DuckSouth.com

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2015
Mississippi’s Early Migratory Game Bird Seasons Announced
JACKSON– The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks approved dates for the 2015-2016 early hunting seasons for migratory game birds during its monthly meeting on June 10, 2015. These early seasons include resident Canada geese, early teal, snipe, woodcock, dove, and rails.

This year, mourning dove season will open statewide on Friday, September 4 at noon and Mississippi hunters will once again enjoy a 90-day, 15-bird daily bag limit. 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 4 – October 7; October 10 – October 31; and December 13 – January 15, 2016. 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 Zone are as follows: September 4 – September 13; October 10 – November 15; and December 4 – January 15, 2016. After opening day, legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

Early teal, Canada geese, gallinules, rails, snipe, and woodcock seasons and bag limits may be found 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.

Kinda made me mad that they made this big announcement, then you have to go somewhere else to see what 6/7ths the announcement was about (everything but dove seasons).

Canada Geese:
Recommendation: September 1 - September 15
Bag Limit 5; Possession 15

Teal:
Recommendation: September 12 - September 27
Bag Limit 6; Possession 18

Rails (Sora and Virginia):
Recommendation: September 12 - November 20
Bag Limit 25; Possession 75

Rails (Clapper and King):
Recommendation: September 12 - November 20
Bag Limit 15; Possession 45

Gallinules (Common and Purple):
Recommendation: September 12 - November 20
Bag Limit 15; Possession 45

Snipe:
Recommendation: November 14 - February 28
Bag Limit 8; Possession 24

Woodcock:
Recommendation: December 18 - January 31
Bag Limit 3; Possession 9

Is that early teal bag limit correct?

Wildfowler wrote:Is that early teal bag limit correct?

Yes, they went to 6 per man per day last year and increased the possession limit from twice to 3 times the daily bag for both early and regular waterfowl seasons.

It seems sort of strange to open the first season on Friday, September 4 and to close the second season on Saturday, October 31. It makes more sense to me to open first season on Saturday, September 5 and close the second season on Sunday, November 1. There may be reasons for setting it this way other than logic as I see it.

However, overall, I like the structure, as it gives us dove hunting for every weekend of September and October.

I knew the possession limit changed but I guess I failed to recognize the teal limit changed as well since I did not hunt them last year. Thanks.

Has anyone in their life ever shot 15 gallinules in a day? If so, why?

They are entertaining when running across the lilly pads. I can't say I've ever wondered what they'd taste like fried.

On a Friday? Where did that come from? How many times have I been dove hunting the day after "they" had an unbelievable hunt yesterday with everybody getting the limit in 10 minutes, etc. to watching the dragon flies and not much else the next. Anybody else have to work for a living?

i'll be at work.......

I've not shot a purple gallinule period but would like to. Just to say I had hunted them.

I've not shot a purple gallinule period but would like to. Just to say I had hunted them.

Double R 2 wrote:I've not shot a purple gallinule period but would like to. Just to say I had hunted them.

Way back in 1995 when I bought my first go devil, I was seeing those things all over the rez all summer long and I had big ideas about going up there and having a hunt when that season opened in September.

September 15th (or whenever the season opened that year) of that year rolls around and those things were long gone. I guess they had already migrated south with the first cool front? If I remember correctly I did shoot the only one I saw that morning.

I'm sure the rez is loaded with them right now.

Wildfowler wrote:

Double R 2 wrote:I've not shot a purple gallinule period but would like to. Just to say I had hunted them.

Way back in 1995 when I bought my first go devil, I was seeing those things all over the rez all summer long and I had big ideas about going up there and having a hunt when that season opened in September.

September 15th (or whenever the season opened that year) of that year rolls around and those things were long gone. I guess they had already migrated south with the first cool front? If I remember correctly I did shoot the only one I saw that morning.

I'm sure the rez is loaded with them right now.

not purples

kris Schaumburg wrote:

not purples

Why not purples?

Am I mistaken about my bird identity? I do make mistakes but I'm sure there's plenty of these out there right now. Rez being slang for Barnett reservoir.

https://www.google.com/search?q=purple+ ... +gallinule

OBoykin wrote:On a Friday? Where did that come from? How many times have I been dove hunting the day after "they" had an unbelievable hunt yesterday with everybody getting the limit in 10 minutes, etc. to watching the dragon flies and not much else the next. Anybody else have to work for a living?

It seems like these days, that no one in MS works on Friday afternoons anymore.