Hunting Halted In Flooded River Areas

With flooding along the Mississippi River, it has brought an early end to the 2018-19 hunting season in parts of (my hometown) the Vicksburg (Warren County) area. 

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) announced that all hunting except for waterfowl closed at the end of legal shooting hours last Thursday in several zones along the river.

The decision was based on parameters set out by MDWFP policy to suspend hunting seasons when the MS River reaches flood stage at Greenville and Vicksburg.

Areas closed to hunting include the western edge of Warren County, all but the northeast corner of Issaquena Issaquena County, and the southern two-thirds of Sharkey County.

Areas in Warren County east of U.S. 61, as well as all of Claiborne, Jefferson, and Hinds counties remain open to hunting.  The gun deer season is scheduled to run through January 16, and final archery and primitive weapon season from January 16-31. 

The ruling applies specifically to the following areas: 

Lands in Issaquena, Sharkey and Warren counties which lie south of Highway 14, west of Highway 61 and north of the Big Black River.

Lands in Sharkey, Humphreys, Yazoo, Issaquena and Warren counties which lie south of Highway 14, west of Highway 149, south of Highway 16/149, west of Highway 3, and east of Highway61.

Lands in Washington and Issaquena Counties south of Highway 82, west of Highway 1and North of Highway 14.

In addition, the Lake George, Twin Oaks and Sunflower Wildlife Management Areas have been closed to all hunting except waterfowl.  Mahannah and Shipland WMAs have been closed to all activity since December.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service closed Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge consistent with state regulations.  Brown Tract on the northeast side of Delta National Forest is closed to all hunting, including waterfowl, until flood waters recede. 

Sunday, as I was coming home from hunting at the famous Christmas Place Plantation and Hunting Club near Eden, MS, I could see the flooding from the MS River.  It should crest mid-week near 44.0 feet.  

The Flood Warning continues for
The Mississippi River At Vicksburg
* until Saturday morning.
* At 11:00 AM Monday the stage was 43.7 feet.
* Minor flooding is occurring and Minor flooding is forecast.
* Flood stage is 43.0 feet.
* Forecast...The river will continue rising to near 44.0 feet
Wednesday January 16.
* Flood history...This crest compares to a previous crest of 43.3 feet
on Mar 18 2016.
* Impact...At 44.0 feet...Ford and Kings Subdivision at Pittman Road
and Mary's Alley begins to flood.

Gone Hunting

I have been invited by my hunting friend/mentor, Rex Howell of Deer Camp Blog to hunt at the family camp for the weekend.  I hope to get a deer/hog and looking forward to seeing and visiting my hunting buddies in our great Mississippi outdoors.  GOODHUNTING to me!

Using Weather Patterns To Hunt Deer

Grandson's First Deer!

Lindon Smith of Tupelo, MS, grandson shot and killed his very first deer over the weekend.  It was a 6-point buck!  My very first deer was also a 6 pointer at the age of 45!  What a nice deer for this very young hunter in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!  My congratulations little man!  I'm so proud of you!  

Annabelle's First Deer!

Clarence Gollott's daughter, 8-year-old Annabelle, of Biloxi, Mississippi, got her very first deer over the weekend.  That is a nice size doe at that!  I'm so proud of her and my congratulations! Thanks to Dad for taking her hunting and way to go Annabelle with meat on the family table from our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!  

A New Ground Blind

I like this ground blind since it is getting harder for me to climb up in deer stand at almost 78 years old (this month) and of course, a lot safer.  Check it out and see what you think about this innovative new blind. 

Paul's Monster Buck

My hunting friend, Paul Howell of Gulfport, MS, shot this monster buck on New Year's Day, starting 2019 off right.  What an awesome buck!  You can read all about the deer story at his brother, Rex, my hunting/mentor's blog, Deer Camp Blog on the edge of the MS Delta at the Christmas Place Plantation and Hunting Club.  I have been hunting at the Christmas Place since 2007 and have enjoyed the family camp and the comradery. I'm so happy for Paul and sending congratulations his way in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!  Way to go Paul! 

Mollie's First Buck!

Mollie Calhoun of Seminary, Mississippi got her very first buck on New Year's Day.  She just started hunting at the age of 39, she said.  She killed her first doe in 2015 and hunted HARD for 4 years to be able to kill her first buck.  Her prayers were answered and did it!  Excited is a complete understatement, she said.  He is WAY BIGGER than she would have thought her first buck would be.  He is only her second deer to ever kill and thanked the Lord for bringing this deer her way. 

I can relate in not starting to hunt until I was 43 years old and my first deer was a 6-point buck as if it was a 25 pointer.  I'm so happy for Mollie in our great Mississippi outdoors.   My Congratulations!  Persistence pays off, in the long run, is so true!

Mollie with her husband, Josh! I'm sure he is proud of her!

Proud Dad With Son's First Rack 10-point Buck!

Deon Inman, (cowboy protection specialist at a rodeo) from Carriere, Mississippi, said that today is a day he will never forget!  His 11-year-old son was jumping up and down to go hunting this morning.  He told him that they would sit until 7:30 because he had a bunch to do today and at 7:20 all the excitement happened.  While he was videoing a buck chasing does his son waited on a good quick shot and got a 10-point! 

He is so proud of his son holding his composure and said he had a "little" buck fever and between both of them, the tree was shaking. He smoked him with his 7mm08.    

I love seeing kids hunting in the great Mississippi outdoors and he's raising him right.  My congratulations to his son and thanks to Dad!  

Happy New Year!

Happy 2019!

My Photo Of American Queen Published In Sunday's Paper

AMERICAN QUEEN:  Marian Ann Love submitted this photo of the American Queen docked in Vicksburg for the final time in 2018.  She will return again in March 2019.  You are invited to submit photos to share with our readers of The Vicksburg Post.  Simply email high-resolution images in JPEG format to photos@vicksburgpost.com.

My photo above of the American Queen was published in our Sunday's hometown paper.  I'm so honored and proud to have another one of my pictures worthy of publication.  Many thanks to The Vicksburg Post!

Poachers Suspected In Deaths Of 2 Univ. Research Deer

Two deer that were a part of a Mississippi State University and Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks study are dead and poaching is suspected to be the cause.

Steve Demarais of the MSU deer Lab said one of the animals was found shot about a month ago and a second buck's carcass was found recently.  "One was found by a sheriff's deputy shortly after it was shot," Demarais said.  "He still had the collar on him.  They shot him with a small caliber rifle."

Demarais said he's unsure of why the suspected poacher or poachers did not take the buck.

"Maybe they got nervous when they saw the collar or saw a car and did not collect it," he said.

The deer are part of a study that tracks and records the movement of mature bucks in parts of Madison and Yazoo counties along the Big Black River.  It also records the bucks' movements as they relate to hunting pressure.

The study began in 2016 when 55 mature bucks were captured and fitted with Tracking collars utilizing GPS technology and ear tags.  The collars send out both a GPS and VHF signal for tracking locating the collars.  Ten of them have gone silent.

Demarais said the second buck was considered to be a mobile buck because he had two home ranges.

"Another carcass was found badly decomposed," Demarais said, "Apparently someone caught him near Virlilia Road as he was crossing his two home ranges. I think Virlilia Road is a hot spot for poachers."

In this case, the collar was missing and has not transmitted in several weeks.

"The collar had to have been destroyed about the time the deer was poached because it never transmitted from the carcass locations,"  Demarais said.

"We can't pick them up by flying over the area.  We don't know if those collars just stopped working, both the VHF signal and GPS, or if they were poached and the collars destroyed." 

The loss of the collars is also costly.  Demarais said they cost about $3,000 and another $3,000 to $4,000 is spent collaring the deer.

Demarais said two other deaths of bucks in the study are suspected to be the work of poachers and at least two have been killed by hunters.  While shooting the tagged collard bucks is legal, hunters have been encouraged to not shoot them as the data they provide is more important than antlers hanging on a wall.

Poaching is suspected in the death in a study as this one that was photographed as he was fitted with ear tags and a tracking collar.

One hunter said he did not see the bright orange collar or ear tags on the buck he shot.  Another apparently couldn't resist temptation.

"It was a really nice 8-point with a kicker or two," Demarais said.  "It was a 160 class.  It was a buck a hunter couldn't resist."

The study ends in March when the release mechanisms are set to go off, then two years of movement data will be sorted through.  Although the purpose of the study is to see how mature backs react to hunting pressure, it is expected to reveal much more.

Pictures of Some Christmas Joy!

Two bundles of joy!  My two youngest Grandsons William David "Will" and baby Noah James.  

Mom "Lucy" has her lap full with two young boys to raise.  

My youngest Great Noah James Kelly.

Willaim David trying out his new handmade horse from me and his Great Grandpa.  

Mom "Lucy" showing him the ropes!

My youngest Grandson Michael "Ethan" Kelly home from the Air Force for Christmas and stationed at Ft. Polk, NC, holding my youngest Great Grandson Noah.

The new hunting chair that was given to me by my Granddaughter Victoria, her hubby Jamie and Great Grandson Ian.  

Granddaughter Victoria sitting in my lap!

William David "Will" with Santa Claus!

             Noah James with Santa Claus!

Some Christmas Fun With A Grand & Great

Having some Christmas fun with my Granddaughter, Lucy, who is the Mother of my two youngest Greats, William David "Will" 1 year, 3 months and Noah James, 3 months old.  Here are a few pictures we took on Snapchat (photo messaging application) to play on Christmas Day with a family gathering. 

I'm so fortunate to have six Granddaughters and three were at our family gathering yesterday.  Two live in Virginia and one in Texas.  

Pretty Santa hats and glasses!

I love this one since I'm mariandeerhunter!

A Holly Merry Christmas!

A lot of snowflakes on our heads!

My Great Grandson Ian (11 years old) trying to figure out how to work Snapchat but we got at least one that worked for us since we are both hunters.  I will have more pictures to share having a wonderful Christmas Day with my family in Raymond, MS. 

Merry Christmas!

A Five-Year-Old Deer Hunter!

Roger Howell of Enid, MS, took his granddaughter hunting recently and said she got it DONE!  She used a 26 Nosier rifle. 

This little girl is off to a young start and Roger knows that it's a memory that money can't buy anywhere.  My congratulations to her and to Grandpa for taking the time to introduce her to hunting in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!  What a happy smile she is wearing!  I'm so proud of her!

Post Trail Cam Info

A little long but well worth checking out if you have a trail cam set up on your property and/or deer camp. 

Amber's First Squirrels!

John Taylor of Olive Branch, MS, took one of his kiddos, Amber, out recently for a squirrel hunt and she got lucky and killed her first three squirrels.  

It looks like Amber's smile says it all!  

It's not the way you go about eating one but I'm sure she's goofing off!  It's so good to see the youth of today enjoying squirrel hunting.  

My congratulations to Amber and to her Dad for taking her hunting in our great wild Mississippi outdoors.  Way to go!

Christopher's Buck!

Ryan King formally of my hometown of Vicksburg, MS, living in Louisiana said that this past Saturday afternoon his brother, Christopher shot this buck. It was drizzling all day and they couldn't find blood. They went back to the camp and could tell he was truly disappointed.  But he was 100 percent confident with his shot. 

Ryan said he was scrolling through his Facebook timeline and saw someone's post that he had shot a 10 point and thought he'd missed. He left prayed and went back and found his buck in the opposite direction he was searching. Well, I told my brother about this. So we prayed and after the morning hunt, he found this buck 10 feet from where we stopped searching last night. God is amazing people! Thank you, Lord, for letting my brother harvest this beautiful animal and letting us eat this amazing meat. God bless everyone!

My congratulations to Christopher and also Ryan on finding this nice buck in our great wild Mississippi outdoors!  Prayers work!

Wyatt's Nice Buck!

Paul Vickers of West Point, MS, and owner/operator of Vickers FarmsI noticed a kid at a youth rodeo back in the summer that was touring the facilities in a very neat Mossy Oak-clad tracked wheelchair and couldn't help but to strike up a conversation with him. Turned out that we shared the passion for hunting. My family was fortunate enough to spend the last couple of days with him and his dad, Jim Kurts, doing what we love. Wyatt didn't let a little handicap slow him down, in fact, he taught my family much about life. I hope we started a tradition!

My congratulations to Wyatt on a really nice buck in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!  Let the tradition begin!