Mississippi’s fertile fields and abundant woodlands create a haven for mourning doves, making dove hunting a cherished tradition for many Mississippians. As the summer heat wanes and fall approaches, wingshooters eagerly await the opening of dove season. This comprehensive guide equips you with everything you need to know about doves in Mississippi for the 2024-2025 season, from season dates and regulations to licensing costs and top locations.
Is dove season still open in Mississippi?
Gear up because the Mississippi Department of Wildlife (MDWFP) just announced the season dates for 2024-2025. Get ready to chase those sleek birds all across the state – it’s gonna be a good one! Here’s the scoop on what you need to know:
- Season Dates: Split season with three segments:
- North Zone: September 2nd – October 15th & October 28th – November 26th & December 30th – January 14th
- South Zone: September 2nd – September 24th & October 7th – November 5th & December 23rd – January 28th
- Half hour before sunrise to sunset
- 15 mourning doves, singly or in the aggregate (combined) of white-winged doves
- 45 mourning doves as possession, singly or in the aggregate of white-winged doves
Remember: Double-check the official MDWFP hunting regulations for any updates or changes before heading out.
Securing Your Mississippi Hunting License
Mississippi Dove Hunting: License Showdown (Residents vs. Non-Residents)
Residents:
- License:
- Sportsman ($45) or Small Game/Freshwater ($10) – Covers doves, but WMA User Permit and Waterfowl Stamp might be extra (check season details).
- WMA User Permit: $15 (mandatory for WMA dove fields).
- Waterfowl Stamp: $10 (required for residents 16+ hunting doves during waterfowl season, with most licenses).
- Exempt Residents: May still need WMA Permit and carry proof of exemption while hunting.
Non-Residents:
- License:
- Small Game ($95) or 7-Day Small Game ($38) – Covers doves, but WMA User Permit, Waterfowl Stamp, and other permits might be extra (check season details).
- WMA User Permit: $30 (mandatory for WMA dove fields).
- Waterfowl Stamp: $19 (required for non-residents 16+ hunting doves during waterfowl season).
Mississippi’s Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Dove Fields
In Mississippi, many Wildlife ManageÂment Areas (WMAs) support dove hunting. Both locals and visitors can acceÂss these WMAs to engage in dove hunting. Here are several WMAs known for their dove fields:
- Black Prairie
- Charles Ray Nix
- Divide Section
- Hell Creek
- Muscadine Farms
- Okatibbee
- Trim Cane
- Harvey Moss at Tuscumbia
- William (Billy) C. Deviney
- Yockanookany
- Howard Miller
- Leroy Percy
- O’Keefe
Mississippi Dove Hunting Regulations – Food Plots and Seeding
HereÂ’s a summary of key Mississippi dove hunting rules for food plots and seÂeding, based on the deÂtails you supplied:
- Planting for Doves: It’s permissible to grow winter wheat, browntop millet, or sunfloweÂrs for dove hunting, provided it aligns with usual farming practices. This coveÂrs:
- Growing for wildlife food plots, winter grazing for livestock, or preÂventing erosion.
- SeeÂding quantities: Wheat – max 90 lbs/acre, distributeÂd uniformly.
- Seeding methods: No-till drilling, oveÂrseeding prior to other crop harveÂsts (soybeans, corn, cotton) are acceptableÂ.
- Seeding FrequeÂncy: Quickly reseeding wheÂat is prohibited. Allow one planting, with correct geÂrminating conditions.
- Changing Standing Crops: Mowing sections of a standing field (like corn) at various timeÂs is permissible. This exteÂnds dove attraction.
- Adding Grain to Fields: Don’t add extra grains, milleÂt (except Japanese millet on mudflats), corn, sunflowers, or milo to existing fieÂlds.
- Seeding on Unplowed Ground: ScatteÂring wheat seeds on unploweÂd pastures isn’t allowed. Winter wheÂat isn’t usually sown over pastures with old vegeÂtation.
- Wildlife Food Plots: It’s fine to plant food plots for doves, as long as you adheÂre to appropriate planting quantities and timeÂs for usual farming practices.
- Moving Harvested SeÂeds Around: It’s illegal to scatter harveÂsted seeds such as corn, milo, or sunfloweÂr seeds once theÂy’ve been takeÂn from the field.
Top Dove Locations in Mississippi
- Coastal Prairies: The coastal prairies of Mississippi, particularly in Jackson and Harrison Counties, offer a unique blend of grasslands and agricultural fields, creating ideal dove habitat.
- Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs): The MDWFP manages numerous WMAs throughout Mississippi, many of which provide excellent dove opportunities. These public lands offer a great option for hunters who don’t have access to private land. You can find a searchable map of WMAs on the MDWFP website [invalid URL removed]. Popular WMAs for doves include:
- Sunflower WMA (Leflore County): This large WMA offers diverse habitats, including agricultural fields and bottomland hardwood forests, making it a prime dove location.
- Bienville WMA (Scott County): This WMA boasts rolling hills, agricultural fields, and scattered woodlands, providing suitable doves.
- Homochitto WMA (Adams and Wilkinson Counties): This extensive WMA offers a mix of habitats, including bottomland hardwood forests, agricultural fields, and open grasslands, attracting doves throughout the season.
