JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Surveys done earlier this year indicated a high number of breeding waterfowl and because of that, Mississippi hunters will once again enjoy a 60-day duck season and six-bird bag limit.

“It’s always good to see record numbers and that’s what we had this year,” Houston Havens, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Waterfowl Program leader, said. “Mallards were also at a record high.”

On top of record numbers of breeders, Mississippi hunters appear to have good food sources working in their favor.

“A lot of production has already occurred,” Havens said. “We had plenty of moisture earlier this year. A lot of the grasses and natural food sources have done well on our WMAs (Wildlife Management Areas).”

Later-developing food sources are currently enduring a dry spell, but Havens hopes relief is in sight.

“There’s some rain in the forecast with pretty good chances later this week,” Havens said. “So, maybe that will help.”

Duck, merganser, and coot seasons will be Nov. 27-29, Dec. 4-6 and Dec. 9- Jan. 31. The daily bag limit will be a total of 6 ducks, with no more than 4 mallards, only 2 of which may be females, 3 wood ducks, 3 scaup, 2 redheads, 2 pintail, 2 canvasback, 1 mottled duck, and 1 black duck.

The merganser daily bag limit is 5, only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers. Coots will have a 15-bird daily bag limit. The possession limit is 3 times the daily bag limit for ducks, mergansers, and coots.

Youth waterfowl hunting days will be Nov. 21 and Feb. 6.

Late-season Canada, snow, blue, Ross’s, white-fronted goose, and brant seasons will be Nov. 19-Jan. 31. Late-season Canada geese have a 3-bird daily bag limit, and brant will have a daily bag limit of 1 bird. The possession limit is 3 times the daily bag limit for Canada geese and brant. Snow, blue, and Ross’s geese will have a daily bag limit of 20 birds.

The white-fronted goose daily bag limit has increased to 3 birds, with a possession limit of 9. There is no possession limit for snow, blue, and Ross’s geese.

Additionally, there will be a conservation order for snow, blue, and Ross’s geese from Oct. 1-Nov, 18, Feb. 1-5 and Feb. 7-March 31.

The early teal season is Sept. 12-27 and the bag limit is 6 per day with no more than 18 in possession. The resident Canada goose season is Sept. 1-15. The daily bag limit is 5 with a possession limit of 15.

by BRIAN BROOM, The Clarion-Ledger