Registered: Apr 2014
Location: oakvale ms
Posts: 2007

Just checking on you. I haven't heard anything from you in a few days. I was going to call you and get you and some of the guy over during the bad weather just to tree a few around the fire, but due to them working I couldn't get it done. How is that back doing, have you been able to hunt any. I'm praying for you my friend I know what that Siatic nerve can do to you.

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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: tylertown,mississippi
Posts: 2552

Thanks Mr. Jack. I'm hunting a little but not hard. That freezing weather we had for a few days I just stayed in mostly drinking coffee and looking out the windows for a big buck but none showed up in the yard. Doing that had my back feeling real good so last night I was going to hunt Bob a while then come back and take Bam and Bo. Bob got 2 drops but Bam and Bo didn't get to go. Bob made a Den Tree first drop and he was really hammering so I think he was home. Next drop he got after a coon that got in a mud flat amongst some young willows and couldn't get the track out of there. I caught him up and on way back to the Jet Boat I slipped just a little but it twisted my back when I did and my back went to screaming with pain so we came home. I really was beginning to believe I could see a light at the end of a tunnel but last night the light got mighty dim. It is very frustrating. This morning it don't feel to bad so I got some hope again. Will be taking Bo and Bam if I still feel pretty good this evening. Bob will get the late drop if I still feel good. It was bright out last night even with the clouds over the moon.

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" BOGUE CHITTO BLUES"
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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: tylertown,mississippi
Posts: 2552

Took Bo and Bam down River tonight under the Bright Moon and they got in deep quick and treed one at 595yds. Went in and looked at that one, led them a little ways and cut them again. Bo went 55yds and fell treed and Bam went back behind me almost 100yds and got treed. They both had a coon. I knocked Bams out and they both got a taste of a job well done. I needed a good hunt like this to keep me going cause when your hurting and things aren't going good it's easy to say to heck with it. Both hounds really looked good and I'm looking forward to hunting Bob tomorrow night. Still dumping them in the White Ghost Coons territory trying to get him treed but we ain't got him yet.

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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: tylertown,mississippi
Posts: 2552

Smilin Bob was smiling tonight after working a tough old feeder track. We went in the Jet Boat down River and cut him loose in the Ghost Coons Territory trying to get him up a tree. Bob struck and started working the track out of the woods across the sand bar and back into the woods coming back my way. He located up 3 times but moved on. 4th time he located with those long beautiful bawls he didn't move on. He locked it down and called me to come see. He was treed on this smaller tree that went into a big oak and I found the coon pretty quick and put it down to Bob. Well earned coon off a tough track. It was raining by then and thundering in the south so we brought it home. Hunting in short sleeve shirts in January sure is nice and the forecast for the next 2 weeks has us staying in the 70's. Love it !!

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Registered: Apr 2014
Location: oakvale ms
Posts: 2007

Steve sounds like Smilin bob is getting better all the time.

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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: tylertown,mississippi
Posts: 2552

Yes Mr. Jack, Smilin Bob is getting it done Right. Now that I'm back to getting him out regular like all young hounds need to be he is getting in the Zone. Leaves Fast when I unhook him and if they aren't moving he goes and finds them. This steady hunting has Crank his Motor and he has a Big Motor. Last night I took Bam first and he caught a Possum on the ground and killed it then bayed until I almost got there then left it and came his Guilty self running and smiling to me. Well I know the look on a guilty hounds face as well as my Mama knew when I was Guilty when she would ask if I did it and I said NO but had that same Smiling Look on My Face. When I saw the scene of the Crime I took Bam to School cause I'm to old and hurting to bad to walk 355 yards through the thick woods to see a dead possum. He healed and followed me back to the boat without a lead which was nice but when I took him down river and cut him again he wouldn't hunt. Scared there might be a Possum in those woods I guess so I took him home and got Bob and came back and cut him. Before I could text Mr. Ed and tell him Bob was on the loose he was already over 400 yards in. Long story short he ended up treed over 900 yards from the River. I hauled butt home and me and Beverly took the truck around and closest we could get was 800 yards so she dropped me off and went back home and I struck out through strange woods to Bob with my gun. He had been treed almost an Hour and a Half when I got to him and he had a Big Boar up a Pine Tree. I shot him out and he was tickled to get his reward for a fine job of trailing an old feeder track until it got hot then running it to catch a couple hundred yards and then the coon had to climb or get caught. I almost didn't make it back with Bob after climbing some steep bluffs up and down and back up again. Reminded me of The Forest it was that high and steep. Legs and back killing me but we made it and Beverly picked us up. Yes Sir Ole Bob is getting Right and I just hope I have enough energy and Life left we can see him tree many more Coon.

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" BOGUE CHITTO BLUES"
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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: tylertown,mississippi
Posts: 2552

Took those 2 down river last night and cut them loose. Friday the 13th and a Big, Bright, Orange, Full Moon coming up when I cut them. They got out of there quick and got on a track over 500yds upriver from me and treed it close to 700yds. Man they sounded good both of them treeing as hard as I ever heard them tree. It was such a pleasure walking to them along a fields edge looking at that big moon and their treeing echoing up the River Bottom. Beverly said she could hear them in the house and went outside and she said they sounded like they were just across the road. They were at least half mile from the house. I got to them and they were Split Treed 20 feet apart on 2 smaller size trees that went into a huge Water Oak. I found the young Coon but left him to grow up some more and Run Again. As I got them off their trees and started back along the fields edge to the boat while still looking at the full Moon, Coyotes started howling and cutting up in the distance letting me know they didn't like my Loud Mouth Hounds. Fitting end to another nice balmy night on the Bogue Chitto River.

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Registered: Mar 2005
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1920

Steve,
Glad to here you are getting some nice hunting in. Our Balmy nights are off in the distant future. We have been having some cold weather along with snow so not much has been getting done other than taking care of the dogs. Wish I could make it down to the winter classic this year but its not going to happen. Maybe next year.
Take Care,
Scott

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GrNiteCh GrCh Bullet II's Code Blue Cricket (GrCh GrNiteCh 'PR' Twin Springs Runnin Bullet II X NiteCh Ch JJ's Code Blue Jenny)
Ch GrNiteCh Smokey River Blue Tramp II (GrCh GrNiteCh Smokey River Jean's Blue Tramp X Ch NiteCh Misty River Blue Doll IV)
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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: tylertown,mississippi
Posts: 2552

Scott I'm not going to make it to the Classic either this year. Been hobbling along a few months and haven't got rid of the problem so not in any shape to go to a hunt. Hope all is well up your way, Take Care.

I made a decision a few days ago I never thought I would make but it's for the best. If you follow my thread any I'm sure you have saw me post a few times over the past few months about my Sciatic Nerve Problem in my lower back and down my leg. I have Hard Headily limped along and hunted some but not near enough for these 3 hard hunting males I have. Never in my Life have I had the pleasure of owning 3 nice hounds at the same time and 2 of them the same age, 18 months. At that age one of them needs ALL your spare time, we all know that. BUT, they both bring their on traits and breeding to the woods when it comes time to tree coon and even though they differ because of their breeding I have loved the way both these hounds can put a coon up the tree. Choice was tough for me to decide which one I needed to sell because for 3 months NONE of my hounds have been hunted near like they should be because of my painful condition. I haven't worked in over a month because of it and I haven't hunted in over a week. That's right, work will stop before coon hunting. I love to hunt the hounds and will almost crawl if I have to for a night in the woods. Anyway my decision came down to a few things. Friendship. Me and Ed Mauney own Bob together. I feel we will stay more in touch with one another and hunt together more if we still own a hound together. Our Friendship goes back many years and will continue many more. Holding on to Bob just adds extra binding to that friendship. Reason number 2 was that Bob is Bo's half brother and we all know Bo is the favorite around here. Also Bam would be headed HOME. Where he was born, to be with his brother, his dad and in Coon Paradise. I feel Bam will make the better hound in thick coon. He looked good here but the 2 trips up in thicker coon he looked better. So tonight around 9pm Bam will be picked up and headed far North. I wish the best for him up there and will miss him bad down here even though I will still have my hands full with these other two. I can sum Bam up in 2 words. Independent Loner. So it's only fitting that on the last drop in Illinois, Bam and his half Sister, Bobbie, fell in there 500 yards and treed. 100 feet apart and Both had a Coon. And last week on his last drop here with Bo they went upriver over 700 yards from the Jet Boat and treed on the edge of a Beaver Pond just inside the edge of the woods from a pasture. Bam was on a small tree and so was Bo. But not the same tree. They were 20 feet apart and blowing the top out. The Coon was above them in a huge old water oak that both their smaller trees went into. I have NEVER seen him pull. Not to another hound. He left a den tree him and Bo was treed on one night to go back to trailing but never pulled because of pressure. So with all that said I would be willing to bet that on his first night of hunting in the North, no matter whether he is cut with 10 other hounds or 1, Bam will be treed under a Coon, ALONE. Goodbye Bogue Chitto Bam Bam, you will be missed.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Murrayville Il.
Posts: 497

Hate to see him go Steve it was fun seeing him grow and mature into a nice hound . I'm sure I won't get to keep track of him the way you kept me informed. That litter seemed to be a very good cross on Hugger II glad I let Ed take her and make that cross! Good luck with Bob and keep up the good work

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1513

I am sure that the decision you have made was hard on you as it should be. Be happy that you were able to make it for all the right reasons. I myself struggle at times on those same desisions. When the right hunter is the recipient of the right kind of hound all parties involved will benefit from the decisions we make.I wish you the best of luck with getting healed up and your hounds in the years to come. From one of your friends up north. Ron Jackson

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Registered: Dec 2004
Location: ILLINOIS
Posts: 190

Where did bam head?

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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: tylertown,mississippi
Posts: 2552

Thanks Mike and Ron. Yes it was a Very tough choice and not ashamed to admit first time Ever that I got Tears in my eyes for selling my hound. They usually don't suite me in some way or I'm real Mad at them but not the case with Bam. Getting Soft in my Older Years and they getting to deep in my Heart. JRW Bam is headed to Terry in MI.

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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: tylertown,mississippi
Posts: 2552

Me and BO snuck off from the house tonight on the 4 wheeler and headed to the Flooded woods of Black Branch Swamp. Its been 10 days since I've been out and I just had to go. We got in there and it was water everywhere. It drains to the River and the River is still up 4' so not letting the swamp drain yet. He went 3/4 of a mile and started his loop back to me then turned East when he was 450 yards out. I knew if he went a couple hundred yards there was a little spot of higher ground. He got to it, opened a few times then fell treed. He was on a small tree that went into a big hollow beech. Big den tree as we have treed here before. I hooked him up and came home.

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Registered: Dec 2010
Location:
Posts: 1613

STEVE MANY THANKS FOR SELLING US BAM , HAULER SAYS HE WILL BE HERE AROUND 6PM TONIGHT
I MADE THE DECISSION TO SELL LIGHTNIN AND PUT ALL MY TIME IN BAM , WE WILL DO OUR BEST WITH HIM .

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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: tylertown,mississippi
Posts: 2552

Your Welcome Terry and Thank You. Proud to Know Bam is going to get the hard, steady hunting they all need at his age. I wish you and Bam the Best and look forward to hearing of yaws hunts, Take Care.

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" BOGUE CHITTO BLUES"
Where hounds are more than just dogs, they are a part of the FAMILY.

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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: tylertown,mississippi
Posts: 2552

I have got back to hunting the past few nights. Went and seen another Doctor and had X-Rays done and as his text message said to my friend Dr. Snow, " Your friends back looks Awful! " Snow showed me the text but the other Doctor had been straight up with me and had said he hated to be Doom and Gloom but truth was my back is in bad shape. L-5 has No Gap between Disc, it's Bone on Bone and L-1 is almost as bad. Also no Gap between Disc and Spine where the Nerves run and he said that is my pain. The pressure of the Disc crushing the Nerves. Said my Disc had already Fused themselves together. He said if he showed the X-Rays to a Neurosurgeon they would say 1 of 2 things: Major Surgery or we can't help you. He said he believes they wouldn't touch me except maybe give me injections to try and ease some of the pain. He said he has seen 2 other backs in my shape and he helped them to be a little more comfortable for a few years, BUT, he said they weren't winching Logs out of the River or Saw Milling. He said if I continued to do as I do there would be Serious Consequences. I will see a Specialist soon and have an MRI but not expecting any great news. I was bummed upon hearing this and I guess that's why I waited 3 months before getting X-Rays. I really didn't want to hear, The Truth. Already been suspecting it the past few years. I was upset on the way home that day thinking about not Ever getting to Winch a Sinker Cypress again and cut it into Beautiful Lumber on my Saw Mill. It's not about the money I make off some of it. It's about ME. That is Who I Am. My Heartbeat, My Passion, My Life. I expected to have to give it up one day maybe in my 70's but not at 52. I would be Lying if I said I'm giving it up cause I can't. No way I can live on this River and Canoe by a Sinker Cypress without wanting to get back home and get on my Tractor and Winch it out. I will do what I can do as long as I can no matter how painful it is. Same with Coon Hunting and is why I hobbled behind these hounds the past 3 months. It is my Passion and my Life. I didn't hunt for 2 weeks and was feeling better but I have ran my Chain Saw Mill and Coon hunted this past few days and I'm back hurting bad again. Just gonna be a part of my life now living with Pain cause I ain't quitting.

I have been talking to several people here lately that have young hounds off Stormy and Bo and they love them. Huge mouths that developed around 1 year old and fast about treeing coon. Talked to JR. Willis today and he is really fired up about the gyp from that cross he has. I am hearing good things about them and it's coming from other people than the owners. Happy for them all and wish each one the best of luck in the future.

Took Bob tonight and it was a Wild Hunt. He got deep in the swamp quick, got struck and brought the track out of the swamp into the hills. He came out on the trail and ran back toward the road. I hauled butt back to the Blacktop and he had already crossed and was trailing up a hollow 200 yards in going parallel to the road. I rode the Rhino to top of hill and about time he got even with me he started rolling back the other way just 30 yards off the road and 2 cars were coming. I flashed my light at them and started running down the road calling and toning him but he kept on. I bumped him a couple times with the collar but all he did was hush and kept going. It looked like a collision was coming cause about time the cars got to the hollow Bob was crossing the road as it looked on the Garmin. God was watching over us tonight because Bob went through the huge culvert as the cars passed over his head on the road above. He went toward Bo's Bottom 200 yards and fell treed. I headed to him and fell twice sliding down the 150' steep hill dropping into the creek below. He was treed on big bushy oak and when I hit squaller coon started running out of the tree and I hit him on 3rd shot and he jumped. Bob caught him 60yds out in the thick stuff but couldn't hold him til I got there to help and somehow the Coon escaped so I hooked Bob up and we came home. He might be a little tighter on track next trip out but I don't think I broke him from being a Coonhound.

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" BOGUE CHITTO BLUES"
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Registered: Apr 2014
Location: oakvale ms
Posts: 2007

Steve, sure sorry about your back. I knew when we went to Illinois that you had serious back problems. I'll be praying for you and Mrs. Beverly. I'm glad the young dogs out of Bo and Stormy are doing good, They should. Sounds like Bob is doing a good job, Those highways scare me to death when the dogs get close to them. I've lost a few on the highways. Glad everything came out alright except the falling down and that's no fun especially in your shape. I was going to call you tomorrow and set up a hunt, but my first cousin that lives down the road from me died so I'll be tied up the next couple days. I'll probably hunt some, but it'll be late, but I'll call you in a few days.

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Registered: Jun 2014
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 960

Steve, I saw the above post. Man I'm sorry for the bad news you received. I'm sending you a text with some info. At lest take a look at it, this doctor may be able to help you.

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Tommy Gayle
985-233-1016

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Registered: Jun 2014
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 960

Steve, I saw the above post. Man I'm sorry for the bad news you received. I'm sending you a text with some info. At lest take a look at it, this doctor may be able to help you.

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Tommy Gayle
985-233-1016

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Registered: May 2015
Location: redstick
Posts: 299

Hey steve I no it a good ride my way but if you load up and come my way we can get in the woods early hunt and u can get back home the same night and I can promise you would be well rested on the ride home and be trying to come back. Give me a call any night before Saturday, we can walk or ride.

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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: tylertown,mississippi
Posts: 2552

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" BOGUE CHITTO BLUES"
Where hounds are more than just dogs, they are a part of the FAMILY.

Last edited by steve bankston on 02-02-2017 at 03:57 AM

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Registered: Sep 2013
Location: tylertown,mississippi
Posts: 2552

As you can tell from the pictures above we have been busy and enjoying the River Life despite our aches and pains. One only has to pause for a minute and look around and there is inspiration from God all around. Crawfish Boil last weekend with Dr. Snow and his wife Kim, Beverly and her daughter Kat, and my Buddy Mason. Picture of the Log with the Chainsaw Mill setup and ready to cut 40" wide slabs 3" thick for Dining Room Table Tops. That bar on the saw is over 6 feet long and makes the Sinker Cypress Log look small but its 43" at its widest point. Then the picture of the Bald Eagle soaring high above watching me cruise the river in the Jet Boat today looking for River Treasure. And tonight's picture of BO treed on a big Oak with a Big Boar Coon in the huge fork only peeping with one eye. I popped a couple rounds at him and he came hauling butt down the tree right on top of where I had Bo hooked to a vine. They fought for 30 seconds and the Coon managed to fight free and down the sandbar he went. I cut Bo loose and he caught him and finished the job. These Rutting Boars are bailing out of the trees quick if you squall or pop the bullet near them. I came home after that because couldn't hardly pick my right leg up to take steps in the sand to get back to boat. I pray to the Lord that He will help heal me or lesson this Pain so I can continue my Blessed Life along the banks of the Bogue Chitto River.

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" BOGUE CHITTO BLUES"
Where hounds are more than just dogs, they are a part of the FAMILY.

Last edited by steve bankston on 02-02-2017 at 12:34 PM

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Registered: Nov 2014
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 231

Mr. Steve I don't you other than the many times I have read your hunting stories and admired your craftsmanship with the woodwork. Really sorry to hear about your back. It's a terrible thing to be forced to stop doing something one lives so much. These things are your life and passion. Hope all goes well for you and may God bless you with good health. Take care.


Todd Robinson
Horse Creek Kennels
Aiken, South Carolina
803-295-8067

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Registered: Mar 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 159

Sure looks nice! I got to set some time away next winter and come down and experience that life n hunting down there!
Hope the back straightens out and you can continue to do all the things you love! You got to be able to give that Bob a run at the big show! I see Bam has settled here in the North! I know it was hard for you to let him go, sometimes it's for the best. I'm sure Terry will give him a great opportunity to shine. I hope to get to hunt with him one day, also yourself and the rest of your dogs! Take care.

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