The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds hunters to follow regulations, including bag limits, shooting hours, carrying all necessary permits, and to always hunt properly. Safe during migratory bird season.
Pigeon season in Missouri runs through November 29. Other seasons for other migratory birds include:
- Sora and Virginia’s rail season is now: November 9
- The teal season is from September 10 to 25
- Sniper Season Is Now: December 16
- The American woodcock season is from October 15 to November 28
“Remember to be safe when hunting migratory birds,” said Russell Duckworth, MDC’s Southeast Regional Safety Supervisor. “Both pigeon and teal fly in groups and are often very low to the ground. When swinging at birds, be aware of where other hunters may be and do not shoot at low-flying birds. And always have your permit with you when you go hunting.”
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The bag limit for pigeons this year is 15 total. Dove hunting hours are from half an hour before sunrise to sunset. A small game permit and a migratory bird hunting permit are required to hunt doves unless a person is under the age of 16, over the age of 65, or a resident landowner hunting on property they own.
The teal season shooting schedule is from sunrise to sunset. The bag limit for teal is six total for all species. To hunt teal, a hunter is required to have a small game permit, a migratory bird hunting permit, and a federal duck stamp.
If a hunter is under 16, they don’t need a permit to hunt teal, Duckworth said.
“But they must hunt in the immediate presence of a properly licensed adult who is 18 years of age or older and has a valid hunter education, or was born before January 1, 1967, or the hunter under the age of 16 must have a valid hunter education card. of their own,” he said.
For questions about hunting migratory birds, Duckworth said he recommends contacting your local MDC office.
Get details from the MDC’s 2022-2023 Waterfowl and Migratory Bird Hunting Summary, available where permits are sold and online at mdc.mo.gov/about-us/about-regulations/migratory-bird-waterfowl-hunting -digest.
More information about hunting doves and other game bird species is available online at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species.
MDC reminds hunters to check field conditions. For a list and details on MDC’s dove management areas, visit mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/dove-management-areas.
Purchase Missouri hunting permits from numerous vendors throughout the state online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/permits, or through MDC’s free MO Hunting app, available for download through Google Play or the App Store.