Mahannah Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
Mahannah WMA is in Issaquena and Warren Counties near Redwood, MS, approximately 18 miles north of Vicksburg on Hwy 61. Turn left (west) at WMA sign onto Floweree Road. Go approx. 3 miles to WMA sign; turn left (west) on Anderson-Tully Road. WMA headquarters approx. 2 miles ahead.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) is responsible for the management of this area. Mahannah consists of approximately 12,695 acres of bottomland hardwoods, agriculture fields, hardwood reforestation, and waterfowl impoundments. Located on the Mississippi River, directly in the Mississippi flyway, it is a unique balance of flooded timber, cypress swamps, and controlled flooded agricultural lands. Approximately 1,486 acres of open farmland are managed for waterfowl each year or maintained as moist soil impoundments and flooded in the fall by pumping. This diverse land provides habitat for some of the largest concentrations of wintering waterfowl in the Mississippi Delta.
Mahannah hosts an impressive variety of birds throughout the year. Year-round residents routinely found include Bald Eagle, Eastern Towhees, Barred Owls, Pileated Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, Red-tailed Hawks, and a variety of doves. Summertime is highlighted by numerous nesting pairs of Painted Buntings, Dickcissels, Blue Grosbeaks, Yellow-Breasted Chats, and Summer Tanagers, all of which can be found along the roadside and in the powerline and gas line cuts. Late summer brings in large numbers of wading birds including Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks, and a great variety of herons and egrets. In late August, late evening flights of waders going to roost can include thousands of individual birds. Winter is prime time for waterfowl coming to the flooded impoundments on the property. Mallard is the primary species; however, Northern Shoveler, Canvasback, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Wood Duck, American Widgeon, Snow Goose, and Greater White-fronted Goose and others are abundant. Winter is also a fantastic time to see a variety of raptors, like Northern Harrier and American Kestrel, as well as numerous species of wintering sparrows. Shorebirds can be found on the mudflats of the waterfowl impoundments in late winter and mid to late summer as they migrate through Mississippi. Also, be sure to keep a lookout for the occasional Black Bear roaming around Mahannah WMA.
Be sure to stop at the check-in station at the Headquarters and fill out the daily visitor use permit or by using the MDWFP, WMA Check-In App. Be aware that various types of hunts go on from May – January so you might want to wear “hunter orange” and/or check with MDWFP, Game Department for guidance on hunting activity.
RARE BIRD SEEN AT MAHANNAH
It was a cold, rainy, icy February day in 2014 when a Snowy Owl was spotted at Mahannah WMA. This is only the second record of Snowy Owl ever for Mississippi. First record was documented in 1930.
IMPORTANT: WMA PERMIT – An annual WMA User Permit from the MDWFP, is required to enter the area and can be purchased from the MDWFP or online. Those over 65 are exempted from purchasing this permit. See Links for how to purchase.