Mule Deer in Mississippi

I have been worried about my friend over at
Mule Deer Fanatic. The season is over and he has got the shakes. Being the nice guy I am, I decided to post a picture of a trophy Mule Deer that was recently spotted in Mississippi. Hope this will last him till the season starts again.

Idaho Fish

Spuds, Idaho> Have received a link today from a big fisherman in Idaho known as EagleEyes. His blog is Idaho Fishing Times Blog He is keeping up with all aspects of a great tradition.
He knows as much about fish as Phillip knows about hogs.
Here is what I know about Idaho. Dad was on an elk hunt and had not done any good. Time was running out and it was time to do something drastic. He took their guide over to the side that night and laid several $100 bills in his hands and told him, "I know that you have a secret spot where I can kill an elk, Show me where to go" Early the next morning he took him to his secret place called "Hells' Roaring Canyon" He saw a big elk and shot it, but that is a different story.

Monday Again

Joe Dirt sent a pic of a nice turkey he took a few years ago.

We did not make camp this weekend. It was cold, rainy and the wind was blowing about 40 miles per hour. The kids had no desire to sit around all day doing nothing.
I worked on some stories, watched TV and kept the fire going. I did watch National Treasure last night. Makes you wonder where in the world do I get my ideas from doesn't it. Hope the weather is better today and tonight is the big social party of the season here. As a world famous blogger, I am sure I will be signing autographs, and meeting the rich and famous at Snookys' Party.

Turkey Season Updates

We will be posting our friends pics that get turkeys or want to share a turkey pic from years past. I have mentioned that Hershel Howell once again got his turkey.
Phillip over at the Hog Blog got his too. A little strange though. There is a lot of pale white coloration in the picture. There is a bunch on the turkey too. Down here we call those DOMESTICATED turkeys.
I wonder if Matt and the Captain have figured out how to hook a turkey with that famous, but unseen BIO-rod over at Bright Ideas Outdoors.
I need to contact Bills' dad over at Muskoka Outdoors and see if he has taken a turkey for his son yet. Don't forget to send those pics!

Photography Award

Photoshop, MS> Awards just keep pouring in. As the hunting editor at The Bodock Times, I am asked to travel all over the word to hunt. Recently I was given a big raise and an award for my outstanding (in a cornfield) photography. Mr. Brown has nothing on me. These art-deco cufflinks were created in the 40's? or 50's? If anyone knows the value or real origin of such things please email me.

Turkey Hunting the Hard Way

Oldstory, MS> A couple of years ago I took my gigantic friend Chris Ostrander down to hunt turkeys at the famous Christmas Place. He had no luck, but of course, Dad got his turkey.
Dad was hunting at the Double White Oak field and had built a blind with his back against a big log. Calling that morning had produced no results, when suddenly a gigantic gobbler cut loose directly behind him! He eased around and peeped under the log and watched it approach. It strutted and gobbled up to him, but was just on the other side of the log. He knew if he moved the turkey would get away. Thinking quickly, he reached under the log and grabbed the turkey by his feet. This proved more trouble than it was worth, with the turkey beating the hell out of his arms, and squawking wildly. He couldn't let go, and could not grab his gun either. He had to think fast. He quickly let go of the turkey, snatched up his box call, called the turkey around the end of the log and shot it!

A Meeting With Moonshiners

Harvest Moon, MS> We bought the famous Christmas Place in the spring of 1995. The first thing we did was start renovating the brick house into our camp house, and then we brought a bulldozer in to open up all the old roads and create food plots. Before we knew it, time had moved to early fall and we were itching to get out and really explore for deer sign and find a good place to hunt for the fall. During that time, I located the Pond Stand where I hunted that year, but Trent had an unexpected and terrifying ordeal.
He was scouting up in the Spike Camp area and it was late in the afternoon. He had seen a couple of deer while scouting and sat down and waited till they moved on and then realized that it was now dark. He figured he would cut across country till he hit the old road and locate his 4-wheeler there. He set out as the last of the daylight slipped away. It was the dark of the moon and the woods quickly became jet black as he crossed the deep hollows. He walked, trying to keep a straight line, but soon lost his way in the deep and twisting ravines. It was getting late and so dark that you could hardly see your hand in front of your face. He headed down another one of the steep slopes and at the sandy bottom, he looked way up it and could see a light. He thought it was one of us and moved in that direction. As he got closer, a strange smell hit his nostrils. It was sweet and also sickening, he also realized that the light was the glow of a campfire.
He wondered, what the hell we were doing?
He entered the glow of the fire and saw a man sitting on a log across the fire from him. The man was staring at him and Trent said “hello” The bearded man dressed in old overhauls and a brim hat smiled and said “Hello, heard you comin’, what brings you up here?” Trent stepped closer and said “We just bought this property and I’m heading back to our camp.” Then added “I think you are on posted property” The man stuck a stick in the fire, and Trent realized that 4 or 5 big burly men had stepped out of the shadows behind him.
His eyes had adjusted and his glance around also revealed several large drums, piles of wood, boxes of plastic jugs, and two large metal stills bubbling in a cleared spot to the side that seemed to emit the odor he had smelled. He recognized the copper coils that fed down into a large drum. He also knew that he was in trouble.
The men crowded up close behind him and Trent said, “Look, I’m just passing through and don’t want any trouble”, the man cut him off by saying “You’re one of those Howells’ aren’t you? We heard you posted this place and that y’all are not going to let any of us run our dogs on here anymore. That’s too bad. We’re moving all our stuff out tonight, but you ought to have a drink with us before we go.” The quick rabbit punch to Trent’s kidney, knocked him to his knees and the men proceeded to beat him to the ground. They held him down as the man walked over and said “Time for you to have a drink.” One of the men had gone over to the still and dipped out a gallon paint bucket of the sour mash, they forced him up, held his face, covered his nose, forced open his mouth and started pouring it in. He gasped and almost drowned as they forced the vile mash down his throat. He could see corn, rotten fruit and meat and other things as the liquid poured all over him and was forced into him. They held tight to him and kept bringing more unto he threw up into it. They never quit, they just kept forcing it into his mouth.
Trent doesn’t know how long it lasted. it seemed hours but was probably about 15 minutes. Finally, they released him, threw him to the ground and started beating and kicking him as he lay there. Puking, trying to ward off blows, he had little chance and lost consciousness.
We found Trent the next afternoon, crawling out of the woods. He was bloody, beaten and sick. He had several cracked ribs and was sick for two weeks.
The Holmes County Sheriff and deputies went in with us and all we found were some tire tracks leading out of the hollow, part of the still, a few crates and a still smoldering fire. We never found out who they were and Trent has never recognized any of the men. We thought about selling, but stuck it out.
If you smell that sweet sickening odor or see something that might be Moonshiners, get the hell out of there as fast as possible. They do not like to be disturbed.

Where's My Pith Helmet?

Cheetah, Africa> You know, I go over and visit KeesKennis all the time. I leave comments and send him cute stuff to post too. I don't get half of his jokes but God knows I'm trying. Why won't he send me one of those snazzy pith helmets they wear over there? He even has them with his name on them. Jones gave me a hat, so did Matt and Jim, but NOooo! He is keeping them to himself.

I watch all his old TV shows about KeesKennis and the Cats' Mother when they first came to Africa. Those serials sure were fun when I was a kid! Of course, he called himself Jungle Jim then.
All those guys walking around in safari clothes, wearing big pith hats. Those things are handy too! If someone is throwing rocks at you, the top of your head is safe, no snakes can bite you on the head and they give shade to your eyes. They also were handy for deflecting spears.
On top of that, there is no telling how many terrible natives he has killed with his pith hat. Kind of like Oddjob in 007. I just like the name pith. Pith, Pith, Pith. I pithy the fool... I'm digressing
I even read the book he wrote with a little help from some guy named Stanley. It's all about his early explorations of the dark continent.
Maybe if I make more cool comments on his site, eventually he will send me one.

New World Record Turkey?

Doug Leier has the skinny over at North Dakota Outdoors and Beyond

Shotgun Boogie

When I was five, we must of listened to this song about 1,000,000 times. We dreamed of shooting fat squirrels, rabbits, and doves with our trusty shotguns and trying to figure out the hidden mysteries of sex. The feathers flew!
Tennessee Ernie Ford had a deep voice mixed with the boogie beat. We also listened to the song 16 Tons too. Here is my attempt at it called 16 Horns.
My first video link with Youtube!

Famous Quotes

Webster, MS> Great quotes stay with you. My friend over at Dazd and Confuzed has a great one from a regular genius in his sidebar and I thought I would add one in mine.
It is from Cliff at Hunting Sense. "This is the X-files of the Hunting World" As they say "Brilliant!"
A few more great quotes.
Hershel- "I'm surrounded by idiots"
Paul- "Shoot first, Count later"
Trent- "Work? It's deer season"
Rex- " Keep your cigarette smoke in your face"
Burney- "Paul, where's a good place to hunt?"
Mark- "I couldn't get my scope on him"
Drew- "If nobody wants it, I'll hunt there!"
Bobby- "I believe I would have shot that one"

Who's Your Daddy?

Patriarch, MS> Famed land baron and deer pamperer, Hershel Howell, still rules the famous Christmas Place with an iron fist. His reply after killing this nice turkey was " if you want a job done right, do it yourself" All the members at the camp mumbled under their breath and hit the woods. Hershel relaxed, it had been a long year. All you visitors and bloggers send me your turkey pics!

Turkey Hunting

Success at Squirrel Road!!

Fowl Ridge, MS> Hershel Howell did not give up on the turkeys as the temps dipped this last weekend. Braving the cold weather he headed for the area known as Squirrel Road. This spot has a good food plot and 4 Indian Mounds around it. He set up and started calling. At 8:00 a turkey gobbled near him and he worked it in for a shot.
The large gobbler weighed 18 lbs and had a Ten and 1/2 inch beard. Will have pics of Dad with the turkey later. Congrats on a great hunt and a well deserved turkey!
In related news, my sneaky brother, Paul, has seen nothing and heard nothing. I guess getting beaten by an 80 year old man with hearing aids is pretty humiliating, huh, Paul? Here is a pic of the bulletin board in Dads' office where he has most of the spurs and beards of his turkeys, along with the pics of all our hunting endeavors.
turkey hunting

Monday Blahs

Water Valley, MS> I did not make the camp this weekend and of course there is some major BREAKING NEWS from there that I will post on later.
Jones managed to screw the Masters up somehow this week. It was too cold to play golf so I spent my time in front of the fire watching the tournament. It ended pretty well with a new champion. Congratulations to Zach!

Tchula News

Thunderhoof Appreciation Day

Reprinted from Black Bear Blog

Bambi, MS> This weekend Denise and I, plus the kids, are riding over to Tchula for Thunderhoof Appreciation Day. This is an annual event celebrating the Deer King of the Delta. Thousands of tourists will be there along with newspaper reporters from all over the world. It should be a great time.
This year they are dedicating a LIFESIZE statue of Thunderhoof to guard the entrance to Hillside National Wildlife Refuge. This will be a great event followed by Thunderhoof riding the kids (20 at a time) around the main square.
Later they will hold the National Buck Grunting Contest. This is where Tom Remington really is. He does not want to be embarrassed if he loses.
There will be buck races, and antler wrestling, followed by everyone’s favorite game, Fool the Hunter.
Thunderhoof will sign autographs and pose for pictures.
There will be deer bumper cars, a ferris wheel, and lots of vendors selling hunter camo, deer stands, lure and lots of wooden Thunderhoof toys. The food vendors sell a great antler shaped funnel cake!

Then as the evening falls and night settles in you get ready for the Grand Finale.
The highlight of the event is that night all the kids gather around campfires while Thunderhoof tells great stories of the Delta before Man came. He also tells his favorite funny stories about the hunters that he has tricked and scared.
He always tells his wild tale of his encounter with Paul Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox.
How he whipped the Blue Ox and sent them both packing to Minnesota.
The kids all cheer at the end as Thunderhoof bows, and then quickly rears up as thousands of flashbulbs explode and people get the picture of the evening. He exits at a run leaving lightning flashing and the roll of thunder as he disappears back to the bluffs of the famous Christmas Place.
It is something that you should not miss!

Back From Augusta

Amen Corner, MS> Greg Jones aka Old Scratch has arrived back home from his trip to the
Masters Golf Tounament. He has some great stories that hopefully he will post soon. He brought us back some really cool tees, and Masters 2007 Hats.
They are not Sportsman's Blog hats or Bright Idea Outdoors visors, but they are just as cool and it was a really nice thought for him to get me one. Thank you old friend!

Easter Weekend

Splish Splash, MS> Easter weekend is always very big at the famous Christmas Place Rod, Rack and Spurs Camp. Usually everyone comes in and spends the weekend turkey hunting in the mornings and fishing with the kids in the afternoon. This weekend we are supposed to launch our pontoon boat (The Othmar) but do not know if it will be done. The fishing is great when they are biting. Mostly we jig around the edges and can catch 20-30 bass and crappie in a couple of hours. When the brim are hitting you can catch a boatload. We use small jigs and Dad even uses his fly rod for some fun.
The weather is cool but beautiful. I think the turkeys will finally come in to the calls and I expect Pauls kids to catch fish like crazy. Sunday morning is set aside to go into Yazoo City for Easter services at the big Methodist Church there. It is very beautiful and interesting too.I do not know if I will be able to get there but I'm trying. As you can see, my Dad can catch a fish!

Shot While Hunting

Malmaison, MS> This turkey hunting should never be taken lightly. Put me in the woods with 100 guys raised turkey hunting and I would feel safe. Put me in the woods with one person that does not know what he is doing and I am terrified.
I was terribly sick the morning Dad and Paul loaded up to go hunting on Malmaison Management Area and missed the trip.
The call came in from the Grenada Emergency Room a little after noon that my father had been shot. My mother panicked and we were all unbelieving that it could happen.
Paul told me the story later.
They had set up that morning and were successful in getting two gobblers to answer their calls. They worked them for about an hour trying to get them to come in. Finally after they had hung up again, Dad said he was going to move back a little and maybe Paul could get a shot as they moved in. He moved and called again. The turkeys did move in closer and finally a nice gobbler got close enough to shoot. Paul raised his shotgun. BOOM!!! The shot sounded and Paul looked to see if Dad had shot for some reason. He saw him lying on the ground covered in blood. He rushed to his side and all my Dad could say was "Paul, Why did you shoot me?" Paul tried to stop the blood flow and wipe his face, all the while telling him that it wasn't him and not quite understanding what had happened, when a man stepped out of the woods and ran over to help. He and Paul worked on making Dad comfortable while the man babbled how sorry he was, that he thought my Dad was a turkey.
He had been crawling through the woods for an hour sneaking up on them and was so excited that when he finally saw movement, he fired. They got him up, stopped as much blood flow as possible, put his arms over their shoulders and headed for the truck. Luckily they met their hunting party and with their help, quickly got him into the back of the vehicle. The unknown hunter said he would follow them into the Grenada Hospital. We never saw or heard from him again.
Dad had been on one knee and the shot had slammed him from head to toe. He was wearing shooting glasses and that is the only thing that saved his sight. The doctors picked out the lead as much as they could, put a couple of bandaids on him and sent him home. He still has shot in his skull and jaw today and occassionally a piece comes out of his skin. He is a tough old cuss. He is the most careful person I know of in the woods and has taught us from birth how to be safe in the woods. Still he was shot by one over-anxious hunter. Watch closely and be very careful. Moose has posted a very complete Turkey Hunting Code of Ethics that everyone should review before heading to the woods.

A Good Memory

When someone kills a deer at the famous Christmas Place, it is always a time to celebrate, but when 2 or 3 get deer at the same time it really creates a great memory and bond with everyone. Kidding about antler size and weight, sharing the story of the hunt and making a great time for all.
Here is Burney and myself on a successful day.