Deer Hunting Archives - Page 46 of 124

This doe limit reduction is significant since it ends nearly a half-century of how the agency has approached deer management.

Doe limit reduction finalized

June 22, 2017 Bobby Cleveland

As expected, Mississippi’s Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks gave final approval in May to a reduction in doe limits for the 2017-18 deer season. […]

The author illustrates here the two jawbone views that you should photograph to ensure a reliable aging estimate.

In recent installments of Happy Trails we have kicked around various aspects of both the science and art of aging whitetails on and off “the hoof.” Most deer hunters want to become as proficient as possible at estimating deer age BEFORE pulling the trigger, but it is equally important to either confirm or revise your eyeball estimate after the kill. […]

William McKinley has been named Deer Program Coordinator by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.

McKinley new Deer Program Coordinator

May 23, 2017 Bobby Cleveland

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) continued to rebuild the management of its wildlife division by naming veteran deer biologist William T. McKinley as Deer Program Coordinator.

[…]

A really good early season buck in velvet. The photo says one thing, but what would his jawbone say?

Ground proving buck age

May 22, 2017 Bill Garbo

We began a general discussion of this topic in the recent February, 2017 installment of Happy Trails. Let’s now go a little further and expand the discussion. Ground proving bucks means harvesting bucks that you believe meet your minimum goals, collecting their lower jaw bones for “tooth replacement/wear” age estimates, then comparing the earlier “live on-the-hoof” eyeball age estimate with the jawbone indicated age for confirmation or clarification. […]

Mississippi hunters have enjoyed a liberal doe limit for several decades, but that could be changing in the 2017-18 season.

Proposed rule change would cut doe harvest

April 24, 2017 Bobby Cleveland

Mississippi deer hunters would see their antlerless deer opportunities cut significantly during the 2017-18 season, if rules set last week by the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks get final proposed approval. […]

An older buck is seen here scent-checking an active communal scrape.

Once again, we’re No. 1

April 18, 2017 Bill Garbo

A year ago in the March, 2016 installment of Happy Trails I announced that the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) reported in their annual Whitetail Report that Mississippi had been deemed No. 1 in the entire country for mature buck harvest. I mean really, in the world of whitetail deer hunting, being No. 1 overall in such a category is a big, big deal. […]

Josh Smith (right) of Brandon is presented the grand prize exotic hunt, a $3,500 value from McLain Lodge, by owner Buddy McLain at the Big Buck Bounty awards breakfast. Smith's name was drawn from all hunters over 21 who entered a deer in the annual contest.

Big Buck Bounty: Edwards best in show

March 31, 2017 Bobby Cleveland

Pittman Edwards had the biggest deer but Josh Smith of Brandon walked away with the grand prize exotic hunt at the recent awards breakfast for the 2016-17 Big Buck Bounty Contest at McLain Lodge in Fannin. […]

Good “glass” is critical for crystal-clear views into thick brush when searching for bucks.

Get the best sight picture

March 16, 2017 Bill Garbo

The deer hunter flips up the collar of his fleece jacket to better protect his neck from the chilly, late-afternoon breeze, remaining alert, hoping that an unsuspecting doe will meander by before dark. Success would be two-pronged, as he needs venison for his freezer, and his camp needs a few more does harvested to reach the year’s quota. […]