November 2012 Archives - Page 3 of 3

Sharing a common border with both Alabama and Tennessee, this month we pick the pockets of Shoals Area Crappie Association angler Darrell Keil to find out his favorite 10 crappie fishing hotspots for Pickwick Lake.

Crappie Hotspots – Pickwick Lake

November 1, 2012 Phillip Gentry

Located at the most-northern reach of the Tom-Bigbee Waterway, Pickwick Lake is synonymous with crappie fishing to many anglers in the tri-state areas of Northeast Mississippi, Northwest Alabama, and Southern Tennessee.

Pickwick’s clear waters are in stark contrast to most of Mississippi’s other notable crappie lakes, but its reputation as a slab crappie fishery is well earned.

As cooler weather settles in for the season, two things occur that help crappie anglers hone in on their favorite game fish. With flood control as one of the lake’s primary objectives, the Tennessee Valley Authority begins drawing the impoundment down to winter pool. In reaction to both the receding and cooling water, crappie tend to congregate along the main channels of Pickwick’s major tributaries. […]

Youth hunters may use any firearm allowed in the legal weapons for deer hunting descriptions for that specific WMA, which means they may carry center-fire rifles at Old River.

Know the hunting regs for Old River WMA

November 1, 2012 Chris Ginn

One of the responsibilities of hunting public lands is becoming familiar with all the rules and regulations that come with these wildlife management areas. Unless you want to lose future hunting privileges at Old River WMA, it’s important to know some of the most basic regulations. […]

No need to worry about which side of the state line you’re on as all three of the states that border Pickwick have a reciprocal fishing license agreement that covers the majority of the lake, including all of the hotspots mentioned.

Reciprocal fishing license agreements on Pickwick

November 1, 2012 Phillip Gentry

Nobody likes getting a ticket, whether you’re driving a car or fishing in a lake. To avoid both, slow down and know the rules. […]

This picture that the author saw after church one day shows two big bucks crossing the Pearl River – proof that deer readily spend time on Old River WMA and the Bogue Chitto NWR.

Ground hunting for deer works in thick river bottomland

November 1, 2012 Chris Ginn

While hunting from the ground might sound like a good way to spot more deer during the early part of the hunting season when green vegetation still hangs from understory plants, that doesn’t necessarily mean hunters should hunt out of ground blinds. […]

The bigger the bait, the bigger the catfish that will eat it.

Cold Cats — Tips for catching more November catfish

November 1, 2012 David Hawkins

The surface was still on Ross Barnett Reservoir. I wondered how the view of the boat’s wake appeared to the passengers of an airliner as it banked for the final approach into Jackson-Evers International. […]

Hunting from the ground is a good way to get kids involved in deer hunting at Old River WMA.

Post-Katrina logging a boon for Old River WMA deer and hunters

November 1, 2012 Chris Ginn

Although Old River WMA in Mississippi and Bogue Chitto NWR in Louisiana share a border with the same river, managers of these public lands took drastically different routes after Hurricane Katrina blasted Southeast Louisiana and Mississippi in 2005. […]

Duck Down-low — Tips to keep birds falling into your decoy spread

November 1, 2012 John N. Felsher

With fewer ducks and more hunters competing for limited hunting territory, successful waterfowlers need to reach deep into their decoy sack of tricks. […]

Cover: November 2012

November 1, 2012 Mississippi Sportsman

Andy Lloyd’s massive buck killed last year on Morgan Brake NWR turned out to be the No. 2 typical deer taken in the state. […]

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 1, 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. […]

The red squirrel, or fox squirrel, as it is often called, is larger than the grey and is found in a number of color phases, including black.

Mississippi tree squirrels

November 1, 2012 Submitted Story

The grey squirrel is commonly referred to as the “cat squirrel” due to its cat-like call. The fox squirrel is often called the “red squirrel,” which leads to some confusion since there is a true “red squirrel” (Tamiasciurus sp.) found in the northeastern and western states. […]

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. […]