No Hunting Sign?

Look who's standing under a No Hunting Sign! My Facebook friend, Mike Persichini took this picture in the Troy Nature Center, MI, this afternoon of this really smart buck who knew exactly where to stand.  I would say a very awesome and lucky buck!

Correction: Mike sent me a message on FB that the Troy Nature Center bucks have been poached out in the last two years.  He now photographs pictures of true free roaming city bucks.  

10-Point Buck Released From Sinkhole

Thanks to three young men coming home from a football game, a 10-point buck in Iowa has a chance to spend the fall somewhere other than a sinkhole. Eric Smorstad, Gavin Nimrod, and Dryton Meyer used some rope and a tractor to rescue an unfortunate buck last Friday night on Smorstad’s family farm east of Decorah. Smorstad’s father, who runs the farm, was the first to find the animal after the tractor nearly got stuck in the sinkhole itself. Seeing as how Smorstad and his friends were home from college, his father recruited them to haul the deer out.

“It was hard to see; only three or four feet wide and maybe 10 feet deep,” Nimrod told the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “We made a loop, caught an antler, and kept his head up. We decided to tie another rope; Eric and Bryton held my legs and I went down and re-tied it.”

It was dangerous work, especially with an agitated buck carrying some serious headgear. Nimrod used the deer’s antlers to haul it up the side of the sinkhole, and barely had a chance to get out of the way before the buck ran off. One of the men almost got a sharp jab from the animal’s rack along the way, but the rescuers said that the deer eventually calmed down.

“He stopped fighting and looked around, like he was grateful,” said Nimrod. “Then he got his legs under him and took off. The rope caught on the side and busted the clip off and he was gone over the hill.”

Meyer, who says that all three are hunters, said that rescuing the animal from a slow and certain death was part of being an outdoorsman.

“I am an outdoorsman. I love hunting the animals and love to share the experience with others,” posted Meyer on YouTube. “To share that experience is what we were going for, not to simply save an animal’s life, although I do show tremendous respect for the animals that I hunt.”

Old Court House Flea Market Pix

A few pictures I took while at the annual flea market this past Saturday in my hometown of Vicksburg, MS.  

Looking to the left at the shoppers on the lawn of the Old Court House Museum.

                         Looking to the right of the shoppers.  

Look up at the Old Court House Museum after descending the steps.

Taken around 2:00 in the afternoon.  Most of the shoppers came early in the morning before it got too hot. 

New Court House to the left with massive oak trees on the lawn.  

A Hairy Woodpecker (male) after getting my attention by pecking and now sitting on top of an massive old oak tree limb.

Woodpecker preening itself.  (Proud to have gotten this picture)

                Checking out all the shoppers at the flea market.  

Making my way to the truck to leave when I encounter this dog named "Souri" giving me the evil eye or flirting?  Glad he was on a leash!

Hunting Wisdom

Country Practice Shoot

Getting set-up to do some practice shooting weekend before last in the country.

My target was on the left, daughter Kathy, center and Jamie, right. 

Kathy and my great grandson, Ian walking back to the truck to practice shooting.

Kathy went first shooting a 30.06.  

Jamie with Great Grandson, Ian with a .22 mag.

Ian wanted to shoot my .22 rifle with scope.  He was having a hard time looking through it since he has a .22 rifle that has only iron sites.

Jamie shooting his rifle.

Ian wanted to shoot my .22 rifle again using a plastic jug as a target.

Look at all the holes he put in the plastic jug.  He is going to be a good hunter one day.

Showing off his skate board to me.  It's almost as big as he is.

Took a close-up picture of him.  I love him so much!

Kathy's target pattern with 30.06.  I shot my .22 rifle to help with my flinching since I have not hunted in over a year because of shoulder surgery.  Next, I will get my .270 zeroed in for rifle season.

Last Weekend's Country Pictures

Went to the county last weekend to practice shooting to get ready for hunting season.  While at my granddaughter, Victoria and her husband, Jamie's place, I took some pictures from around the farm.

  Golden rods all around the farm.  

Came across this butterfly that didn't move and believe it was dying.

A camouflaged port-a-potty that was made into a hunting stand. Jamie's Dad owns a portable potty business, called, BUBBA JOHNS!

Jamie's sister, Judy, walking her horse in the field near the barn.  

A rooster that is always on-the-attack and has received the name DINNER!

A tripod deer stand on the property.

An old tree trunk with some wild flowers growing around it.

A lot of spider lilies in the woods.

My deer stand waiting for me to climb into it for hunting season!

Deer tracks!

More deer tracks!

A small field planted.

Some chickens out of their pen.

A horse and donkey in the field as I left to go home.  Will post more pictures tomorrow of my daughter, Kathy, Jamie and even great grandson, Ian, getting in some shots!    

A Charging Grizzly

These guys definitely got their hearts started...got mine started just watching...I guess the guide's muzzle blast was enough to make her change her mind.  October 23, 2010

Whitetail In Motion!

GOODHUNTING to all that are fortunate enough to be in the woods hunting this weekend!  

Reaction Is Priceless!

There’s nothing better than the feelings you encounter on that first successful deer hunt! Those feelings will be remembered for the rest of your life. Not only by you, but also by the person who took you on the hunt.

Chris Bryan posted this video on the Parenting Done Right Facebook Group yesterday and it has since went viral with over 12,000 Likes and 200 Comments!

Chris’ caption is the perfect intro to the video: “My daughter’s first ever bow hunt. Her reaction is priceless. Get those kids in the woods. Memories like this will last a life time! Enjoy!”

Dreaming

MS Bag Limits & Legal Weapons

Bag Limits

Antlered Buck Deer:  The bag limit on antlered buck deer is one buck per day, not to exceed three per license year.  Legal bucks must meet the antler criteria within the appropriate deer management zone.  For youth hunters 15 years of age and younger, hunting on private land and authorized state and federal lands, all of the three buck bag limit may be an antlered deer.

Antlerless Deer:  The bag limit on antlerless deer is one per day, not to exceed five per license year on private land or three on U.S. Forest Service National Forest land.  Antlerless deer are defined as any female deer and any male deer without hardened antler above the hairline.  Spotted fawns are not to be killed of molested at any time.

Legal Weapons

Youth Gun:  Youth may carry and use any firearm with which they can safely hunt, and in compliance with other applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

Archery:  Longbows, re-curves, compound bows, and crossbows.  There is no minimum or maximum draw weight.  there is not minimum arrow length.  Fixed or mechanical broad heads may be used.

Primitive Weapons:  For the purpose of hunting deer, "Primitive Firearms" are defined as all archery equipment; single or double barreled muzzle-loading rifles of at least .38 caliber; or single shot, breech loading, metallic cartridge rifles (.35 caliber or larger) and replicas, reproductions, or reintroduction of those type rifles with an exposed hammer; or single or double-barreled muzzle-loading shotguns, with single ball or slug.  All muzzle-loading primitive firearms must use black powder or a black powder substitute with percussion caps, No. 209 shotgun primers, or flintlock ignition.  "Blackpowder substitute" is defined as a substance designed, manufactured and specifically intended to be used as a propellant in muzzle-loading or other black powder firearms, excluding modern smokeless powder. Metallic cartridges may be loaded with either black powder or modern smokeless powder (cartridge purchased at sporting good stores).  Handguns or sidearms are not allowed for hunting deer during Primitive Weapons seasons.  Telescopic sights are allowed while hunting with any primitive firearm during the primitive weapon seasons.  A "telescopic sight" is defined as an optical sighting device with any magnification.

During any open season on deer with primitive weapons after November 30, a person may use any legal weapon of choice on private lands only, if the person is the title owner of the land, the lessee of the hunting rights on the land, a member of a hunting club leasing the hunting rights on the land, or a guest of a person specified above.  If the person is required to have a hunting license, the person much have a primitive weapon license, Sportsman's License, or a Lifetime Sportsman's License.

Gun:  There are no caliber of magazine capacity restrictions on firearms.  Primitive weapons (as defined above) and archery equipment may be used during gun seasons.

Mississippi Deer Season 2014-2015

Mississippi deer season in three zones:

HILL ZONE
Private and open lands east of Interstate 55 and north of Interstate 20 plus areas south of Interstate 20 and east of U.S. 61, excluding areas south of U. S. 84 and east of MS 35.

A legal buck is defined as having either a minimum inside spread of 10 inches or a minimum main beam length of 13 inches.
  
Archery        
Oct. 1-Nov. 21
Legal Deer: Either sex on private land and open public land.
Youth Gun
Nov. 8-Jan. 31
Legal deer: Either sex on private land and authorized state and federal land. (ages 15 and under).
Early Primitive Weapon
Nov, 10-21
Legal deer: Anterless Deer only on private land and open public land.
Gun (With Dogs)
Nov. 22-Dec. 1
Legal deer: Either sex on private land; Legal bucks only on open public land.
Primitive Weapon
Dec. 2-15
Legal deer: Either sex on private land and open public land.
Gun (Without Dogs)
Dec. 16-23
Gun (With Dogs)
Dec. 24-Jan.21
Legal deer: Either sex on private land; Legal bucks only on
open public land.
Archery/Primitive Weapon
Jan. 22-31
Legal deer: Either sex on private land and open public land.

SOUTHEAST ZONE
Private and open public lands south of U.S. 84 and east of MS 35.

A legal buck is defined as having either a minimum inside spread of 10 inches or a minimum main beam length of 13 inches.

Archery        
Oct. 15-Nov. 22
Legal Deer: Either sex on private land and open public land.
Youth Gun
Nov. 8-Feb. 15
Legal deer: Either sex on private land and authorized state and federal and. (ages 15 and under).
Gun (With Dogs)
Nov. 22-Dec 1
Legal deer: Either sex on private land; Legal bucks only on open public land.
Primitive Weapon
Dec. 2-15
Legal deer: Either sex on private land and open public land.
Gun (Without Dogs)
Dec. 16-23
Legal deer: Either sex on private and open land.
Gun (With Dogs)
Dec. 24-Jan.21
Legal deer: Either sex on private land; Legal bucks only on open public land.
Archery/Primitive Weapon
Jan. 22-31
Legal deer: Either sex on private land and open public land.
Archery/Primitive Weapon
Feb. 1-15
Legal deer: Legal bucks only on private and open public land.

DELTA ZONE
Private and open public lands west of Interstate 55 and north of Interstate 20 plus areas south of Interstate 20 and west of U.S. 61.

A legal buck is defined as having either a minimum inside spread of 12 inches or a minimum main beam length of 15 inches.

Archery        
Oct. 1-Nov. 22
Legal Deer: Either sex on private land and open public land.
Youth Gun
Nov. 8-Jan. 31
Legal deer: Either sex on private land and authorized state and federal and. (ages 15 and under).
Early Primitive Weapons Hunt
Nov, 10-21
Legal deer: Anterless Deer only on private land and open public land.
Gun (With Dogs)
Nov. 22-Dec. 1
Legal deer: Either sex on private land; Legal bucks only on open public land.
Primitive Weapon
Dec. 2-15
Legal deer: Either sex on private land and open public land.
Gun (Without Dogs)
Dec. 16-23
Gun (With Dogs)
Dec. 24-Jan.21
Legal deer: Either sex on private land; Legal bucks only on open public land.
Archery/Primitive Weapon
Jan. 22-31
Legal deer: Either sex on private land; Legal bucks only on open public land.

Regulations Changes For Mississippi Hunters

A couple of changes to regulations on deer will give Mississippi's hunters some more options this season.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks over the summer altered bag limits for anterless deer and loosened restrictions on primitive weapons.

On private lands only, the anterless deer bag limit was changed to five per year with no daily limit.  On U. S. Forest Service land, the limit was reduced to three per year with a daily limit of one.

The change was intended to offer more flexibility to hunters managing abundant deer herds on private lands and reduce antlerless deer harvest on USFS where lower deer densities may occur, MDWFP said in a release.

The change to primitive weapons regulations is also for hunters on private lands.

During any open season on deer with primitive weapons after November 30, hunters may use any legal weapon of choice on private lands.

Additionally, hunters are required to have a hunting license and must posses a valid primitive weapon license, sportsman's license, or lifetime sportsman's license to take advantage of this new opportunity.

One other new regulation is in place, as well.  Beginning this deer season, hunters are required to wear in full view at least 500 inches of solid unbroken fluorescent orange unless hunting in a stand at least twelve feet above ground or in a fully enclosed deer stand or blind.

Hunters must wear hunter orange while traveling to and from their stand.

Climbing To The Top!

Black Bear Drama

A true sportsman!

Happy Birthday To You, Suzi

Today is my youngest daughter, Marian Suzanne "Suzi", Birthday! She turns 42 years old and was born right after 8:00 a.m.  Suzi lives in Virginia and is the proud mother of two daughter's, Emma and Kate. I called this morning and sung Happy Birthday to her! I love and miss you so much Suzi and wishing you many more happy returns of the day!  MOM

M/V Angela K Passing Through Vicksburg

M/V Angela K coming around the bend.  

Heading towards the bridges.

Zoomed in on the front of the containers as the sun was setting.

Pulled out view of the M/V Angela K coming into view.

Close up view of the M/V Angela K.  

Park Ranger at the Louisiana Circle getting ready to close the gates.

M/V Angela K making her way under the bridges at Vicksburg, MS, on her way to deliver goods.

Took this picture behind a bush to get a view of the sky before the sun was to set in approximately 15 minutes.