Hunting

Deer Hunting

190-class buck downed before dogs released on Hatchapaloo Hunting Club

January 31, 2011 Andy Crawford

It was bitterly cold on the Jan. 9, and only five truckloads of Hatchapaloo Hunting Club members had shown up for a morning dog hunt. The hunters were riding the more than 30 miles of roads on the 7,000-acre Smith County lease looking for a likely place to release their dogs.

“We were just riding and trying to stay in the truck because it was so cold,” joked Gary Kennedy, known at the camp as “Festus Hagen.” […]

Deer Hunting

Canton archer gets second shot, connects on 160-class buck

January 29, 2011 Andy Crawford

Claudie Steen watched the nice 11-point ease into the bottleneck, and drew his bow as the animal approached his stand site. He had seen the deer earlier while trailing another deer he had arrowed, and now everything was falling in place.

At a mere 15 yards, the Canton hunter put his pin on the deer’s vitals and released the arrow. And felt his stomach churn as the animal ducked and quickly disappeared.

That was Jan. 31, 2010. […]

Deer Hunting

Persistence pays off with 170-inch Hinds County buck

January 27, 2011 Andy Crawford

Justin Bankston grew up a fanatical deer hunter, but about 12 years ago the Terry resident decided he just couldn’t afford to invest the time. So he became a part-timer, hunting here and there as his busy schedule allowed.

“Starting two businesses and starting a family, I sort of fell out of it,” Bankston said.

However, he realized last year it was time for his 8-year-old son to get involved in the sport, so he joined a Hinds County lease. He still didn’t plan on going full out, though – until he saw a trail-cam photo of a monster buck on the property. […]

Rabbit

It’s time to run rabbits

January 27, 2011 John J. Woods

By every small-game hunter’s time clock, it is the rabbit-running time of year. Rabbit hunters know the woods and fields have settled down since the end of deer season. The only orange vests being worn now by most hunters across the state are out rabbit hunting. […]

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De-Hog Your Deer Club

January 26, 2011 Phillip Gentry

Ben Boteler was spending his Saturday afternoon in January the way he does most Saturdays. He was in a deer stand on his hunt club at Willow Break located near the town of Redmon in Southwest Mississippi. The 3,800-acre club borders the Yazoo River and offers prime habitat for big deer. […]

Deer Hunting

Deer Hunter’s Reference Guide

January 26, 2011 Mississippi Sportsman

The Deer Hunter’s and Land Manager’s Pocket Reference, written by J. Wayne Fears, is a one-of-a-kind guide filled with valuable information including managing plants and land for deer, deer harvest information, butchering tips, getting the pH of a food plot, how to find a deer biologist where you live, and much, much more. […]

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Light ‘Em Up

January 26, 2011 Phillip Gentry

About 10 years ago, if you looked on the calendars of Mississippi waterfowlers , chances are you’d see a circle around one of the last days of January. The circle marked the last day of waterfowl season when the decoys, blinds and steel-shot shells, if you had any left, went back into storage. […]

Deer Hunting

Young Gulf Coast hunter rings in New Year with 170-inch buck

January 19, 2011 Cliff Covington

Rather than ring in the New Year in Pass Christian shooting fireworks, 16-year-old Jonathon Allen opted to celebrate by spending the holiday weekend with family and friends at their 2,400-acre hunting lease in Yazoo County near Vaughan. It had been six long years since Jonathon had scored on a buck, and he was more than ready to change his luck.

Allen knew the property was home to a number of very large bucks. The day after Christmas his dad had missed a monster buck that was farther out in the field than he had estimated. And Jonathon’s uncle had been hot on the trail of a giant 9-pointer he had spotted earlier in the season. […]

Deer Hunting

160-inch buck gives Brookhaven hunter second shot

January 18, 2011 Cliff Covington

There are all kinds of deer-hunting stories about the big one that got away. And Becky Morgan of Brookhaven almost had one of those stories to tell. Actually, if her husband and hunting buddy Allen Morgan had not convinced her to join him on an afternoon hunt in Jefferson County, this story would have a much different ending.

Allen Morgan, an accomplished taxidermist, had been invited to hunt with good friends Stan and Brian Burkley on their premier deer-hunting grounds near the Mississippi River. Having hunted the property on two previous occasions, Allen Morgan knew some monster whitetails roamed those bottomland hardwoods. He also knew this would be a rare opportunity for his wife to harvest that trophy of a lifetime. […]