Mississippi Whitetail Deer Hunts

McKenna Ranch Outfitters has been running Mississippi whitetail hunts since the late 1990s, and the operation shows it. Founded by Steve McKenna Sr., the ranch operates with a philosophy of low-pressure hunting and strategic land management. They don't just put you in a stand—they've engineered the property with stand placement, food plots, feeders, and timber thinning to bring mature bucks out during daylight.

The ranch uses serpentine mowing patterns in food plots to limit deer line-of-sight while leaving uncut lanes for cover. Feeders are positioned where hunters can see them, but surrounded by brush so deer feel safe. Timber has been thinned in several areas, allowing stand placement 30-50 yards back from shooting areas. The result: stands positioned to catch older bucks that normally wait until near-dark to move.

Stand types available: - Elevated shooting houses (2-3 person capacity, many with steps) - Ladder stands - Tripod stands - Ground blinds

Hunts take place on food plots, pipelines, acorn bottoms, and deer crossing zones.

McKenna Ranch deliberately avoids the dead period between opening weekend and mid-December rut. They explain it plainly: once deer know hunting season is on, they get cautious and wore out by the time the rut hits. They'd rather hunt when bucks throw caution to the wind.

2025-26 Season Dates: - Opening weekend: November 22-25, 2025 - December hunts: 12/12-12/14, 12/19-12/21, 12/27-12/29 - January hunts: 1/4-1/5, 1/16-1/18, 1/23-1/25, 1/29-1/31 - Last week of season requires "Primitive Weapon" endorsement ($250+ fine for shooting undersized bucks)

• •Lodging: 6-bedroom, 6.5-bath guest house plus bunk areas. Two new camper sites available. Families get priority on private bathrooms.

• •Meals: Served in the dining hall.
• •Breakfast: Hot grits, sausage, biscuits, or breakfast sandwiches; fruit, Danish items, cereal
• •Lunch: Homemade soup or chili, sandwiches, burgers, sausage dogs
• •Supper: Salad/coleslaw, ham, turkey, roast beef, pork chops, chicken or spaghetti with vegetables, dessert
• •Beverages: Coffee, sweet and unsweet tea, soft drinks, water

• •Transportation: To and from stands in ranch vehicles. Staff retrieves deer and provides field processing.

• •Game Processing: Walk-in cooler on site. Staff skins, cleans, and quarters deer. Taxidermy services available with UPS shipping of finished mounts.

Practice before you arrive. Ammunition costs $1+ a round. Shot placement determines everything. A good, clean hit may still mean 50-60 yards of running. Trails past 100 yards mean a poor shot. Buck fever is real—bigger antlers, more shaking.

• •Minimum antler restriction: 10-inch inside spread (typically an 8-point basket minimum). Does restricted to morning hunts only.

• •Doe hunting note: The ranch follows founder Steve McKenna Sr.'s rule—never shoot does on pipelines. Pipelines are a doe haven. His famous "1-2-3 rule": (1) doe runs into view, (2) aim from where it came, (3) shoot the buck following. During rut, don't shoot single antlerless deer—it's often a young buck abandoned by its mother.

• •Weapons: Black powder or center-fire rifles. .243 caliber and up preferred. Bring two options in case one has problems. Insurance won't allow rifle loans or ammunition provision.

Required gear: - Mississippi hunting license (1-800-5GO-HUNT) - Hunter Ed card (ages 12-15) - Orange vest (state law) - Knee-high insulated rubber boots - Flashlights or headlamps - Range finder - Rainwear and warm gloves - Ice chest for harvested game - Unscented plastic bags for transport

• •Arrival: Show up around 1:00 PM (after lunch). Safety meeting, liability paperwork, rifle accuracy check at the range. Staff assesses physical ability, rifle type, and boots to assign the right stand.

• •Afternoon hunt: Load up before 2:00 PM, hunt until dark. Walk back out when done, call or text if you've got a deer (signal varies by stand location). Stay in stand until sunset—bucks sometimes follow does.

• •Overnight: Supper around 6:30 PM.

• •Morning hunt: Up before daylight, breakfast around 4:30 AM, hunt until 10:30 AM (or all day if you prefer—lunch packed). Lunch at noon for those coming in. Afternoon hunt leaves around 1:30 PM, returns after sunset. Supper at 6:30 PM.

• •Don't walk around the food plot or feeder during your hunt (they see you on game cameras)
• •Weapons must be unloaded before entering any vehicle
• •Leave cell phone in your pocket during the hunt
• •No refunds on deposits—they go to stand labor, planting, and maintenance. Deposits can be applied to future hunts.
• •$250 fine for shooting bucks below 10-inch inside spread
• •Single-day hunts available (1 buck or doe & 1 hog, lunch included, no lodging)

• •Phone: 601-692-3224 (Mark)
• •Email: [email protected]
• •Address: 680 County Road 313, Pachuta, MS 39347
• •Nearby towns: Laurel (south on I-59), Meridian (north), Waynesboro (east on Hwy 45)

• •Payment: 50% deposit required. Personal check, money order, cashier's check, or PayPal. Balance due upon arrival in cash, check, money order, or PayPal.

Father-and-son trips, grandparent family hunts, and husband-wife groups are all regular. Bring fishing poles and hiking shoes for downtime.