Mississippi’s regular duck hunting season opens November 27. Many waterfowl hunters are anxiously awaiting the season opener due to record breeding duck population estimates last spring. However, hunters should remember that winter severity in the northern United States and Canada, combined with local habitat quality and availability, also play major roles in how many ducks make their way to and remain in Mississippi. The hunting seasons for ducks, mergansers, and coots during 2015 – 2016 will be November 27 – 29, December 4 – 6, and December 9 – January 31. The duck daily bag limit is a total of 6 ducks, which may include 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 3 wood ducks, 3 scaup, 2 redheads, 2 pintail, 2 canvasback, 1 mottled duck, and 1 black duck. The merganser daily bag limit is 5, only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers. Coots have a 15-bird daily bag limit. The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit for ducks, mergansers, and coots. Mississippi offers numerous public waterfowl hunting opportunities in a variety of habitats. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) have both open access and limited draw hunting areas with intensively managed habitat for Mississippi waterfowl hunters to access and enjoy. Hunters ages 16 to 64 must obtain a hunting license and be Harvest Information Program (HIP) registered for Mississippi. All hunters over the age of sixteen are required to have both a state and federal duck stamp. If hunting on a WMA, hunters will also need a WMA User Permit. Hunters should carefully read the regulations for all public lands prior to hunting to ensure they are in compliance. Reprinted from “The Outdoor Wire”
