Promote Archives - Page 5 of 9 - Mississippi Sportsman

Better deer management practices over the past 40 years led to bucks like the 15-point taken by Will Clay in Madison County in 2011, but orange vests like the one Clay is wearing has had the biggest impact on the sport — safety.

Hunting now safer than ever

November 19, 2012 Bobby Cleveland

When veteran Mississippi hunters talk about the differences between deer hunting now and 40 years ago, the conversation is usually a combination of the improvement in quality and quantity of deer. […]

A light jacket, a pocket full of shot-shells and a crisp November morning are a recipe for fun in the squirrel woods.

Back to Basics — November is right time for squirrel hunting

November 14, 2012 David Hawkins

In the distance a limb shakes. The source of the movement is yet to be seen, but it has to be a squirrel. A flash of movement, and another limb shakes in the next tree. A crow calls in the distance; the hunter takes a few steps and freezes. […]

November promise – Head to the Gulf Coast for great fall fishing

November 7, 2012 John J. Woods

Why do anglers always look at me cross-eyed when I mention saltwater fishing the Mississippi Gulf Coast in November or even later in year? What, they think this would be like ice fishing in Minnesota or something?

Sure, that Gulf wind might be a little stiff against the face, but once the fishing action heats up, everything will be forgotten about the fall weather.

Actually, as we have come to realize as deer hunters, the weather this month can actually be quite moderate. Some days it can be downright warm, so don’t ignore Gulf Coast fishing just because it’s the fall. Just dress accordingly, gear up appropriately and get into some of the very best redfish, speckled trout and floundering there is to be had. […]

It takes a lot of time and effort scouting for the best spots at Old River WMA, but those that put in the time are sometimes rewarded with big bucks.

Playing Hard to Get — Head to Old River WMA for great deer hunting

November 1, 2012 Chris Ginn

Inaccessible river bottomland attracts more deer than it does deer hunters. […]

Ricky Sullivan poses with Pea Vine, the deer he and his buddy, Duke Wilson, had been after for two seasons.

Unlikely Lauderdale: How the county’s biggest buck was killed

October 25, 2012 Otha Barham

It was Jan. 18, 2012 — the last day of Mississippi’s zone 1 rifle season. And Ricky Sullivan knew immediately when he saw the buck at 210 yards that it was Pea Vine. […]

Three primary tricks to trophy hunting are weather, wind and stand placement.

WWW: Weather, wind and where to deer hunt

October 24, 2012 John J. Woods

It seems the whole world these days is ruled by communication via initials. Electronic forms of communication via a multitude of handheld devices has created a language predicated on a series of short buzz words or sound-bite phrases reduced further to a few letters.

These letters in triples carry the meaning of the message or an exclamatory remark, such as LOL or OMG or as my daughter sums up most responses with “whatever.” Perhaps all this started with the initiation of the World Wide Web phenomenon, or the www.coms, as we have come to know it. […]

Not all bass caught are trophies, but this little fella was not shy about hammering this Booyah spinnerbait.

Turn over a new Leaf: Float down this river to catch bass, catfish and bream

October 17, 2012 David Hawkins

The Leaf River narrows so the water flows over just one end of a log jam and into a pool of deeper water. The flow is wide enough for a canoe to pass without problem, and Harold Turner guides the canoe to the shallow side of the bend where it rests in the eddy current below the log jam […]

Bay Springs has produced spotted bass over 7 pounds, but anglers stand a better chance of landing 4- and 5-pound spots.

Back to the Future: Spotted bass are the stars on Bay Springs Lake

October 10, 2012 Chris Ginn

Although he didn’t know it at the time, Roger Stegall got a glimpse into the future while he frantically tried to find a fifth fish to finish a limit during a Red Man tournament back in 1991.

After launching at Bay Springs that morning, the Iuka-based professional bass angler ran up to Pickwick Lake to catch most of his fish.

That effort left him one fish short.

He made the 35-mile run back to Bay Springs hoping he could catch just one more bass. […]

Buck mechanic Mike Summerlin concentrates on hunting feeding and breeding areas.

Buck Mechanics: Tips for refining your buck-hunting tactics

October 3, 2012 John J. Woods

Ever know a car mechanic who could just give a good listen for a few scant minutes to a sour-running engine and then immediately pronounce what is wrong with it? […]

Tree stands can sometimes become an afterthought, but if you want to make sure you’re dragging a deer out of the woods this season, fit your stand to where and how you hunt.

Stand Savvy: Tips for buying the best deer-hunting stands

September 25, 2012 Chris Ginn

My very first tree stand was an assorted collection of scrap wood from my dad’s shop nailed to a very forked tree overlooking a single scrape. […]

Roger Stegall of Iuka lifts a largemouth bass from Pickwick Lake. Largemouth and smallmouth can be found feeding on shad in late summer.

Junkyard dogs: Catching Pickwick Lake’s smallies

September 19, 2012 David Hawkins

Smallmouth bass wear the moniker of “smallies” as if they have a chip on their shoulder — something to prove. What they lack in size, they make up for in brute strength and feisty attitude.

And they patrol stretches of Pickwick as if daring anything to invade their backyard.

“Pickwick is not the only place in Mississippi to catch a smallmouth bass,” Iuka’s Roger Stegall said. “But the size of the lake and the smallmouths population concentration make it the best Mississippi water to consider.” […]

In 2010, Joe Watts of Canton killed three different dove species in three shots within a matter of seconds: (from left) a mourning, Eurasian collared and white-winged doves.

Magnolia Missiles: Dove hunting allows outdoorsmen to brush off some rust

September 12, 2012 Bobby Cleveland

Alerted to a bird approaching from his rear, Joe Watts rose from his stool, spun around, lifted his 12-gauge and filled the Madison County air with No. 8 lead. […]