Merry Christmas ~ 2021

Moving Into The New Year 2022

I will be packing/moving in a few weeks and will be offline until I can get settled in.  I want to wish all my blogging/hunting friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Until then, I will be signing off.  See you in 2022!  Marian 

Christmas In The Air In My Hometown of Vicksburg, MS

Christmas was in the air this past Sunday with the luminaries that were placed by Boy Scout Troop 7 on Glenwood Circle, Drummond, Arthur, Cherry, Chambers, and Baun Streets.  Here are some random pictures that I took on a perfect holiday festive night in my hometown of Vicksburg, MS.

BSA 7

Washington Street in downtown Vicksburg, MS.

City Hall

Washington Street, Vicksburg, MS.

Back In The Day

Back in the day, deer hunters would camp in hollowed-out logs. They would spend months in the woods hunting deer. They would sell the whitetail hides for a dollar. That's how the dollar came to be known as a "buck".

Revealing The Secret World Of Female Hunters (Cont)

 Revealing the secret world of female hunters...

*  I was interested to know what the women would say to non-hunting women and girls about hunting.  

Most of the answers were similar:  Try it a few times and decide for yourself whether or not it is for you;  there is no other experience like this - - being in nature, being still and quiet; see God's beauty; knowing the dishes and laundry will still be there when you get home, so go have fun.

The best answer: there's always a story to tell.  True.  When you come out of the woods, there is ALWAYS a story to tell.

Hunting continues to be a male-dominated sport.  My husband and I belong to a number of hunting camps.  At a few of those, I am the only woman.  At others, there is at least one other woman, and sometimes two or three, who are ready to get up early, pull on a whole bunch of warm clothes, grab a rifle, and heard to the woods - - even if our husbands have to come to find our deer and haul it in for us. 

Robyn Lea is a resident of Vicksburg.  She can be reached at robyn.lea.mdjg@statefarm.com

Robin Lea poses with an impala she hunted on a trip to South Africa.  The impala was harvested on a 10,000-acre plot on private property on a hunt with the landowners.  My congratulations to Robin Lea on a very nice impala.

Revealing The Secret World Of Female Hunters (Cont)

Revealing the secret world of female hunters...

*  Just like male hunters, female hunters use a variety of rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, compound bows, and crossbows.  We all have our favorites for very different reasons.

Although I have experienced some issues with the length of pull, most of the women have not.  It is an easy fix, but definitely something to consider if you are purchasing your first rifle.  Women's arms tend to be shorter than men's.  Therefore, the length of pull is shorter as well.

Rifles you purchase over-the-counter are, generally, made for men.  There are stocks you can purchase with a custom length of pull, or you can take that over-the-counter stock to a gunsmith and have it adjusted.

*  Traditionally, hunting clothes and gear were designed for men.  There is a current trend to offer hunting clothes and gear specifically for women.  Interestingly, most of the women responding to the questionnaire prefer men's items, finding them more comfortable and roomier.

Revealing The Secret World Of Female Hunters (Cont)

 Revealing the secret world of female hunters...

Jan Daigre, a lifelong hunter, explained that her husband, Bubba, gave her a rope and a snatch block.

"You should have seen that," Jan Daigre said.  "There I was looking for a tree with a limb low enough and strong enough to throw the rope over and then use the winch on my side by side to lift the deer into the back of the buggy.  Gee, it's just easier to wait until Buba Daigre gets home and I sen him out to get the deer for me."

I agree, Jan, it is easier to call my husband, Mark Posey, and let him know there is a deer in the woods waiting on him know there is a deer in the woods waiting on him.  A few years ago, he found an easily operated lift to load the deer on my 4-wheeler.

A few problems remain - - finding the deer and getting it up out of the lowest gulley on the property.  Although I can load the deer myself, rarely can I find it without Mark's help. 

* On the flip side, I asked these women if they believed they had any advantages over male hunters.  The majority think women are more patient than their male counterparts and have better eye/hand coordination, allowing for them to be more accurate shooters.

*  Regardless of what age these women started hunting, every one of them still hunts.  Marian Ann Love, a well-known, long-time hunter and hunting blogger, is in her 80's and still hunts as often as she can.  I hope to hunt with her one day very soon!  That's me!

My very first 8-point buck was taken at Brown's Point on Kings Point Island, New Year' Eve '89.  I had it mounted the first of three 8-points.  (To be continued)

Revealing The Secret World Of Female Hunters (Cont)

Revealing the secret world of female hunters...

 * I asked these women, "What do you like about hunting?"

Their answers were similar: they love being outdoors, it is peaceful, the quietness and beauty surround them, they are rarely this still and contemplative, they enjoy hunting in the morning and watching the world come alive, they feel close to God,  it is pure joy, their lives are stressful and getting in a deer stand offers them complete peace.  They love seeing wildlife in its natural habitat.

Most of the women prefer to hunt alone because they enjoy solitude.  Some mentioned when they hunt with their husbands they think their husbands talk too much.

I received frequent admonishments from my husband when I first started hunting because he thought I was talking too much in the deer stand.  Wanda Cook advised me to get in a stand by myself as soon as I was safe to hunt along.  It is better to be in a stand without company.

* As a hunter, I see two disadvantages women have as compared to male hunters.  Almost all of the women identified the same two issues --- going to the bathroom and hauling the game out of the woods also.  Both of these topics present some challenges for women, however, most of us have managed to overcome these obstacles. 

To be continued... 

Revealing The Secret World Of Female Hunters

By 

Recently, a non-hunter mentioned that she did not think there were many female hunters in this area.  I nodded politely but could not stop thinking bout her statement, because I know plenty of women who hunt.

Throughout the remainder of the day, that thought became less about how many female hunters there are more about the women themselves.  Who are these women?

Eventually, I came up with a list of 14 questions, sent the list to women who hunt, and posed a plea on Facebook requesting female hunters contact me if they were interested in answering a few questions about hunting.

Here is what I learned:

*  These women started hunting for a few different reasons, including spending time with their father or husbands: as a family outing; or a normal event in their family and that is what everyone did so they joined in the fun.

Wanda Cook, my hunting buddy, started hunting as an 18-year-old bride because her husband hunted every weekend.  She was devastated not to spend more time with her brand new husband, so she picked up a rifle and started going with him. Almost 50 years later, Wanda and Jerry Cook still hunt together.

To be continued...

Mufasa Roaming The Neighborhood

Minnesotan Chris Lyon was well aware that a monster buck knew as “Mufasa” roamed his neighborhood. He also felt that his chances of killing the giant were scant. But thanks to some surprise trail-cam pics, that all changed a few days before the Gopher State’s youth deer hunt. Not long anger the season opened, Lyon’s son, Zerl, was wrapping a tag on a buck that had become a local legend. 

https://www.fieldandstream.com/hunting/big-minnesota-youth-season-whitetail-buck/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR2sxo0AiqLkKsBEJkrk1XYNLBpaGSE3B9S_7c9rj7EP905kN0ED946PODY  (Click here to read the story)

My congratulations!  Lucky kid in our great wild outdoors!

Invited On A MS Canoe Trip By Layne Logue

I would have loved to have gone on this canoe trip and honored to be asked but since I cannot get up and down at the age of 80 years old, I had to turn it down.  When I was in my 40's I went on a canoe trip seven miles down the Buffalo River in Arkansas.  At least I have done it.  Wishing all a great trip and I know they will enjoy themselves with Captain Layne Logue at the helm.

Quapaw Canoe Company - Vicksburg Outpost

 ***** UPDATE *****

Weather

Saturday: Partly cloudy. High near 75F. Low 52F. Winds are light and variable. Chance of Rain 13%.

Sunday: Partly to mostly cloudy. High near 75F. Low 52F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of Rain 14%.

The rain is moving away from the forecast. If there is a potential for a shower… bring a rain poncho… and possibly put your backpack or gear in a trash bag … or dry bag if you have it.

Since we have 15 people signed up right now (maybe 1-5 more)… I’m thinking the Delta Point Islands would be better and have more room. There will be hammock trees there too. See new attached Google Earth screenshot. It’ll be better exploring too. The freshwater otter movie was filmed on these islands. It’s a little more paddling upstream… but we have a break /stop at a sandbar… and we’ll go slow and easy.

FREE COMMUNITY PADDLING Camping Trip on the Mississippi River.

MAFIAPALOOZA on the Mississippi River!

Dec. 4 Saturday to Dec. 5 Sunday

ALL INVITED!

The plan is to meet at 12:00pm Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Vicksburg Boat Ramp.

Vicksburg Waterfront Public Boat Ramp

(32.3507978°N, 90.8841247°W)

Address: ‪1250 Levee Street. Vicksburg, MS‬

Leave vehicles parked at the boat ramp.

Paddle …AS A GROUP… the 2.5 miles to Delta Point sandbar. Or 4.5 miles to Delta Point Islands (with a stop break halfway).

Bring your own tent/ hammock, sleeping bag/pad, food, snacks and water and everything you need to Camp in tents or hammock camp in the woods.

The List of people is as follows

White Clipper Langley canoe:

1. Paddler 1

2. Paddler 2

3. Paddler 3

4. Paddler 4

5. Paddler 5

6. Capt. Layne Logue

In their own boat:

1. Tom - Perception Eclipse Sea Lion (17 ft.)

2. Andrea - Hurricane Santee Sport (12.6 ft.)

3. John & Maddie - Hurricane Tandem

4. Candace - Eddyline

Yellow Clipper Langley canoe OR Wenonah Minn 4 canoe:

1. Capt Kelly McGinnis

2. Paddler 2

3. Paddler 3

4. Paddler 4

5.

6.

(If needed)

***** END UPDATE *****

Please let me know if you are planning to join in your own boat. If I don’t know you… I need to know what boat you are paddling in.

IF YOU ARE ALREADY SIGNED UP IN THE BIG CANOES… or GOING TO SIGN UP FOR THE BIG CANOES… I need to know asap if you cancel. Thank you!