A 100 Years from Now, Like in 2124

 In 100 years, like in 2124, we will all be buried with our relatives and friends.

Strangers will live in our homes we fought so hard to build, and they will own everything we have today. All our possessions will be unknown and unborn, including the car we spent a fortune on, and will probably be scrap, preferably in the hands of an unknown collector.

Our descendants will hardly know who we were, nor will they remember us. How many of us know our grandfather's father?
After we die, we will be remembered for a few more years, and then we will be just a portrait on someone's bookshelf. A few years later, our history, photos, and deeds will disappear into history's oblivion. We won't even be memories.

If we paused one day to analyze these thoughts, we might understand how ignorant and weak the dream of achieving it all really was.

If we could only think about this, our attitudes and thoughts would change, and we would be different people. We will always have more, and there will be no time for what's valuable in this life. I'd change all this to live and enjoy the walks I've never taken, these hugs I didn't give, these kisses for our children and our loved ones, and these jokes we didn't have time for.

Those would certainly be the most beautiful moments to remember; afterward, they would fill our lives with joy.
And we waste it day after day with greed and intolerance.

Sally, The Donkey & Speck, The Horse

This is a picture of Sally, the donkey, at my granddaughter's home south of town while my daughter, Kathy, and grandson, Carl, were visiting family from NC. It was getting dark, and I had my phone's flash on. Sally looks like she has a perfect heart in her eyes.

Speck, the horse, grazing in the wildflowers at my granddaughter's home south of town in Vicksburg, MS.

A Shoutout to Maggie Boineau

In Her Own Words:

Day two! Eight hours spotting,stalking,calling gobblers. Hardest hunting when turkeys are not vocal! Another year solo hunting. Just when I thought the hunt was over for me, today I spotted this turkey strutting about 400 yards. I slowly worked my way through the woods and found a good tree to sit and to call. I was not optimistic because he already had a hen. I put out some soft calls and within a few minutes he was looking for me. I did not use a decoy so he let out a loud gobble which got my heart racing. Seconds felt like hours but he came into range. He is not the most magnificent turkey I have killed, but my heart is so grateful. More details on my blog soon I have a new slate call and it was custom made for me! Not a great pic as a solo hunter who does NOTsleep well during turkey season! #proishunting. #camo365 #turkeyhunter #iamprois #slatecalls

My congratulations to Maggie from South Carolina in our great outdoors!!

Have A Blessed Easter Bloggers

It’s thought that Easter lilies came to symbolize Christ not only because they embody purity—the trumpet-shaped blooms recall the horns that heralded the resurrection of Christ. And the life cycle of Easter lilies, which grow from a bulb for several years beneath the earth before blossoming into magnificent flowers, recalls Jesus’ death and resurrection. What other springtime flower could possibly represent Easter and Christ better? A beautiful reminder both in the Church and at home in celebration of Easter.

Winner of Hunting Showcase by Maverick

Maverick Stubbs, who harvested this 10-point buck during the youth season, is the winner of the 2024 Hunting Showcase.  Maverick will receive a $150 prize provided by The Vicksburg Post. 

My congratulations to Maverick winning the $150.00 prize and my congratulations again on a fine buck you harvested in our great wild Mississippi outdoors!

One of My Favorite Pictures of American Queen Steamboat

Through the years, this is one of my favorite pictures of the American Queen steamboat while leaving my historic hometown of Vicksburg, MS. She was in the Yazoo Diversion Canal heading to the MS River northbound. It's not your typical picture of her, which makes it different. Sadly, she will not be returning to our waterfront because the American Queen Voyages have shut down and suspended operations for good. The Queen will be missed at our waterfront, but life goes on.

Hunters Showing Off Their Deer

Shannon Hoover harvested two bucks this deer season. One was a 9-pointer she shot on December 17, and the other was a 10-pointer she got on November 26. Both were taken in Warren County.  

Congratulations to Shannon, outdoors in our great wild hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi!!! 

Young Hunters Showing Off Their Deer (6)

Andrea Lewis killed this old, mature 11-point buck on New Year's Eve.  Congratulations to Andrea!  That's an aweseome buck!

Colten Misskelley harvested this big 10-point buck during deer season.  My congratulations to Colten on his nice buck!

Laney Lewis harvested this nice 8-point buck with his bow on December 27.  This was his first bow kill.  The buck scored 119 points, and measured 22 inches on both main beams.  Congratulations, Laney.  Proud of you!

Joshuah Peterson, Jr., 9 show his first deer on January 13th.  Congratulations to you, Joshuah in our great Mississippi outdoors!

Gage Hilderbrand bagged his biggest buck to date, this 185-pounder with 24-1/2 inch main beams and a 21-inch spread, while hunting with Charles Pettway on Janaury 30.  My congratulations, Gage!  Way to go!

Hendrix Eldridge took her first mallards while duck hunting with her father, Brad, during the cold mid-January weather.  That is awesome, Hendrix!  Congratulations in our wild Misssissippi outdoors!

Happy "Heavenly" Birthday, Rex

This picture is in memory of my hunting friend, Rex Howell, whose Heavenly Birthday is today and died on January 31, 2021. His son, Spencer, took this photo of us at the family deer camp (Christmas Place Plantation and Hunting Club) on a workday in July 2009. He would have been 66 years old. Also, his youngest daughter, Erin, is marrying Carson today on her Dad's birthday. It will be a sad but happy day for the newlyweds but he will be there in spirit. Blessings to both of them.

Deer Camp Blog

Rex Dean Howell 

3.9.58 ~ 1.31.21

Kevin Paulson's Hunting Life Magazine

Super Proud of our Spring Issue. Thank you to all of the great writers like Jim Richman, Bethany Beathard, Zack Vucurevich, hunt birdz - Edgar Castillo, and Brandon Dale. As well, tremendous thanks to our editor Britney Booth and our designer James Walsh for the great work and attention to detail. Please go read it, and if you like it, please share it and this post with everyone you know. THANK YOU!!

https://huntinglife.com/2024-spring-issue/ 

I have met and had lunch with Kevin while he was in Fredericksburg, VA. A very nice man.

Young Hunters Showing Off Their Deer (5)

Zoe Pell shot this 9-pointer on opening youth weekend.  She hunted on family land in Utica with her father, Sonny Pell.  My congratulations to you, Zoe!  Proud of you!

Wade Provance took down this buck this deer season.  A different positioning of a deer and hunter.  Congratulations to you, Wade.

Brently Ashley, 9, shows off his biggest buck to date - - an 11-pointer.  That is awesome, Brently.  My Congratulations!!

Layton Hasty, 9, harvested this 9-point buck while hunting in Vicksburg on January 14th.  Congratulations to Layton!  Job well done in our great Mississippi outdoors!

American Queen Has Ceased All Operations as Of Yesterday

Well, it’s official. For those who haven’t heard the news already, American Queen has officially ceased all operations as of yesterday. A sad state of affairs. I will miss the Queen coming to our historic hometown of Vicksburg, MS.

Notice to employees.

The American Queen backing out of the Yazoo Diversion canal at Vicksburg, MS.

The American Queen headed to the MS River while in the Yazoo Diversion Canal in Vicksburg, MS.

The Grand American Queen moored at the waterfront in Vicksburg, MS.

Many Does Since 1986

This is one of many does that I have harvested since 1986. This doe weighed 120 lbs and was harvested from the North Cornfield stand at the Christmas Place Hunting Club on the edge of MS Delta. I was hunting with Mark, who was Rex's best friend. The biggest doe harvested was at Homewood Hunting Club in Claiborne County, MS, weighing 146 lbs.  

Happy "Heavenly" Birthday, MOM @ 103

 Wishing my mom, Evelyn, a very Happy "Heavenly" Birthday today. I love and miss you so much!

My Blogging Friend, Gorges Smythe Died

Ulysses “Steve” Dye III, 68, of Parkersburg, passed away at Camden Clark Medical Center on January 31, 2024. He was born June 11, 1955, to Evelyn Lawson Dye and the late Ulysses S. Dye, Jr.

Steve graduated from Parkersburg High School and Mountain State Business College. He worked at O’Ames until they closed and most recently at DeBarr Trucking. He published many articles in magazines such as Backwoodsman, Fur-Fish-Game, and Northern Woodlands under the pseudonym Gorges Smythe. As Gorges Smythe, he also maintained a Blog called Gorges’ Grouse, where he displayed opinions, nostalgia, and stories of his Appalachian home. Steve was a Baptist by faith. Left behind, along with his mother, to cherish his memory is his stepson, Robert Goff (Jeannie) of Parkersburg, two grandchildren, Claira Goff and Ashlee Goff Hardesty (Kyle); great grandson. Logan Hardesty; aunt Kay Eichhorn; cousins Gary Eichhorn, Alice Eichhorn, and Mike Dawkins.

In addition to his father, he is preceded in death by his loving wife, Barbara Ann Weaver Dye; a sister, Nancy Simmons; and a brother-in-law, Norman Simmons.

As per his wishes, there will be no visitation or public services.

May he rest in peace.

Young Hunters Showing Off Their Deer (4)

Joanna Stuckey is 6 years old, and this was her first deer.  My congratulations to Joanna on a fine first deer.  

Reed McClug, of Vicksburg, shows off this 240-pound, 10-point buck he harvested in Warren County.  The deer measured 146-3/8 inches.  McClug, 14, is the son of Quinn and Emilyu McClurg.  Congratulations Reed.  So proud of you! 

Adalynn Stuckety, age 7, took down her first deer this season.  Congratulations, Adalynn, on your fine doe!!  Proud of you!

Samuel Terrett harvested this 8-point buck this hunting season.  Congratulations on a very nice buck in our great Mississippi outdoors!

Cade Hall, the son of Sarah and Jay Hall of Clinton harvested this big buck.  My congratulations to Cade on a fine buck in our great Mississippi outdoors.

Remembering Rex Dean Howell

I'm missing my hunting friend, Rex Howell, who passed away on January 31, 2021, from cancer.  

This picture was taken the first day we met at his deer camp at the famous Christmas Place Plantation Hunting Club on Christmas Road near Eden, MS.  The land has 11 Indian mounds, and we are standing at one of them. It was taken on May 5, 2007. You can see his dog, Camo, to the right of the picture.  

Rex came to my website and signed my guestbook, and I always thanked everyone who had signed. That is how it all started. I asked him one day how did he find me. He said he had gone to a hunting forum and saw a post I had answered; the rest was history.  

Rex has a blog called Deer Camp Blog, and I have a blog as well. I started my hunting blog in 2006 and stopped. He told me to continue because, at that time, he said only so many lady deer hunters blogged.

He would have me up every hunting season to deer/hog hunt at the family camp. I did not get to go in January of 2021 because he was very sick. I'm so thankful that he called me and told me about his condition in December 2020, but I did not realize that it was so bad. He died on the last day of the hunting season. 3.9.58~1.31.21

Young Hunters Showing Off Their Deer (3)

Keegan Jacobs killed his first buck, an 8=pointer, while hunting with his grandfather John Lindigrin on Paw Paw Island on December 27. My congratulations to Keegan!!!

Grant Smith of Clinton took down his first deer on November 21. He got the 5-point buck while hunting in Issaquena County with his father, Drew Smith, and grandfather, Herman Smith. Congratulations, Grant!!!

Maverick Stubbs, 8, harvested this 10-point buck during the youth season. Congrats, Maverick!!! Proud of you!

Ruston Landers, 8, bagged this buck during deer season. My congratulations, Ruston!!!

Dawson Jones killed his first buck, this 4-pointer, during deer season. Congratulations, Dawson!!!  

Kap Carey, the 7-year-old grandson of Steve and Kathy Williams, bagged his first deer, a doe, on November 21. Congratulations, Kap!!!

Fin Reeves, 10, bagged his 8-point buck on December 29 while hunting with his grandfather, Steve Spivey, near Selma, Alabama. Fin is the son of Time and Stephanie Reeves of Vicksburg. My congrats, Fin!!!   

Jaxon Heriard, age 9, took down his first buck this season. Congratulations on the fine buck, Jaxon!!!

Happy 83rd Birthday to Me

Happy 58th Birthday, Kathleen Love Boyd Day

I wish my once-upon-a-time 4-year-old cowgirl, Kathleen Love Boyd Day, a Happy 58th Birthday yesterday!  I wish I could turn back time and see you again in your cute little outfit.  Thinking of you in the mountains of North Carolina and wishing you happiness on your very special day. I hope you have many more birthdays to come.  I love and miss you so much.  MOM

Young Hunters Showing Off Their Deer (2)

Landon Fuson killed this 9-point buck while hunting in Phoenix, Mississippi.  My congratulations on a nice buck, Landon!!!

Avery Alexander, the 10-year-old daughter of Kevin and Lexie Alexander, Killed her first buck during youth weekend.  My congratulations on a job well done, Avery!  Proud of you!!

Easton Ashley, a 7-year-old from Vicksburg, shows off the first deer he killed with his crossbow.  My congratulations, Easton.  A very nice doe!!!

Liam Brokaw, 4, went on the hunt with G6:2 Outdoors for children and adults with special needs and bagged this deer.  So proud of you, Liam.  Very nice deer!

John Stephen Chao, age 9, killed an 8-point buck in Warren County while hunting with his uncle Eric Pell.   My congratulations on your nice buck in our great Mississippi Outdoors!!!