(gentle harmonica music) (gentle country music) ♪ Riding through the bayou, heading for the sky blue ♪ ♪ Back out on the trail again and again ♪ ♪ Talking and hunting and fishing the land ♪ ♪ Time is time well spent ♪ ♪ We'll take you through the delta ♪ ♪ Down to the great wide shore ♪ ♪ So much to see and do Mississippi outdoors ♪ ♪ Mississippi outdoors ♪ ♪ The great outdoors ♪ - [Announcer] "Mississippi Outdoors" is brought to you in part by the Foundation for Wildlife, Fisheries, Parks and Marine.

(slow tempo gentle country music) (birds and insects chirping) - Welcome to "Mississippi Outdoors".

I'm Amanda Mills.

- And I'm Kevin Meacham.

Thanks for joining us.

- In our first story, we're headed to Quitman County.

- It's opening day of dove season and we're headed to O'Keefe Wildlife Management Area.

- Let's go.

(upbeat rock music) (upbeat rock music) (birds chirping) - [Boy] That one was right in front of you.

- About 4:30, so just keep that in mind.

Turn and look around.

(guns banging) (gun bangs) (gentle rock music) - (chuckles) Well, here we are opening day of dove season in Mississippi.

It actually opened on the first Monday this year.

And we're actually at O'Keefe WMA this morning in Quitman County.

First time I've hunted here, but we've got two sunflower fields.

I think they said both of them are about 13 acres.

We're on the north field and there's a bunch of hunters down there on that south field.

And we can start shooting at two o'clock, which is about two minutes from now.

So we got our mojo.

Kemp's with me today and hopefully we burn them up.

They said they've been coming in here so it looks good.

Sunflowers look good.

They got it sprayed down good and some bush hogs.

So I'm about to load up.

This is the day you look for opening day.

(gun clicks) Kemp, let me shoot first.

(Kemp laughs) That's kind of the rule.

Let dad shoot first and then you get this, you know.

- Get a backup shot?

- Yeah, get a backup shooter.

- You going to need it.

- Oh, I know.

I mean you can shoot them and I'll just, you know.

And you got to fetch them too.

- Huh.

- Yeah.

(gun bangs) Got one.

Brantley.

(gun bangs) Yep.

- Hey, coming to you.

- [Hunter] Turn another one.

(gun bangs) - Got him.

- That was a kill.

- That was all dead there.

- No.

- Yeah.

Little birds are starting to fly a little bit better now.

- Yeah, just out here with my family doing a little dove hunting.

This is always our favorite time of year, the start of the fall, start of the deer, start of the hunting season to get out here and, and enjoy nature.

Something we do every year.

I got three of my four kids with me.

I got my 12 year old and my 10 year old and my 8 year old and my wife she's out here with us too, but looking to have a good time and hopefully take some dove home and cook them up later on this week.

- This is our first year to make it a family event.

My husband always comes with the boys or sometimes all of the kids, but this year we're doing it as a whole family for the first time.

- So we set up some decoys, some dove decoys and we got two on each one of those spinny things.

And then we got one that's like on this green pole that's flying.

That's going to bring all the dove in.

We're going to slay them all.

(guns banging) - Yes sir.

- What was that?

(gun bangs) - [Adam] Good shot.

- We're here at O'Keefe WMA today and on O'Keefe we have 6,000 acres total roughly and we have about 4,500 acres of bottomland hardwood timber, about 1500 acres of reforested hardwood and then about another 500 acres that is open fields that is split between a farm lease and more soil management that's flooded for waterfowl.

This year we have two dove fields that are each about 13 and a half acres a piece.

This year we planted sunflowers on both.

And despite a really wet spring, we're still able to have a pretty good crop.

And we've got a lot of seed on the ground and hopefully that brings a lot of doves.

- So nice to have this resource the state does to be able to dove hunt.

This is actually our this is our second year out here at O'Keefe to dove hunt and they always do a good job planting these sunflowers and you know, we've had success out here in the past and just hope to repeat that today.

Oh, lord.

(guns banging) Oh my goodness.

- We're down here opening today at dove season at the WMA in O'Keefe.

And pretty excited for it, man.

We starting to hear shots.

People starting to pop off pretty good.

And I just, I'm hoping to bag out.

(gun banging) - [Adam] Oh my wheel.

(gun banging) (laughs) Wheel, come on.

- So this spring we tried a little bit different of a technique.

In years past we've had a lot of drown outs because of this gumbo soil.

And so what we did was we rode up this year, planted sunflowers on beds.

We did clear field sunflowers.

And then we came back with a post-emergent, pre-emergent application herbicide.

And then we came back about three or four weeks after that and did another post residual herbicide treatment.

Let everything ride and then about after a hundred days of after planting time, we came in and sprayed a burn down desiccant herbicide.

Came in a couple weeks after that and then bush hogged some lanes and got a lot of seed on the ground.

- We've been out here several years and we love it.

It's close to Batesville, about an hour from Batesville where we're from and, and we usually see quite a few doves.

So this is our, one of our favorite spots.

(gun banging) - We've been out here several years and the fields are always good.

Good sunflowers and they've got them plowed up, ready to go.

(upbeat rock music) We always see a good many birds.

We enjoy coming out here.

Ready to kill some doves.

(gun banging) - [Kevin] Yay.

(dramatic rock music) - Good right there.

- Big old fat dove.

- Oh yeah.

- [Kevin] That's they way I like him.

- I saw Delta bird.

- [Kevin] Let me set bird.

- Oh head shot.

That must have been me.

That's what I was aiming for.

Look at it, that's 12 shot.

That got to be me.

- All I know is when I pulled the trigger, I seen him fold up.

- That's what I did too.

- Oh wait.

Here, put him in my pouch for me.

- All I know is I watched you shoot this morning and it can't be you.

- Well, you shot six times since we've been here and nothing's failed.

I throw up and shoot in one thing.

- I'm here and I'm ready to play.

(upbeat rock music) (insects chirping) (gun bangs) - Good job, man.

(gun bangs) Dang.

Well it's about 4:30.

The sun's starting to go behind the trees pretty good so we moved out to the edge of the shadows here.

We're still in the shade so, but a lot more doves start to come in the field, especially on the upper end.

So, but the last few that came down the middle of the field, just a little out of gun range for Kemp and I, so we moved out about 10, 15 yards.

Get a little closer so see what happens.

They said this about the time they've been flying really good at 4:30, five o'clock in the afternoon.

So see what happens.

- Good shot, bud.

- This right here is something that they put together that I enjoy because I don't have many place to hunt.

This WMA on this wildlife refuge here is, I love it.

I've been hunting here for four years.

- Nice.

- And squirrel hunting, dove hunting, I live for it.

I love it.

They do put a lot of work in these fields like this and you couldn't ask for no better.

I mean I, for somebody to do this for a person like me, I mean I couldn't ask for nothing better.

(gun banging) - We enjoy it.

We was raised right here in Tallahatchie County right up the road and hunted this place ever since.

Well I've been hunting ever since I was about five years old.

So it's a great place to hunt and these guys take good care.

They've been trying over the years they've got, got us better dove fields and better deer in here too, so.

(gun banging) - [Kemper] Got two.

Doubled up.

- Where's the other one at?

- Huh?

- [Jessie] Generally we do have a lot of people out here on opening day of dove season that this may be the only time that they hunt all year.

So we definitely want to make sure that everybody's kind of refreshed on what licenses and permits they need and it's also as safety regulations as far as keeping your muzzle in the correct direction.

Being courteous of low birds and the people around you.

And making sure that everybody's, you know, got a plug in their shotgun and knows to pick up trash and just be, you know, courteous to our wildlife management area.

(upbeat rock music) (gun bangs) - Yeah, it's just a great place out here at O'Keefe.

They always take good care of their fields and it's properly managed.

So that's that's another reason that, why I keep coming back is because it's such a great place.

So hopefully we'll get some more birds this afternoon.

And they're veering and they're veering, and they're veering, and they're veering.

(gun banging) (guns banging) - [Kevin] Low bird.

- We enjoy it and we thank the Mississippi Department of Wildlife for doing it.

We need a lot more places like it.

- It was such a good day.

We had fun with the family.

We had beautiful weather.

The breeze was nice.

Everybody had a good time.

- Well, we're about to end the day here at O'Keefe WMA.

It's been a pretty good shoot.

I mean Dove's been scattered out and needs sunflowers, but we shot a few but we watched a lot go down from other guys out here.

But a lot of families out here hunting too.

So open day of dove season here in Mississippi.

Kind of kicks off the hunting season.

Kemp, he's still after.

(chuckles) (upbeat rock music) - [Adam] They come straight to there.

(guns banging) (guns banging) (guns banging) - [Announcer 2] Practice makes perfect.

(screen whooshes) (guns banging) (screen whooshing) (gun clicks) (gun bangs) (screen whooshes) (gun bangs) (screen whooshes) (gun bangs) (screen whooshes) (gun bangs) (dramatic rock music) (bullet whooshes) (gun bangs) (gun bangs) ♪ Hey ♪ (gun bangs) - Time's up.

- [Announcer 2] Enjoy our whole range of options.

(dramatic music) (gentle music) - [Announcer 3] Time away was never meant to be exhausting.

What we all crave is comfort.

A getaway that's unplugged where time slows down and relaxation comes naturally.

We crave the comfort of warm smiles from caring people.

With 25 state parks throughout Mississippi, comfort is closer than you think.

- [Announcer 4] For over 85 years, "Mississippi Outdoors" magazine has served as a guide through the many outdoor adventures within the Magnolia State.

The magazine consists of up-to-date information related to conservation, outdoor recreation, fishing and hunting.

Subscriptions to the magazine are very inexpensive and when you subscribe, you'll receive six bi-monthly issues that contain wildlife photography and solunar tables.

To subscribe, call our toll-free number at 1-888-874-5785.

(insects chirping) - In our next story, we're headed to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

- The outdoors cruise in Ocean Springs for some inshore fishing.

(upbeat music) (boat engine humming) (upbeat country music) (water splashing) - We're at the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

We launched out of Ocean Springs Marina.

It's a beautiful October morning.

Little chilly.

The speckle trout have started coming in shore and we're going to try to do a little inshore slam.

We have today an Noel Bass, Thomas Hogue.

And the inshore slam is one person catching a speckle trout, a flounder and a redfish all in one day.

Well, we're going to see if we can try that.

Welcome to "Mississippi Outdoors".

(upbeat country music) (boat engine humming) That was awesome.

Did you get that?

There he is.

- Got it.

(waves splashing) - Jeremy Bass.

He learned how to tie a hug.

Oh it's a big bull red.

Either that or a drum.

If I can keep him out of that reef.

(seagull chirping) Don't get down in there.

(panting) A 12 pound test.

I'm trying to keep him out of that reef.

- [Thomas] It's a black drum.

You want to chase him?

- It's a big black drum.

(grunts) (Noel grunts) (Jeremy laughs) I mean, he was a stud.

Hey, well it was fun while it lasted, right?

- Yeah, that was awesome.

- [Thomas] What are you hooking, Jeremy?

- I don't know but it's coming up.

(Jeremy grunts) - [Noel] What was that?

- I don't know.

O for two.

- That's the Bass boys.

All right, Jake, you're up.

(group laughing) (seagull chirping) (upbeat country music) - You got a shrimps on?

- Yep.

- That thick or what?

- Speck.

- Oh, oh, oh.

You wanna grab the pliers?

- Yeah.

The birds just aren't working today like.

- No, they're all sitting on that, they're all right over there on that pier.

- [Thomas] I mean, did the pressure go up from the north wind?

- [Jeremy] Oh, I mean we got a huge front coming in.

(upbeat music) - [Thomas] Well, it's foul hooking.

Don't you think gonna make this wrap?

(water splashing) (upbeat music continues) (fishing pole reeling) He's a little better.

- Mm-hmm.

Tell me about these white trout.

- I don't know.

They're, (chuckles) they eat anything.

I know that.

And this time of year they move into the bayous around here and they are, they're really good eating.

If you eat them that day, you don't want to try to freeze them.

Most of my friends will, when they catch them, they'll cook them the same day.

They do love live shrimp, but they'll hit just about anything.

I've caught them on top water.

I've caught them on jigs.

(upbeat country music) Another white trout.

(fishing pole reeling) - Anybody want a water?

- Yeah, I take one.

- [Noel] Yeah, I'll take a water.

(boat engine humming) - [Jeremy] That's a decent size.

(boat engine roaring) (upbeat country music) - I don't like using a swivel.

And so with braid, I just tie a a knot straight from braid to floor carbon.

- Moved a little further up in Davis Bayou.

See if we can't catch a redfish and a flounder.

(water splashes) (fishing pole reeling) - Little red fish.

It's a little one.

(fishing pole reeling) He's better than that last.

I don't think he's better than you.

(fishing pole reeling) (water splashing) (water splashing) - All right, Thomas.

You got your speck and you got your red.

- Yeah.

- All you do is get a flander on your book.

See what happens.

- No pressure, right?

- No pressure, right?

- Yeah.

- [Noel] And then when your brother watches it, he just gives you all kind of grief.

- That's right.

- Oh, oh, oh.

(laughs) That's what happens in South Mississippi.

You turn around and you got your rod rigged up and your brother grabs it.

- [Noel] My fish.

- Got him?

- Yeah.

Of course he did.

He took the rod from him.

- That's a nice one too.

That's a good one.

- Yeah.

(water splashing) - What a fish.

It's pretty.

(water splashing) (fishing pole reeling) (upbeat country music) It's a little red fish, I think.

There's a little hole right here and there's some rock down there that they like to hang out on.

(fishing pole reeling) That actually keep.

- [Noel] Those fish grip.

Those fish grips right there on the that.

(water splashing) - I'll walk him back.

(water splashing) (birds chirping) (upbeat country music) (water splashing) (water splashing) Oh, I like this reel.

(Jeremy laughs) Oh, that's decent.

(water splashing) - All right, looks like you got your inshore slam.

Finish it out with a flounder today.

That's a beautiful fish.

Congratulations.

- [Thomas] Okay, here you go, buddy.

(water splashing) - We had a great day on the Mississippi Gulf Coast fishing for flounder, speckled trout and red fish, and we nailed it.

Thomas got a slam and we got some good fish.

Next time you find yourself outdoors, try the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

It was a great day.

(upbeat music) (boat engine humming) (insects chirping) - Hey, that's all the time we have for this week.

Thanks for sharing your time with us as we continue to take part in this great sport of hunting and fishing right here in Mississippi.

- Join us again next time for more exciting adventures.

Until then, I'm Amanda Mills.

- And I'm Kevin Meacham.

- [Both] See you outdoors.

(gentle harmonica music) (gentle country music) ♪ Riding through the bayou, heading for the sky blue ♪ ♪ Back out on the trail again and again ♪ ♪ Talking and hunting and fishing the land ♪ ♪ Time is time well spent ♪ ♪ We'll take you to the delta ♪ ♪ Down to the great wide shore ♪ ♪ So much to see and do ♪ ♪ Mississippi outdoors ♪ ♪ Mississippi outdoors ♪ ♪ The great outdoors ♪ (slow tempo gentle music)