JACKSON – Heavy rainfall and rising river levels have caused extensive flooding along the Mississippi River. As a result, all hunting except for waterfowl will close at the end of legal shooting hours Thursday, January 10, 2019 based on these parameters:

·Zone 1: When the Greenville, MS gauge reaches 48 feet and shall remain so until the Mississippi River level falls to or below 46 feet on the Greenville gauge. (Lands in Washington and Issaquena Counties which lie south of Highway 82, west of Highway 1 and North of Highway 14)

·Zone 2A: When the Vicksburg, MS gauge reaches 43 feet and shall remain so until the Mississippi River level falls to or below 41 feet on the Vicksburg gauge. (Lands in Issaquena, Sharkey and Warren Counties which lie south of Highway 14, west of Highway 61 and north of the Big Black River)

Effective immediately the below areas are closed to all hunting except waterfowl.

·Zone 2B: When the Steel Bayou gauge reaches 90 feet and shall remain so until the Mississippi River level falls to or below 88 feet on the Steel Bayou gauge. (Lands in Sharkey, Humphreys, Yazoo, Issaquena, 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)

·The following Wildlife Management Areas (WMA): Lake George, Twin Oaks, and Sunflower.

·In addition, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has closed Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge located in Zone 2B consistent with state regulations. Brown Tract in Zone 2B on the northeast side of Delta National Forest is closed to all hunting until flood waters recede. Waterfowl hunting is not permitted in the Brown Tract.

Shipland and Mahannah are currently closed to all activities except waterfowl hunting until further notice. U.S. Forest Service has closed all roads on Sunflower WMA to motor vehicle access.

MDWFP will continue its increased law enforcement presence in the affected areas to patrol the levees, promote public safety for residents affected by the rising waters, and enforce the wildlife laws that protect animals affected by flooding. MDWFP reminds hunters that high water has also affected areas along the Pascagoula and Pearl rivers and it is unlawful to hunt, trap, take, frighten, or kill game or fur-bearing animals forced out of their natural habitat by high water. For more information regarding this closure and other WMAs in Mississippi, visit our website at www.mdwfp.com or call us at (601) 432-2199.