WW Fall23web

MISSISSIPPI FALL 23 PREMIER ISSUE
2023-2024
Hunting
Season
Details
Six Ways
to Eat a Deer
State
Record
Monster
Gator
Opening the
Outdoors
to Children with
Disabilities
Fishing
& Family
New Traditions, Trophies, & Memories

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Deviney Deviney Rental Rental and and Supply Supply
2173 2173 Hwy Hwy 51 51 N N
Madison Madison MS MS 39110 39110
601-859-0020 601-859-0020
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IN THIS ISSUE
Alligator Hunting: New Traditions, Trophies
& Memories 6
Fishing & Family 14
Super Hunt: Opening the Outdoors
for Children with Disablilties 20
Deer Recipes 32
Mississippi Hunting Seasons 35
A Hook & Line 40
An Eye For Wildlife 48
The Call of an Artisan 54
Woods&Water
MISSISSIPPI
As a North Mississippi child, I rode four-wheeler trails through
the woods around our rural home and ate wild muscadines from
giant vines that grew near those trails. For each changing season, the woods always supplied
beauties and joys I still carry in my fondest childhood memories.
The Tallahatchie River was less than a mile from our home – my homeplace that stood
on a hill almost exactly halfway between Oxford and New Albany on Highway 30. A creek
with a fishing hole was in walking distance from our front door – a creek that always
promised a catch of bream.
Our family enjoyed the annual dove shoots and the excitement of watching the sun rise
over the field we hoped would attract the most doves. I would crouch next to my daddy and
be ready to retrieve any dove that he was able to target. In years to come, we would add our
lab to the hunts which replaced my dove-retrieving assignment, but the dove shoot remained
a part of my fall calendar.
Because of my “woods and water”
background, putting this issue together
has been a rewarding experience. I’ve been
able to reflect on my childhood that was
blessed with God’s handiwork – up close
and personal!
STAFF
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Tahya Dobbs
CFO
Kevin Dobbs
CONSULTING EDITOR
Mary Ann Kirby
Special thanks to Joe Mac Hudspeth for
his amazing deer photography on our
cover and throughout this magazine.
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Barbie Bassett
CONTENT MANAGER
Susan Wolgamott
ADVERTISING
ASSISTANT
Melissa Kennon
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT
Alisha Floyd
LAYOUT DESIGN
Daniel Thomas
3dt
STAFF
PHOTOGRAPHER
Othel Anding
STAFF
ASSISTANT
Debby Francis
www.htmags.com / info@HTMags.com / 601.706.4059 / 200 Felicity Street / Brandon, MS 39042
All rights reserved. No portion of Mississippi Woods & Water may be reproduced without written
permission from the publisher. The management of Mississippi Woods & Water is not responsible
for opinions expressed by its writers or editors. Mississippi Woods & Water maintains the
unrestricted right to edit or refuse all submitted material. All advertisements are subject to
approval by the publisher. The production of Mississippi Woods & Water is funded by advertising.
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 3

4 FALL 2023

MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 5

6 FALL 2023

ALLIGATOR
HUNTING
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
New
Traditions,
Trophies, &
Memories
Ricky Flynt
The American alligator is a true North American wildlife conservation success story.
As the United States entered the early 1900s, alligators were heavily hunted across the
Southeast for their valuable hides. There were no laws or regulations to sustainably manage
America’s wildlife in that era, and alligators were no exception.
By the 1950s, alligators had become a rare sight across its range, prompting the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to protect the species under the Endangered
Species Act in 1967. For the next 20 years, state and federal wildlife agencies
enforced laws to reduce poaching and simultaneously began restoration efforts.
In the early 1970s, over 3,000 alligators were donated by Louisiana to be
relocated to suitable habitats in Mississippi.
Restoration efforts were successful. In 1987, the
American alligator was taken off the endangered
species list.
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 7

In addition, the USFWS, granted all management authority to
the states. Consequently, in 1988, the Mississippi Legislature granted
management authority to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife,
Fisheries, and Parks and the Mississippi Alligator Management and
Control Program was initiated in 1989.
During this era, biologists in Louisiana worked cooperatively with
private individuals to develop successful commercial alligator propagation
facilities (alligator farms) to produce commercial alligator hides
which would take the pressure off illegal wild alligator harvest. By the
mid-2000s, the Louisiana alligator farming industry produced between
275,000-300,000 alligators per year.
As populations across the Southeast rebounded, states implemented
limited alligator hunting opportunities. Louisiana was the first in 1972,
followed by Florida (1981), Texas (1984), Georgia (2003), Mississippi
(2005), Alabama (2006), Arkansas (2007), and South Carolina (2008).
Alligator hunting is still a relatively new opportunity, but it has
quickly become extremely popular in the Magnolia State. The MDWFP
opened Mississippi’s first alligator hunting season on September 16, 2005,
along a small portion of the Pearl River just north of the Ross Barnett
Reservoir. Opportunities gradually expanded over the following years.
By 2013, alligator season opened, statewide, and included all public
waterways which were divided among seven geographical hunting
zones. Nine-hundred sixty statewide permits are now issued annually.
Alligator hunting is the newest hunting opportunity in the state and
there’s nothing else quite like it. Hunters who were drawn in the early
years faced a huge learning curve. Therefore, the MDWFP created a
mandatory alligator hunting training course. From 2005 to 2012, over
5,000 hunters participated in the course. Many course participants have
described it as a vital influence to promote safe and successful hunting.
The training course is now provided online.
8 FALL 2023

There have been many changes during the 19 years of expanding
alligator hunting opportunities, but one thing has remained constant...
public interest and a group of passionate hunters who were thirsty for
information. Unsurprisingly, in the age of social media, a special
Facebook page was launched for Mississippi alligator hunting enthusiasts.
This created a network of like-minded hunters to share information
about hunting techniques, equipment,
safety items, regulation updates, hunting
photos, processing, and trophy ideas. The
Mississippi Alligator Hunters Facebook
Page (MAHFP) was created by Wade
Robinson of Brandon and Brad Baugh
of Boyle in 2010 and has now grown to
over 4,800 members. The MAHFP is
recognized as a beneficial resource
promoting safety, legal methods,
information on regulation changes,
drawing procedures, and proper care
and use of the resources. It has
created a comradery among alligator
hunters and established a network
of hunters who work together to share information and assist anyone
new to alligator hunting.
Alligator hunting is most often a group experience and offers a unique
way for family and friends to share the outdoors. From pre-school age to
age 82, from as far away as California and Canada, husbands and wives,
mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, grandfathers and grandmothers,
friends and co-workers can share the entire adventure together. Alligator
hunting has also introduced many people
to hunting for the first time ever. In fact,
MDWFP license data indicates that on
average 150-200 alligator hunters each year
are first time hunting license customers.
This is a vitally important statistic in an
era of declining hunting license sales and
hunter recruitment.
Hunters often take pride in the many
traditions like passing down a cherished
shotgun, hunting vest, knife, or pickup truck.
There is also the opening weekend social at
the hunting camp, or even cut shirt tails for
missed shots at deer. Many of these traditions
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 9

may involve creative ways to preserve memories, like taxidermy
mounts and display cases of cherished firearms, knives, fishing
lures, and shirt tails pinned to the hunting club “wall of shame.”
Hunters are now creating ways to utilize the benefits of their
harvest beyond the traditional taxidermy mounts and delicious
alligator meat recipes. Alligator hunters are preserving their
memories with items constructed from alligator hides, teeth,
claws and osteoderms (the boney protective plates on the back
of an alligator). There are the typical items created from tanned
hides, such as boots, belts, wallets, gun holsters, knife scabbards,
key chains, and jewelry. Now, Mississippi alligator hunters are
using social media to share extremely
creative new ideas. They are using hides
and bones for picture frames, letter
openers, drink koozies, bow ties, book
covers, gun slings, and more. These
unique items evoke the conversations to
share the stories of the adventures for
generations to come and share the story
of alligator hunting and conservation.
Camaraderie has created traditions and superstition
for many hunting parties. Brad Baugh of Boyle,
Mississippi, always has a supply of good luck peanut
M&Ms, RC Cola, and Big Red sodas on board while
hunting. The hunting team of Tom Grant, also of Boyle,
keeps Oreo cookies on board that are shared after every
successful capture.
Tina Brooks of Philadelphia, Mississippi, says,
“Our boat never leaves the ramp without a supply of
Gator Goobers (Cajun-style boiled peanuts).” Brad
Martin and his wife Debi, of Vicksburg, have a
tradition of approaching the boatramp while
rocking-out to Thunderstruck by AC/DC.
Ashley Harris of Canton
says, “There is nothing
I enjoy more than alligator
hunting with my son and
wife. It’s a family event
that we anticipate all year
long. We are hooked!”
10 FALL 2023

Drew Holliman of Hernando, Mississippi, says,
“The opportunity to share the experience with my elevenyear-old
daughter and watch her battling a 6-foot alligator
on the rod and reel all by herself...that’s a lifetime memory.”
One hunter, Jimmy Greer of Gluckstadt, incorporated his wedding
proposal to Elizabeth Ratcliff Greer one night during a family-filled
gator hunt. Elizabeth is proud of the fact that alligator hunting has had
such influence in their lives. Elizabeth says, “It has always been a family
affair. It’s how Jimmy and I met.“
As the former alligator program coordinator for over 20 years, I’ve
been fortunate to interact with thousands of alligator hunters. It has
been extremely rewarding to listen to their adventures, traditions,
superstitions, and their proudest moments and memories. Yet, none
have been more satisfying than a comment from an unnamed older
gentleman, one late night, alligator hunting on the backwaters of the
Mississippi River. He told me, “Sir, I’m 82 years old. I remember when
we didn’t have any deer or alligators, much less enough to hunt them.
This alligator hunt has been the most exciting thing I have ever done
in my life. And, to boot, I have my
son and my granddaughter here to
experience it with me. Thank you
for this opportunity.”
Those are the kind of moments
that make a career in wildlife
management and conservation
worthwhile.
Ricky Flynt of Brandon, MS is the former
MDWFP alligator program coordinator
(2003-2023)
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 11

ANATOMY
of a fish hook
12 FALL 2023

MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 13

14 FALL 2023

Fishing
& FamilySarah Rein
As a writer, you are sometimes asked to
write about topics that are familiar to you.
The questions come easily, the verbiage is
not new. And then, occasionally, you find
yourself writing about a world that is
completely foreign to you.
On the subject of crappie fishing (which I
initially mispronounced and left my husband
snickering at me), I am quite the novice. But,
if you ever find yourself researching unfamiliar
territory, I hope your guides will be as
patient and informative as Dan and Hayden
Jeffries were to me.
After I began some initial digging into the
sport, it did not take me long to realize that
this father-son duo from Brandon is a big
deal. In fact, their names were plastered across
most of the sites I clicked on. Though not as
well-publicized as bass fishing tournaments,
crappie trails can be found at the state level
from Oklahoma to Ohio to Florida to our own
Mississippi. And that’s not to mention the
national level trails boasting grand prizes in
the tens of thousands.
Unbelievably, in the six years since a
friend took them crappie fishing for the first
time, Dan and Hayden have won twenty-six
tournaments, including four state championships.
Hayden, a twenty-two year old with
a calm demeanor and pleasant smile
shares, “I have been fishing almost
since I could walk. But once
we were introduced to
crappie fishing,
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 15

16 FALL 2023

we just really pursued it for enjoyment….as a
hobby at first. We decided to fish our first
competitive tournament at Ross Barnett four
years ago. For a few years, we would just
enter that one annually. Then, we got the wild
idea of chasing the state trail.”
We pause so his father, Dan, can explain
the lingo to me. Clubs have tournaments
every month on a different lake in Mississippi
and “chasing the trail” means following the
tournament route. The Jeffries began that on
the state level in 2020 and entered their first
national tournament in September of 2021.
They came in 10th out of 104 boats - a big
confidence booster which propelled them to
their second place win at the next national
tournament a month later.
I’m still not sure I had wrapped my mind
around the staggering success these men
experienced until Hayden off-handedly
mentions that in 2022 they won three
national tournaments and a total of $220,000.
Upon further investigation, I discovered that
this is akin to winning the Triple Crown in
horse-racing and, as far as the Jeffries know,
has never been done before.
Hayden, who is one course shy of
completing his business administration degree
and works as a full-time fishing guide at other
times of the year, usually heads to a tournament
location early in the week to scout
things out, practice, and find the big fish.
Dan and his wife Katie then join Hayden
closer to the weekend where Katie acts as
“team mom,” booking VRBO’s and making
sure everything is in order.
This family hobby-turned-career is the
product of decades of investment Dan and
Katie have made in the lives of their three
sons, of whom Hayden is the middle. Dan
shares, “When the boys were two, growing
up, I did everything I could to keep them
busy and outside. We hunted, fished, and
played every sport you can think of. In fact,
when all three boys were playing tournament
baseball, Katie and I often felt like we were
just passing each other in the night.”
Those sacrifices appear to have paid
huge dividends—and not just in wins and
prize money, although both men smile when
we discuss how successful their partnership
has been. By listening to them talk, it is
obvious Dan and Katie took their responsibility
as parents seriously and truly enjoy
the sons they have raised. ”Finding the time
to prioritize hobbies as a family, getting
outdoors together more, and directing our
childrens’ energy into productive avenues…..
these are things that I, as a young parent,
am glad to be reminded of,“ Katie continued.
As Hayden encourages,
“Just get out
there and try
something new.
Get
outside
and
enjoy.”
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 17

18 FALL 2023

MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 19

Opening the
Outdoors
20 FALL 2023

to Children
with Disabilities
Susan Marquez
For someone who loves the outdoors
as much as Alan Mumbower does, the
opportunity to take someone hunting
is a no-brainer. Alan worked for the
Mississippi Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries, and when a call went out for
volunteers to take children with disabilities
hunting, Alan jumped at the chance.
Thinking it was a one-time thing, Alan helped children
with disabilities go deer hunting in 2006. “It was an event called
Wheeling Sports, and it was sponsored by the National Wild
Turkey Federation,” he says. “The main thing was to get kids
with disabilities outdoors and into nature.”
The event continued, and over the years the name was
changed to Super Hunt. Open to children ages 6 to 17, and their
families, the event grew each year. “The events are held on
private land,” explains Alan. “We work closely with landowners
who dedicate their land, time, energy, and effort for an entire
weekend so that these families can have a wonderful outdoors
experience.”
When Alan left the Wildlife and Fisheries Department in
2018, there was no one to continue the Super Hunt. “I took
the event with me when I left, and a group of volunteers saw
the opportunity to form a board of directors and start a
not-for-profit organization to continue this work.”
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 21

22 FALL 2023

Southern Outdoors Limited is a non-profit organization
that focuses on getting children with disabilities outdoors.
“We also want parents to take a breath from their day-to-day
routine. What we do isn’t just for the kids. Entire families
benefit from this.”
In 2019 a turkey hunt was added. “We also do an alligator
hunt, which is really fun,” says Alan. ‘We do that for kids who
have aged out. It’s getting outdoors in a different way. They go
out in a boat at night. They love it.”
A summer introductory day is held each year with several
activities including fishing, shooting, hayrides, games, and nature
walks. Alan says that many of the participants started when they
were six, seven, or eight years old and now they are getting into
their teen years. “Once they do it, they keep coming back. It’s
just something very different from what they do on a daily basis.
Getting outdoors
in nature has a healing
effect. I can’t say enough
good things about it.”
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 23

24 FALL 2023

Alan says the organization works to get the word out
through the school systems. “Many of our kids know about us
because a teacher or school counselor told them and their
parents about us. And of course, people learn about us via word
of mouth, mostly from others who have participated. I wish we
had a big advertising budget, but all the funds we get go directly
into the program. We are a 100% volunteer program.”
This year’s Super Hunt will be held October 27 through 29.
You don’t have to be a hunter to help out. Volunteers are needed
to welcome kids and their families, help with registration, serve
food, help with parking, pass out the gifts, set up and tear down,
help with transportation, and help kids fish. Volunteer guides
are needed for the weekend. Guiding for the event helps
establish relationships and memories in one weekend that will
last a lifetime, regardless of the success of the hunt. Those who
have done it say being a guide is a life-changing experience.
“Interacting with the kids
and their families is what
it’s all about,”says Alan.
All children participating must have a medical form from a
doctor that describes their disability. “That’s so we, as non-medical
personnel, will know how to handle each child. Our events are
focused on the participants and their safety and enjoyment.”
Volunteers are encouraged to register online at
www.southernoutdoorsunlimited.org.
Additional questions can be directed to
info@southernoutdoorsunlimited.org
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 25

Woods&Water
MISSISSIPPI
We appreciate all of our
readers and advertisers!
26 FALL 2023

MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 27

28 FALL 2023

ADVERTISER SPOTLIGHT
Susan Marquez
What started as a business selling bumpers to body shops has
grown into a multi-location business that provides truck owners
with options to personalize their vehicles in a myriad of ways.
Rick’s Pro Truck was founded by Rick Estel in 1988. “My dad
would drop off bumpers to body shops, and while there, he would
pick up the wrecked bumpers and refurbish them,” says Justin Estel,
Rick’s son. “Then he’d sell the bumpers he fixed back to the body
shops.” That business model worked fine, but Rick saw that there
was an opportunity to do more.
“He built a store on I-55 South,” says Justin. “There was one
salesman and one installer. Back then they did mainly toolboxes,
drop-in bed liners, bug shields and dent visors.” During the early
1990s, the fad was to add painted fiberglass running boards, and
Rick’s Pro Truck did a lot of them. But as fads tend to do, that one
faded out. But Rick’s Pro Truck continued to grow.
By the mid-‘90s, Rick had purchased land on Lakeland Drive.
“When we opened in 1996, there wasn’t much else out that way.” But
as the area grew, so did Rick’s Pro Truck. “Around that time we also
started a wholesale business,” says Justin. “That grew like crazy, and
the retail side kept growing as well.” The warehouse was moved to
the back of the Lakeland location in 2000, and it continued to grow.
As the company expanded, the wholesale side of the business was
moved to Brandon. The retail side was busier than ever, evolving into
suspension lifts, spray-in bed liners, and any number of accessories to
make your truck your dream truck. From tires and wheels to running
boards, vent visors, hood protection, grills, lighting, front bumpers
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 29

and more, Rick’s has the parts and a professional
staff of installers. The commercial
division of the company is RPT, which opened
in 2017 in Pearl. That division is more focused
on fleet vehicles, with customization including
specialized beds and refrigeration units.
Yet another location of Rick’s Pro Trucks
opened in Gluckstadt in 2019. That location
offers all of the same services, but in a convenient
location for those who live in Madison
County. “We put a big focus on UTV accessories
for side-by-side vehicles,” Justin says.
“There are a lot of hunters in this area.”
The Gluckstadt location has many items
that appeal to a broad range of folks, including
Bayou Classic cooking supplies. “People who
have big crawfish boils love these products,”
Justin says. “The store also sells a large
selection of Maui Jim sunglasses for both men
and women. One of the latest editions to the
store are Young Electric Bikes USA. The
E-Flow is foldable and can fit in pretty much
any car or SUV for easy transport or storage.
It has a top speed of 28 miles per hour and has
a 90-mile range. Rick’s is also a Cajun Kooling
dealer with systems designed for the home or
patio. A simple remote control helps keep
mosquitos away while keeping the area cool.
30 FALL 2023

MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 31

Venison Cheesesteak
• 2 Tbsp. butter (divided)
• 1 green pepper (sliced)
• ½ sweet onion (sliced)
• 4 oz. mushrooms (sliced)
• 1 lb. venison steak (sliced ⅛” thick)
• 4 tsp. olive oil (plus more for cooking)
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 dahses liquid smoke
• ¼ tsp. fresh ground pepper
• 4 slices provolone cheese
• 2 hoagie rolls
• 2 Tbsp. mayo
• salt
Thinly slice the venison and place in a ziploc bag
with olive oil, Worcesershire sauce, liquid smoke,
and black pepper. Let marinate for one hour.
Set broiler on high. Add 1 tablespoon butter to
a saute pan over medium heat and add green
peppers when melted. Let green peppers cook
for 5 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Remove from
skillet, saute the onions and mushrooms until
tender. Set aside peppers, mushrooms and onions
and add the second tablespoon of butter to the
skillet. Set heat to medium-high. Add venison and
spread out evenly in the pan. Let cook until the
underside is seared, then flip and repeat. Continue
cooking until meat is no longer pink and is nicely
browned. Taste for salt and lightly salt as needed.
Lightly toast the interior of the hoagie rolls in a
separate skillet, toaster, or under the broiler.
Assemble the sandwich by adding half of the meat
into each hoagie and topping generously with
pepper, onions, mushrooms, two slices of cheese
and a smear of mayo. Place sandwiches briefly
under broiler to melt the cheese, approximately
for one minute. Be sure to watch the sandwiches,
as they will burn quickly.
Bacon Wrapped
Tenderloin with
Garlic Cream Sauce
• 6 thick slices bacon
• 2 venison tenderloin roasts (¾ lb. each)
• 2 tsp. olive oil, divided
• ¼ tsp. onion powder, divided
• kosher salt and ground black pepper
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 1 (8 oz.) package sliced cremini mushrooms
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 Tbsp. chopped green onion, or more to taste
• ½ cup heavy whipping cream, or more to taste.
Preheat the oven to 375. Arrange bacon slices on a
slotted baking pan. Bake in preheated oven until
partially cooked but still flexible, 6 to 8 minutes.
Brush tenderloins with olive oil and season with
onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Place side
by side and wrap together in strips of partially
cooked bacon. Place into a roasting pan. Roast in
oven until bacon is browned and an instant-read
meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part
of a tenderloin reads at least 145, about 1 hour.
Heat butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
Add mushrooms and garlic; cook and stir until
mushrooms are soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in green
onion. Stir in cream and cook, stirring often, until
heated through. Serve sauce with tenderloins.
Tips
Every deer will produce different size tenderloins
and every butcher is different in cuts of venison.
Some butchers will cut tenderloins into steaks like
filet mignon, others will leave the tenderloins like
small roasts (which I believe keeps the meat
tender and won’t dry out). For best results, use an
instant-read meat thermometer and adjust
cooking times accordingly.
Venison Stroganoff
• 1½ lbs. venison steak (sliced ¼” thick)
• ¼ cup butter
• 8 oz. sliced bella mushrooms
(or substitute wild mushrooms)
• 1 large onion (thinly sliced)
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• ¼ cup brandy
• 1¼ cup beef broth (divided)
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• ¼ cup flour
• 1 cup sour cream
• Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
• 12 oz. bag of egg noodles
Melt butter in saute pan set over medium heat and
add mushrooms and onions. Stirring occasionally,
saute until onions are tender and beginning to
brown, add minced garlic and cook for an
additional 2 minutes. Remove onion, mushrooms,
and garlic from the skillet and add sliced venison.
Set skillet to medium-high and sear the venison
until browned. Add brandy to the skillet and
deglaze the pan by scraping any burnt-on bits
from the bottom of the skillet so they incorporate
into the liquid. Add 1 cup of beef broth and
Worcestershire sauce, cover the skillet and reduce
heat to a simmer and simmer for 15 minutes.
Prepare the egg noodles according to package
instructions while venison simmers.
Add remaining ¼ cup of beef broth to a dish with
flour, mix to combine until there are no lumps.
After venison has simmered for 15 minutes, add
mushrooms, onion, and garlic back to the skillet
along with the flour mixture and sour cream.
Stir to combine and serve over egg noodles when
everything has sufficiently heated through.
32 FALL 2023

Chicken Fried Venison
• 2 lbs. venison steak (steak from the hind
quarter or shoulder recommended)
• ½ cup cooking oil
• 1½ cups buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. salt (plus more for seasoning venison)
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper (plus more for
seasoning venison)
• ¼ tsp. ground sage
• ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
Cut steaks into individual portions, approximately
¼ - ⅓ pound each. Pound flat and tenderize with
a meat mallet. Season with salt and pepper. Mix
wet batter ingredients (buttermilk and eggs) in a
dish and combine all remaining dry ingredients
(flour, baking soda, baking powder, and seasonings)
in a separate dish. Dredge venison in dry
mixture, shake off excess. Then dredge in wet
mixture, letting excess drain off. Return venison
to the dry mixture for a final coating. Set on a wire
rack while breading the remainder and preparing
to fry. Add cooking oil to a 9” skillet and heat to
325. Add breaded venison, working in batches,
and fry 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown.
Add more oil for each batch if needed. Remove
from oil and let drain on a clean wire rack.
Steak ’N Gravy
• 4 (4 oz.) venison steaks
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 Tbsp. ground bay leaves
• 1 pinch salt and pepper
• 4 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
• ½ onion, chopped
• 6 fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
• 1 (10.5 oz.) can beef gravy
• ¼ cup milk
Cut all fat and gristle off the meat, and pound
each steak out with a meat tenderizer until they
are thin but not tearing. In a shallow bowl,
combine flour, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Dredge
steaks in the flour mixture until evenly coated.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large heavy skillet
over medium heat. Saute onions until soft and
translucent. Stir in mushrooms and garlic, and
cook until tender. Remove from skillet and set
aside. Heat remaining oil, and fry each steak for
2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
Return onion mixture to skillet. Stir in gravy and
milk. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 to 40
minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Country Gravy
• ¼ cup flour
• ¼ cup butter
• 2 cups milk
• fresh ground pepper (to taste)
• salt (to taste)
The gravy can be prepared while the venison cooks,
or you can keep the venison warm in a 225 degree
oven while you prepare the gravy separately. Melt
butter in a small saucepan set over medium low
heat. Sprinkle flour into the melted butter and
Venison Fajitas
• 2 tsp. seasoned salt
• ¼ tsp. garlic salt
• ½ tsp. black pepper
• ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1½ lbs. venison, cut into 2 inch strips
• 4 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 2 inch strips
• 1 medium yellow bell pepper, cut into 2 inch
strips
• 1 medium onion, cut into ½-inch wedges
• 12 fajita size flour tortillas, warmed
Combine seasoned salt, garlic salt, black pepper,
cayenne pepper, and oregano to make the fajita
seasoning. Sprinkle two teaspoons seasoning over
the sliced venison. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate
for 30 minutes. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a
heavy frying pan. Cook bell peppers and onion
until starting to soften, then remove. Pour in
remaining oil, then cook venison until browned.
Return pepper mixture to the pan, season with
remaining fajita seasoning, and reheat. Serve with
warmed tortillas.
whisk for 2 minutes. Slowly dribble milk into the
saucepan a little at a time, while continuing to stir.
Ensure the milk is fully incorporated before adding
more, to prevent lumps. As the gravy thins out
more milk can be added at once. Continue until all
milk has been added. Bring the gravy to a simmer
to thicken and add salt and pepper. As the gravy
gets to your desired consistency it is important to
be tasting for salt. Too little salt and the gravy tastes
bland. Add more salt until it tastes salted, but not
salty. Serve gravy topped over chicken fried
venison.
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 33

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neighborhood, choose Ben Nelson
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34 FALL 2023

2023-2024 Hunting Seasons
DELTA UNIT
Areas west of I-55 and north of I-20 plus areas
south of I-20 and west of U.S. Highway 61.
NORTH CENTRAL UNIT
All private and open public lands
in Alcorn, Benton, Desoto, Marshall,
Tate, and Tippah counties.
SOUTHEAST UNIT
Areas south of U.S. Highway 84
and east of MS Highway 35.
HILLS UNIT
All areas except the Delta, North Central,
and Southeast Deer Management Units.
White-Tailed Deer
Bag Limits
Antlered Buck Deer The statewide bag limit on antlered buck deer is one buck per day and
three per annual season. One of these three may have hardened antlers that do not meet the
unit legal antler requirements on private land and Holly Springs National Forest. For youth
hunters fifteen years of age and younger, hunting on private land and authorized state and
federal lands, all three of the three buck bag limit may be any antlered deer. Antlered buck
bag limit in the North Central Deer Management Unit (DMU) is one buck per day and four
per annual season. No antler restrictions apply to this DMU. All four bucks may have any
sized hardened antlers.
Antlerless Deer Private Lands The statewide annual bag limit on antlerless deer is five.
The antlerless bag limit for private lands in the North Central DMU is ten antlerless deer
per season. Antlerless deer are male or female deer which do not have hardened antler
above the natural hairline. Only two antlerless deer may be harvested from the Southeast
Unit. There is no daily bag limit on antlerless deer in the North Central, Hills, and Delta
units. Only one antlerless deer per day may be harvested in the Southeast DMU.
U.S. Forest Service National Forests The bag limit is one per day, not to exceed five per
annual season except in the Southeast Unit, which is two per annual season.
Legal Weapons
Youth Gun Youth may carry and use any firearm with which they can safely hunt, and in
compliance with other applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Archery Longbows, recurves, compound bows, and crossbows. There is no minimum
or maximum draw weight. There is no minimum arrow length. Fixed or mechanical
broadheads may be used.
Primitive Weapons Weapons legal for use during the primitive weapons season are all
archery equipment and primitive firearms. “Primitive firearms,” for the purpose of hunting
deer, are defined as single or double-barreled muzzleloading rifles of at least .38 caliber;
OR single shot, breech loading, metallic cartridge rifles (.35 caliber or larger) and replicas,
reproductions, or reintroductions of those type rifles with an exposed hammer; OR single
or double-barreled muzzleloading shotguns, with single ball or slug. All muzzleloading
primitive firearms must use black powder or a black powder substitute with percussion
caps, #209 shotgun primers, or flintlock ignition. “Blackpowder substitute” is defined as a
substance designed, manufactured, and specifically intended to be used as a propellant in
muzzleloading or other black powder firearms, excluding modern smokeless powder.
Metallic cartridges may be loaded with either black powder or modern smokeless powder
(cartridges purchased at sporting goods stores). Telescopic sights are allowed while hunting
with any primitive firearm during the primitive weapon seasons. A telescopic sight is defined
as an optical sighting device with any magnification. During any open season on deer with
primitive weapons after November 30, a person may use any legal weapon of choice,
including pre-charged pneumatic weapons (air guns or bows), on private lands only, if the
person is the title owner of the land, the lessee of the hunting rights on the land, a member
of a hunting club leasing the hunting rights on the land, or a guest of a person specified
above. If the person is required to have a hunting license, the person must have a primitive
weapon license, sportsman’s license, or a lifetime sportsman’s license.
Gun There are no caliber or magazine capacity restrictions on firearms. Primitive weapons
(as defined above) and archery equipmentmay be used during gun seasons.
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 35

LEGAL BUCKS
SOUTHEAST AND HILLS
DEER MANAGEMENT UNITS
A legal buck is defined as having EITHER
a minimum inside spread of 10 inches
OR one main beam at least 13 inches long.
How to estimate a 10 inch inside spread
Estimating a 10 inch spread is accomplished by observing a buck’s ears in
the alert position. When in the alert position, the distance from ear-tip to
ear-tip measures approximately 14 inches. If the OUTSIDE of each antler
beam is one inch inside the ear-tip, the inside spread is approximately
10 inches.
How to estimate a 13 inch main beam
To estimate a 13 inch main beam, the buck’s head must be observed from
the side. If the tip of the main beam extends to the front of the eye, main
beam length is approximately 13 inches.
DELTA DEER MANAGEMENT UNIT
A legal buck is defined as having EITHER
a minimum inside spread of 12 inches
OR one main beam at least 15 inches long.
How to estimate a 12 inch inside spread
Estimating a 12 inch spread is accomplished by observing a buck’s ears in
the alert position. When in the alert position, the distance from ear-tip to
ear-tip measures approximately 15 inches. If the OUTSIDE of each antler
beam reaches the ear-tip, the inside spread is approximately 12 inches.
(Therefore, if the outside of both antler beams reach the ear tips, the buck
is legal). *Due to body size differences in the Delta Unit, ear-tip to ear-tip
measurements are slightly larger compared to the other units.
How to estimate a 15 inch main beam
To estimate a 15 inch main beam, the buck’s head must be observed from
the side. If the tip of the main beam extends between the front of the eye
and the tip of the nose, main beam length is approximately 15 inches.
10” Inside
Spread
12” Inside
Spread
13” Main
Beam
15” Main
Beam
INSIDE
MAIN
UNIT SPREAD OR BEAM
Delta 12” OR 15”
Hills 10” OR 13”
Southeast 10” OR 13”
North Central
Any hardened antler
36 FALL 2023

METHOD SEASON DATES LEGAL DEER
DELTA, NORTH CENTRAL, AND HILLS DEER MANAGEMENT UNITS
Archery
Youth Season
( 15 and under )
September 15 - 17
September 30 - November 17
November 4 - November 17
November 18 - January 31
Legal Buck Only. Special permit, mandatory reporting,
and CWD sampling required. Private Land Only.
Either-Sex on private land, open public land,
and Holly Springs NF.
Either-Sex on private lands and authorized state
and federal lands.
Either-Sex on private lands. On open public lands,
youth must follow below legal deer criteria.
Antlerless Primitive Weapon November 6 - 17 Antlerless Deer Only on private lands.
Gun November 18 - December 1 Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs NF.
( with dogs ) Legal Bucks only on open public land.
Primitive Weapon December 2 - 15 Either-Sex on private land, open public land,
and Holly Springs NF. Weapon of choice may be
used on private land with appropriate license.
Gun December 16 - 23 Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs NF.
( without dogs ) Legal Bucks only on open public land.
Gun December 24 - January 17 Either-Sex on private land and Holly Spring NF.
( with dogs ) Legal Bucks only on open public land.
Archery/ January 18 - 31 Either-Sex on private land and Holly Springs NF.
Primitive Weapon
Legal Bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice
may be used on private land with appropriate license.
SOUTHEAST UNIT
Archery September 15 - 17 Legal Buck Only. Special permit, mandatory reporting,
and CWD sampling required. Private Land Only.
October 14 - November 17
Either-Sex on private and open public land.
Youth Season November 4 - November 17 Either-Sex on private lands and authorized state
( 15 and under ) and federal lands.
November 18 - February 15
Either-Sex on private lands. On open public lands,
youth must follow below legal deer criteria.
Gun ( with dogs ) November 18 - December 1 Either-Sex on private land.
Legal Bucks only on open public land.
Primitive Weapon December 2 - 15 Either-Sex on private and open public land.
Weapon of choice may be used on private land
with appropriate license.
Gun (without dogs) December 16 - 23 Either-Sex on private land.
Legal Bucks only on open public land.
Gun (with dogs) December 24 - January 17 Either-Sex on private land.
Legal Bucks only on open public land.
Archery/Primitive Weapon January 18 - 31 Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open
public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land
with appropriate license.
February 1 - 15
Legal Bucks only on private and open public land.
Weapon of choice may be used on private land
with appropriate license.
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 37

migratory game birds
SEASON DATES DAILY BAG LIMIT POSSESSION LIMIT
September Teal September 9 - September24 6 18
September Canada Geese* September 1 - September30 5 15
Woodcock December 18 - Jan. 31 3 9
Snipe November 14 - February 28 8 24
Gallinules September 1 - October 1 15 Singly or in aggregate 45 Singly or in aggregate
Common & Purple November 23 - December 31
Rails September 1 - October 1 15 Singly or in aggregate 45 Singly or in aggregate
Clapper & King November 23 - December 31
Rails September 1 - October 1 25 Singly or in aggregate 75 Singly or in aggregate
Sora & Virginia November 23 - December 31
Mourning & September 2 - October 15
White-winged Doves October 28 - November 26 15 Singly or in aggregate 45 Singly or in aggregate
(North Zone)** December 30 - January 14
Mourning & September 2 - September 24
White-winged Doves October 7 - November 5 15 Singly or in aggregate 45 Singly or in aggregate
(South Zone)*** December 23 - January 28
Crows November 4 - February 29 No Limit No Limit
Ducks, Mergansers, November 24 - November 26
and Coots**** December 1 - December 3 See below**** See below****
December 9 - January 31
Geese: Canada, November 10 - November. 26 Canada Geese 5 Canada Geese 15
Snow, Blue, Ross’s, December 1 - December 3 Snow, Blue, & Ross’s 20 Snow, Blue, & Ross’s No limit
White-fronted, and Brant December 9 - January 31 White-fronted 3, Brant 1 White-fronted 9, Brant 3
Youth, Veterans, & Active February 3 - 4, 2024 Same as regular season Same as regular season
Military Waterfowl Days
October 1 - November 9
Light Goose November 27 - November 30
Conservation Order***** December 4 - December 8 No Limit***** No Limit*****
(Special Permit Needed) February 1 - February 2
February 5 - March 31
*September Canada Goose season is closed
on Roebuck Lake in Leflore county.
**DOVE NORTH ZONE - Areas north of U.S.
Highw ay 84 plus areas south of U.S. Highway
84 and west of MS Highway 35.
***DOVE SOUTH ZONE - Areas south of
U.S. Highway 84 and east of MS Highway 35.
****The duck daily bag limit is a total of six
ducks, including no more than four mallards
(no more than two of which may be females),
one mottled duck, two black ducks, one pintail,
three wood ducks, two canvasbacks, and two
redheads. The daily bag limit for scaup is one
scaup per day November 24 - 26, December
1 - 3, and December 9 - 17; and is two scaup
per day December 18 - January 31.
38 FALL 2023
The merganser daily bag limit is a total of 5
mergansers, only 2 of which may be hooded
mergansers.
The coot daily bag limit is a total of 15 coots.
The possession limit is three times the daily
bag limit for ducks, mergansers, and coots.
Shooting hours for all migratory game birds
are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset,
except for the Light Goose Conservation Order
(see below).
*****The Light Goose Conservation Order is a
special opportunity designed to reduce the
population of overpopulated snow, blue, and
Ross’s geese when no other waterfowl seasons
are open. This order allows for expanded
methods of take that are not allowed during
regular waterfowl seasons. To participate in
the Light Goose Conservation Order, hunters
need a valid Mississippi hunting license, state
waterfowl stamp, and a free Light Goose
Conservation Order permit number. Hunters
can obtain a permit number by visiting
mdwfp.com/waterfowl.
Light Goose Conservation Order Methods:
Shooting hours are from ½ hour before sunrise
to ½ hour after sunset. Only snow, blue, and
Ross’s geese are eligible for harvest. The use
of electronic calls is allowed. The use of
unplugged shotguns is allowed. There is no
daily or possession limit for snow, blue, or
Ross’s geese. Hunters must use non-toxic shot.
Hunters must possess a valid Mississippi hunting
license and a Mississippi state waterfowl stamp.
Light goose conservation order hunters do not
need a federal duck stamp.

Spring Turkey
SEASON DATES BAG LIMIT
Youth March 8 - 14 One adult gobbler or one gobbler with a six-inch
(Private and authorized state
or longer beard per day, three per spring season.
and federal public lands.
Hunters 15 years of age and younger may harvest
Youth 15 and under)
one gobbler of choice (any age) per day,
three per spring season.
Spring March 15 - May 1
Non- Resident (Public Lands) March 15 - 31 One adult gobbler or one gobbler with a six-inch
or longer beard per day, three per Spring season.
*Non-residents Turkey Hunting on Public Lands: Non-residents cannot hunt any public land in Mississippi between March 15 - 31 unless drawn
for either a Non-resident Public Lands Turkey Permit or WMA Draw Hunt.
Small Game
Youth Squirrel* September 23 - 30 8
Squirrel - Fall Season September 30 - February 28 8
Squirrel - Spring Season May 15 - June 1 4
Rabbit October 14 - February 28 8
Bobwhite Quail Novemebr 23 - March 2 8
Frog April 1 - September 30 25 per night
Raccoon July 1 - September 30 1 per party per night
Opossum, Raccoon, and Bobcat
September 30 - October 31
Food & Sport
November 1 - February 28
Food, Sport, & Pelt
5 per day - 8 per party
No Limit
Trapping November 1 - Mar. 15 No Limit
*On private lands and authorized state and federal lands
only in those areas open for squirrel hunting.
S
quirrels are considered a nuisance to people with bird feeders, as they always seem
to have an uncanny knack for getting into places they shouldn’t. Their specialty
is finding shortcuts, such as jumping directly onto suspended birdfeeders from trees.
Squirrels can leap 10 times their body length. They have long, muscular hind legs paired
with short front legs made for gripping in order to make these death-defying jumps.
Padding on their feet also helps to cushion their landing. They can also turn their
ankles 180 degrees, which helps them to face any direction
when climbing, even straight down a tree trunk!
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 39

A Hook & Line
Susan Marquez
40 FALL 2023

There is an old proverb that says, “Give a man
a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man how to
fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Tommy Moss
of Brandon has been fishing ever since he can
remember. “I have a photograph of me when I was
nine years old and my little brother was five years
old, holding a stringer of fish in Destin, Florida.”
Tommy grew up in south Jackson and
graduated from Wingfield High School. He
recalls the years he worked at a Tote-Sum store
in Jackson. “The man who owned it took me out
fishing when I was a teenager. We went to the
Ross Barnett Reservoir not long after it was built.”
In the 1970s, Tommy says he fished in a few bass
tournaments before the late Jim McKay from
Brandon got him into crappie fishing. “That was
25 years ago. I have fished in a lot of crappie
tournaments since then.”
Tommy started fishing with Brad Calhoun,
who serves as a Rankin County supervisor. “We
started tournament fishing together. Brad and I
fished the American Crappie Trail, which covers
five or six states in the southeast. We have done
different tours over the years, and had a couple of
sponsors; Lucas Oil, who did our boat wrap, and
B’n’M Poles. They are in West Point, Mississippi,
and they are the leader in the crappie pole industry.”
The sport of fishing is ever-changing, and
Tommy has seen many of those changes during
his lifetime. “It’s especially true with bass and
crappie fishing. Electronics play heavily into that.
To so many of the young fishermen out there, it’s
like playing a video game.” Tommy says he is a
little concerned that because the electronics
available now are so good that it may contribute
to a dwindling fish population around the state.
“Mississippi has four of the top five crappie lakes
in the United States: Grenada Lake, Enid, Sardis,
and the Ross Barnett Reservoir. Arkabutla is also
excellent for crappie fishing.” The thrill of the
weigh-in is still what excites Tommy, who says that
winners are decided by 1/100th of an ounce.
“That is, in itself, super exciting!”
Tournament fishing can get expensive. “It has
evolved to folks fishing out of $25,000 to $35,000
boats, plus the electronics, gas, and travel costs to
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 41

tournaments can all add up.” But the prize money is
incentive enough to keep fishermen in the game. “That
may be why there are so many fishing teams in schools
now. A lot of young people are getting into the sport.
Those programs are impressive. They must have an adult
sponsor to go out and supervise the students while they
are fishing. The schools now have big tournaments, and the
students travel, and advance up the ladder. There are a lot
of scholarships available for those who do well.”
Tommy has spent a good amount of time teaching
fishing techniques through B’n’M Poles and Bass Pro
Shops. “For one week every year, there are fishing
seminars taking place at 75 to 100 different locations.”
Tommy has also taught fishing at the Mississippi
Natural Science Museum.
As a member of the Magnolia Crappie Club, Tommy
says he is seeing more and more husband-and-wife
fishing teams as well as a good number of fathers and
sons. “The Crappie Club has chapters in a lot of southeastern
states. Our club is the oldest – we have been in
existence over thirty years.” The Magnolia Crappie Club
fishes ten tournaments a year at local lakes and reservoirs
around the state. They also work closely with the
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
“They do studies on growth and numbers, and we push
them to do more.”
Tommy says his favorite thing about fishing is being
out on the water at sunrise. “It is always different, but it is
always pretty and peaceful. I try to be the first one there,
about thirty minutes before sunrise.” He enjoys fishing in
the Ross Barnett Reservoir, Grenada Lake, and in the
oxbow lakes off the Mississippi River. “I also have a
friend who has a place at Eagle Lake that I like to fish.
I probably fish three or four days a week.” He says that
over the years, he has fished from Mexico to Alaska and
many places in between.
Retired from working in the grocery business as an
executive for Jitney-Jungle, Tommy has been married to
his wife, Linda, for 51 years. “She doesn’t really like to fish,
but she loves eating what I catch!” Tommy says he goes
deep sea fishing two or three times a year, and he takes
his family to Destin for a week each year in June. He and
Linda have two daughters, ten years apart. “I have two
young grandsons coming up, ages three and five, and
I’m going to introduce both of them to fishing!”
42 FALL 2023

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MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 43

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Woods Harvests
State Record
Monster Gator
on Yazoo River MICHAEL GILES
Don Woods made a long cast and felt a
thump on the end of his rod as he retrieved his
gator lure back toward the boat. Woods, from
Oxford, snapped the rod back with all the
strength he could muster and drove the steel
hooks deep into an alligator. The alligator dove
for the bottom and started pulling the boat
across the Yazoo River like a mini submarine.
“It was obvious that this was no ordinary
gator,” said Woods. “Our team was familiar
with the Yazoo River and some of the holes
that alligators like to use so we cruised down
the river before dark hoping to locate a large
gator. I was hunting with my cousin Will
Thomas, along with Tanner White and Joey
Clark, and we saw several 8-foot and 10-foot
gators but none we wanted to hunt so we kept
searching.”
Woods and team were hunting on the
opening day of the Mississippi alligator season
on the Yazoo River, in the west central alligator
zone, when they hooked up with a massive
alligator.
Chaos ensued as the enraged gator came
up snapping and slashing the water as it tried
to free itself from Woods’ line. Suddenly the
gator dove down and put it into high gear like
a torpedo, tearing up reels and breaking rods
in the process.
Alas, this alligator wouldn’t go down
without a massive battle with the team. Several
times two of the hunters had the Yazoo leviathan
on their rods at the same time but each time he
mangled their gear and escaped.
“We almost quit several times,” Woods said.
“Will said he didn’t know if we had enough
equipment left to land the big gator after he’d
stripped the gears out of a reel and broken
several of our rods.”
“It was really a blur after we hooked up
with the gator around 10pm that Friday night.
We’ve caught a lot of 10-foot to 12-foot-long
alligators but this one beat them all.”
“Surreal is what it was,” said Woods. “But it
was a lot of fun in the end.”
With most of their equipment torn up and
muscles aching from the struggle with the
massive gator, they had to dig deep and resist
the desire to quit and go home for the night.
“We caught him several times only to lose him
before we could land him,” Woods said. “But
we stayed close and let the boat drift in the area
where he was at until we saw him again. We
actually drifted by him and Tanner and me
both started casting and working the bottom
trying to hook him again.”
“Wham!” Woods’ rod snapped down as the
gator felt the sting of the steel treble hook once
again. The tired angler suddenly had a surge of
adrenalin as he battled this prehistoric reptile.
“It was about 2:30 a.m. when I caught him the
last time and he dragged us across the river
again,” said Woods. “About 30 minutes later,
the alligator finally surfaced and Tanner cast
past him and hooked him and we had two
lines on him.”
Although the gator was wearing down, he
was still causing mayhem for the tired anglers
as it fought wildly after spotting the boat. This
time the massive beast came up snapping at
them as they tried to control him and bring
him alongside the 14-foot aluminum boat.
It was nip and tuck for sure and one
mistake could’ve meant serious injury or even
death. The hard part of the battle was getting
control of the gator and then wearing him
down enough to hold him close to the boat
long enough to make a killing shot.
“It seemed like it took forever to get the
noose around the gator’s head,” Woods said.
“He was fighting hard and his head was almost
too wide to get the noose around him, but we
finally did.”
Woods had a PVC pipe with a line on it
that allowed him to finally slip the line around
the alligator’s head so that they could secure
him and hold him long enough to put him
down. Alligator hunting rules state that
alligators must be hooked securely before they
can be shot so that they won’t sink and be lost.
If they are not hooked securely then more
alligators might be harvested than tags that
were prescribed for the special hunting season
which provides a way to control the gator
population without harvesting too many.
Nothing beats tenacity and perseverance
and Woods, and the team finally wore the
gator down and held him steady just long
enough for them to dispatch the beast.
“Boom!” As Woods pulled the trigger the
shotgun roared, and the leviathan was finally
finished.
46 FALL 2023

“Surreal
is what
it was...”
The huge gator measured 14 feet 3-inches
from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail and
weighed 802.5 pounds.
Former Alligator Program Coordinator
Ricky Flynt, who worked with the alligator
program for 20 years, joined the new coordinator
Andrew Arnette at the Red Antler
Processing and Hunting Store in Yazoo City
to measure and weigh the massive gator. “The
previous state record alligator was 14-feet and
.75-inches,” said Flynt. “The new state record
gator was only one of three alligators harvested
in our state longer than 14 feet and it went 14-3.”
“After Woods brought the alligator to the
Red Antler Deer Processing Store, one of the
store employees noticed a tag on the gator so
Don called me and sent a picture to find out
the significance of it,” Flynt said. “I could
hardly believe it when they told me about the
tag on the gator. That gator was a nuisance
gator that Tracy Tullos and I caught back in
2007 south of Vicksburg from a small pond. It
was 10-feet ,11-inches long when we caught
and tagged it and relocated it 29 miles up the
Yazoo River.”
Flynt still had all of his alligator data, so he
looked it up and amazingly, that gator had
grown 40-inches in the last 16 years.
“They actually caught the alligator 22½
miles from where we turned it loose,” Flynt
said. “That’s one of the most important things
that I enjoyed the most, tagging those gators
and then getting information back on them
from hunters even years later. Hunters who
report back to us are so important to biologists
because we get a world of information about
the gators—where they came from and where
they’re harvested.”
If you are interested in the Mississippi
alligator harvests and past records, check out
the link about alligators at www.mdwfp.com/
wildlife-hunting/alligator-program/. There are
several links including harvest records from
the early alligator hunts, as well as the Mississippi
alligator hunting records.
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 47

48 FALL 2023
Getting to Know Wildlife Photographer
Bubba Brantley

When did you first become
interested in photography?
Around 2005. My boys had started riding motocross
and I would go to the tracks with my point and shoot
and try to capture them riding. That wasn’t working out
too well until a friend of mine let me borrow
her DSLR and after that I was hooked.
How did your interest turn
to outdoor wildlife shooting?
I have always had a love for the outdoors through
hunting and fishing. At the start of my photography
career, I would go out in the yard and chase birds,
squirrels, frogs and anything that would stand still long
enough to get pictures. And it just turned into a challenge
to get a good shot of any animal that I could find.
What’s your favorite season
for shooting wildlife?
Fall is my favorite due to the changing of the landscapes,
creating natural backdrops with incredibly vibrant colors.
Not to mention cooler temperatures make the animals
more active and available to photograph.
What’s the biggest obstacle
to getting great outdoor shots?
Having the perfect lighting at the instant it’s needed.
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 49

What was your most memorable moment
photographing in the “wild?”
For years I had wanted to capture a good image of an
alligator, and had several encounters, but never one I was
happy with. Many years back, we were at Mayes Lake and
had been told of this alligator that would lay on a cypress
log. Up until then, I had not seen it. That particular day we
pulled up and there it was. I got so excited that I could
hardly get my camera out of the case. I was shaking!
If something affects you in that way then you know
you’re doing something right.
Why would anyone want to wade in a
river of alligators just to get a picture?
The pursuit of the perfect image makes you do crazy things.
Have you ever been in danger
while photographing wildlife?
Several years back, we were in the mountains and
came over a hill and came face to face with a black bear.
She pursued of for a brief moment.
I think it was a bluff charge, but still very frightening.
What’s a key piece of advice for anyone
wanting to be a wildlife photographer?
Wildlife photography, in a lot of instances,
requires early mornings, late evenings, and much patience.
It takes lots of time in the field.
50 FALL 2023

Do you have an all-time
favorite photograph?
So many come to mind but, but I can narrow
it down to two. The alligator already mentioned,
and a beautiful wood duck. Guess you can say
I was at the right place at the right time.
Do you have plans for a book?
I would love to create a book of my favorite images.
I print a yearly calendar with some of my favorites
taken throughout that particular year.
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 51

52 FALL 2023

A Place to Gather
Susan Marquez
Veterinarians Bill and Jennifer Sullivan love the outdoors,
and they have a fascination with shorebirds. “We like to study
the migration of waterfowl such as sandpipers, black leg
stilts, spoonbills and dowitchers,” Bill says. The couple lives
on the north shore of the Ross Barnett Reservoir, where Bill
says they see all kinds of shorebirds from their back yard.
Bill also enjoys hunting, and for some time he kept an eye
out for a property where the family could have a getaway to
hunt, fish, and relax with their three children.
He found just the right spot ten years ago in Humphries
County, near Isola and Inverness. “It’s on the bootheel of the
county, near the border of Sunflower County,” he explains.
Most people would have passed on by without giving the
place a second thought. Built as a farm shop for a catfish and
row farming operation, the metal building had concrete floors
and one section was just gravel. Old farming equipment was
housed in the building. But Bill looked at the building and land
and knew he could transform it into something his family
could enjoy for years to come.
“I’m not much of a loner,” he says. “I like being around
other people. So we asked friends of ours if they’d like to go
in with us.”
Four families are now part of 4 Winds Refuge, a place
where they gather together, hunt, fish, and play games. “It’s a
place we all have in common,” says Bill. “We all honor God in
everything we do, and we know what each other is thinking.
We have the same worldview. Our kids have four daddies to
teach them what’s important by living that out in front of them.
Living in close proximity and spending time together creates a
strong and special bond.”
The three other couples who have the hunting camp with
the Sullivans are Melissa and Ken Bailey, Henry and Kelly
Cook, and Tommy and Tiffany Couch. “There are twelve
children who have grown up at the camp, half of whom are
now married. There is one grandbaby so far,” says Bill.
The farm shop required a lot of work to house the four
families. “After we worked on those floors, removing the
grime of 30 years of farm equipment, we essentially turned
the barn into a Yeti cooler. We blew four inches of insulation
on all the walls and ceiling and added windows.” The barn
now has four apartments, one for each family. There is a large
shared common space that is tied to the dining area which
features a 22’ table that Ken built from lumber salvaged from
an old tobacco warehouse in North Carolina. “We love
gathering around that table, sharing meals and sharing our
lives with each other,” Bill says. There are two large TVs
downstairs that are perfect for watching football games.
Guest suites upstairs allow others to come join them at
the barn. “We love having guests. We do retreats here,
ladies’ gatherings, mens’ Bible studies, and we have had a
birdwatching organization from Oxford come use the barn.
It’s just a perfect place for people to gather.” The guest suite
has a big game room that is ideal for card games and puzzles.
Bill says there are “a lot of moving parts” to the camp.
“Some weekends we’ll have a guys’ trip up and do the he-man
work, like bush hogging and land management. There are
water wells and irrigation to tend to and other chores, but
we enjoy doing it.”
Bill says he enjoys spending time walking the property and
enjoying the connection with nature. “I’m kind of a nerd in that
respect. I’m an invertebrate biologist and I’m fascinated by the
life cycles in nature. From the water plants to the animals, I love
to observe it all. It’s a good opportunity for all of us to escape
our daily lives and slow down. We worship our creator here.”
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 53

54 FALL 2023

ADVERTISER SPOTLIGHT
The Call
of an
Artisan
Camille Anding
“Come over and critique
this duck call I just made.”
That was a friend request to Josh Raggio
that set Josh on an unchartered journey.
He recalls that visit - something about the sawdust, the smell of
wood in that workshop that caused Josh to think, “I gotta try this.
I can make a duck call.” And he did!
Perhaps it was his love of the woods and being a “wing hunter”
that helped initiate Josh’s creative juices, but it didn’t take long at his
new hobby for word to spread. His intentions were to make duck
calls for some family members and a few friends, but the quality of
his “musical instruments” closely mimicking duck language soon
attracted strangers wanting to order.
The orders increased to the point that Josh’s hobby turned into
a part-time job. The work wasn’t easy – it was time consuming with
long hours on his feet accompanied with extra back pain.
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 55

It was five years into this exhausting work schedule that pushed
Josh to make a major decision. Why not turn his hobby into a full
time profession and walk away from his position in the corporate
world with Puckett Machinery that included a significant salary,
company truck, gas card, and insurance benefits? It would be a
serious decision.
Josh remembers the first few weeks of investing all of his work
time into duck calls. His wife, Ann, was a stay-home mom to their
one- and five-year-olds, Jett and McRee. So Josh was fully aware of
his role as the sole breadwinner.
Josh’s craftsmanship continued to gain momentum via friends
and word of mouth. Magazines added to the list of people taking
note of “that duck call guy.” Articles about Josh’s uncommon talent
appeared in Garden and Gun, Porch and Prairie, Delta Magazine,
Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, and Mississippi Magazine. Josh’s
duck calls were becoming a sought-after art piece.
Just as Josh had always been fixated on quality in creating his duck
calls, his long-time dream of opening a man store with a masculine
theme for hunters and woodsmen became his next fixation. His
excitement grew as he saw a dream nearing reality.
The search for quality craftsmanship in all of the lines he planned
to carry in his store began. “I wanted items that were unique and
different,” he affirmed. But was there time for this? The demand for
his duck calls continued. As a husband and father, he would never
neglect time spent with family. Later, he would add time as a
sporting clay (skeet) instructor at Mississippi College.
www.RaggioMercantile.com
56 FALL 2023

Over the next five years the dream grew to a priority and was
made to fit into the Raggio schedules. In August of 2022, Raggio
Mercantile at 112 West Main Street in Raymond, Mississippi, opened
for business.
Arrive at Raggio Mercantile where rhythm and blues music is
playing from Turtlebox speakers (items available in the store).
The tone is set for a man’s shopping mecca.
An electric bike is parked near the entrance,
another one of the uncommon items
available in the store.
Step into Josh’s man cave of the extraordinary
and unique. The aroma of Josh’s own
line of candles immediately introduce you
to what your eyes and touch are about to
experience. There’s an entire section of
Raggio soaps, lotions, and Raggio Manfume, plus a selection of
exclusive coffee, popcorn, jams, and caramels.
The displays are marked by the skill of Raggio’s artistry – an
ability to offer such a wide variety of items without looking crowded
or unorganized. There are handmade leather items, canvas bags,
handmade knives and a humidor holding a selection of specialty
cigars. Blue Delta designer jean samples give the customer the chance
to feel and select his color of choice. Raggio’s is
the only place in central Mississippi to offer the
twelve measurements
that make this jean
the most customfitted
available.
A variety of devotional books geared for men are on another
display table. One of Josh’s good friends is making news with his line
of Lite Boots – the cardboard-light kind. Josh proudly offers this line
in his store.
Stately prints of Josh’s duck calls hang along one wall – an added
feature Josh offers to the purchaser of his duck calls who want the
one-of-a-kind art piece to be pictured in another
art form. Ann has added an attractive line of
jewelry for those ladies who shop with their
husbands.
Uniqueness, quality, and collectability
distinguish the items in Raggio’s Mercantile.
This treasure-trove building, which stood as a
drugstore for fifty years, has taken on new life.
From the merchandise section, you can look
through windows at the back of the store into Josh’s workshop –the
actual place where the “duck call guy” constructs his now famous
duck calls. According to the materials, inlays, and carvings, the
price can range from $550 to $5,000. His two-year backlog on
orders confirms his artistry and demand for his gift of replicating
duck language.
Small-town Raymond, Mississippi? Miles off the beaten path?
Prices reflecting one-of-a-kind quality craftsmanship? None of the
above have clouded Josh’s expectations for Raggio Mercantile. “I do
see a shift in consumer shopping at Amazon and Walmart to shop
local and shop small,” Josh says of the future.
A visit to this destination will give you a new perspective on
small-town treasures and artisans that turn dreams into reality.
MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 57

Find Yourself
Outdoors
The Mississippi outdoors isn’t just a place for leisure; it’s a sanctuary of solace,
a classroom of life lessons, and a treasure trove of biodiversity.
The Mississippi outdoors provides a refuge from the demands of our fast-paced
lives. Whether it’s a relaxed hike through a nearby park, a weekend camping trip, or
a day spent fishing in a quiet river, nature offers a therapeutic escape. The crisp air,
the melodies of birdsong, and the breathtaking beauty of our natural landscapes
soothe our souls and help us recharge. Numerous studies emphasize the role of
nature in reducing stress, enhancing mental well-being, and fostering a profound
sense of happiness.
Beyond its therapeutic benefits, the Mississippi outdoors can be a classroom, and
nature, a teacher. Delve into the hidden wonders of the outdoors, observing how every
living and non-living element are interlinked. From hidden wonders to the fascinating
behaviors of wildlife, nature imparts valuable lessons. By immersing ourselves in the
great outdoors, we gain a deeper understanding of our environment and our place
within it.
Nature also reminds us of the critical importance of conservation. Mississippi is
blessed with a rich tapestry of plant and animal species, each playing a unique role in
our ecosystem. The outdoors is where we witness the delicate balance of life, where
every organism has a part to play. Protecting these diverse habitats and their inhabitants
is vital for our planet’s health and our own. Conservation efforts, both large and
small, contribute to the preservation of our natural heritage for future generations.
Access to quality outdoor experiences is essential. State parks, wildlife areas, and
public waters offer an array of recreational opportunities for all. Whether it’s hiking,
birdwatching, hunting, or fishing, nature’s wonders are accessible to everyone. Efforts
to make outdoor spaces inclusive, especially for individuals with disabilities, ensure
that the great outdoors is truly a place for all to enjoy.
In addition to personal experiences, the outdoors fosters community bonds, and
shared memories. Family picnics in the park, group hikes, or fishing trips with friends,
strengthen connections and create lasting impressions. The outdoors bring people
together, and its beauty becomes a shared source of inspiration.
The Mississippi outdoors is a precious resource that enriches our lives in countless
ways. It heals, educates, and inspires us. As we embrace the great outdoors, we embrace
the essence of life itself, forging deeper connections with our environment and
each other. So, I challenge you to find yourself outdoors and explore,
learn from, and cherish the wonders of nature, ensuring that the
beauty of the Mississippi outdoors remains an enduring part
of our lives and our legacy to future generations.
Lynn Posey
Executive Director
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks
58 FALL 2023

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MISSISSIPPI Woods&Water 59