Boatwright Wildlife Management Area
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Boatwright Wildlife Management Area is a 15,000-acre wildlife reserve located in the state of Mississippi.
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Summary
The area features a wide variety of plant and animal life and is home to several species of fish, birds, and mammals. There are several good reasons to visit the area, including birdwatching, fishing, hiking, and hunting. Visitors can explore the many creeks, streams, and lakes that are scattered throughout the area, or they can take a guided tour to learn more about the wildlife and habitats that exist within the reserve.
One of the most popular points of interest at Boatwright Wildlife Management Area is the Cypress Swamp, which is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life, including alligators, turtles, and snakes. Visitors can also explore the many hiking trails that crisscross the area, including the Trail of Many Trees, which offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that it is one of the largest wildlife reserves in the state of Mississippi and that it has been designated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. Additionally, the area is home to several rare and endangered species, including the Mississippi gopher frog and the Gulf sturgeon.
The best time of year to visit Boatwright Wildlife Management Area depends on the activities that visitors are interested in. Birdwatchers will find the area most active during the spring and fall migration seasons, while anglers will find excellent fishing opportunities during the summer months. Hunters will find the area most active during the fall and winter hunting seasons.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Fort Defiance Park
Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Winford Wildlife Management Area
Ballard Wildlife Management Area