Marian's Hunting Stories, etc., etc., etc...

I Grew Up in Mississippi

2026-05-12T15:51:00.001-05:00

The state of Mississippi is one of the most deeply Southern, most misunderstood, and most unexpectedly fascinating places in the entire United States — and the people who live there will absolutely defend it while standing in 98° humidity holding sweet tea and arguing about whose grandma makes the best fried catfish.

Mississippi isn’t loud about itself. It doesn’t need to be.

Because after a while, Mississippi stops feeling like just a state and starts feeling like an entire atmosphere made out of river towns, pine forests, football, blues music, thunderstorms, front porches, and humidity strong enough to physically fight back. 

Unlike states with one obvious personality, Mississippi changes depending on where you are.

North Mississippi feels like rolling hills, college towns, backroads, forests, small-town football culture, and highways lined with trees that seem to stretch forever.

The Delta becomes its own world entirely — flat farmland stretching to the horizon, tiny towns steeped in history, endless cotton fields, old blues culture, and sunsets that somehow make everything look cinematic. 

Central Mississippi mixes government buildings, country roads, churches, suburban sprawl, and enough fast-food parking lots to qualify as landmarks.

South Mississippi suddenly turns greener, wetter, and more coastal, where pine forests slowly give way to marshes, seafood spots, fishing towns, and Gulf Coast beaches.

And along the Gulf Coast? Everything changes again.

Now it’s casinos, shrimp boats, salty air, beach traffic, seafood restaurants, hurricane warnings, giant bridges, and weather reports that sound slightly threatening for half the year. 

Then there’s the heat.

Mississippi summer doesn’t just arrive. It settles directly onto your soul. The humidity is so powerful that you can walk outside at 8 AM and instantly feel like your shirt has lost the battle. 

Every Mississippian develops the exact same survival instincts: • park under literally any shade available • keep cold drinks within arm’s reach at all times • and never trust weather forecasts that say “partly cloudy” because somehow that still means thunderstorms later.

And the storms? Mississippi thunderstorms don’t play around.

One minute, everything’s calm. Ten minutes later: • the sky turns dark green • thunder starts shaking windows • rain hits sideways • and everybody suddenly starts checking tornado alerts while pretending not to panic. 

Then winter shows up for about 7 minutes in total. The temperature drops below freezing once, bridges ice over instantly, and the entire state collectively decides: “Yeah… nobody needs to drive today.”

The roads in Mississippi are their own experience, too.

Driving through Mississippi means: • two-lane highways disappearing into endless trees • tractors casually slowing traffic to existential levels • pickup trucks covered in enough mud to qualify as camouflage • and somebody definitely tailgating you despite there being absolutely nowhere important within fifty miles. 

And somehow every road eventually leads to: • a gas station with legendary fried chicken • a church billboard • a Dollar General • or a football conversation that lasts way longer than expected.

Because football in Mississippi isn’t just a sport. It’s basically a regional emotional support system.  Friday night high school games feel enormous. College football weekends completely transform towns. And during rivalry season, entire families temporarily forget how to make peace.

But Mississippi’s biggest personality trait might honestly be the people.

Mississippi runs on storytelling. Everybody knows somebody. Everybody waves at strangers. And absolutely everybody has an opinion about barbecue, weather, SEC football, or where to get the best biscuits in town.

Because Mississippi isn’t just one thing.

It’s blues music, river towns, catfish, forests, football, Gulf beaches, church cookouts, thunderstorms, farmland, front porches, Southern hospitality, and humidity levels capable of bending reality itself — all packed into one state. 

My Hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi!

Happy Mother's Day!

2026-05-10T12:05:00.002-05:00

Grandson & Great-Grandsons Gone Fishing

2026-05-07T12:20:00.000-05:00

This past Sunday was a beautiful day to go fishing, and my daughter, Debra (taking pictures), and her two sons, Stephen (not shown) and Ethan, took my three great-grandsons, Will, Noah, and 5-year-old Asher, fishing. She said Stephen caught a small bass and a perch, and that was it. They threw them back in and said it wasn't the best spot, but they will try a different place next time.

Great-Grandson Noah, Grandson Ethan, and my youngest Great-Grandson Asher.

William David "Will" fishing.

Noah fishing.

Five-year-old Asher is fishing.

Making precious memories in our great Mississippi outdoors!

A Memory of 19 Years Ago

2026-05-05T12:00:00.001-05:00

Rex Dean Howell and I, with Rex's dog CAMO,

Sharing a memory from 19 years ago, on May 5, 2007, when I met Rex Dean Howell and his family at their deer camp, the famous Christmas Place Plantation Hunting Club, on the edge of the MS Delta near Eden, MS. The property had 11 Indian Mounds, and our first picture together was taken in front of one. One of the happiest days of my life.

We met by chance when he came to a hunting forum I had posted on, where I had included a picture of my first 8-point buck and left a link. He came to my website before I turned it into this blog and signed my guestbook on January 29, 2007. I always thank everyone who signs, and that is how we met. He later told me to keep blogging about deer hunting because not too many women deer hunt. He had a hunting blog called Deer Camp Blog, and the rest is history. At the time, we had the same template and green-colored blog. It was meant to be.

My former husband, Bob Phillips, and I were invited to the deer camp, where we met his dad, Hershel, and his brothers, Paul and Trent. We were treated like royalty when we arrived and toured most of the camp, which covered close to 2,000 acres and included a 40-acre pond.

Until 2019, I was able to deer hunt on the property, but Rex got very sick with cancer and died on January 31, 2021. He called me on December 23, 2020, and told me he was very sick and we could not hunt. On Christmas Eve, he went into the hospital and was operated on early Christmas Day.

A wonderful memory in my life, from 12 years of deer-hunting with a friend, I will never forget as long as I live. May he rest in peace. Amen

Little Joe's First Turkey

2026-05-02T12:34:00.000-05:00

Grandson's 1st turkey! So proud! 11 1/2-inch beard, 1.25 spurs.

Suzy Conyers (Grandmother) congratulated him.

Proud Grandfather (Joe Conyers) is taking a picture.

Little Joe is very well camouflaged!

My congratulations on a job well done. I enjoyed taking my grandson, Carl, deer hunting when he was much younger and got his first deer, a six-point buck! Wonderful memories to cherish for the rest of your lives.

Rick's Turkey

2026-04-13T18:50:00.002-05:00

My Facebook friend, Rick Macfarlane, has an awesome turkey picture.

Congratulations!!!

Vandy's Turkey

2026-04-09T11:44:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was another great day for the old guy. You don't really appreciate being in the woods until you spend a whole season sitting on the porch, as I did several years ago, because of heart issues. At 74, it gets a little harder to get up every morning, so occasionally I take a morning off and usually work on gardening or dove fields, and a couple of hours after daylight, I ask myself, " What are you doing. Headed to Alabama to try and get the last 2 dove fields planted and, of course, a turkey hunt whenever possible.

My congratulations to you, Vandy Collins, in our wild and wonderful outdoors!

Shirley's Beautiful Turkey

2026-04-08T17:23:00.001-05:00

Shirley Webb is my friend on Facebook, and this is what she had to say....I'm a wife, mama, and grandmother. I love God, family, friends, and hunting, most especially turkey hunting.

God is good to me. Yesterday afternoon at 5:20 pm, I harvested this beautiful bird. I hate the dark picture, but I was hunting solo, and by the time I got out and got some pictures, it was dusk. I'm so thankful.

My congratulations to Shirley in our great wild outdoors! Woo Hoo!!!

Maggie's Fine Turkey

2026-04-06T10:40:00.000-05:00

I didn't get to hunt opening day, but today I did, and called in this beautiful big bird! 10-inch beard and 1 1/4 inch spurs. He was so heavy, I had a hard time getting him set up on a log so I could take a picture with my tripod, so it's not a great photo, but I am so thankful! 4.4.2026

by Maggie Boineau

My congratulation! Job well done!

Bradly's First Turkey Ever

2026-04-04T13:25:00.000-05:00

St. Jude's Healing Kids Turkey hunt in Savannah, TN. This morning, our hunter is Bradly Cobb from North Carolina. Did great and took his very first turkey ever this morning! Great hunt, and it is all on film!

Was done before 7:00 am by Joe E. Shults.

So proud of you, Bradly! Nice turkey too!

In Memory of My Friend, David Edward Woods

2026-03-31T12:07:00.002-05:00

April 4, 1954 ~ March 21, 2026

David Edward Woods, well-known Vicksburg hair stylist/barber, died March 21, 2026, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. He would have been 72 years old on April 4, 2026.

David was also known as an accomplished and artistic woodworker who always enjoyed sharing his talents with others.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Bettye Woods. He is survived by his twin sons (Christopher and Nicholas), two granddaughters (Nicholas: Callie and Zoe), and four brothers (Ben/Stephanie, John, Thomas, and Sam/Rosanna), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. David will truly be missed by his relatives, many clients, and friends.

The family wishes to thank the numerous doctors and nurses at UMMC and Sanctuary Hospice who assisted with David's care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to favorite veteran charities.

A memorial service will be held on March 31, 2026, at Sebrell Funeral Home, 425 Northpark Dr.

Ridgeland, MS 39157.

3:00 pm visitation

4:00 pm memorial service

May he rest in peace.

Frankie's Turkey

2026-03-26T13:17:00.000-05:00

Frankie Pazos, accompanied by his dad, Frank, joined us at Rebel Yell Outdoors, and the 11-year-old scored big on his first turkey, a very handsome trophy turkzilla! Hunter #5 with long beard #5!!!!

Y'all help me congratulate this fine young hunter and excellent marksman. That tiny tubed .410 did a fine job!

My congratulations to Frankie, and I'm so proud of you!!!

Hunting Friend Died August 15, 2025

2026-03-17T16:10:00.000-05:00

Billie Scott Boykin, 94, of Ridgeland, MS, passed away Saturday, August 9, 2025. A visitation will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025, from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 3:00 p.m.

Billie was born May 15, 1931, in Mist, Arkansas, to Eddie and Edythe Boykin. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War and married the love of his life, Lydia Sue Howell Boykin. He worked as an electrician, a rancher, a farmer, and in timber management. He loved his family, hunting, and raising both hunting dogs and quarter horses.

He is preceded in death by his father, Eddie Scott Boykin, and his mother, Edythe Adams Boykin.

Billie is survived by his wife of 40 years, Lydia Sue Boykin; his children, Billy (Lynn) Boykin, Jr., Tray (Lisa) Bourgoyne, and Terri Boykin; grandchildren, Billy Scott (Taylor) Boykin, III, and Kristin (Chandler) Tinsley.

Instead of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Columb's Episcopal Church, 550 Sunnybrook Rd, Ridgeland, MS 39157.

May he rest in peace.

Just found out today through a good friend, Jane Ivy, that Billy had died. Here is a picture of us at the deer camp talking about our deer stories. Fred Harris, Billy Scott Boykin, and I in the late 80s at Browns Point Hunting Club on Kings Point Island, north of Vicksburg, MS.

Happy "Heavenly" 68th Birthday, Rex

2026-03-09T09:17:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of my hunting friend, Rex Dean Howell, and me taking a break during a workday at the famous Christmas Place Plantation Hunting Club on the edge of the MS Delta. He is wearing a T-shirt that was given to him by my former step-daughter, Karen, and hubby Ron Whitmore, who owned Artisans Santa Fe art supplies in Santa Fe, NM. He is proudly wearing it. He died on January 31, 2021 (the last day of hunting season) and would have turned 68 today. I miss our hunting and work days, which were so much fun. I feel very fortunate to have known him, and I miss him, his family, and his hunting friends.

Angela's Very Nice Buck

2026-03-08T17:35:00.001-05:00

Angela Parker harvested this buck in the early bow season in Hermanville, Mississippi.

My congratulations to Angela on a very nice buck in our great wild outdoors.

That's a BIG HOG!

2026-03-03T21:58:00.003-06:00

That’s a big hog. Rumor it was 1,100 lbs killed in Fayetteville, Arkansas. That’s a freaking tank!

Holly's BIG 7-Point

2026-03-02T12:46:00.000-06:00

Holly Pell killed this 7-point buck while hunting in Warren County on January 18. It weighed 235 pounds and had a 20-inch inside spread.

That is an awesome 7-point! My congratulations to Holly in our great Mississippi wild outdoors!

Sharing a Memory

2026-03-01T13:52:00.006-06:00

Sharing a memory from long ago of my former husband (deceased) and me riding on the sandbar at Brown's Point Deer Camp, north of Vicksburg on the Mississippi River in the late 1980's. It was so much fun going to camp in the summer, riding around, jumping off the deer, and checking out the sandbars. We had a blast and later got a four-wheeler to enjoy as well.

Sarah Kate's First Deer

2026-02-28T23:04:00.001-06:00

Sarah Kate McPhail, in her first year out of college, made some memories with her dad this winter while killing her first deer.

My congratulations to Sarah Kate on a job well done! It's in your blood now. Nice buck in our great Mississippi outdoors!

Orlando's Big Buck

2026-02-27T19:15:00.000-06:00

Orlando Tel Duncan killed this big 13-point buck near the Big Black River on January 10. It weighed 235 pounds and had a 20-inch inside spread.

My congratulations to Orlando in our great wild Mississippi outdoors. I'm sure he will have it mounted!

#1 Hog For The Year

2026-02-24T11:36:00.000-06:00

My friend Kareen on Facebook loves to kill hogs, and this is her first one this year. Here is her hog story in her own words.

I was out by 7:02 pm. There were deer there that ran off. Then a lone cow elk showed up & some time later I could see the shadow of a hog. There was just enough moonlight that I could make him out. So the elk & the hog did their dance. She didn’t want to leave, but he wasn’t leaving either & just waiting. She finally gave up & took off & when he walked under the lights I dropped him in his tracks. As I was walking up to him, I could see he was still barely alive, so I put one more in him. I do believe he was the hog from the night before, who had only one eye. Pretty good-sized, and I will measure him in the morning. Shot him at 7:51 pm. That makes #1 for the year & 213 grand total. I am so happy!

My congratulations to my hog friend, Kareen, in the great Texas outdoors!

Evan's Buck

2026-02-22T14:18:00.000-06:00

Evan Rowland killed this very nice 8-point buck on private land in the Bovina area on New Year's Eve. Congratulations to Evan. So proud of you in our Mississippi outdoors!

Abel's Buck

2026-02-21T14:37:00.000-06:00

Abel Hopkins got this buck during the 2025 deer season. Fine-looking buck, Abel!

My congratulations to Abel in our great Mississippi outdoors!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2026-02-14T16:25:00.001-06:00

Trip's Very First Buck

2026-02-13T14:57:00.000-06:00

Trip Irwin, an 11-year-old Vicksburg resident, got his first buck. It was a 13-pointer. So proud of Trip, and he will never forget the day he shot his very first buck. What a memory. My congratulations to Trip on our great Mississippi wild outdoors! Way to go!