MS Alligator Records Broken

 Kenny Crechale of Morton and Ronnie Clifton of Petal.

Davis Island - An alligator that was 14 feet, one-quarter-inch long and weighing 826 pounds broke Mississippi records that other alligators had set earlier that day for length and weight.

Ricky Flynt of the state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks commented that it's the first officially documented in the state at more than 14 feet long.

He says it was shot Saturday by Kenny Crechale of Morton, hunting with Ronnie Clifton of Petal. Flynt says it was on private land, where permits let people take alligators during daylight with high-powered rifles.

Clayton Gibson, Parker Gibson, Reeve Gibson, and Aidan Gibson, all of Natchez, broke the state record for heaviest alligator with this 822-pound beast.

Earlier Saturday, Flynt had certified an 822-pound gator as the heaviest male harvested in the state.  Shortly after, Angelia Rivers of Ellisville, hunting with her husband, two daughters, a son-in-law and a daughter's boyfriend, for the longest gator measuring 13 feet, 7 3/4-inches.  

The public lands season lasts until noon on Labor day.  

The private land permits can be filled through 6 a.m. on September 21st.

Keep Calm

Yes!

Picture Of Queen Published Today

Queen:  Marian Love Phillips took this photo of the Queen of the Mississippi riverboat docked at the waterfront last Wednesday so the passengers could tour historical Vicksburg.  The riverboat will return again Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

Thanks again to The Vicksburg Post for publishing my picture!  It makes me proud to know that it is worthy enough to be in our hometown paper.  I posted about the Queen of the Mississippi this past Wednesday when she docked at our waterfront.  She will return tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.  Not sure if she will be southbound/northbound and will return on September 9 at 8:00 a.m. loaded with more passengers to tour our historical civil war town of Vicksburg, MS. 

Tribute To Deer Hunting

Deer hunting brings millions of people together in America every year. Hunting whitetails is what unites us as friends and family. Antler Addicts felt inspired to make this deer hunting tribute because they see a need that each one of us needs to be more unified as hunters.  

An excellent video for all hunters in our great wild outdoors!

Published on October 24, 2014 by Antler Addicts.

Working The Ole Man River

Today I drove by the Louisiana Circle to check out the river traffic and got lucky. The M/V City of Greenville was passing by.   

A close-up of the M/V City of Greenville.

Here comes another towboat under the bridges and it was...

M/V Katherine Berry.  

M/V Katherine Berry on her way northbound on the Mighty Mississippi at Vicksburg, MS.  Wishing both riverboat pilots safe travels!

Queen Of Mississippi Docked Today

The Queen of the Mississippi paddlewheeler docked at our waterfront in my hometown of Vicksburg, MS, today. It's always a pleasure to see and to welcome all her passengers to our historical civil war town and to the Vicksburg National Military Park. The weather was a perfect day for touring and site seeing.  She will be back to see us again on August 30, at 2:00 p.m. and also on September 9, at 8:00 a.m.

Blind Date

Whitetail Deer In A Creek

A very serene scene!

Trailcampro.com

Round-Up Time Pix Published

ROUND-UP TIME:  Marian Love Phillips submitted this photo of two towboats and a tugboat surrounding a loose barge Tuesday.  

I took this picture last Tuesday at the Louisiana Circle of a loose barge with two towboats (M/V Dennis C. Bottorff and M/V B. John Yeager of Ingram Barge Company) and a Synergy tugboat surrounding it.  I submitted it to our paper The Vicksburg Post because I thought it would be of interest and was published today in our Sunday paper. Once again many thanks for publishing my picture and I really appreciate it. This is something you don't see everyday. 

A Facebook friend made a comment on my picture that was posted on my page and said - a loose barge on Ole Man River is as dangerous as a loose cannon on a man o'war.  I agree!

While the towboats were being contained, M/V Amy Gattle was southbound.  I did not stay long enough to see what happened to the loose barge but I'm sure they got it secured and towed away.

M/V Amy Gattle southbound at the bridges at Vicksburg, MS.

Offended By Hunting?

Deer Death Charges

Two Montgomery, Louisiana men are facing multiple charges after allegedly shooting a nine-point buck last week, which they then left in a field.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents arrested 19-year-old Skyler Welch and 18-year-old Dillion County.

Agents said in a news release both men were booked with hunting deer during a closed season, hunting during illegal hours with artificial light and hunting without licenses or tags.

Voting On Deer Baiting In Mississippi

In yesterday's Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks meeting, members voted unanimously in favor of baiting deer.

The change came when a vote was taken on a proposal to remove language from the current supplemental feeding regulations that states hunters cannot hunt within the line of sight of a feeder.  By removing that language, hunters will be able to shoot deer at feeders.

"It means the feeder no longer has to be hidden." said Lann Wilf, MDWFP Deer Program leader.

"It can be in plain view as long as it's 100 yards (or more) away." Commission chairman Charles Rigdon said the proposal is a reflection of hunters' opinions.

"We ran an email survey maybe two months ago," Rigdon said. "The survey came back, if I remember correct, 62 percent in favor of that line of sight.

"The majority, by far, wanted to see that done."

As surprising as the move was to some, so was the vote itself. The vote was not included in the printed agenda made available to the public. It was also done at the end of the meeting with no verbal discussion. One commissioner said, "...supplemental feeding," and a vote was taken.

That combination led one attendee to comment off the record that he felt it was an attempt to pass the proposal without much notice.

Rigdon said that was not the case. He said the original agenda had been amended to include the proposal vote, but the updated version was not made available to everyone.

"That was not intended," Rigdon said. "There was a mistake on some agendas.

"It just did not get put on all agendas on accident."

Further disputing any attempt to veil the vote, Rigdon noted that like other proposed regulation changes, this one will be available for a 30-day public comment period before being finalized.

As to the lack of discussion on the topic during the meeting, Rigdon said that was done beforehand.

"That was a normal vote," Rigdon said.

Photo taken by myself while on the Arrowhead Stand (tri-pod) at the famous Christmas Place Plantation and Hunting Club on the edge of the MS Delta near Eden, MS, a few years ago.  

Getting Closer

Huntin' Season

Happy 88th Birthday Aunt Bunny!

Left to right, Aunt Bunny, my brother, Marion, Jr. (Buster) deceased, Aunt Ruby, deceased, Uncle Phil, Evelyn (Mother) deceased, Marion, Sr. (Father) deceased and Uncle Clyde, deceased. Picture was most likely taken around '59 or '60 in Vicksburg, MS.

Today is my only living aunt's birthday.  Aunt Bonita "Bunny" is 88 years old and lives in Kingston, NY, with her husband, my only living Uncle Phil, who is 92 years old.  I called my aunt this morning and sung Happy Birthday to her and was so good to hear her voice again.  I'm so fortunate at my age to still have an Aunt and Uncle still living.  Wishing my Aunt Bunny many more Happy Birthday's to come and love and miss seeing her so much. 

GhostBlinds For Hunters

I came across GhostBlinds recently and thought this is a great blind to use in the woods since it mimics your surrounding, folds for easy transport and is weather-resistant.  It's like having thousands of CAMO patterns in one blind.  It is a four-panel predator blind and a slant design that eliminate sun reflections by reflecting it down to the ground. Would love to have one of these to hunt behind in our great outdoors. You can also add height extensions as well which is sold separately.  It stakes down with tent stakes and four tie-downs. Check out the video above for more information.  

Hunting

Deer Meat

Trip To The Onward Store

This past Tuesday a group of seniors from the Vicksburg Senior Center with Vicksburg Mayor Flaggs, Alderman Mayfield, Lt. Milton Moore of the Police Department and TV23, made a trip to The Onward Store on Highway 61 North to eat lunch.  This was our first time to take the "new" City of Vicksburg bus on a fun trip and we all had a wonderful time.  

Yours truly!

Senior Center Director, Jennifer Harper 

and Assistant Director, Angela Kelley.