Missouri Department of Conservation Wins Top COPS Award

Dove hunters have more liberal bag limits this year.

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JEFFERSON CITY–The Missouri Conservation Commission has set the dates and other details of 2009 early migratory bird seasons. This year’s regulations include a 3-bird increase in the daily limit for doves.

Early migratory birds include dove, sora, Virginia rail, snipe, teal and woodcock. The seasons for those species are as follows.

· Sora and Virginia rails, Sept. 1-Nov. 9, daily and possession limit 25, combined total for all species.

· Wilson's (common) snipe, Sept. 1-Dec. 16, daily limit eight, possession limit 16.

· American Woodcock, Oct. 15-Nov. 28, daily limit three, possession limit six.

· Mourning doves, Eurasian collared doves and white-winged doves, Sept. 1-Nov. 9, daily limit 15, possession limit 30, combined total for all species.

· Blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal:

If the blue-winged teal breeding population index is 4.7 million or greater, a 16-day season, Sept. 12 through 27, is recommended, with a daily limit of four teal in the aggregate, eight in possession.

If the blue-winged teal breeding population index is at least 3.3 million but less than 4.7 million, a nine-day season, Sept. 12 through 20, is recommended, with a daily limit of four teal in the aggregate, eight in possession.

If the blue-winged teal breeding population index is below 3.3 million, the season will be closed.

This year’s daily and possession limits for doves represent an increase of three and six birds, respectively, from last year. The change is part of a shift in management strategy throughout the Mississippi and Central flyways. Under the new system, bag limits are based on dove population models based upon all available information sources, including annual roadside surveys and banding data. The models will be used to set sustainable hunting regulations.

These seasons, which the Conservation Commission approved at its May 28 meeting, are based on proposed federal frameworks and are contingent on final federal approval.

Unless exempt, hunters ages 16 and older must have a permit to hunt small game, a Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit and a federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp to participate in the early migratory bird hunting seasons.

-Jim Low-

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