Tunica Cutoff

How it hunts

Tunica Cutoff (Tunica Lake) is a long Mississippi River oxbow on the Mississippi–Arkansas line, not in Tennessee. The state line runs down the old channel. It is not a WMA, so there is no draw, but the license and floodwater rules trip people up.

1. Stay on the lake, not in the woods it floods

   At high water the lake spreads into the timber around it, and those flooded woods are private. Hunt the lake itself.

2. Watch the Memphis gauge

   Low water exposes flats and stumps; very high water can cover the ramps and push the lake into private timber. The state's weekly fishing report prints the stage and forecast.

3. Know which side of the line you're on

   Each state's rules apply on its own side, and your license decides your rules. Carry a GPS with the state line loaded.

4. Plan for long runs

   The lake is about 15 miles long and mostly reached from the north end, so plan fuel and time for long runs in the dark. Fog is common on river oxbows.

Getting there and ramps

• Charlie's Camp and Tait (Bordeaux) are the only ramps open to the public; pay at the honor boxes.Source: MDWFP Tunica Cutoff · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
• The river enters the lake once the Memphis gauge rises above about 6 ft. The tops of the ramps are at about 28 ft on the Memphis gauge; flood stage is 34 ft.Source: MDWFP Tunica Cutoff · Last checked Oct 22, 2026

Rules

• Mississippi duck season: Nov 27–29, Dec 4–6, and Dec 9, 2026–Jan 31, 2027. You need a license, the Mississippi waterfowl stamp, the Federal Duck Stamp and HIP.Source: MDWFP hunting seasons and bag limits · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
• Under the Mississippi–Arkansas reciprocal agreement, a resident license from either state is good on state-line waters only while both states' seasons are open, and you follow the rules of the state that issued your license. Floodwater over the natural banks is not public water.Source: MDWFP public waters reciprocal program · Last checked Oct 22, 2026

Draw deadlines for every state · State waterfowl laws

Water levels

Best water level: River enters the lake above about 6 ft on the Memphis gauge

Source: MDWFP Tunica Cutoff · checked Oct 22, 2026