Weekend Hunts @ The Christmas Place, Cont...

All the hunter's got up early Saturday morning to hunt but a front came through about the time to leave out.  We had to wait it out and finally got an afternoon hunt in.  Rex took me to the Bird Point Stand which was next to the Arrowhead Stand where Tim went hunting.  I have never hunted this area before and was looking forward to it.  In the picture above Rex was getting ready to leave and told me I could shoot a buck but had to have 4 points on one side.  

This was my view from the stand and 100 yards to the left a doe came out at 5:00.  I was standing up at the time and had my rifle on the rung of the ladder and was able to scope and shoot.  Her hind legs kicked up and waited about 10 mins and found only hair and no blood. I tagged the area and walked out to the road and waited for Tim to come out.  He said when I shot he thought his gun had gone off!  (The stands are at a different angle so there was no danger just close)  I told him I had tagged where the deer came/went and said for me to wait for Rex.  We went back to the field and Tim found a blood trail but the deer went down a big ravine.  Rex and Tim found my deer and pulled it out while I stood with the flashlight to show the way back up.  I hated that it went down in a deep dark hole and with all the rain it was difficult for them to get it out but finally succeeded.  Got back to the camp and received congratulations from my hunting buddies and took pictures.  Don, another hunter had also killed a doe.    

To the left back side of the stand.

Looking up under the Bird Point Stand.

120lb. doe was taken with my .270 Ruger!

Rex and I with my doe!  Thanks, Rex!

To be continued...

Weekend Hunts @ The Famous Christmas Place

I was invited by my hunting friend/mentor, Rex Howell, a.k.a. Editor of The Bodock Times (Deer Camp Blog) to come up and hunt at his family camp for the weekend.  I met Rex back in May of 2007 and have been fortunate to hunt there every year since.  His hunting ground is so magical and I have seen so many deer, turkeys, wild hogs and a bobcat.  Every deer stand has a name and I was first put on the Game Warden Stand Friday afternoon which is right next to the station at the Hillside National Wildlife Refuge in Holmes County.  Their hunting property backs up to it.  I am now hunting under the stands since I'm having problems climbing and is much safer for me at my age.  I enjoy every hunt even though I may or may not see anything but I did hear a deer blow and some pigs squealing.  I will be posting pictures I took from my three hunts at the famous Christmas Place Plantation Hunting Club on the edge of the Mississippi Delta over this past weekend.  

Just got set up for the hunt while Rex is headed to the North Cornfield Stand.  

Waiting for a deer or hog!

Standing up as the sun is slowly going down and seeing the shadow of the deer stand.

Looking behind the Game Warden Stand which was his Dad, Herchel's stand.

A beautiful sunset in the woods!

My hunting buddies, Rex Howell and Mark Stewart.  

To be continued...

Hunting Halted In Flooded River Areas

With flooding along the Mississippi River, it has brought an early end to the 2018-19 hunting season in parts of (my hometown) the Vicksburg (Warren County) area. 

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) announced that all hunting except for waterfowl closed at the end of legal shooting hours last Thursday in several zones along the river.

The decision was based on parameters set out by MDWFP policy to suspend hunting seasons when the MS River reaches flood stage at Greenville and Vicksburg.

Areas closed to hunting include the western edge of Warren County, all but the northeast corner of Issaquena Issaquena County, and the southern two-thirds of Sharkey County.

Areas in Warren County east of U.S. 61, as well as all of Claiborne, Jefferson, and Hinds counties remain open to hunting.  The gun deer season is scheduled to run through January 16, and final archery and primitive weapon season from January 16-31. 

The ruling applies specifically to the following areas: 

Lands in Issaquena, Sharkey and Warren counties which lie south of Highway 14, west of Highway 61 and north of the Big Black River.

Lands in Sharkey, Humphreys, Yazoo, Issaquena and Warren counties which lie south of Highway 14, west of Highway 149, south of Highway 16/149, west of Highway 3, and east of Highway61.

Lands in Washington and Issaquena Counties south of Highway 82, west of Highway 1and North of Highway 14.

In addition, the Lake George, Twin Oaks and Sunflower Wildlife Management Areas have been closed to all hunting except waterfowl.  Mahannah and Shipland WMAs have been closed to all activity since December.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service closed Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge consistent with state regulations.  Brown Tract on the northeast side of Delta National Forest is closed to all hunting, including waterfowl, until flood waters recede. 

Sunday, as I was coming home from hunting at the famous Christmas Place Plantation and Hunting Club near Eden, MS, I could see the flooding from the MS River.  It should crest mid-week near 44.0 feet.  

The Flood Warning continues for
The Mississippi River At Vicksburg
* until Saturday morning.
* At 11:00 AM Monday the stage was 43.7 feet.
* Minor flooding is occurring and Minor flooding is forecast.
* Flood stage is 43.0 feet.
* Forecast...The river will continue rising to near 44.0 feet
Wednesday January 16.
* Flood history...This crest compares to a previous crest of 43.3 feet
on Mar 18 2016.
* Impact...At 44.0 feet...Ford and Kings Subdivision at Pittman Road
and Mary's Alley begins to flood.

Gone Hunting

I have been invited by my hunting friend/mentor, Rex Howell of Deer Camp Blog to hunt at the family camp for the weekend.  I hope to get a deer/hog and looking forward to seeing and visiting my hunting buddies in our great Mississippi outdoors.  GOODHUNTING to me!

Using Weather Patterns To Hunt Deer

Grandson's First Deer!

Lindon Smith of Tupelo, MS, grandson shot and killed his very first deer over the weekend.  It was a 6-point buck!  My very first deer was also a 6 pointer at the age of 45!  What a nice deer for this very young hunter in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!  My congratulations little man!  I'm so proud of you!  

Annabelle's First Deer!

Clarence Gollott's daughter, 8-year-old Annabelle, of Biloxi, Mississippi, got her very first deer over the weekend.  That is a nice size doe at that!  I'm so proud of her and my congratulations! Thanks to Dad for taking her hunting and way to go Annabelle with meat on the family table from our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!  

A New Ground Blind

I like this ground blind since it is getting harder for me to climb up in deer stand at almost 78 years old (this month) and of course, a lot safer.  Check it out and see what you think about this innovative new blind. 

Paul's Monster Buck

My hunting friend, Paul Howell of Gulfport, MS, shot this monster buck on New Year's Day, starting 2019 off right.  What an awesome buck!  You can read all about the deer story at his brother, Rex, my hunting/mentor's blog, Deer Camp Blog on the edge of the MS Delta at the Christmas Place Plantation and Hunting Club.  I have been hunting at the Christmas Place since 2007 and have enjoyed the family camp and the comradery. I'm so happy for Paul and sending congratulations his way in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!  Way to go Paul! 

Mollie's First Buck!

Mollie Calhoun of Seminary, Mississippi got her very first buck on New Year's Day.  She just started hunting at the age of 39, she said.  She killed her first doe in 2015 and hunted HARD for 4 years to be able to kill her first buck.  Her prayers were answered and did it!  Excited is a complete understatement, she said.  He is WAY BIGGER than she would have thought her first buck would be.  He is only her second deer to ever kill and thanked the Lord for bringing this deer her way. 

I can relate in not starting to hunt until I was 43 years old and my first deer was a 6-point buck as if it was a 25 pointer.  I'm so happy for Mollie in our great Mississippi outdoors.   My Congratulations!  Persistence pays off, in the long run, is so true!

Mollie with her husband, Josh! I'm sure he is proud of her!