JACKSON - The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks approved dates for the 2012-2013 early hunting seasons for migratory game birds on July 18, 2012.  Early migratory game bird hunting seasons set at the July meeting include dove, resident Canada geese, early teal, snipe, woodcock, and rails.  This year, early seasons will be similar to recent years.

 

Once again, Mississippi hunters will enjoy a 70-day, 15-bird daily bag limit for mourning and white-winged doves.  The possession limit is 30 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 23; October 13 - November 11; and December 15 - December 31, 2012.  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 1 - September 9; October 6 - November 11; and December 21 - January 13, 2013.

 

The early teal season is September 15 - 30.  The bag limit for September teal is 4 per day with no more than 8 in possession.  The hunting season for resident Canada geese is September 1 - 15, 2012.  The daily bag limit is 5 Canada geese with a possession limit of 10. The hunting season for rails, moorhens, and gallinules is September 22 - November 30. 

 

Daily bag limits for clapper rails, king rails, moorhens and gallinules is 15 singly or in aggregate, and possession limit is 30 singly or in aggregate.  Daily bag limits for Virginia rails and sora rails is 25 singly or in aggregate, and possession limit is 25 singly or in aggregate.  The hunting season for snipe is November 14, 2012 - February 28, 2013.  Daily bag limit is 8 snipe with a possession limit of 16 birds.  Woodcock season is December 18, 2012 - January 31, 2013.  The daily bag limit is 3 woodcock with a possession limit of 6 birds.