More than just mourning doves

Dove hunters, like former Ole Miss quarterback Tim Ellis — who led the Rebels to a win over national champion Notre Dame in 1977 — can enjoy some September shooting.

Mississippi dove hunters could find as many as four different species in their range of fire this season, and one of them — Eurasian collared dove — are not managed with a bag limit since they are not native to North America. These are larger birds, more like pigeons than other doves, and usually lighter in color except for a black collar around the neck.

Our typical mourning dove is closely related to the white-winged dove and the Inca dove, and Mississippi hunters have been encountering more of those two species in recent seasons. They are more native to Texas, the desert Southwest, Mexico and Central America.

The white-wing and Inca dove, the smallest of dove species, are legal to shoot in Mississippi, according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and they count against the daily bag limit.

About Bobby Cleveland 1342 Articles
Bobby Cleveland has covered sports in Mississippi for over 40 years. A native of Hattiesburg and graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Cleveland lives on Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson with his wife Pam.

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