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Small Game & Migratory Game Birds

2024-2025 Small Game Hunting Seasons & Bag Limits

Season

Season Dates

Daily Bag Limit

Youth Squirrel
(On private lands and authorized state and federal lands. Youth 15 and under.)

Sept. 24 - Sept. 30

8

Squirrel – Fall Season

Oct. 1 - Feb. 28

8

Squirrel – Spring Season

May 15 - June 1

4

Rabbit

Oct. 12 - Feb. 28

8

Bobwhite Quail

Nov. 28 - March 1

8

Frog

April 1 - Sept. 30

25/night

Raccoon

July 1 - Sept. 30

1 per party/night

Opossum, Raccoon, and Bobcat

Oct. 1 - Oct. 31 (Food and sport)

5/day; 8/party

Nov. 1 - Feb. 28 (Food, sport, and pelt)

no limit

Trapping

Nov. 1 - March 15

no limit

2024-2025 Migratory Game Bird Seasons & Bag Limits

Season

Season Dates

Daily Bag Limit

Possession Limit

Sept. Canada Geese*

Sept. 1 - Sept. 30

5

15

White-winged and Mourning Doves

(Statewide)

Sept. 1 - Sept. 29

Oct. 12 - Nov. 10

Dec. 27 - Jan. 26

15 singly or in aggregate

45 singly or in aggregate

Sept. Teal

Sept. 14 - Sept. 29

6

18

Rails (Sora & Virginia)

Sept. 1 - Sept. 30

Nov. 22 - Dec. 31

25 singly or in aggregate

75 singly or in aggregate

Rails (Clapper & King)

Sept. 1 - Sept. 30

Nov. 22 - Dec. 31

15 singly or in aggregate

45 singly or in aggregate

Gallinules: Common and Purple

Sept. 1 - Sept. 30

Nov. 22 - Dec. 31

15 singly or in aggregate

45 singly or in aggregate

Crow

Nov. 2 - Feb. 28

no limit

no limit

Snipe

Nov. 14 - Feb. 28

8

24

Geese (Canada, Snow, Blue, Ross’s, White-fronted, and Brant)

Nov. 11 - Nov. 24

Nov 28 - Dec. 1

Dec. 7 - Jan. 31

Canada Goose Bag Limit 5;

Snow, Blue, and Ross’s Bag Limit 20;

White-fronted Bag Limit 3;

Brant Bag Limit 1

Possession 15 (Canada Goose)

No Possession Limit (Snow, Blue, and Ross’s)

Possession 9 (White-fronted)

Possession 3 (Brant)

Ducks, Mergansers, & Coots

Nov. 28 - Dec. 1

Dec. 7 - Jan. 31

See below for ducks, mergansers, and coots bag limits.

Woodcock

Dec. 18 - Jan. 31

3

9

Youth, Veteran, and Active Military Waterfowl Days

Feb. 8 - 9

Bag limits & shooting hours are the same as the regular season.

Light Goose Conservation Order**

Oct. 1 - Nov. 10, Nov. 25 - Nov. 27,

Dec. 2 - Dec. 6, Feb. 1 - Feb. 7,

Feb. 10 - Mar. 31

no limit

no limit

* Sept. Canada Goose season is closed on Roebuck Lake in Leflore county.

** The Light Goose Conservation Order is a special opportunity designed to reduce the populations of snow, blue, and Ross’s geese when no other waterfowl seasons are open. This allows for expanded methods of take which are not allowed during regular waterfowl seasons.

Shooting hours for all migratory game birds are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except during the Light Goose Conservation Order.

To participate in the Light Goose Conservation Order, hunters need a valid Mississippi hunting license, state waterfowl stamp, and a free Light Goose Conservation Order permit number. Hunters can obtain the permit number online at www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/wildlife-species-program/waterfowl-program.

Light Goose Conservation Order Methods:

  • Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
  • Only snow, blue, and Ross’s geese are eligible for harvest.
  • The use of electronic calls is allowed.
  • The use of unplugged shotguns is allowed.
  • There is no daily or possession limit for snow, blue, or Ross’s geese.
  • Hunters must use non-toxic shot.

Daily Bag Limits / Possession Limits:

Possession Limit is three times the daily bag limit for all migratory game birds except on opening day unless otherwise noted.

Ducks - A total of 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 1 mottled duck, 2 black ducks, and 1 pintail. The daily bag limit for scaup is 1 scaup per day Nov. 28 - Dec. 1 and Dec. 7 - 17; and is 2 scaup per day Dec. 18 - Jan. 31

Mergansers - A total of 5, only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers.

Coots - 15 Daily.

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