Early migratory game bird seasons set

Seasons set include dove, teal, rails and woodcock.

The Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks approved dates for the 2011-12 early hunting seasons for migratory game birds yesterday (July 19).

Early migratory game bird hunting seasons set during the July meeting include resident Canada geese, early teal, snipe, woodcock and rails. This year, early seasons will be very similar to recent years.

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. Highway 84 plus areas south of U.S. Highway 84 and west of state Highway 35.

Season dates for the North Zone are:

• Sept. 3-25
• Oct. 8-Nov. 1
• Dec. 25-Jan. 15

The South Dove Zone is defined as areas south of U.S. Highway 84 and east of state Highway 35. Season dates for the South Zones are:

• Sept. 3-11
• Oct. 8-Nov. 2
• Dec.12-Jan. 15

The early teal season will run from Sept. 10-25.

The bag limit for blue-winged teal is four per day with no more than eight in possession.

The hunting season for resident Canada geese is Sept. 1-15, with a daily bag of five Canada geese and a possession limit of 10.

The hunting season for rails, moorhens, and gallinules is Sept. 24-Dec. 2.

Daily bag limits for clapper rails, king rails, moorhens and gallinules is 15 singly or aggregate, and possession limit is 30 singly or in aggregate. Daily bag limits for Virginia rails and sora rails is 15 singly or aggregate, and possession limit is 25 singly or in aggregate.

The hunting season for snipe is Nov. 12-Feb. 26.

Daily bag limit is eight snipe with a possession limit of 16 birds.

Woodcock season is Dec. 9-Jan. 22, with a daily bag limit of three woodcock and a possession limit of six birds.