Mississippi can get a really nice woodcock migration. I expect there are more opportunities in the Magnolia State for bird hunters to find them especially on public ground vs quail. I grew up hunting them as an add on bird to quail but today it’s more like quail is the add on bird if you time it right.
Our woodcock season runs from mid December to the end of January. Woodcock are migratory and controlled by the feds just like duck and dove. Back in my college days, I was hunting a WMA not to far from MSU. I had found a covey of quail and was working the singles. It was in oak flat and had several small creeks and wet areas around it. I was hunting one of my dad’s Brittanys “Red.” He was a mighty fine little bird dog and was classy on his birds. He locked up on a single. I walked in to flush. The bird came up in front of me and I shot it. As it was falling to the ground, I quickly realized that it wasn’t a quail. I had just shot a woodcock. I had no idea if the season was even open. This is a really, really bad feeling. It was very possible that I had shot a federally protected bird outside of its legal hunting season.
This was also long before the internet existed. Fortunately, it was back in the day when Mississippi hunting seasons were printed on a small card that you would pick up when you bought your hunting license. Back then, Quail season in MS was always Thanksgivings day until the end of February but Woodcock season would change from year to year.
I dug into my wallet and pulled out my season card. I got lucky. The season was open and I was legal. I called Red in and he hunted dead. He found my bird and retrieved it to hand. Red and I continued our quail hunting and picked up a couple of singles before heading back to the truck.
It was a strong lesson. I make it a habit to make sure I know my legal seasons and bag limits in the areas I hunt now. I hunt in multiple states and the limits and dates are different on the same birds. It’s the responsibility of a hunter to be legal.
It was a strong lesson. I make it a habit to make sure I know my legal seasons and bag limits in the areas I hunt now. I hunt in multiple states and the limits and dates are different on the same birds. It’s the responsibility of a hunter to be legal.
To learn more about them check out https://www.woodcockmigration.org/