Migratory Bird Season Dates & Bag Limits
SPECIES |
SEASON DATES |
DAILY |
POSSESSION |
September Teal |
Sept. 9 - 24, 2023 |
6 | 18 |
September Canada Geese* |
Sept. 1 - 30, 2023 |
5 | 15 |
Woodcock |
Dec. 18, 2023 - Jan. 31, 2024 |
3 | 9 |
Snipe |
Nov. 14, 2023 - Feb. 28, 2024 |
8 | 24 |
Moorhens and Gallinules |
Sept. 1 - Oct. 1, 2023 AND Nov. 23 - Dec. 31, 2023 |
15 Singly or in aggregate | 45 Singly or in aggregate |
Rails: Clapper and King |
Sept. 1, 2023- Oct. 1, 2023 AND Nov. 23, 2023- Dec. 31, 2023 |
15 Singly or in aggregate | 45 Singly or in aggregate |
Rails: Sora and Virginia |
Sept. 1, 2023- Oct. 1, 2023 AND Nov. 23, 2023- Dec. 31, 2023 |
25 Singly or in aggregate | 75 Singly or in aggregate |
Mourning and White-winged Doves (North Zone) ** |
Sept. 2, 2023- Oct. 15, 2023 AND Oct. 28, 2023- Nov. 26, 2023 AND Dec. 30, 2023- Jan. 14, 2024 |
15 Singly or in aggregate | 45 Singly or in aggregate |
Mourning and White-winged Doves (South Zone) *** |
Sept. 2, 2023- Sept. 24, 2023 AND Oct. 7, 2023- Nov. 5, 2023 AND Dec. 23, 2023- Jan. 28, 2024 |
15 Singly or in aggregate | 45 Singly or in aggregate |
Crows |
Nov. 4, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024 |
No Limit | No Limit |
Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots**** |
Nov. 24, 2023- Nov. 26, 2023 AND Dec. 1, 2023- Dec. 3, 2023 AND Dec. 9, 2023- Jan. 31, 2024 |
See Below**** | See Below**** |
Geese: Canada, White-fronted, Snow, Blue, Ross’s, and Brant |
Nov. 10, 2023- Nov. 26, 2023 AND Dec. 1, 2023- Dec. 3, 2023 AND Dec. 9, 2023- Jan. 31, 2024 |
Canada Geese: 5 Snow, Blue, and Ross’s: 20 White-fronted: 3 Brant: 1 |
Canada Geese: 15 Snow, Blue, and Ross’s: No Limit White-fronted: 9 Brant: 3 |
Youth, Veteran, and Active Military Waterfowl Days |
Feb. 3 - 4, 2024 |
Same as Regular Season |
Same as Regular Season |
* Sept. Canada Goose season is closed on Roebuck Lake in Leflore County
** (Dove North Zone) Areas north of U.S. Hwy. 84 plus areas south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and west of MS Hwy. 35.
*** (Dove South Zone) Areas south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and east of MS Hwy. 35.
**** The duck daily bag limit is a total of 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 1 mottled duck, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail, 3 wood ducks, 2 canvasbacks, and 2 redheads. The daily bag limit for scaup is 1 scaup per day Nov. 24 – 26, Dec. 1 – 3, and Dec. 9 – 17; and is 2 scaup per day Dec. 18 – Jan. 31.
The merganser daily bag limit is a total of 5 mergansers, only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers.
The coot daily bag limit is a total of 15 coots.
The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit for ducks, mergansers, and coots.
Shooting hours for all migratory game birds are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except for the Light Goose Conservation Order (see below).
*****The Light Goose Conservation Order is a special opportunity designed to reduce the population of overpopulated snow, blue, and Ross’s geese when no other waterfowl seasons are open. This order allows for expanded methods of take that are not allowed during regular waterfowl seasons.
To participate in the Light Goose Conservation Order, hunters need a valid Mississippi hunting license, state waterfowl stamp, and a free Light Goose Conservation Order permit number. Hunters can obtain the permit number by visiting www.mdwfp.com/waterfowl.
Light Goose Conservation Order Methods:
Shooting hours are from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.
Only snow, blue, and Ross’s geese are eligible for harvest.
The use of electronic calls is allowed.
The use of unplugged shotguns is allowed.
There is no daily or possession limit for snow, blue, or Ross’s geese.
Hunters must use non-toxic shot.
Hunters must possess a Mississippi hunting license and a Mississippi state waterfowl stamp.
Hunters do not need a federal waterfowl stamp for the light goose conservation order.