JACKSON – The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has approved dates for the 2014-2015 early hunting seasons for migratory game birds. Early migratory game bird hunting seasons set at the July meeting include resident Canada geese, early teal, snipe, woodcock, dove, and rails. This year, early seasons will be similar to recent years with a few minor changes. The most significant change is the addition of 20 days to the dove season. This year Mississippi hunters will enjoy a 90-day, 15-bird daily bag limit for mourning and white-winged doves. The possession limit is 45 birds. Mississippi is divided into two 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. Season dates for the North Zone are as follows: September 1 – September 21; October 4 – November 9; and December 15 – January 15, 2015. The South Dove Zone is defined as areas south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and east of MS Hwy. 35. Season dates for the South Zones are as follows: September 13 – September 21; October 4 – November 9; and December 3 – January 15, 2015. The early teal season is September 13 – 28. The bag limit for September teal is six per day with no more than 18 in possession. The hunting season for resident Canada geese is September 1 – 15, 2014. The daily bag limit is five Canada geese with a possession limit of 15. The hunting season for rails and gallinules is September 13 – November 21. The daily bag limit for clapper rails and king rails is 15 singly or in aggregate and possession limit is 45 singly or in aggregate. Daily bag limits for Virginia rails and sora rails is 25 singly or in aggregate, and possession limit is 75 singly or in aggregate. The daily bag limit for common and purple gallinules is 15 singly or in aggregate, and possession limit is 45 singly or in aggregate. The hunting season for snipe is November 14, 2014 – February 28, 2015. The daily bag limit is eight snipe with a possession limit of 24 birds. Woodcock season is December 18, 2014 – January 31, 2015. The daily bag limit is three woodcock with a possession limit of nine birds. For more information regarding waterfowl in Mississippi, visit our website at www.mdwfp.com/waterfowl or call us at (601) 432-2199. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline. Reprinted from “The Outdoor Wire”
