Opening day of dove season is one of the most anticipated and popular hunting days of the year for many Mississippians. Dove season brings some of the first hunting opportunities of the fall as the long and hot Mississippi summer comes to a close.
In the southeast, dove hunting has a long tradition of being a social event with friends and family outdoors. The opening day of dove season is a day not to be missed for many Mississippi hunters. The season opened on Saturday and will officially end for both zones on January 31st.
2018 – 2019 Dove Hunting Season Dates:
- North Zone: September 1st – October 7th, October 27th – November 7th, and December 22nd – January 31st
- Dove North Zone: Areas north of U.S. Hwy. 84 plus areas south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and west of MS Hwy. 35.
- South Zone: September 1st – September 9th, October 6th – November 7th, and December 15th – January 31st
- Dove South Zone: Areas south of U.S. Hwy. 84 and east of MS Hwy. 35.
Houston Havens, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Waterfowl program coordinator, said all hunters need to be sure they have a valid Mississippi hunting license and are registered under the harvest information program (HIP).
“HIP is a free survey that asks about their previous migratory bird hunting activity. It can be taken anywhere licenses are sold or it can be taken online with the purchase of a license,” said Havens. “All hunters are required to have the HIP registration whether they are required to have a license or they are exempt.”
He also added that the bag limit is 15 dove per hunter, which includes a combination between mourning and white-winged dove.
