Can you hunt squirrels & bobcats in MS? Here’s a list of small game currently in season
If hunting deer on the Mississippi Coast has become blasé, you have other options.
The state is already more than a week into squirrel season and rabbits will be high-tailing it starting Saturday, when the four-month season gets underway.
Here’s everything you can hunt this time of year.
Squirrel
The fall season (yes, there’s more than one season) started Sept. 30 and runs through Feb. 28.
Your daily bag limit is eight.
Rabbit
Rabbit season runs from Saturday, Oct. 14, to Feb. 28. The daily bag limit is also eight.
Opossum, Raccoon and Bobcat
This trio shares a season and daily bag limits. Their season varies based on why you are hunting them. If you want to hunt opossum, raccoons and bobcats to eat or for sport, the season has already begun.
The food and sport hunting season lasts from Sept. 30 to Feb. 28. Starting Nov. 1, you can also hunt the small game for their pelts.
The daily bag limit is five for individuals and eight total if you have assembled a hunting party.
Doves
Southeast Mississippi’s mourning and white-winged dove season started last Saturday, Oct. 7, and will continue through Nov. 5. Their final season of the year will run from Dec. 23 to Jan. 28. The daily bag limit is 15 singly or in aggregate; If you are hunting more than one type of migratory game bird or in more than one region of the state, the combined (i.e. aggregate) total is still 15.
If your hunting trip will last more than a day, you are allowed to have 45 birds, singly or aggregate, in your possession.
Geese
This year, Mississippi has an overpopulation of snow, blue and Ross’s geese (collectively known as light geese). To control the population, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, FIsheries and Parks has a light goose conservation order that “allows for expanded methods of take that are not allowed during regular waterfowl seasons,” according to the MDWFP. “The season is open anytime all other waterfowl hunting seasons are closed.”
The current hunting window started Oct. 1 and ends Nov. 9. Four additional windows will take place between Nov. 27 and March 31.
To participate in the order, hunters must have a valid Mississippi hunting license, waterfowl stamp and a free light goose conservation order permit number. Hunters can obtain the permit number online at mdwfp.com/waterfowl or call 662-432-2199.
Rules under the light goose conservation order season
- Hunting hours are extended until 30 minutes after sundown
- There is no daily bag limit
- Only light geese (snow, blue and Ross’s) are eligible to hunt
- Electronic calls are allowed
- The use of unplugged shotguns is permitted
