2018 Started Right

We got to the ffamous Christmas Place and the world renowned Droptine Lodge this weekend to get after the deer as the new year started. I even brought my old friend Matt Parham even though he is a banker. Friday afternoon the shooting started and when the smoke finally cleared Burney had 2 hogs and so did Matt.
I t was really cold the next morning and Spencer got an antlerless deer, but Burney came through after lunch and got this really wide 6 point that had been roaming around trying to get shot.

Looks like a great start for 2018!

Crappie New Year!!!

Thousands packed the street in Water Valley while the Big Creek marching band played "Hail To The Fish" and watched the seconds count down at the First Annual Crappie Drop in Water Valley. Refreshments of all types flowed freely in the frigid atmosphere as the joyous and rowdy crowd roared as the big fish dropped at the stroke of midnight. A great night, a fun night and a hope for a prosperous and Happy New Year!
(PS No fish were injured in the event)

Holiday Hunting News

While I was curled up under my blanket resting on my laurels, the rest of the camp members were hunting like crazy. Michael got in his yearly 2 days of hunting and shot this nice 10 point on the Taj Mahal stand.

The next day, Paul, suffering a dose of Droptine fever managed to shoot this 9 point on the edge of the cottonfield. I think it was hiding under the ammonia tank.

In related news the camphouse at the famous Christmas Place has been named Droptine Lodge.
Sounds appropriate, wonder where they got that from?

A Droptine Christmas

I have hunted up that lake this year 'til I was blue in the face and finally realized I needed a new plan. I was hunting where the deer weren't, I needed to hunt where the deer was.
I decided to hunt the south cornfield. Everyone tried to get me to change my mind so I knew it must be red hot. It Was!
At 5 o'clock the field was full of deer and this big 10 point with a droptine stepped out. BLAM!
The big buck did not run far and after I checked it I walked out to the edge of the cottonfield to smoke and wait for dark so I could pick up the other hunters.
Out of the woods comes  couple of hogs, BLAM! I got that SOB too!
Erin, Mason, Stewart Allen and I ended up loading them up after a wild hunt through the cottonfield for the hog. This was definitely a wonderful  Droptine Christmas!!!

from the neighbors trail cam

Return of the Iowa Kid

I take it back. Trent must have learned something from his hunt in Iowa. He returned to the Christmas Place on Christmas Eve morning and blasted this very nice 8-pt with a 19 inch spread. He hunted the new stand at the Point that Mark and I put up after complaining about it. Well, Well.
Congratulations on a fine deer!

Christmas Place Notes and Quotes

from Paulooge
"Are there no hanging poles?"
"Are the deer farms and Taxidermist still in business?"
"The deer that we can't get there should be shot to reduce the excess population"

Poor Burney can't get to camp. Today is only the 38th day in a row that he went hunting.
Trent can't kill a deer on a plantation in Iowa where they tie them to a tree for you to shoot and now he is complaining because he hasn't killed a deer at camp this year.
Mark Stewart got his hog, I didn't know what to do so I called his cell phone and made hog grunts at him until I heard him run off the road.
Me (Rex) I am alone for Christmas in front of a roaring fire watching Christmas movies and dreaming about grunting up big old bucks.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

A Hog For Christmas

Mark Stewart left the camp to go blast a nice big buck, but what he found as he entered the North Cornfield made him change his mind. The whole field looked like it had been recently plowed without anything growing to show the nice food plot it was just a week ago. His eyes narrowed, he turned red, he was so mad that deer hunting disappeared from his mind and an old saying came to him "Death to Hogs!"
He climbed in the stand and put his rifle aside, he would wait for whatever hateful creature had the gall to destroy our field. Deer came and went, not interested. Just before dark a huge black shadow eased out of the woods about 75 yards away. A giant hog! A damn She-Devil! He grabbed his gun and drew down. BLAM! right in the neck. The hog took off like a bolt of lightning across the field.
When Paul showed up after killing his puny hog, they couldn't lift the Monster Mark shot, so we all went to get it that night. It was the biggest hog ever taken by Mark at 260 lbs. You would have thought he shot a 14-point buck he was so happy. Merry Christmas Mark!

A Lammey Gets His Buck????

Yes indeed, these are strange time when the Howell's have to look at a picture of a big buck killed by a Lammey. Maybe things are changing for the better.
James Lammey (our cousin) took this fine buck up at Abbeville last weekend. Very cool split browtines! Congratulations!!!!!!!

I am sure he will be glad to give a few hunting lessons to the members at the Christmas Place.

Tiny Goes Down

On a weekend when the rut finally kicked in and deer were running everywhere, my brother Paul (Satan) managed to shoot the buck we affectionately called Tiny. 190 lbs. with an 18 inch spread and large points on each side except for tiny, tiny browtines. The big  8-pt buck was taken across the Beaverdam, (no, you are not allowed to hunt over there),  late Friday afternoon.
PS The main part of the rut will be this weekend and I am free!

I Hate Telephones

The phone rings
Satan says "Ohh, the weather's cold. Those big bucks are jumping everywhere, too bad you're not going to be at camp this weekend" Click!
Burney calls (do any of these people have a damn job)
"Hey Rex, Man it's going to be great camp this weekend. The rut just hit full time. Probably will be the best weekend of the year. I'm thinking about hunting up the backside of the lake. Don't mind do you?" HA-HA. Click!
Mark then calls and says "I'm leaving at 11AM on Friday, the wind is perfect, the bucks are running and I hear you are going to stay home and vacuum the house. Too damn bad" Click!
I hate telephones.

A Long Hot Deer Season

I was in the 70's this past weekend at the famous Christmas Place. Just right for sunbathing in your stand bur not for deer hunting. On top of that, the Super Moon had deer swarming around the camp all night long while we sat around the fire and did some serious pontificating.
Marian came over and we hunted one afternoon together which was fun and see seemed overjoyed to see how all the leaves were turning and I think really had a good time, even though her leg won't work and we made her sleep back in the bunk room with the rats. NO DEER.
Cold weather is coming though. Here I am pontificating about that no-good rascal Thunderhoof.

Here is a picture of all the sunbathers, I mean hunters

Terry, Satan, Beezelbub, Spencer, Marian, Rex, Tim (Thunderhoof not pictured)

We Lost Our Great Friend Bobby

This past weekend we lost our great cousin Bobby Howell, Burney's Dad. We had Thanksgiving Dinner and Friday had to go to Senatobia for the funeral. He had a great life as a trapper, hunter, fisherman and all around outdoorsman. He has been a staple with our camp for over 30 years and worked with me for several years at Howell Realty while we were changing over to Howell Realty and Appraisal.
 Everyone of us are going to miss him.
He was also very sociable and when I was actually killing deer he would always help me get it in. His idea was to go look at it, poke it with his cane, say :That's a good one" and get back in the truck while I busted a hernia getting the deer up to the tailgate. I am going to miss his quick wit and funny stories and the way he was always a major part of the Howell Deer Camp.
PS I bought that coat for him in the picture and think it was his favorite. Also we have not killed a damn buck yet!

The Island of Misfit Deer

This weekend I will start my annual trip to the Island of Misfit Deer. Going by boat, I will once again do my duty to check on these poor misshapen deer. The island is filled with big bucks with grotesque and gruesome antlers that I am sure no decent hunter would want adorning their walls. 27 pointer, double or triple drop tines, split brow tines, massive horns pointing in every direction,irregular horns so big that they can not be calculated by any known measurement. Somebody has to do this. Wish me Luck!

Opening Weekend Gun Season 2017

no deer, no hogs, no activity, no nothing

Introducing #42 Maralyn Bullion

This past weekend we celebrated my Aunt Maralyn Bullion's 95th birthday. It was a surprise party that did not surprise her but we had a great time. The secret she did not know was that she was going to be honored on the field during the OLE MISS game the next day.
James, Missy, Kent, Marijean, Denise, her daughter Alexis and boyfriend Curtis and myself are in the stands when Kent says "There she is out on the field" James says "I can't see her, what number is she wearing?" We decide it must be #42 cause she is a half back if I ever saw one. Unfortunately she did not get to play, but it was great to see her honored by OLE MISS on the field.

Brock Howell My Friend

I have waited 2 weeks to post this and it hurts too much to talk much about it, so I will keep this post short and when the time comes that I can write about fun times I will.
My nephew, my friend, my partner, my buddy has left us. He died in his sleep. He was 25 and worked with me here at HOWELL APPRAISAL. He was good, kind, conscientious, intelligent, very good at his job and a true friend. You don't get many like that in a lifetime. I will miss him always.
This is my most favorite picture. Having fun on Bourbon St after the Sugar Bowl.

Worlds Largest Squirrel Taken

Squirrel Camp was a blazing success this year at the famous Christmas Place. James Howell, bee profiteer, blasted this giant Squirrel, to take the world record on squirrels. There is a slight dispute as most of our so-called hunters were too drunk to say they actually examined the beast. Some of the others wouldn't know a squirrel from a porcupine, and others said it might be a wild hog, but they are not very reputable. So.. you heard it here first!

Squirrel Camp Jubilee!

This weekend is the Hershel Howell Memorial Squirrel Camp 2017. This means a little squirrel hunting and a lot of toasts and drinking around a campfire while celebrating life, my Dad, good times, and remembered fallen comrades along the way.
Plus there will be Squirrel and Dumplings Saturday Night. Yum! Yum!

Happy Birthday Silver Fox

Today is the Chief's birthday and even though he is not with us, our thoughts are with him. I am sure he is on a frosty ridge somewhere in heaven with his shotgun waiting on a big fat squirrel to show.
Then back to the camp where all his friends are hanging out before going to the golf course. 

Giant Rat Species Discovered in BUNK ROOM

Scientists and Ratologists today announced the discovery of a new giant rat species discovered in the Bunkroom at the famous Christmas Place. Dwellers in the hell hole said "We thought it was a deer, since we've never shot one." Burney Howell said "I never said anything because they sleep in my bed and keep me warm in the winter" The new species is expected to be named after Mr. Howell.
Burneykus-Infectivo-Ratilacious
https://www.seeker.com/earth/animals/a-giant-coconut-eating-giant-rat-was-discovered-in-the-solomon-islands
PS It would eat coconuts if we had any.