Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Hunting Permit

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) at the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway (TTWW) issue annual hunting permits for the land managed by USACE along the 234 miles of project. The permits are subject to a $15.00 special activity fee that is assessed each season. TTWW Hunting Permits include permit number, name, and vehicle information. The hunting permit needs to be printed and clearly displayed on the dash of the vehicle while hunting. Hunting area maps may be viewed or obtained from the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway website at: https://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Recreation/TennesseeTombigbee-Waterway/Hunting/. The Special Activities Permit Fee is assessed to cover some costs to improve wildlife habitat on project lands. 

This permit is not valid for USACE lands managed by state agencies as Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). These include the following:

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks

·         Canal Section WMA

·         Divide Section WMA

·         Okatibbee WMA

·         Ward Bayou WMA

·         Mahannah WMA

·         Twin Oaks WMA

·         Nanih Waiya WMA

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

·         David K. Nelson WMA

·         Lowndes WMA

·         Mobile Tensaw Delta WMA.

This permit is also not valid for USACE lands on the Black Warrior Tombigbee Project (BWT), below mile marker 217 where the BWT and TTWW rivers intersect.

Please see 'Additional Links' section to purchase permits for these areas. 

Please note, New for 2026, any persons 16 years or older, unless exempt, must obtain a Wild Turkey Stamp prior to hunting wild turkeys in Mississippi (see state regulations).

Permit & Season Information

This permit is for hunting on lands managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) along the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway (TTWW). Only one permit is required annually, and it expires July 31st.

The following must be adhered to for the permit to be valid:

·         Signed

·         Dated

·         Displayed on the dash of the vehicle (name and date must be visible from outside the vehicle)

·         Screenshot of it on your phone or printed copy on your person while in the field.

The following are exempt from purchasing the USACE permit:

·         Adults aged 65 (must always have documentation with him/her while hunting).

·         Children aged 16 and under (must be accompanied by a properly permitted individual over the age of 21)

·         Disabled hunters (must have proper paperwork/licenses to be exempt)

Youth Waterfowl and Waterfowl seasons are open concurrent with the Federal & State Seasons in both Alabama and Mississippi.

Need to Know

• 2025 – 2026 HUNTING REGULATIONS

  All recreational users are subject to Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, and Section 327. State and federal wildlife laws, local firearms ordinances, and the following restrictions. Violations may result in fines, imprisonment, and/or forfeiture of the COE permit and privileges for a period to be determined by the U.S. magistrate.

  Hunting Permit:

  ·         The hunting permit is valid on all USACE-managed hunting areas on Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway unless posted as closed.

  ·         Adults aged 65 or older and children aged 16 and under are exempt from purchasing a permit.

  ·         Disabled hunters are exempt and must have proper paperwork/licenses.

  ·         Only one permit is required annually and expires July 31.

  ·         To be valid, permits must be signed, dated, and displayed on the dash of the vehicle so that the name and date are visible from outside and either a screenshot of it on your phone or printed copy on person while in the field. 

  No hunting, trapping, harassing, or disturbing wildlife of any kind:

  ·         Any areas posted as closed.

  ·         Within 1000’ of any lock, dam, building, dredge, construction site, or public use area.

  ·         In designated wildlife sanctuaries (see hunting maps for detailed locations).

  ·         In Riverside special use area in Greene County, Alabama.

  ·         USACE waters in White Slough on Columbus port island.

  Waterfowl hunting:

  ·         Waterfowl shooting hours are from ½ hour before sunrise until 12:00 noon. All decoys, boats, and floating blinds must be removed from the hunting areas no later than 1:00 p.m. each day. No permanent structures/blinds allowed.

  ·         Waterfowl hunting is restricted to Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday in the Becker Bottom Waterfowl Area.

  ·         Retrievers are allowed for waterfowl hunting.

  Deer hunting:

  ·         Legal weapons for deer hunting are archery equipment, muzzleloaders, and shotguns with slugs only. No high-powered rifles.

  ·         No buckshot, dogs, or man drives are allowed for deer hunting.

  ·         Portable tree stands/ground blinds for deer hunting will be allowed and must be removed daily. Driving a nail, or other metal object into or to hunt from any tree in which an object has been driven is strictly prohibited.

  ·         While climbing a tree, installing a stand that uses climbing aids, or while hunting from a tree stand, all hunters must use a full-body safety harness and fall arrest system manufactured to Tree Stand Manufactures Association standards.

  ·         Hunters’ orange must be worn in accordance with state regulations.

  ·         Hanging or cleaning deer is prohibited within campgrounds, picnic areas, boat ramps, parking lots and other public use areas. Dumpsters cannot be used to dispose of carcasses.

  Small game hunting:

  ·         Small game hunting is allowed in areas designated “All game hunting” (see map). Small game hunting likewise is allowed in “Archery only” areas (see map) during the month of February.

  ·         Dogs are allowed for small game hunting.

  ·         Legal firearms for small game are standard .22 caliber or smaller rimfire rifles (no .22 magnums), air rifles, and shotguns with shot size number 4 or smaller.

  Turkey hunting

  ·    Turkey hunting is allowed in areas designated “All Game Hunting” and “Archery Only” areas (see map).

  Youth Hunting:

  ·         For safety, hunters less than 16 years of age MUST be accompanied by an adult (21 years of age or older).

  ·         All state-sanctioned Youth Hunts and associated state regulations will be allowed on Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway project lands.

  Wild Hogs:

  ·         Wild Hogs are classified as nuisance animals and hunters are encouraged to kill them at every lawful opportunity. The opportunity to kill hogs is provided only for population control and not for sport.

  ·         From 01 October to the last day in February, wild hogs may be killed during daylight hours only during any open hunting season with weapons and ammunition legal during that season.

  ·         Dogs for hunting feral hogs are prohibited.

  ·         Trapping of hogs is prohibited.

  Alligator

  ·         Alligator season is in accordance with state laws.

  ·         Alligator hunting is not allowed in designated wildlife sanctuaries (see map).

  Motorized vehicles:

  ·         Vehicles may not obstruct gates, roads, trails, or fire lanes.

  ·         Vehicles are NOT allowed to travel off-road.

  ·         ATV operation is strictly prohibited on COE property.

  ·         Electric bicycles are considered motorized vehicles and are NOT allowed on the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway project lands. This will include Canal Section and Divide Section Levee roads.

  ·         Where public access areas are located within a sanctuary, surface drive/mud motors may only be used for ingress and egress to the main navigation channel, may only be operated at idle speed, and must stay within designated channels.  At all other times, the use of surface drive/mud motors are strictly prohibited in the sanctuaries. This excludes law enforcement, USCAE personnel, and contractors performing in official compacity.

   Additional restrictions:

  ·         All firearms in boats under way and vehicles must be unloaded and cased on TTWW property.

  ·         All firearms must be unloaded and cased as transported through restricted areas to access a legal hunting area.

  ·       Cutting trees and the marking of trees with flagging, reflective tacks, or other marking devices is prohibited.

  ·       No overnighting or primitive camping allowed. Camping is allowed in designated camping areas only.

  ·       The engaging in or the solicitation of business (commercial guiding service) on the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway project lands and waters is prohibited.

  ·       Baiting and/or feeding of wildlife on Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway project land is strictly prohibited.

  ·       Trail camera use on Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway project land is prohibited.

  ·       Indiscriminate taking of non-game wildlife is prohibited.

Fee Policy

Recreation Fee: These permits are subject to a $15.00 special activity fee that is assessed each season.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Policy: No cancellations

Change Policy: No changes or transfers

Contact Information

Mailing Address

3606 West Plymouth Road Columbus MS 39701

Phone Number

(662) 245-5500

Photo Gallery