Mississippi waterfowl laws

Official sources used on this page (all checked Oct 22, 2026)

• [MS-1] MDWFP Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits: https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/hunting-seasons-and-bag-limits checked Oct 22, 2026
• [MS-2] MDWFP 2026-27 Digest of Migratory Game Bird Regulations (PDF): https://www.mdwfp.com/sites/default/files/2026-05/Migratory%20Gamebird%20Digest%2026-27_3.pdf checked Oct 22, 2026
• [MS-3] MDWFP Migratory Bird Regulations: https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/general-hunting-rules-regulations/migratory-birds-regulations checked Oct 22, 2026
• [MS-4] MDWFP Hunting and Fishing License Prices: https://www.mdwfp.com/licenses-permits/hunting-and-fishing-license-prices checked Oct 22, 2026
• [MS-5] MDWFP Hunting License Requirements: https://www.mdwfp.com/licenses-permits/hunting-license-requirements checked Oct 22, 2026
• [MS-6] MDWFP Hunter Education: https://www.mdwfp.com/enforcement-education/hunter-education checked Oct 22, 2026
• [MS-7] MDWFP Basic Regulations for All WMAs, 40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Ch. 1, Rule 1.1 (PDF, "Updated June 2024"): https://www.mdwfp.com/sites/default/files/2025-02/2024-25%20WMA%20Rules%20FINAL.pdf checked Oct 22, 2026
• [MS-8] MDWFP WMA program page (WMA User Permit rule): https://www.mdwfp.com/node/220 checked Oct 22, 2026
• [MS-9] MDWFP 2026-27 WMA Waterfowl Draw Hunt Procedures (PDF): https://www.mdwfp.com/sites/default/files/2026-09/26-27%20Waterfowl%20Draw%20Hunt%20Procedures.pdf checked Oct 22, 2026
• [MS-10] MDWFP Reciprocal Agreements: https://www.mdwfp.com/enforcement-education/rules-regulations/public-waters-reciprocal-program checked Oct 22, 2026
• [MS-11] MDWFP Boating Rules and Regulations: https://www.mdwfp.com/enforcement-education/general-boating-rules-regulations checked Oct 22, 2026
• [MS-12] MDWFP Waterfowl Hunting Information (public land): https://www.mdwfp.com/node/652 checked Oct 22, 2026
• [MS-13] MDWFP WMA Waterfowl Hunt Days: https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/wildlife-species-program/waterfowl-program/waterfowl-hunting-opportunities checked Oct 22, 2026
• [FED-1] 50 CFR Part 20 (eCFR, current through Oct 20, 2026): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-20 checked Oct 22, 2026
• [FED-2] USFWS Federal Duck Stamp: https://www.fws.gov/program/federal-duck-stamp checked Oct 22, 2026

1. What you need to carry (licenses, stamps, HIP, permits)

Residents, age 16 to 64

• A hunting license. The minimum is the Small Game Hunting/Freshwater Fishing license ($10); the All Game ($25) or Sportsman ($45) licenses also work. [MS-3] [MS-4] checked Oct 22, 2026
• A Mississippi State Waterfowl Stamp: $10 resident. It can be electronic; a paper stamp only counts if you sign it in ink across the face. It is good for one year from the date you buy it. [MS-2] [MS-4] checked Oct 22, 2026
• A Federal Duck Stamp (paper, signed in ink, or an E-Stamp). It runs July 1 to June 30, no matter when you buy it. [MS-2] [MS-3] [FED-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• HIP certification. It's free at any license vendor. Your card will show "MB," or your paper license will show "HIP." [MS-2] [MS-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
• A WMA User Permit if you hunt a state WMA: $15 resident. [MS-3] [MS-4] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Vendor and processing fees go on top of these prices ($1.00 agent fee plus $2.49 process fee for resident items). [MS-4] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Bundles: the resident Waterfowl Hunter Package ($35) includes Small Game Hunt/Freshwater, the WMA User Permit, the State Waterfowl Stamp and HIP. It does not include the Federal Duck Stamp. [MS-4] checked Oct 22, 2026

Residents 65 and older

• No license is required (the optional Senior Exempt License costs $2.30 and includes the WMA User Permit). You still need both duck stamps and HIP, and you must carry proof of age and residency. [MS-3] [MS-4] [MS-5] checked Oct 22, 2026

Youth under 16

• No license and no state or federal duck stamp is required. Youth must hunt in the presence of a properly licensed adult. [MS-3] [MS-4] checked Oct 22, 2026
• On WMAs, anyone 15 or younger must be under the direct supervision of a licensed or exempt hunter who is at least 21. [MS-7] checked Oct 22, 2026

Nonresidents

• Every nonresident 16 or older needs a license. [MS-5] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Nonresident Small Game Hunting license: $95 a year, or $38 for 7 days. [MS-4] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Nonresident State Waterfowl Stamp: $19. [MS-4] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Nonresident WMA User Permit: $30. [MS-4] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Nonresident Waterfowl Hunter Package: $114 (Small Game, State Waterfowl Stamp and HIP; no Federal Duck Stamp). [MS-4] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Nonresident fees: $3.00 agent fee (or $1.00 on some items) plus $4.42 process fee. [MS-4] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Federal Duck Stamp and HIP are required. [MS-2] [FED-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

Who counts as a resident: your domicile, and in practice the state that issued your driver's license. Mississippi college students and active-duty military stationed in Mississippi are exceptions. [MS-5] checked Oct 22, 2026

Special permits

• North Mississippi NWR Permit: $15 for Coldwater River, Dahomey, Tallahatchie and Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee refuges. Hunters 15 and younger and 65 and older are exempt. [MS-4] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Light Goose Conservation Order: a free permit, plus a Mississippi hunting license and state waterfowl stamp. No Federal Duck Stamp is needed for the LGCO. [MS-1] [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

Federal Duck Stamp price: Not confirmed (check the official source). MDWFP doesn't list it, and the USFWS page we checked doesn't show a price. [FED-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

2. Hunter education

• Anyone born on or after Jan 1, 1972 must pass a hunter education course before buying a Mississippi hunting license (Miss. Code 49-7-20). [MS-5] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Ages 12 to 15 need the certificate to hunt alone. Without it, they can hunt under the supervision of a licensed or exempt hunter at least 21. [MS-6] checked Oct 22, 2026
• A one-time Apprentice license lets a resident hunt without hunter ed if a licensed or exempt resident at least 21 goes along (e.g. Apprentice Small Game, $13). [MS-4] checked Oct 22, 2026
• ⚠ Contradiction: the license-requirements page says "born on or after January 1, 1972" [MS-5], but the hunter-education and license-price pages say "born after January 1, 1972" [MS-4] [MS-6]. Anyone born exactly on Jan 1, 1972 should take the course. checked Oct 22, 2026

3. 2026-27 season dates (statewide; Mississippi has no duck zones)

• Youth days are for youth 15 and under, veterans and active military only. Youth must be with an adult 21 or older who is licensed to hunt waterfowl in Mississippi. [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• ⚠ Unconfirmed: some news reports list Dec 7–8, 2026 as Light Goose Conservation Order days. Both official MDWFP sources leave those dates out [MS-1] [MS-2]. Treat Dec 7–8 as Not confirmed (check the official source). checked Oct 22, 2026

4. Daily bag and possession limits

• Ducks: 6 a day total. Within that 6: no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks and 1 mottled duck. [MS-1] [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Scaup: 1 a day Nov 27–29, Dec 4–6 and Dec 9–17; then 2 a day Dec 18–Jan 31. [MS-1] [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Mergansers: 5 a day, no more than 2 hooded. Coots: 15 a day. [MS-1] [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Early teal: 6 a day, 18 in possession. [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Geese: Canada 5 a day (15 in possession); white-fronted 3 (9); brant 1 (3); snow, blue and Ross's 20, with no possession limit. [MS-1] [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Possession: 3 times the daily limit. [MS-1] [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• ⚠ The Digest adds "except on opening day, unless otherwise noted" but does not say what the opening-day limit is. Not confirmed (check the official source) [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Youth, veteran and military days use the regular-season limits. [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

5. Shooting hours

• From a half hour before sunrise to sunset for all migratory game birds. [MS-1] [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Light Goose Conservation Order: shooting runs until a half hour after sunset. [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Many WMAs stop earlier; on many draw-hunt units shooting ends at noon (see section 10). [MS-9] checked Oct 22, 2026

6. Guns and shot

• Shotguns only, 10 gauge or smaller. No rifles or pistols. [MS-2] [FED-1 §20.21(a)] checked Oct 22, 2026
• The gun must hold no more than 3 shells, using a one-piece plug that can't come out without taking the gun apart. The only exception is the Light Goose Conservation Order. [MS-2] [FED-1 §20.21(b)] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Nontoxic shot is required for ducks, geese and coots everywhere in Mississippi. You may not even have lead shot on you while hunting them. [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

7. Banned methods

• Bait: you can't hunt over bait, or over an area you know or reasonably should know is baited. An area stays "baited" for 10 days after the bait is completely gone. [MS-2] [FED-1 §20.21(i)] checked Oct 22, 2026
• No bait or feed is allowed on WMAs at any time. [MS-7] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Live decoys: not allowed. [MS-2] [FED-1 §20.21(f)] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Electronic or recorded calls: not allowed, except during the Light Goose Conservation Order. [MS-1] [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Motorized or spinning-wing decoys: we found no state rule against them in the MDWFP sources checked, and federal rules don't list them. Not confirmed (check the official source) (and check each WMA's posted rules). [MS-2] [FED-1] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Also banned: sinkboxes; hunting from a car or aircraft (stationary-vehicle exception for paraplegics and leg amputees); and herding birds with a boat or vehicle. [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

8. Boats and motors

• You can't shoot from a motorboat or sailboat until the motor is off or the sail is furled and the boat has stopped moving. [MS-2] [FED-1 §20.21(e)] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Federal rules let you use a boat under power to pick up dead or crippled birds, but you can't shoot cripples from it while it is under power. [FED-1 §20.21(e)] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Everyone aboard needs a wearable life jacket. Children 12 and under must wear one while the boat is underway. A throwable device is required on boats 16 feet and longer. [MS-11] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Operators born on or after June 30, 1980 need a boater education card. [MS-11] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Your boat registration must be on board, with the numbers displayed. Boating under the influence is illegal. [MS-11] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Mud motor or horsepower limits on specific WMAs: Not confirmed (check the official source) [MS-8] checked Oct 22, 2026

9. Public waters and private land

• Not every body of water is public; the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) decides which waterways are. [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Floodwater that has spilled over a public waterway's banks is not public water. MDWFP's rule of thumb is to stay between the tree lines on each bank. [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

10. WMA and refuge rules

• You need a WMA User Permit, and you must check in and out (MDWFP HuntFish app or the daily visitor card) and report what you kill. [MS-7] [MS-8] checked Oct 22, 2026
• No permanent blinds. Portable blinds left overnight need your name and phone number on them. [MS-7] checked Oct 22, 2026
• No alcohol. No shooting within 200 yards of a building or across a WMA boundary. No guides paid on WMAs. Pick up your spent shells. No drones on MDWFP-owned WMAs. [MS-7] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Shoulder guns must be cased in vehicles. No vehicles off-road or on closed roads. [MS-7] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Draw hunts: the 2026-27 application window was Oct 1–15 (now closed). There were 5 draw periods, all one-day hunts. You must be 16 or older at the time of the hunt and hold a WMA permit or a qualifying exempt or lifetime license. [MS-9] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Drawn parties sign in by 5:00 a.m. on draw-hunt WMAs. On many units, shooting ends at noon and hunters must be out by 1:00 p.m. Some units differ (one listed WMA ends shooting at 4:00 p.m.). [MS-9] checked Oct 22, 2026
• WMAs open to free-lance waterfowl hunting, by day of the week: see the list at [MS-13]. checked Oct 22, 2026
• National wildlife refuges and Corps lakes set their own rules; check the managing agency. [MS-2] [MS-12] checked Oct 22, 2026

11. Wanton waste, tagging and transport

• Make a reasonable effort to find every bird you kill or cripple, and keep it in your custody in the field. Kill wounded birds right away and count them in your bag. [MS-2] [FED-1 §20.25] checked Oct 22, 2026
• You can't give birds to someone else in the field. If you leave birds anywhere other than your home or with another person (a processor, a friend's freezer), tag them. The tag needs your name, address, signature, the number of each species and the date killed. [MS-2] [FED-1 §20.36] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Keep the head or one fully feathered wing on each bird until you get home or to a processor. [MS-2] [FED-1 §20.43] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Shipped packages must be marked outside with the sender, the recipient and the number of birds by species. [MS-2] [FED-1 §20.44] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Breaking a state migratory bird rule is also a federal violation. [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

12. Mississippi River and state-line reciprocity

• Mississippi–Arkansas: each state recognizes the other's resident hunting licenses for migratory waterfowl on the flowing Mississippi River, on waters reachable by boat from the main channel, and on state-line lakes. This applies only while seasons are open in both states. The St. Francis, White and Arkansas rivers, and oxbows entered through their mouths, are excluded. The state line is the one on USGS quadrangle maps. [MS-10] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • 2026-27 duck days open in both MS and AR, worked out from the two official season pages: Nov 27–29, Dec 10–23 and Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027. [MS-1] plus AGFC season page https://www.agfc.com/hunting/waterfowl/waterfowl-dates-rules-regulations/ (checked Oct 22, 2026) checked Oct 22, 2026
  • ⚠ Contradiction inside the agreement as MDWFP publishes it: the general clause says licensees follow the laws of the state where they hunt, but the waterfowl clause (C) says hunters follow the rules and limits of the state that issued the license. AGFC's own copy (Code H1.01, https://agfc-omnibus.s3.amazonaws.com/eregs/regulation_pdfs/large/agfc_regulation_H1.01_large.pdf, checked Oct 22, 2026) has the same two clauses. Clause C reads: "according to the laws, bag and possession limits, and all other rules and regulations promulgated by the state issuing the license." Until MDWFP or AGFC clarifies, follow the stricter rule of the two states. [MS-10] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • The agreement names only resident licenses. Whether it covers nonresident licenses is Not confirmed (check the official source) [MS-10] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Mississippi–Louisiana: resident licenses are honored on named Mississippi River and Pearl River state-line waters. Each hunter must carry a resident basic hunting license, a state waterfowl stamp and the Federal Duck Stamp. When only one state's season is open, you may hunt only on the side where the season is open. [MS-10] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Mississippi–Tennessee: the only agreement covers sport fishing on Pickwick Lake. There's no waterfowl hunting reciprocity. [MS-10] checked Oct 22, 2026
• No agreement lets you hunt private land without the owner's permission. [MS-10] checked Oct 22, 2026

13. Penalties (only where MDWFP states them)

• Buying a license under a false name or with a false statement is a felony: a $2,000 fine, up to 1 year in prison, or both. [MS-5] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Other waterfowl penalties: Not confirmed (check the official source) (Mississippi Code, Title 49). checked Oct 22, 2026

FAQ (for FAQPage markup; answers must match the page text above)

• Do I need a duck stamp in Mississippi if I'm over 65? Yes. Seniors don't need a license, but they still need the state and federal stamps and HIP. [MS-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
• When does Mississippi duck season open in 2026? Nov 27, 2026. The season runs in three parts and ends Jan 31, 2027. [MS-1] checked Oct 22, 2026
• How many mallards can I shoot in Mississippi? 4 a day, no more than 2 of them hens, within the 6-duck limit. [MS-1] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Can I use lead shot for ducks in Mississippi? No. You can't even have it with you while hunting waterfowl or coots. [MS-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
• Can my Mississippi license be used on the Arkansas side of the river? A resident license works on the river and its boat-accessible waters, but only on days both states' seasons are open. See the reciprocity section. [MS-10] checked Oct 22, 2026

This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. The official regulations are the final word.

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