Mississippi is part of the Mississippi Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2025–2026 waterfowl season runs from September 1 through March 31, 2026, with 17 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 28 – Nov 30 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 6 – Jan 31 Second Split |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Scaup Aggregate 2 scaup (greater + lesser combined) | 2 | 6 |
| Mottled Duck Dusky duck aggregate with black duck | 1 | 3 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Aggregate 2 scaup (greater + lesser combined) | 2 | 6 |
| Mallard either · Max 2 hens per day | 4 | 12 |
| Pintail (Northern) Increased from 1 for 2025-2026 per USFWS | 3 | 9 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
1Non-toxic shot · Lead possession prohibited · Plugged shotgun · No electronic calls · Select WMAs use draw system with noon closing · No overnight decoys/blinds on WMAs
2Thanksgiving weekend opener
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 20 – Sep 28 Early Teal | 6 | 18 |
1Non-toxic shot · Shooting hours start at sunrise (not 30 min before) · Some WMAs hold separate teal draw hunts
2September teal season. 9-day season within federal framework.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Sep 1 – Sep 30 Resident Canada Goose | 5 | 15 |
| Nov 14 – Nov 30 Regular Season Split 1 | |||
| Dec 6 – Jan 31 Regular Season Split 2 |
1Non-toxic shot · No electronic calls · Same WMA rules as ducks
2Early resident Canada goose season
3Canada/cackling 5 daily; white-fronted 3 daily/poss 9 within dark goose bag; brant 1 daily/poss 3
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 14 – Nov 30 Regular Season Split 1 | 20 | 60 |
| Dec 6 – Jan 31 Regular Season Split 2 |
1Conservation Order: free permit required · Electronic calls & unplugged shotguns allowed · No bag/possession limit · Extended hours (30 min after sunset) · Federal stamp not required
2Snow, blue, and Rosss geese; no possession limit
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Oct 1 – Nov 13 Fall Segment | – | – |
| Dec 1 – Dec 5 Early December | |||
| Feb 1 – Feb 6 Early February | |||
| Feb 9 – Mar 31 Spring Segment |
1Light Goose Conservation Order. No bag/possession limit. Electronic calls, unplugged shotguns, extended hours to 30 min after sunset.
2LGCO fills gap between regular light goose splits.
3LGCO fills gap after regular season ends Jan 31.
4LGCO spring extension. 106 total LGCO days across all segments.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 28 – Nov 30 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 6 – Jan 31 Second Split |
1Same as ducks · WMA restrictions apply · Non-toxic shot
2Concurrent with duck season
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 28 – Nov 30 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Dec 6 – Jan 31 Second Split |
1Same as ducks · Max 2 hooded mergansers/day · Non-toxic shot · Lead possession prohibited
2Max 2 hooded mergansers per day. Concurrent with duck season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Feb 7 – Feb 8 Youth, Veteran & Military Weekend | 6 | 18 |
1Youth 15 & under hunt free without license/stamps · Must have licensed adult · Standard non-toxic shot rules
2Additional waterfowl hunting weekend for youth, veterans, and active military. Bag limits same as regular season.
Season dates and bag limits are verified against official state wildlife agency publications and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Data shown is for the 2025-2026 season. This data was verified on March 9, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.