By Chris Eger
The Magnolia state is known for its great fishing (both in fresh and saltwater), overabundance of dove and deer, and superb feral hog hunts, but let us not forget the game that quacks and honks--Mississippi's waterfowl.
The Mississippi river delta forms a super-highway for migratory waterfowl from Canada and the Great Lakes area, funneling through the Midwest to the Gulf Coast. Hundreds of wildlife biologists and conservation workers posted along the way compile weekly Duck Migration Forecasts that detail the who, what, when, where and why of the waterfowl happenings each winter.
According to umbers supplied by Houston Havens, a Conservation Resources Biologist with the Waterfowl Program of the MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, population estimates of the Mississippi Delta alone "typically peak during mid to late January. Duck estimates generally peak around 800,000 to 1,000,000 birds for the MS Delta. Goose estimates generally peak during the same time, numbering from 400,000 to 500,000 in most years." When contrasted with the fact that Mississippi averages around 35,000 duck stamps sold per year (both residents and non-residents), the ratio of hunters to waterfowl is low.
Ducks, Geese and Coots are popular with local hunters from Horn Lake to Pascagoula and everywhere in between. With seasons normally spread out from the end of September until the beginning of February, plenty of weekend trips can be arranged to stock your freezer for the summer.
As is the nature of waterfowl hunting in any state, familiarize yourself with the myriad of both Federal and State waterfowl hunting regulations long before you head to the woods. Do not be one of these unfortunate souls who set up a blind over harvested crops, grain silos, or feed plots for livestock. Get in touch with your steel shot and other alternative loads, going so far as to completely unpack and check all of your hunting clothes and bags to make sure the errant lead-filled hull isn't still hiding there. Last thing you want to do is have the game warden be the one to find it. Both Federal and State waterfowl stamps are needed.
With bag limits on waterfowl currently are very liberal when compared to some other states, Mississippi is a great place to scratch your itch for geese. For instance, Canada Geese had a 5 daily limit/10 possession in the early Sept 2011 season. Some species, such as Snow, Blue, and Ross Geese have no possession limits during their season.
Finicky Light Geese who get close enough to reach also have their own special season just for them. In 2012, there is a no limit Light Goose Conservation Order from February 6-March 31. According to MDWFP regulations, to participate in the Light Goose Conservation Order, hunters need a valid Mississippi hunting license, state waterfowl stamp, and a free Light Goose Conservation Order permit. Hunters can obtain the permit by calling 601-432-2199.
When going after ducks, mergansers and coots, the regulations can get strict fast. For instance, in the 2011-2012 seasons a properly licensed hunter could take six ducks, "including no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 1 mottled duck, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 1 black duck, 1 canvasback, and 2 pintails." With this in mind, it is essential to spend time going over your duck identification skills. The USGC has a few very helpful websites to both identify ducks at a distance and to tell the species, age, and sex simply by wing plumage. This is something useful you can do in the off-season to prepare for the next winter's hunt.
Another exercise to get yourself ready for the blind is to make sure you are patterning your shotgun with the actual shot that you are using. When using steel-shot be sure your shotgun is modern and its barrel is designed for use with it before you start scouring the inner walls away. If using an older shotgun or one with a barrel not designed for steel shot then explore your options with the other non-toxic rounds such as tungsten-mixed and bismuth shells. None of the aforementioned shells is cheap, but the need to check your pattern before you waste that shot is vital. Clay target shooting, both with lead shot to practice economically followed by non-toxic rounds to verify, is also essential to build your skills.
With some preparation and some practice, waterfowl hunting in Mississippi can be a blast.
For more information on waterfowl resources in Mississippi visit http://www.ms-sportsman.com/
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