Wednesday, August 31, 2016

The Mighty Mississippi Tour @ Vicksburg, MS

The Grand American Queen was here as part of a special three-week Mighty Mississippi tour that started in Minneapolis, MN and ends in New Orleans. They will pick up a new group and start back up the MS River. They will be back to my hometown of Vicksburg, MS, for half a day on Friday, September 9, then not back again until November.  Below are some pictures I took today at the waterfront of the Queen!

American Queen's smokestacks popping up over the Vicksburg Riverfront Murals.


Splash fountain for the kids to play in!

One of three buses taking her passengers to historic sites in our civil war town.

The Grand American Queen herself!

Looking through the trees at the waterfront.  

Smokestacks peeking up over the tree tops!

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Tiffany, The Gator Lady

Hunting Story Behind Tiffany's Alligator!
Tiffany Wienke of my hometown of Vicksburg, MS, had been out hunting for nearly 20 hours before she ran into a behemoth at Bayou Pierre.

Saturday was only Wienke's third time alligator hunting, but she says in the past she has seen 10 and 11 foot alligators, but nothing this monstrous.

Wienke's alligator measured in at 13 feet, and 7/8 inches. The 686 pound beast that is just one-eighth of an inch longer than the previous record, but bigger is bigger, and Wienke is now the new record-holder!

"We're completely content with the fact that this will probably be the biggest alligator that we'll ever catch," Wienke said. "It's not gonna keep us from going back. But we're completely happy with this."

Mississippi's alligator hunt started August 26.

With the help of her husband and four others on the boat, Wienke caught her prize after a two hour battle.

"He ran us - literally crashed us into some trees, and bank-to-bank," Wienke said. "He was pulling this boat full of people like it was nothing."


The boat Wienke was on was just 20 feet long and she says the alligator's head was curled up in one corner, with its tail reaching all the way to the other side and resting up on the opposite deck.

For those still on the hunt, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks says not to lose hope - there are more alligators out there, and new records are broken every year.


"There's definitely other alligators out there that can exceed this," said Mississippi's Alligator Program Coordinator Ricky Flynt. "It won't surprise me to see an alligator in the 14 to 15 foot range at some point."

Congratulations to Tiffany!  Proud of you girl in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi Outdoors!

Monday, August 29, 2016

New Male Alligator MS Record!


Just certified by the MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks!  

A new record length male alligator on public waters taken by the hunting party of Tiffany Wienke from Vicksburg, MS. It beats the previous record by just 1/8."

The alligator measures 13' 7-7/8" and weighed 686 lbs. with a belly girth of 59" and tail girth of 43."  It was taken from Bayou Pierre in the SW Zone.

MDWFP Alligator Program

Public Waters Season: 12:00 noon August 26 - 12:00 noon September 5, 2016. 

Private Lands Season: 12:00 noon August 26 - 6:00 a.m. September 19, 2016. 

My congrats to all who participated in capturing this male alligator in our great wild and wonderful MS outdoors!

Sunday, August 28, 2016

A 600-Pounder!

Austin Casey, Tony Klingler, Nick Thompson, Brandon Snyder and Ed Williams show off the 12-foot, 600-pound alligator they caught Friday night in Eagle Lake. Alligator season in Mississippi opened Friday and continues until Sept. 5. 

First big catch of alligator season is 600-pounder 

in Eagle Lake north of Vicksburg, Mississippi


Not long after they hit the water on the first day of alligator season Friday, Austin Casey and his team spotted a 10 ½-footer lurking in Eagle Lake.
They kept an eye on it, ready to send a fishing line in its direction, but soon found a bigger and better prize.
Casey and four of his hunting buddies — Tony Klingler, Nick Thompson, Brandon Snyder and Ed Williams — hauled in a 12-foot, 600-pound gator early Friday evening near Buck Chute.
It took the group about 90 minutes to catch, kill and drag the beast back to shore.
“We saw a 10 1/2-foot gator and were sitting on him. Then Nick Thompson spotted this one coming out of his den,” Casey said. “Nick hooked him in the tail. We got another hook in him, and then got the last one in. We killed him with a knife. He bit the side of the boat about three times, but he didn’t puncture the boat. He attempted to.”
It was the first big catch of the 2016 alligator season in Warren County, but far from a record. Kennie Crechale of Morton caught a 14-foot-1/2 inch, 826-pound gator last season.
Heck, this wasn’t even the biggest one Casey and his team — who call themselves “The Channel Chasers” — have ever caught. They pulled in a gator measuring 12 feet, 9 inches and 680 pounds in 2015.
The Channel Chasers have been together for three years.
“We have had multiple 12-footers. We’ve killed a bunch of big gators,” Casey said. “As soon as gator season is over, we’re counting the days until the next one.”
The Channel Chasers were heading back on the water Saturday night with one less tag to fill. Mississippi hunting regulations limit each tag holder to two alligators per season — one over 7 feet long and another under 7 feet. Both gators must be at least 4 feet long.
Thompson, who hails from Cleveland, won the group’s tag for the West Central Zone in a statewide lottery earlier this summer. They also have a tag for the Pearl River/Ross Barnett Reservoir Zone, and one for private lands that’s good in most parts of the state. Alligator season opened Friday at noon and continues until noon on Sept. 5.
Klingler is from Bolton, Williams from Madison, and Snyder from Jackson.
Casey said they all enjoy other forms of hunting, but alligator hunting provides a special kind of thrill.
“Deer hunting is fun, but it’s low key. You see a big gator and go after it, and the fight is on,” he said. “There’s nothing that fights on a fishing pole like an alligator does.”  
~The Vicksburg Post

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Two Alligator Seasons Ago


Jared Brister and his best friend of McComb, MS, snagged this 13 foot long alligator two seasons ago with a rod and reel.  He said they could not find any scales to get it's weight.  I would say that's a nice catch in our great wild Mississippi Outdoors on a rod and reel no less!

Friday, August 26, 2016

Deformed Rack

Matt Singley of Foxworth, MS, said have you ever seen a deformed rack this bad?  It looks like it would have had a hard time eating in our great wild outdoors!  This deer really had a rough life!

Thursday, August 25, 2016

A Weird Buck

Tom Sullivan of Clinton, MS, said that he let this guy walk last year. He is curious to see what he looks like this hunting season if he's still around in our great Mississippi outdoors!

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Who's Got Cubs

Brad Beyer said this cam picture was taken at Port Gibson, MS! He has pictures with a male laying in a trough feeder for two days picking the corn out of the Record Rack Feed he puts out for the deer. "They can be a nuisance by tearing up feeders but has at least 50 bear pictures and see tracks and scat all the time but never seen one eye to eye, Beyer said.  I don't mind at all them being in the woods with me and we have at least 6 and I'm sure if she has cubs there are more.  They avoid people and by the time they start having problems we will have tags to hunt them...it's just that simple!"

A Louisiana hunter said that bears are worse than hogs and run deer out, messes up the feeders, eat the feed and of course they can't be hunted.   

I believe we have bears in every county in our great state of Mississippi!

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Dad & Son Making Memories


Eric Bingham of Manila, UT, is spending some time with his little buddy before he starts school next week. 

He said, "Sometimes I wish I could just stop time.  The other night Alex and I were laying in bed and he says Dad, "I just love you" and made me want to start crying like a baby.  I remember feeling the same way about my Dad when I was his age.  We are so blessed to have what we have and should stop often to ponder just how special life is...from fishing to skinny dipping and have made more memories...and NO NO pictures of the fat guy skinny dipping!" 

My congrats to this father and son on fishing together in our great wild and wonderful outdoors.  Raising kids right!





A nice fish Alex!

Monday, August 22, 2016

Jimbo's Nasty Hog

Jimbo got this pretty nasty hog recently in Jasper County, Mississippi in our great wild outdoors!  We need to kill everyone that we see because they destroy everything and make it impossible for deer and turkey to survive.  Looks like a good hog to me. Congratulations to Jimbo and this little guy with him who is all grins.

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Mississippi Delta Sunflowers



Published on Aug 15, 2016
A photo montage of sunflowers in the Delta of Mississippi and Louisiana by landscape photographer Marty Kittrell of Vicksburg, MS. Find him on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/martykittrell...

This brings back memories of seeing a field of sunflowers next to where I deer and hog hunt in the Delta.  They were at the Hillside National Wildlife Refuge in Homes County, MS, where they planted them for the upcoming dove season.  I took a lot of pictures and it was a breathtaking experience to see for the very first time in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!

Saturday, August 20, 2016

True Country Girl


Allen Steele of Darlington, SC, took this picture of his daughter Emma Sayge recently. He said that most kids want to watch cartoons in the morning but Emma wants to watch the chickens! What a cute picture of his daughter in our great wild outdoors!  A true country girl!



Friday, August 19, 2016

Gone Fishing!




What a happy little group of children in our great wild and wonderful outdoors gone fishing! 

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Young Fawn Saved By Trooper!

Man, woman, child, or wildlife friend, Troopers are here to help during these challenging times.


This young fawn found itself in need while trapped in a flooded apartment complex near Burbank Drive in Baton Rouge. Trooper David Hernandez came to the rescue and was able to bring it to the safety of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. 

This is so adorable! Great job to Trooper David Hernandez! Looks like he's enjoying his time with the little fawn! I love his smile in our great but flooded outdoors!

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Poultry Ride

Rachel Williams Davidson and her husband Matt, who's from Brazil, were helping out Rachel's uncle who's house went under during the recent floods in Louisiana.  They rescued 54 chickens, 1 peacock and 1 turkey.  He said that their house is high and dry.  They had to go back a second time to get 2 roosters and found 1 more hen. The total is 56 hens, 2 roosters, 1 turkey and 1 white peacock.

It is amazing that they all stayed in the boat. Matt said that they are all in their backyard getting some sun.  Now worries! 

A great rescue in our wild outdoors and a unique picture! 


Tuesday, August 16, 2016

A BIG Turtle

Cindy Barton Elmore of Leflore County, Greenwood, MS, caught this big boy in her brother-in-laws pond recently but her husband made her put him back.  She said she lost four good minnows on that thing and wanted to cut it's head off and cook it...but they wanted it to get bigger.  She said, WHAT!!!  They are calling it an alligator snapping turtle.  What a big turtle in our great wild and wonderful outdoors!

Monday, August 15, 2016

Checking Trail Cam

Jesse Matzke's family checking out the deer trail cam.
   
They saw a great picture of mama doe and fawn together in our great wild outdoors!  

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Making Memories

Dustin Stetter of Wyoming is making memories with his young son. Looks like they have caught a very nice fish together in our great outdoors.  A photo like this will last forever!

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Monster Snake Killed In Dog Yard

Mike Foto of Stone County, Ramsey Springs, MS, is holding up a monster snake he killed yesterday in the dog yard just a few yards away from his dogs, he said.  Yikes!  That was one close call for sure!  

The monster snake laid out on his tailgate of his truck.

Check out those rattlers in our great wild outdoors!

Friday, August 12, 2016

Hometown Videos Of Vicksburg, MS!

My Facebook friend, Marty Kittrell loves to take pictures of our hometown and I will be sharing three videos with you today that he made recently in our historic civil war town of Vicksburg, MS.  

He said that his primary goal of his photography is to bring glory to God for all that he has created through nature.  A secondary goal is to bring people to a deeper appreciation of the world that surrounds them right where they live.  In his case, that is Vicksburg and the surrounding area.  He believes in appreciating where he has been planted.



This is a photo montage of downtown Vicksburg.  It is such a beautiful town.  All you have to do is look around!  Please enjoy this short video and share it with those who may have moved away, with those whom you want to show where you live, and to those who love Vicksburg!  -- Marty Kittrell
Published August 12, 2016  How Great Thou Art



A collection of photos taken in the Vicksburg National Military Park, a crown jewel of Vicksburg, MS, and one of the prettiest places to visit and explore.  Please enjoy and share! -- Marty Kittrell
Published August 3, 2016


A collection of photo montage of the Mississippi River bridges at Vicksburg, MS.  Photography by Marty Kittrell as part of his "How Great Thou Art" photography ministry.
Published July 29, 2016

Thursday, August 11, 2016

First Hunting Season With Little Ones

My Facebook friend, Amy Elizabeth Sylvester, of Lafayette, Louisiana and family are getting ready for hunting season.  


               She said this will be the first hunting season for her little ones.  Talk about excited!



Wishing her family GOODHUNTING in our great wild and wonderful outdoors. This is great parenting! 

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Dad & Daughter Went Fishing!

Scott Mackner of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota took his young daughter fishing recently and caught a very nice fish.  

You can tell by the look on her face that she had a blast with her Dad and he is parenting just right in our great wild and wonderful outdoors!

Tuesday, August 09, 2016

Sunset Pix On Front Page


I was so surprised today when I received my paper and saw my picture of the sunset in color on the front page bottom right hand corner of our hometown paper.  I took it on July 19 and was lucky to get this shot of the sun setting at a gas station at the Mississippi River.  I have been very lucky to have my pictures published before but usually on the 3rd page in black and white.  Many thanks to The Vicksburg Post for putting it on the front page...a first!

Monday, August 08, 2016

Pond To Table

Nicholas Broom took this picture of fish he caught on his tailgate and the fish he fried up.  Said he used liver for bait.  It doesn't get any better than this in our great Mississippi outdoors! Nice catch Nicholas and good eating too! Congratulations!

Sunday, August 07, 2016

Some Mississippi Snakes

Robbie Waltman
Killed in Vancleave, MS
16 rattlers and a button

Simon Ryals
Killed in Oakvale, MS
12 Rattlers w/gun

Ricky Brister
Killed near Ruth, MS

Mike Warren
Killed at house in backyard.

David Smith
Killed in driveway.
Union Church, MS

Dana Jeffcoat
Killed in front yard with 6 buttons.
White Sands near Poplarville, MS

Jon Tyler Hardin
A cottonmouth right at 5
feet in Union County, MS

They are out there folks!  Watch your step and stay safe in our great wild and wonderful outdoors.