Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: South MS Bowhunter on July 26, 2013, 04:02:00 PM
-
:scared:
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/file-581.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/file-581.jpg.html)
-
We're still waiting!
-
Got to Lower Pascagoula WMA and turned on to Deep Slough Road, checked in at permit station and parked the FJ just out of the way of any possible through traffic, not that I expected any seeing it was already past 10pm.
I had already decided to just hunt the area around the main road and up under Deep Slough bridge as I knew the area and being by myself didnt won’t to take any chance of getting lost searching out a new area in the swamp at night :eek:
The last time in I had missed a big Bull at the head of the slough just off the road, so I ease into the wood near the area where he was known to hang out..
-
I scanned the area with my STREAMLIGHT Stinger my son had bought me 2 years ago for Christmas it a bright light with 3 different power settings and rechargeable a plus for Frog hunting if you plan on spending a lot of time out at night.
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/39e2245c-1216-403e-8cab-e7cf987883eb.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/39e2245c-1216-403e-8cab-e7cf987883eb.jpg.html)
My set up was to use the STREAMLIGHT to locate the frogs and when in position to shoot I switch on the Coleman headlight to attempt the shot, seems to work ok for now, when by myself.
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/56e4a054-3cf0-4b5a-b107-ef4ca3e7330c.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/56e4a054-3cf0-4b5a-b107-ef4ca3e7330c.jpg.html)
-
As I scanned the area no frog showed itself but I did locate a large fresh water eel approximately 3’ long, wish I would of thought to snap a picture of it as it was kind of unique.
The swamp is a very enchanting place to be, during the day the oak bottoms forms a boundary with a mixture of oaks, sweet gums, beech, and assorted hardwood. The Spanish moss give it that distinctive southern ambiance.
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Pig%20Hunt%20March%202013/file-1.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Pig%20Hunt%20March%202013/file-1.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Pig%20Hunt%20March%202013/file-4.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Pig%20Hunt%20March%202013/file-4.jpg.html)
The swamp itself although enchanting demand your respect... very easy to get lost in as every cypress tree looks like the last one and you need to be sure of every step as those long sliding things are about, and thats just in the daylight.
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Pig%20Hunt%20March%202013/file-6.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Pig%20Hunt%20March%202013/file-6.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Pig%20Hunt%20March%202013/file-13.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Pig%20Hunt%20March%202013/file-13.jpg.html)
-
Cant hardly wait to waller in it tonight. We're gonna whackem pal! Yehaa
-
Oh and nice photos.Ever wish your shootin was as good as your photography. Just pickin man lightin up!
-
As I scanned the area no frog showed itself in the spot I thought it would, so I moved on slowly searching the banks on both side of the strip or finger of land I was on.
As I cleared a tree a few feet further there hunched ahead of me sat a large frog a good 8' off the bank.
You think the frogs are going to be sitting in the water on the edge, and they are a lot of times, but experience has taught me to look way beyond the waters edge especially if you're walking a strip of land that separates two body of water.
I moved to get into position and switched my light off and then switched on the headlight and slid it around so it was just above my Left eye so when I turned my head to shoot the beam would align and centered on the frog.
So far so good as I drew back and the shot felt good I released to hear that most satisfying sound of “P0P” much like a ballon popping and in reality it is as the 3 prong “pitchfork” let the air out of the gut of the frog.
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/cc04c6e8-26fb-4d7b-b08f-28718d4e2823.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/cc04c6e8-26fb-4d7b-b08f-28718d4e2823.jpg.html)
-
you won't catch anyone from Boston walking around in that mess at night, ha ha ha.. don't you have gators down there, plus all those brown widows you'd be walking into..
-
Gators
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/2010%20Bow%20Season/IMG_8302-2.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/2010%20Bow%20Season/IMG_8302-2.jpg.html)
and Snakes of different variety
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/Big%20Rattlesnake/file-71.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/Big%20Rattlesnake/file-71.jpg.html)
-
I managed to take 3 frogs off this first strip of land between the sloughs...
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/file-776.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/file-776.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/15292e01-117b-41e9-9d40-32734047c3d6.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/15292e01-117b-41e9-9d40-32734047c3d6.jpg.html)
-
Dang.....snakes! :scared:
-
Hey Ted, you wont catch folks down here walking around in that mess either and that's exactly why we're doin all the killin. Hope it stays that way. There are snakes and gators but so far we remain the most feared!!
-
Everytime this ole boy starts a thread...I just HAVE to read it... but... Good gravey, Gertie!
Them snakes is enough to worry a body. Like Roger...my reaction would be: :help:
-
Me and Possum Head (Kirk) is prepping to go again tonight, we plan on meeting at around 9:30 pm and working some new areas of the slough.
After making my way back to the permit station I headed to the other side of the road where another trail branched off and runs parallel with Deep Slough. You get a mind picture that Deep Slough is a single body of water that is just smaller than say a river, but that not the case there are many smaller tributaries that branch out and are separated by little ribbons of land.
It is a maze of mud, blow downs, submerged logs, tangles and water. In this eco system the frog live along with the other eh critters :goldtooth:
-
Thanks Doc for the comments...I walked down the trail away to cover enough water I thought would take an hour or so to hunt and turned back into the maze to start looking.
Within the next hour or so I saw some 13 frogs of eating proportion and it seemed like my shooting was exceptional for the night.
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/file-2129.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/file-2129.jpg.html)
-
Patience, neh, I wanna kill somethin!
-
In all told I shot 11 bullfrogs of good size (now they weren't all shot with a single shot, if you know what I mean :campfire:
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/file-599.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/file-599.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/file-701.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/file-701.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/file-1905.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/file-1905.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/file-375.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/file-375.jpg.html)
-
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/73d79e8f-3d0b-46fa-8000-b5eee07982ad.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/73d79e8f-3d0b-46fa-8000-b5eee07982ad.jpg.html)
(http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/jalmay5th/file-1019.jpg) (http://s795.photobucket.com/user/jalmay5th/media/file-1019.jpg.html)
-
That looks like some good eating! Great shooting too! Could you have shot and eaten that fresh water eel? When I was younger, we used to catch a few on trotlines on the Mississippi and would skin and fry them up with the catfish. They were always delicious! But, they weren't as big as the one you saw.
-
Chris,
Yes I could of shot it, and I did not know they were good to eat, kinda ironic eat frogs but not the eel :knothead:
By the way a very, very nice buck in your avatar!
-
Good job and good story and pics, too.
Looks like that diamondback ate well too, by the looks of the size of that lump in his belly.
-
Great post ,Man I shur could go for a mess of frog legs now.
-
sure looks like y'all always have fun! I grew up in Pascagoula.
-
John,
We try to de-stress this way, but sometimes my shooting get me worked up! I brought home about 5 and missed about another 6 or more :knothead:
Now Kirk did much better and I wont know his tally till later in the morning when he cleans them, but his sack looked a lot fuller than mine.
-
Looks like you know how to have a good time. All that is missing is a little moonshine and you have a great meal. Makes my mouth water just looking at your great pictures.
Small game is a lost sport and one of the most pleasant when done. Take a newby small game and they will get hooked.
Thanks for the great post.
-
Tim you are right about small game it's a great way to learn about woods we love to hunt and to sharpen shooting form . I'm with Uncle Si on the sweet tea and bullfrogs! Moonshine would make me dumber than I already am. This morning's count yielded 8 frogs for me but unlike John no one will know how many I missed!
-
About 7 more but who's counting :goldtooth:
-
Snakes is good eatin' :thumbsup:
-
Great story - Great pictures!
Thanks for sharing your hunt with us. I for one am very partial to fried frog legs.
-
Is there a story with the sneaky snake? Not afraid of them but after dark in a swamp is another story entirely. Step down by that bad boy & it's off to the races!
-
Buddy (Forrest),
Here’s the original story from the snake this past january I think, i’m re-posting because you asked and it’s a rain day :biglaugh:
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=124469#000000
-
That snake would have cause me to hurt myself! :scared:
-
I just again crossed MS off my relocation list.
I know you folks down south all have a goodly many snakes...
I've seen black and yellow phase Timbers up here. I think I'd rather face up a Griz!
Just sumpin about a critter that can slither around, lie under logs, drop from trees, strike from a rock head high... :scared: that give me the flipping shivering shakes!
That and the doc told me that since I react bad to all sorts of stings, I'm likely allergic to snake venom...and also allergic to horse serum, so anti-venom!
I'd rather avoid ALL social contact with pit vipers!
THAT...that was a snake story! Would surely keep me outa the swamp hunting frogs me thinks!
-
Doc,
It's ok man the snakes are in the South like...like... like a...i’m having a hard time thinking what you have up North that would compare to our friendly reptiles :dunno:
-
Idiots???
-
:biglaugh:
-
I had to check where you live to see if you were from Michigan or Kalifornia and perhaps you were referring to Pols.
-
That was a nice mess of frog legs Mr. Langley!
Enjoy!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2: