highway 61.

• Lands in Washington and Issaquena Counties south of Highway 82, west of Highway 1 and North of Highway 14.

In addition, the Lake George, Twin Oaks and Sunflower Wildlife Management Areas have been closed to all hunting except waterfowl. Mahannah and Shipland WMAs have been closed to all activity since December.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service closed Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge consistent with state regulations. Brown Tract on the northeast side of Delta National Forest is closed to all hunting, including waterfowl, until flood waters recede.