Saturday, September 5, 2026, is the opening day of dove hunting season in Mississippi.
Dove Day, as we call it, is a big deal for our family, and it always has been. In fact, it might just be one of the most long-awaited days of the year for our crew, second only to Christmas morning.
Of course, here in Mississippi, the first day that sportsmen are allowed to dove hunt, both mourning doves and white-winged ones, usually falls right alongside Labor Day weekend. So, adults are off work, and kids are out of school, making it the perfect time for the entire family to come together and enjoy Mississippi’s beautiful outdoors. Plus, it is often (not always) a little bit cooler than previous weekends, adding to the family fun and enjoyment.
Every family, including the Lucius bunch, has similar Dove Day traditions, but most Mississippi families tend to add their own flair to this undeclared state holiday. Over the years, those traditions have been passed from one Lucius generation to the next.
But I can remember vividly when we moved our little family of four back to Mississippi, and our boys got to join the family fun of a real Mississippi Dove Day. To be quite honest, I was not a real fan of this hunting tradition back then, especially when it meant our youngest son, who was only four at the time, would be joining the other Lucius men for his very first hunting expedition.
It took all of my Mississippi momma fortitude and an absolute, rock-solid faith in my husband’s fathering skills to watch our son’s sweet little face as he loaded up his hunting gear and excitedly waved goodbye to me. He could hardly wait to join his brother, cousins, dad, uncle, and grandfather for his first man trip. If I close my eyes, even now, 35 years later, I can still picture the absolute joy on his dimpled, baby face.
I prayed a lot that weekend – for safety and protection. But what I got as an answer to my prayers surpassed anything I could have voiced or imagined.
When my little crew of three Mississippi hunters came home that weekend, they brought back a rather small sack of dove, but their stories of joy and excitement were larger than life. It was the best brotherly bonding experience ever. Those stories continue to fuel a love for hunting and family that both boys passed down to their own families.
But the sweetest memory from that weekend was when my mom offered to cook a delicious dove dinner for the mighty Mississippi hunters. It was amazing to see the face of a four-year-old child who felt like he had helped provide food for his family. It was the first hint of the face that way too quickly became the face of a full-grown man.
So, here’s my advice for young Mississippi mothers this weekend: Don’t worry! Instead, go hunting with your kiddos, if you can. But if not, send them off with prayers and thankfulness for who they are right now – and who they will be way sooner than you realize.
Go to the official website of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (https://www.mdwfp.com) for more information on dates, laws, and licenses for dove hunting in our state.
