Sunday, December 31, 2017

Hunting With My Granddaughter

Yesterday afternoon I got invited by my Granddaughter Victoria to hunt with her at her deer camp and really had a wonderful time.  She told me that one of the hunters got a real nice 8-point buck early that morning.  Above is a picture to the right of my blind.

What I'm looking at straight ahead.

I'm waiting for a deer to cross my path.

Picture of the Camo blind that I hunted from before I got in.  

A selfie of us before we went into the woods to hunt.

Did not see a deer but my Granddaughter Victoria jumped 4 deer walking to her stand and saw turkeys. I took her hunting with me when she was little and now she is taking me hunting. Making wonderful memories for both of us in our great MS outdoors.  I will be going again this afternoon and hope to see or get one!  

Friday, December 29, 2017

Great Grandson Is Three Months Old Now

My youngest Great Grandson is now three months old.  His name is William David "Will" and growing so fast.  He lives in Raymond, MS so he's only about 30 minutes away.  I love him so much and can't wait to see him again and again.  My two oldest Great Grandsons, Ian (lives in Vicksburg) and Tidus David (lives in Montana) are 10 years old.  I'm so Blessed.


Happy 2018 Great Grandson!  xoxo

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Rex's 10-Point With Drop-tine!

Almost four hours ago my hunting friend, Rex Howell of Deer Camp Blog posted a picture of a 10-point buck with drop-tine he killed on an afternoon hunt. I'm so proud that he finally got his buck at the famous Christmas Place Plantation and Hunting Club on the edge of the MS Delta.  Now the pressure is off for him and I bet his three brothers are so jealous. 


Congratulations to Rex in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors.  Way to go, my friend!

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Great Grandson Tidus David's Christmas In MT

My Great Grandson, Tidus David (10) lives in Montana and I haven't seen him in a long time.  He lives so far away but I keep up with him on Facebook and by sending him cards on special occasions.  Tidus was fortunate to fly to Japan this past summer to enjoy the sites of a foreign country.  A good history lesson for sure.  It looks like he is pulling out all the goodies that Santa brought him in a big red stocking with his dog looking on.





I really miss him and hopefully one day I can get to Montana to see him or he can come to Mississippi to see me.  He normally wears glasses but I guess he did not need them to open up all his presents.  From the pictures, it looks like he had a very Merry Christmas!  I love and miss you, Tidus David!  Great Gran Gran

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Susan's Biggest Buck!

Susan James of Washington, MS, harvested this fine buck in Adams County after Thanksgiving. Susan said it was the biggest buck she has ever killed and he scored 160 6/8.  Washington is an unincorporated community and close to Natchez along the lower Mississippi River.  Susan is a Mother of two daughters and I'm very proud of her accomplishment and of course bringing home the meat.  My congratulations to her in our great wild Mississippi outdoors.





Sunday, December 24, 2017

Enjoying My Grandchildren @ Christmas Time

I'm so Blessed to have 6 granddaughters, 3 grandsons, and 3 great-grandsons.  Most of us got together yesterday for a family Christmas Party and had a very good time at the clubhouse.  Back row is Sonya, and Candace and Victoria are sisters. Front row is Kate and her big sister, Emma.  Kate and Emma are visiting from Virginia.  Stephen was not in this picture.  Missing is Carl who lives in WI, Ethan who is in the U. S. Airforce stationed in Africa and Great Grandson Tidus David in MT. 

Grandson Stephen 

Merry Christmas to Carl in WI!

Merry Christmas to Michael "Ethan" stationed in Africa.

Merry Christmas to my Great Grandson Tidus David in Montana!

A sofa full of grandchildren and a great-grandson William David "Will" born this September.  On the couch, Emma, Candace, Lucy holding Kate, Sonya, Victoria holding William David "Will".  Lucy is Will's Mother.  

Great Grandson William David "Will" Kelly

Ian my Great Grandson!

Kate and I playing with Snapchat!

Last night Emma and I had a lot of fun with Snapchat!

Friday, December 22, 2017

Visiting Granddaughters!

So happy to see my two youngest Granddaughters today driving all the way from Virginia with Mom and Dad.  Emma is 10 years old and Kate 4 years old.  Of course, I don't know how old SANTA is but what a great picture of him as well.  It will be a very special Christmas for our family visiting from Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana.  I am truly blessed with six Granddaughters, three Grandsons, and three Great Grandsons.  Wishing all my blogging friends a very Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 21, 2017

My Godchild

Kirk's very nice November 9-Point Kansas buck!  

I'm so proud of my Godchild, John Kirk Ring who is an avid hunter and also an Assistant Professor at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA.  Kirk and his pretty wife, Melissa have three adorable children.  His Mother (Jeanette) is my best friend with Dad (Charlie) and brothers, Charlie (who was born on my birthday) and works at the Nissan plant in Canton, MS, and Michael who works at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.  

I was leaving my .22 Ruger rifle to Kirk in my will but decided to go ahead and give it to him this Christmas.  He thanked me for passing it down to him and said he will put it to good use.  He expects both of his boys will enjoy it as well and just maybe his daughter will too!  

John Kirk Ring

Enjoy your rife Kirk and I love you very much!
Merry Christmas!  Your Godmother

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

87-Year-old Great Grandmother Laying Them Down


Conner Bryant of Kilm, MS is so proud of his 87-year-old Great Grandmother who is still killing deer.  She got this doe last week and still laying them down with her 7 Mag.  My congratulations to her and hope I will be laying them down when I get to 87 years of age in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!  You go, Great Grandma!  

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Almost 100 Years Old & Hunting

Mandi Fowler of Brandon, MS, commented that last week her sweet cousin (shown below) is still hunting at almost 100 years old and an inspiration to her.  She is an inspiration to me as well and I hope I will be hunting at her age!  My congrats to this sweet lady in our great Mississippi outdoors.  I'm so proud of her!  Awesomeness!

Keep shooting sweet lady!

Monday, December 18, 2017

A Relaxing Thursday @ Rooftop!

Last Thursday my former classmate and I enjoyed a relaxing good meal while at 10 South Rooftop Bar and Grill.  Here are a few pictures I took of some towboats heading to the Mississippi River in the busy Yazoo Diversion Canal after leaving the Port Of Vicksburg.  


M/V Bob Dees

Close up of M/V Bob Dees 
Here comes M/V Dennis Ross.

Followed by M/V Jo Bradford.

A very scenic view looking towards the MS River and the bridges.

Checking the traffic in downtown Vicksburg on Washington Street.

I took this picture of our main drag of Washington Street in downtown Vicksburg with all the pretty Christmas lights after leaving.

The picture was taken of 10 South by Michael Bilbo.

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Oddities That Afflict Whitetails



I was invited earlier in the week to deer hunt this afternoon but the hunter that invited me to his camp came down sick.  Hopefully, in a couple of weeks, I can get back into the woods and hunt for a deer in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!

Friday, December 15, 2017

Another Queenly Visit

The largest paddle-wheeler on the MS River showed up again today for her passengers to tour our historic civil war town of Vicksburg, MS.  The American Queen moored all day while four buses were used to transport her passengers to all our historical sights.  Looks like she is parked in a NO PARKING ZONE but that's alright since she's the Queen! 

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

A Monster Beast For Chris!


Chris Rollins of Southhaven, MS took down a beast last weekend.  He said he was blessed with his best buck to date.  Someone asked him where he killed it and he said, I don't kiss and tell!  Most likely the hills of Tennessee.  Main beans measured 22-1/2 and 22-5/8.  He dropped him off at the taxidermist and he scored 160.  Congratulations to Chris in our great wild Mississippi outdoors!  PS:  Check out that nice rifle!

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Lanie's First Buck

Matt Jones from Starkville, MS is a very proud Dad announcing that his baby girl got her first buck over the weekend.  So proud of Lanie myself and congratulating her on her accomplishment in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!  Way to go, Lanie!

Monday, December 11, 2017

Jade's Biggest Buck!


Jeff and Erin Sanford of Sumrall, MS killed her biggest buck this morning in the Delta.  A very nice  8-point buck, with 17-1/2 inch, spread at 200 yards.  That is a very long shot!  Congratulations to Jade in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors. 

Saturday, December 09, 2017

MS Ranks 6th Nationally In Deer/Vehicle Collisions


The potential of striking a deer while driving on Mississippi roads remains a higher danger than in most states but has declined in recent years.
Mississippi ranked sixth nationally in deer-vehicle collisions in 2014, but fell out of the top 10 in 2017, according to data from State Farm Insurance. There are about 3,000 such wrecks each year in Mississippi.
The odds of hitting a deer with a vehicle double during the months of October through December when deer are actively on the move and mating. The deer population in Mississippi has exploded over the last decade with the Mississippi State University Extension Service estimating there are approximately 1.75 million whitetail deer in the Magnolia State, the highest population density in the nation.
Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace reminds motorists that collisions with deer and wildlife increase in more rural areas, as well as during dusk and dawn.
“Unfortunately, that is something we have to deal with because of the wildlife population in Warren County,” Pace said. “Drivers have to be cautious and know deer and other wildlife will cross the road at any time, but are especially numerous at dusk and early in evening.”
According to Pace, from March 1 through Dec. 1 of this year, the sheriff’s department has responded to 55 incidences in the county of deer-vehicle collisions where someone has either struck a deer or wrecked their vehicle avoiding a deer.
“We also have to remember that we as humans are building homes and businesses in their habitat,” Pace added. “They’ve always been here, but as we expand into their habitat we are encroaching on them.”
Collisions with deer remain a high risk, especially in rural areas such as Mississippi, and can cause a great deal of damage and injury. But avoiding a deer collision can also be harmful.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, a driver swerved off a road near Edwards to avoid a deer and, according to the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, five occupants of the vehicle were injured in the single-vehicle wreck. None of the injuries was life-threatening, but all five were transported to the hospital.
Such accidents also cause an increase in insurance rates. According to State Farm, the national claim cost average from July 2016 through June 2017 was $4,179 — up from $3,995 the previous year.
The Insurance Industry Institute estimates about 1.5 million deer-vehicle collisions each year, which result in approximately 150 deaths, thousands of injuries and about a billion dollars in damage.
Drivers are advised to remain alert for deer, especially during dusk and dawn. According to the Mississippi Department of Transportation, about 20 percent of crashes with deer occur in the early morning, while half happen between 5 p.m. and midnight.
And if you see a deer, be prepared for more deer to cross the roadway.
By Rob Sigler - The Vicksburg Post

Friday, December 08, 2017

A Sunday Morning Hunt


Hunting the Sneaky Stand was my last hunt for the day.  I had a deer to come to the right and crossed the road behind me in a hurry around 6:30. About 7:00 had one to blow and stomp trying to make me move or leave. 7:45 a doe came out and just stood and looked at me for a minute and about the time I was able to get my .270 up to check she turned and stepped back in the woods from the field and only had a back-end shot and gone. 15 mins. later at the very end corner, a deer came out and was gone in 4 seconds and may have been the same doe. 

Sitting in a ground blind under the Sneaky Stand.

The main road was directly behind me.

Walking the field to the road where a deer had crossed the road earlier and could not see it but heard it.

I turned around and took this picture before I left to meet Rex on the road heading back to camp.

The road back to the camp.

The road to the opened field, lake and hunting grounds.

Our last campfire after the hunt.

This picture was taken last Sunday right before camp broke at noon celebrating a great weekend of hunting together starting Friday afternoon.  We all had a blast and was great to get back into the woods and being one with nature again.  We all saw deer but no deer were taken but all's right with the world.  My hunting buddies left to right are Terry Cutrer, Paul Howell, Trent Howell, Spencer Howell, myself, Rex Howell and Tim Crosby.