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Are ATVs Legal on Public Land in Mississippi?

Jan. 9 2026 Miscellaneous By Brookhaven Powersports

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ATVs are legal on certain public lands in Mississippi, but use is tightly controlled and limited to designated roads, trails, and specific hunting access situations. Riders around Brookhaven should always check individual National Forest, WMA, state park, and OHV area rules before unloading.

Mississippi ATV & Public Land Basics

Mississippi law defines ATVs and other off-road vehicles as machines designed exclusively for off-road use, and it does not treat them like regular street-legal passenger vehicles. State law allows off-road vehicles on “public property” only when the rider meets driver licensing or safety certificate requirements, but it explicitly does not authorize ATV operation on public roads or highways. In practice, that means most legal ATV riding happens on private property, designated OHV trails, and specific routes on federal or state-managed lands.

  • Mississippi’s off-road vehicle statute groups ATVs, dirt bikes, and recreational off-highway vehicles and sets basic age and licensing standards for riding on public property.

  • The same statute clarifies that nothing in it makes ATVs street legal on public roads or highways in the state.

National Forest OHV & ATV Rules

National Forests in Mississippi (such as Homochitto, Bienville, Delta, Tombigbee, and others) allow ATV/OHV use only where routes are specifically designated open to off-highway vehicles. On Forest Service land, you must follow the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for that forest, which shows exactly which roads and trails are open to ATVs, at what times of year, and for what kinds of use.

  • Forest Service guidance states that OHVs must operate only in areas, on roads, and on trails designated as open to OHVs, and riders must meet all applicable state vehicle and operator requirements on any roads open to larger vehicles.

  • For Forest Service, owned Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), off-road vehicles and ATVs are typically allowed only on designated roads or trails and often only for retrieving harvested deer or hogs, and then without a weapon onboard.

For riders near Brookhaven Powersports who frequent Homochitto National Forest and other nearby federal lands, the MVUM is the primary legal map for ATV and side‑by‑side access.

MDWFP Wildlife Management Area Rules

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) manages WMAs across the state, and each WMA has a brochure and rule set that riders must follow. Across these brochures and the compiled WMA rules, several consistent ATV and ORV restrictions show up.

  • WMAs generally prohibit any motorized vehicle off-road and do not allow ATVs or ORVs on public roads within the area that are open to licensed motorized vehicles.

  • Many WMA rules state that no loaded weapon may be in possession when operating an ATV or ORV, and some allow ATV use mainly for management, enforcement, or official duties rather than general recreation.

MDWFP also requires visitors to check in and out when using a WMA, which can be done through the MDWFP WMA Check-In mobile application or physical stations where available. Riders planning to use ATVs for hunting access on WMAs should review the current-year WMA Rules and Regulations compilation as well as the brochure for the specific area they intend to visit.

Typical WMA ATV limits

While details vary by area, common themes appear in recent MDWFP WMA rules.

  • No ATV/ORV use on public roads within WMAs that are open to licensed highway vehicles.

  • No motorized vehicles on roads that are blocked or posted closed and no ATVs on wildlife food plots or unharvested crop fields.

  • Strict rules on carrying loaded firearms while operating ATVs, including distance requirements from roads and designated vehicle trails during firearms seasons.

State Parks, Corps Lakes & Other Public OHV Areas

Outside of WMAs and National Forests, some Mississippi state parks and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake projects offer off-road vehicle trails with their own rule sets. These areas often require riders to stay on marked ORV trails, follow daylight-only hours, and meet licensing, safety gear, and equipment standards.

  • One example ORV policy for a Mississippi recreation project requires riders to have a valid state-issued driver’s license, wear a DOT-approved helmet, use a functioning spark arrester, and operate only from 8 a.m. to sunset.

  • Such policies also typically ban ORVs from public roads and park roads and restrict riding to designated ORV, equestrian, or mountain bike trails.

Because each project or state park can set more specific ATV rules, riders should review the official ORV or park regulations for the exact lake or park they plan to visit before loading up.

Safety, Compliance & Helpful Resources

From a compliance standpoint, Mississippi law requires either a valid driver’s license or an approved off-road vehicle safety certificate for operating an ATV on public property. The same body of law and regulations consistently blocks ATVs from being treated as street-legal vehicles, keeping them off public roads and highways even where local practice can be more relaxed.

Here are key official resources riders around Brookhaven can use to verify current rules before riding:

  • MDWFP WMA Rules & Specific WMA Brochures: Current statewide WMA rules plus individual WMA brochures for areas like Black Prairie, Charles Ray Nix, O’Keefe, and others.

  • MDWFP WMA Check-In App: Official check-in/check-out system for hunting and WMA access, which also ties into area regulations.

  • National Forests in Mississippi OHV Page & MVUM Maps: Forest Service OHV guidance and annual Motor Vehicle Use Maps showing legal ATV/OHV routes.

  • Mississippi Off-Road Vehicle Statute (Miss. Code § 63‑31‑3): State-level definitions and requirements for ATVs and other off-road vehicles.

Brookhaven Powersports in Brookhaven, MS can help local riders understand how these rules apply to their favorite spots and recommend ATVs and side‑by‑sides that are properly equipped for legal National Forest and WMA access. Brookhaven riders are encouraged to pair a well-maintained machine with up-to-date knowledge of National Forest, MDWFP, and state rules so every ride is both fun and compliant