BROOKHAVEN — Each passing day brings outdoorsmen one day closer to the opening of migratory bird hunting seasons in September. We are also closer to learning the population estimates for waterfowl. 

United States Fish and Wildlife Service produces an annual report on the population estimates for waterfowl in the central flyway in mid August. The report documents short and long term population trends. 

In 2023, reports showed the pintail population had made a rebound. The report also summarizes the habitat quality in the northern breeding grounds. 

Mississippi duck hunters send money to duck habitat projects in the prairie pothole region of Canada and North Dakota with each duck stamp they buy. Money raised by duck stamps is also spent in Mississippi for wintering habitat projects. 

Dove season will also open on Sept. 1. Hunters may have noticed the day falls on a Sunday. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Executive Director Lynn Posey mentioned the day in a commission meeting last week. With regular state seasons, if the opening day falls on a Sunday it can be moved to the Saturday before, for example bow season opened on Sept. 30, 2023. 

“Due to it being a migratory bird season we have no control over it,” Posey said. “Maybe it will fall on a better day next year.”

On the same day, Canada geese season will open. The Canada geese season is from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30 and is usually resident geese. Smaller marsh birds such as moorhens, gallinules and rails season will also open on Sept. 1. 

Mississippi hunters will also have a duck hunting opportunity early in the year. Sept. teal season will run from Sept. 14 to Sept. 29. 

Deer hunters should not feel left out. Velvet season will open Sept. 13 to Sept. 15 on private land only. Legal bucks can only be killed with archery equipment in the special velvet season. All harvested bucks must be tested for Chronic Wasting Disease.