MDC sets migratory game bird and waterfowl hunting seasons

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – At its April 5 meeting, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved recommendations from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for the upcoming 2018 migratory-game-bird-hunting seasons and 2018-2019 waterfowl-hunting seasons.

2018 MIGRATORY GAME BIRD HUNTING

Mourning Doves, Eurasian Collared Doves, and White-Winged Doves
Season: Sept. 1 through Nov. 29
Limits: 15 daily and 45 in possession combined total for all three species
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Sora and Virginia Rails
Season: Sept. 1 through Nov. 9
Limits: 25 daily and 75 in possession combined for both species
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Wilson's (Common) Snipe
Season: Sept. 1 through Dec. 16
Limits: 8 daily and 24 in possession
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

American Woodcock
Season: Oct. 15 through Nov. 28
Limits: 3 daily and 9 in possession
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

2018-2019 WATERFOWL HUNTING

Teal
Season: Sept. 8-23
Limits: 6 daily and 18 in possession
Hours: Sunrise to sunset

Ducks
Season:

• North Zone: Nov. 3 through Jan. 1, 2019
• Middle Zone: Nov. 3 through 9 and Nov. 15 through Jan. 6, 2019
• South Zone: Nov. 22 through 25 and Dec. 3 through Jan. 27, 2019

Bag Limit: 6 ducks daily with species restrictions of:

• 4 mallards (no more than 2 females)
• 3 scaup
• 3 wood ducks
• 2 redheads
• 2 hooded mergansers
• 2 pintails (new limit)
• 2 canvasbacks
• 2 black ducks
• 1 mottled duck

Possession Limit: Three times the daily bag or 18 total, varies by species
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Coots
Season: Same as duck season dates in the respective zones
Limits: 15 daily and 45 in possession
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Snow Geese (White and Blue Phases) and Ross's Geese
Season: Nov. 11 through Feb. 6, 2019
Limits: 20 blue, snow, or Ross's geese daily with no possession limit
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

White-Fronted Geese
Season: Nov. 11 through Feb. 6, 2019
Limits: 2 daily and 6 in possession
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Canada Geese and Brant
Season: Oct. 6-14 and Nov. 11 – Feb. 6, 2019
Limits: 3 Canada geese and brant in aggregate daily, 9 in possession
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Light Goose Conservation Order
Season: Feb. 7 through April 30, 2019
Limits: No daily or possession limits
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

Requirements: Persons must possess a Conservation Order permit to participate in the Conservation Order. An exception to the above permit requirement includes any person 15 years of age or younger provided either she or he is in the immediate presence of a properly permitted adult hunter 18 years of age or older with hunter-education certification or who is exempt.

Methods: For the taking of blue, snow and Ross's geese, hunters may use shotguns capable of holding more than three shells and recorded or electronically amplified bird calls or sounds or imitations of bird calls or sounds.

YOUTH HUNTING DAYS

North Zone: Oct. 20 and 2
Middle Zone: Oct. 20 and 21
South Zone: Nov. 17 and 18
Limits: Same as during regular waterfowl season
Hours: Same as during regular waterfowl season

Requirements: Any person 15 years of age or younger may participate in youth waterfowl hunting days without permit provided they are in the immediate presence of an adult 18 years of age or older. If the youth hunter is not certified in hunter education, the adult must have the required permits and have in his or her possession proof of hunter-education unless exempt. The adult may not hunt ducks but may participate in other seasons that are open on youth hunting days.

FALCONRY SEASONS

Falconry Season for Doves
Season: Sept. 1 through Dec. 16
Limits: 3 daily and 9 in possession, singly, or in the aggregate (any ducks, coots, or mergansers taken by falconers must be included in these limits)
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Falconry Season for Ducks, Coots, and Mergansers
Season: Open during duck seasons (September teal season, youth hunting days, and duck seasons) and Feb. 10 through March 10, 2019

Limits: 3 daily and 9 in possession, singly, or in the aggregate during the regular duck-hunting seasons (including teal and youth seasons) and extended falconry seasons (any doves taken by falconers must be included in these limits)

Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

HUNTING ZONES

Waterfowl hunting zones in Missouri are divided into North, Middle, and South zones. For a map and more information, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/Zq8. A map of hunting zones will also be included in MDC’s related hunting booklet on migratory game birds, available beginning in July where hunting permits are sold.

NONTOXIC SHOT REQUIREMENTS

Shells possessed or used while hunting waterfowl and coots statewide, and for other species as designated by posting on public areas, must be loaded with material approved as nontoxic by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on migratory-bird hunting and waterfowl hunting, visit MDC online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species and select the specific species, or get copies of MDC’s related hunting booklet on migratory game birds, available beginning in July where hunting permits are sold.

MDC recently set upcoming 2018 migratory-game-bird-hunting seasons and 2018-2019 waterfowl-hunting seasons. MDC offers numerous places to hunt waterfowl, such as Nodaway Valley Conservation Area north of St. Joseph (image), and many areas to hunt other migratory game birds. Get more information at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/where-hunt-shoot.