Mississippi’s Early Migratory Game Bird Seasons Announced for 2018–19

The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks approved dates for the 2018–2019 early hunting seasons for migratory game birds during its April meeting. These dates are listed in the table below; and include hunting seasons for doves, resident Canada geese, early teal, rails, snipe, and woodcock. Legal hunting hours for migratory game birds are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

SPECIES	SEASON DATES	DAILY BAG LIMIT	POSSESSION
Mourning and White-winged Doves (North Zone)	Sept. 1, 2018– Oct. 7, 2018 AND Oct. 27, 2018– Nov. 7, 2018 AND Dec. 22, 2018– Jan. 31, 2019	15 Singly or in aggregate	45 Singly or in aggregate
Mourning and White-winged Doves (South Zone)	Sept. 1, 2018– Sept. 9, 2018 AND Oct. 6, 2018– Nov. 7, 2018 AND Dec. 15, 2018– Jan. 31, 2019	15 Singly or in aggregate	45 Singly or in aggregate
September Teal	Sept. 15, 2018– Sept. 30, 2018	6	18
September Canada Geese	Sept. 1, 2018– Sept. 30, 2018	5	15
Woodcock	Dec. 18, 2018– Jan. 31, 2019	3	9
Snipe	Nov. 14, 2018– Feb. 28, 2019	8	24
Moorhens and Gallinules	Sept. 1, 2018– Sept. 30, 2018 AND Nov. 23, 2018– Jan. 1, 2019	15 Singly or in aggregate	45 Singly or in aggregate
Rails: Clapper and King	Sept. 1, 2018– Sept. 30, 2018 AND Nov. 23, 2018– Jan. 1, 2019	15 Singly or in aggregate	45 Singly or in aggregate
Rails: Sora and Virginia	Sept. 1, 2018– Sept. 30, 2018 AND Nov. 23, 2018– Jan. 1, 2019	25 Singly or in aggregate	75 Singly or in aggregate

Mississippi is divided into two dove zones to maximize hunting opportunities throughout the state. The North Dove Zone is defined as areas north of U.S. Hwy. 84 plus areas south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and west of MS Hwy. 35. The South Dove Zone is defined as areas south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and east of MS Hwy. 35.

For more information regarding migratory birds in Mississippi, visit our website atwww.mdwfp.com/waterfowl or call us at (601) 432-2199. Follow us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.