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

Kareen's Hog Kill in Alpine, TX

2026-09-22T18:31:44.041-05:00

My Facebook friend, Kareen, is a hog-killing machine. This is what she killed Monday in the great outdoors of Texas!!

So this is what has been happening with the hogs. Two nights in a row before last night, I went out after dark, and both times they were already there and ran off. I decided I would go out earlier and was there by 7:38 pm.  Sure enough, some deer came in, ate, and left, and at 8:15, a sounder of youngsters came in. I waited as I wanted to see that big hog.  As the moon grew brighter and brighter, I could see very well. When these hogs came in, I could see a boar outside the pen who would not come in but kept letting out a long grunt.  When he did that, a few of the young hogs would run off a few feet, then go back to eating.  I don't know if he was warning them or what. A little later, I saw the big boar coming up from the creek, but apparently he knew something was up or caught my scent because he turned and went back down into the creek, and I knew he wouldn't be coming back. I finally told myself to just shoot a hog.  Really doesn't matter if it's a big one or not, and there were about 8 to choose from. I took my shot, and down he went, and he didn't even do a death dance. That makes only 3 for the year, but makes my grand total 215.  I've got to go drag him off in a little bit.  Oh, and I shot him at 8:38 pm.

My congratulations to Kareen! Way to go, girlfriend!

Awesome Buck Photo by Mike Persichini

2026-09-17T16:26:06.723-05:00

I couldn't have asked for a better morning, per my Facebook friend Mike Persichini from Michigan.

Rozzy's Large Trophy

2026-09-16T18:49:03.157-05:00

Pretty confident Rozzy needs a larger trophy room!!! She is pregnant and still stacking the big bucks. Congratulations Roz! It looks like this is number 18 or 20, and it's over 18 inches wide!!!

My congratulations!

Great Grandson, Noah Going to Bass Pro

2026-09-12T12:29:47.678-05:00

Kids can say the darenest things - My daughter, Debi, took my great-grandson, Noah, to the Bass Pro this morning, and on the way, all of a sudden he hollered out, "Oh my G-d, look at all the hair on my legs!! Yeah! I'm a man now!

When they were riding the elevator upstairs at Bass Pro, he said, "Umm, is this elevator professionally made?" The guy in the elevator said, "I sure hope so."

My grandson will be celebrating his birthday with his brother, Will, in the next couple of weeks, since they were born a day and a year apart. He's a man-soon-to-be 8-year-old, sitting on a 4-wheeler at Bass Pro. Love him so much; he always gives the peace sign in his photos.

We Remember

2026-09-11T11:48:07.085-05:00

Good Morning, Bloggers

2026-09-11T11:09:49.352-05:00

Dove Hunting in Kansas

2026-09-07T17:49:35.335-05:00

The Dove Hunting Gang!

Charlie (Dad) and John Kirk (my Godchild).

The Rings and a hunting friend.

A great picture of John Kirk (Godchild), Charlie Sr., Michael, and Charlie Jr. (sharing the same birthday, 27 January).

So glad the Ring Family had a good time dove hunting with hunting friends in Kansas during the Labor Day holiday. Their mother, Jeanette, is my bestest friend in the whole wide world. So proud that Charlie and his sons enjoyed the great outdoors in Kansas. Congratulations!

Buck Photo Bomb

2026-09-05T12:32:03.367-05:00

This is my Facebook friend, Mike Persichini, taking pictures of deer and saying it was a great morning to be in the woods!

Not sure if this is his daughter or his wife.

He has been doing this for years, and the deer are not afraid of him. He also feeds them in Michigan's great outdoors.

Two Deer Fawns

2026-09-03T18:28:19.184-05:00

This picture was taken by my Facebook friend, Mike Persichini. I told him this looks like a painting. A beautiful picture of two fawns in our great outdoors in Michigan!

The Tomato Place @ Vicksburg, MS

2026-08-30T17:22:40.237-05:00

Last Saturday, my daughter, Debi, and I went to eat at "The Tomato Place" in my hometown, down 61 South. Here are some random pictures I took while we were there. It's a quaint little place with exceptional food, and it's been around for 24 years now.

Daughter Debi

We had fried green tomatoes w/avocado, and it was loaded with bacon chips. I had already picked up part of the sandwich and decided to take a picture. When I did, the bacon fell out of the sandwich. Also, we had fried sweet potato chips w/sauce, so good. We both had fresh-squeezed lemonade, and it was so delicious. Haven't had that in a long time.

Luke Hughes behind the counter.

Smiling owner, Luke Hughes!

I accidentally set my camera to portrait mode and took this black-and-white picture of the bottle tree.

Of course, I had to get a magnet for my fridge!

Tagged Out on Alligator Hunt in MS

2026-08-29T14:15:56.190-05:00

First night hunt gains a 12-foot 4-incher in the Mississippi River! Congrats, Jonathan Wimberley and friends. Tagged out on the first night!

12 feet and 4 inches in the Mississippi River.

Public Waters Season: August 28 at 12:00 pm to September 7 at 12:00 pm. Hunters are allowed from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise each day. The active season limit is two 4-foot bags per permit, with only one allowed to exceed 7 feet.

My congratulations to all. What an adventure in hunting in our great Mississippi outdoors!

Tropical Storm Dolly

2026-08-28T14:18:27.061-05:00

HELLO DOLLY!

Here she comes again! Tropical Storm Dolly is now working 9-to-5 in the Atlantic.

Dolly & her coat of many colors will swirl off to the west over the next few days, probably seeking Jolene somewhere north of the Caribbean... if she's able to keep herself together.

TROPICAL UPDATE 
12 PM FRIDAY 8/28/2026

Easy come, easy go! 

Just 24 hours after forming, Dolly has already degenerated into a tropical wave and is no longer a tropical storm. Relentless wind shear did it in, and that shear is only expected to get stronger, so the remnants should continue to weaken.

There’s a very small chance Dolly’s remnants could try to regenerate next week near the Bahamas or possibly the Gulf. I’ll keep an eye on it, but at this point, it’s certainly nothing to worry about.

That wind shear has been absolutely relentless this season! 

A Watercolor Picture of a Doe

2026-08-27T17:33:53.867-05:00

I watercolored a photo of a doe I photographed on July 3, 2026, with my phone. I just happened to look out my bedroom window and see it at my apartment. She is pregnant as well.

This was taken before she left and went down the hill to another subdivision. We have deer all over my hometown of Vicksburg, MS.

Welcome Dolly

2026-08-26T22:09:35.148-05:00

January 19, 1946 ~ August 25, 2026

A Deer Interdigital Glands

2026-08-24T18:15:27.915-05:00

When you harvest a deer this season, look for the hidden gland between the hooves on all four feet. It's located between and just above the hooves and underneath the fur. This small opening is the “interdigital” gland, one of seven different external whitetail glands.

The interdigital glands produce a secretion that some people describe as smelling like rancid butter. Biologists don't fully understand the function of the interdigital glands, but it's likely that they enable deer to deposit a unique scent in each track as they walk. This could help them retrace their own paths and remain within a familiar home range. Or, they could be sharing information about their location and how recently they passed with other deer. 

When deer detect danger and stomp their front hooves, they might deposit extra scent from the gland, which could warn other deer about this location. All these are theories, and you can add your own when you show your friends the interdigital glands on their deer and share this cool deer science

Bucks Butting

2026-08-22T12:45:56.194-05:00

The Big 8 got his butt beat this morning!!!

My Facebook friend, Mike Persichini, who is a deer whisperer, took pictures of what he calls the "Big 8" sparring with another buck. Someone said they were just playing right now; give them a couple of months. But Mike said they were not playing; it was pretty vicious for 15 seconds.

My First Great-Granddaughter

2026-08-20T11:47:23.232-05:00

My Granddaughter, Lucy, told me on June 20th that she was going to have a baby. In July, the baby announcement came out. Yesterday, she found out it will be a girl. I am so happy and excited for her, Hunter, and my two great-grandsons, Will and Noah. This will be my first great-granddaughter. I'm already blessed with 5 great-grandsons: Tidus, 19; Ian, 18; Will, 8; Noah, 7; and Asher, 5.

Sharing Chicago Pictures

2026-08-19T08:47:41.293-05:00

I'm sharing some pretty nice pictures my daughter, Suzi, sent me; they were taken by my son-in-law, Dennis, while attending a conference in Chicago this week. Pretty impressive.

Trump Tower

Nicknamed "The Bean" statue, aka. Cloud Gate is in Millennium Park and mirrors the city's famous skyline and clouds on a seamless, highly polished surface. Designed by British artist Sir Anish Kapoor and constructed between 2004 and 2006.

Skyline of Chicago.

Lake Michigan

Buck Photo-Op

2026-08-18T13:44:22.210-05:00

My Facebook friend, Mike Persichini, took this picture of a buck who is looking for a magazine cover!

Big Bite - Tight Lines & Happy Fishing

2026-08-16T17:44:26.656-05:00

"BIG Bite Just A Bit Ago!!"

Well, first of all, Thank You, "Delta Outfitters" here in Vicksburg, where I just came back from, and for buying my new Smokin Shad to cast out and fish with off of my pier. I was just testing it, not REALLY expecting to catch anything, except for maybe a small Bass!!

No sooner than I threw my line out to the middle of the lake, this beautiful Bass took off with it like it was starving!! 

I was fishing with my fun little Zebco 33 Micro that I bought from Delta Outfitters again here in Vicksburg. I took off the 4lb test line and replaced it with an 8 lb test line. It's the same pole that I caught my 4½lb Bass on Memorial Day this year. Very lucky little Rod & Reel, but this time, this Bass broke off the tip and the first eyelet of the pole. That's ok; I bought a second Zebco Micro 33, exactly the same, just in case!! 

WOW, what a FUN catch, and reeling in this one was, but it felt so much heavier than the 4½ pounder. Once again, I was so doggone excited that I forgot to measure its length. As always, I did release it back into the lake for a longer life!!

Thank you, Devin and Finn, for coming out to the pier and helping me with pictures!!

Ok Rudy and Brady, your turn!! ... LOL ... Tight Lines and Happy Fishing!!

My congratulations to Yvonne Robinson for an awesome catch in our great Vicksburg, Mississippi, outdoors!

Curious Doe

2026-08-10T17:24:16.131-05:00

Steve Creek said - I thought this White-tailed Doe was about to stick her head right through my open truck window! She came in incredibly close and gave me quite the look. If you look closely at her eyes, you can even see the reflection of my truck.

(Mt. Nebo State Park, Arkansas)

Impressive Buck

2026-08-09T12:48:53.023-05:00

My Facebook friend, Mike Persichini, said he only took 700 pics of himself this morning!!! More to come later.

The Yazoo River

2026-08-06T18:59:49.301-05:00

The Yazoo River is a major river located primarily in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Stretching approximately 188 miles (303 kilometers), it is formed by the confluence of the Tallahatchie and Yalobusha rivers near Greenwood. From there, it flows generally southward before joining the Mississippi River at Vicksburg. The river is an important part of the lower Mississippi River watershed and has played a significant role in the region's history, geography, and economy.

The Yazoo River forms the eastern boundary of the Mississippi Delta, a vast alluvial plain known for its exceptionally fertile soil. This region became one of the most productive agricultural areas in the United States during the 19th century, particularly for cotton cultivation. Before the American Civil War, the Delta was dominated by large cotton plantations that relied on the labor of enslaved people. Following the war, agriculture remained the region's primary industry, with crops such as cotton, soybeans, corn, and rice continuing to be grown on a large scale.

Historically, the river served as an important transportation route for moving agricultural products and supplies throughout the Delta. Its slow-moving waters and extensive network of nearby streams and wetlands also created valuable habitats for fish, birds, and other wildlife. Today, the Yazoo River remains significant for farming, flood control, recreation, and conservation. Numerous levees, drainage systems, and flood-control projects have been developed along the river to reduce flooding and protect agricultural lands and nearby communities while preserving the river's role in Mississippi's natural and cultural landscape. 

Camouflaging Myself Back Years Ago

2026-07-18T13:04:29.949-05:00

Now you see me!

Now you don't.

I came across these two pictures of me taken back in 2007 while deer hunting in warmer Mississippi weather. Thought I would post them today.

MS Bears Naturally on The Move in July

2026-07-13T17:31:43.607-05:00

July is a time when bears are naturally on the move. Young male bears are leaving the areas where they were raised and can travel hundreds of miles in search of their own home ranges. Adult bears are also more active as the breeding season continues.

Seeing a bear doesn't necessarily mean it's lost or in trouble...this kind of movement is completely normal.

Sightings can be reported at MDWFP.com. More urgent issues such as aggressive behavior, property damage, or injured bears should be reported to 1-800-BE-SMART.

If you spot a bear:
-> Keep your distance.
-> Never feed or approach it.
-> Secure garbage, pet food, and other attractants.
-> Give it space, and it will usually continue on its way.

By removing food sources and allowing bears to remain wild, we can help ensure people and bears safely share Mississippi's outdoors.

To learn more about bear movement and how to live with bears, visit - https://bearwise.org/what-bears-do-in-july/