Page 67 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2025

Wild and Scenic River designation, the only such designation in Mississippi. Popular for canoeing, camping and fishing, the creek flows into the Pascagoula River.
The Leaf River Wilderness Area covers 940 acres in the Leaf River floodplain. The Leaf River Wildlife Management Area, one of the WMAs managed by the MDWFP within the national forest boundaries, covers 41,350 acres of mostly pine forests east of Wiggins.
“The forest is a good place to hunt rabbits,” explained James Sealy, Jr., who frequently hunts Do Soto. “I recommend that people get a map of the forest and study
it before hunting. I always like to hunt thick woods, the thicker the better. That’s the best rabbit habitat. Look for some young, planted pines. That’s my favorite place to hunt rabbits, but the forest has many places to look for rabbits.”
Some tracts within the forest boundaries remain in private lands. In addition, the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, run by the Mississippi National Guard, conducts training in parts of the forest and operates several weapons training ranges off limits to non-military personal.
“The forest has plenty of acreage for people to hunt,” stated Ed Moody, a wildlife biologist for the forest. “The rabbit population appears good. Swamp rabbits, sometimes called cane-cutters, are usually only in the wetter areas.”
Rabbit hunting provides great socializing opportunities, making it a wonderful activity to involve children.
Some hunts involve several families with sportsmen and sportswomen of all ages. Children don’t need to worry about staying still or quiet.
Besides rabbits, the forest remains popular for hunting white-tailed deer. People can also hunt squirrels, birds, feral hogs and some other game species. With more than a half- million acres, the forest offers space for everyone to hunt multiple species. People just need to stay out of each other’s way.
People can camp on several areas of the forest. See www. fs.usda.gov/activity/mississippi/recreation/camping-cabins. While in the forest, visitors can hone their marksmanship skills at the Black Creek Shooting Range.
The Mississippi rabbit season runs from October 18 through February 28, 2026 with a limit of eight per day. Seasons and regulations on some public lands could differ from each other and from statewide regulations. Always check the regulations before hunting anywhere.
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