December 24, 2018 at 12:17am
Thanks for all the replies. Its been many, many years since I've hunted public land. From the time I was about 12 throughout my teen years my father took me to Pearl River, Bohemia and Jackson Bienville WMAs. We never got any 'wall hangers' but were always took a deer or two year after year. Not to mention squirrels and rabbits. I enjoyed spending long days walking around the woods with my dad. Harvesting an animal was icing on the cake, no matter the size. Up until last year I hunted nothing but a club in Mississippi since those days with my father. It was fun and family oriented but consisted of sitting in box stands staring at food plots. Yes we harvested quite a few 'wall hangers', but nothing felt as earned as deer taken on public land with my father. I had enough of the bickering and drama that comes with being in a club and got out last year. I started taking my kids on public land this fall and have enjoyed every second with them just like when my dad used to take me. The challenge of putting my son in position to be able to harvest a buck on public land, not to mention Pearl River, was so rewarding for both of us, I don't know if we'll ever go back to being in a club. Merry Christmas and good luck to everyone for the rest of the season.
