Mississippi’s Early Teal and Rail Seasons Open September 14

The fall’s first duck hunting opportunity for Mississippi will begin when early teal season opens on September 14 and will last until September 29.  Teal season is growing in popularity as hunters are learning how fun it can be to break out their decoys and calls to watch blue-winged teal sail through the air.  Hunters need to make sure their hunting license is current for the 2013-14 hunting season, complete with Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification for Mississippi.  Hunters also need to purchase state and federal waterfowl stamps. The bag limit for the September teal season is six per day (all teal species) with no more than 18 in possession.

Rail seasons also open September 14 and will close November 22.  Birds included in these seasons are king, clapper, sora, and Virginia rails, as well as moorhens, and gallinules.  The daily bag limit for clapper and king rails is 15 singly or in aggregate, and the possession limit is 45 singly or in aggregate.  The daily bag limit for moorhens and gallinules is 15 singly or in aggregate, and the possession limit is 45 singly or in aggregate.  The daily bag limit for Virginia and sora rails is 25 singly or in aggregate, and the possession limit is 75 singly or in aggregate.

Shooting hours are from 30 minutes prior to sunrise until sunset.  Hunters should remember that non-toxic shot must be used for waterfowl hunting.  In areas where hunters may have a chance to harvest teal in addition to other migratory game birds, only non-toxic shot should be used for the day’s hunt.

For more information regarding waterfowl in Mississippi, visit our website at www.mdwfp.com/waterfowl call us at (601) 432-2199. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdwfp or on Twitter a www.twitter.com/MDWFPonline.

Mississippi Wildlife Fisheries and Parks

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP), formerly known as the Mississippi Game & Fish Commission, is an agency of the government of the U.S. state ofMississippi responsible for programs protecting Mississippi fish and wildlife resources and their habitats, as well as administering all state parks; it has its headquarters in Jackson. The agency issues hunting and fishing licenses, advises on habitat protection, and sponsors public education programs. It is also responsible for enforcement of Mississippi's fish and game laws. It is separate from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, which is the governing body for the state's natural salt-water resources and law enforcement thereof (i.e. Gulf of Mexico, ocean-going vessels, etc.).