The Mississippi Wildlife Federation recently held its annual outdoor show in Jackson. The results of the big buck contest were almost unbelievable, as many of the bucks were “Canadian sized.” And that’s not an exaggeration as several qualified for the Boone and Crockett book. One interesting lady hunter stood out among the rest. Rose Blakeney recently decided to try her hand at deer hunting and my was she successful at it!

Rose Blakeney has been accompanying her family on hunts to the woods for many years and recently got in on the fun herself. After Ms. Rose’s granddaughter Maddie Grace Blakeney killed a doe a couple years ago, Ms. Rose was inspired to harvest one of her very own. “I thought that if Maddie could do it, then I could too,” exclaimed the enthusiastic lady hunter.



Straight Shooter



After a trip to the shooting range one fall afternoon, she quickly showed everyone she had what it took as she was hitting the target after only five shots. Shortly thereafter she went to the woods with her grandson Jeremy Blakeney and promptly harvested her first deer, a nice plump doe! Her first deer had come at a distance of 186 yards and at her young age of 68 years.

On January 1st this year, Ms. Rose harvested a nice 8-point buck, which was in fact her second 8-point to harvest, as she had taken one the year before. Two weeks later she was back at her son’s Magna Vista hunting camp near Vicksburg.

Though the Smith County native never saw a deer or turkey while she was growing up, she certainly didn’t let that hamper her enthusiasm, or her love of the outdoors. On a magical January afternoon this year, Eddie Hatcher accompanied Ms. Rose to the stand and she quickly got ready for action.

And they weren’t disappointed either as the action heated up pretty quickly. Thirty minutes after they got in the stand a fine buck appeared in the distance and started in their direction. After watching the buck for quite a ways, the couple saw him work his way through a strip of timber and come to about 100 yards from the stand.



Good Shot



As soon as the deer cleared the brush Ms. Rose centered the crosshairs on the buck and put him down for good. The buck was the best that she has taken in her short deer hunting career and it was also the buck of a lifetime for her as it would have been for many other trophy hunters. The monster buck sported 11 points and took the red ribbon for the female firearm’s typical division at the Mississippi Wildlife Federation Extravaganza

If you think that’s the end of the story for this talented grandmother then think again. Ms. Rose has taken nine shots and harvested eight deer!

If her most recent kill is any indication, Ms. Rose Blakeney has a bright future in the deer woods. One thing is for sure, she’s set the bar pretty high for her children and grandchildren! When it comes to enjoying the outdoors you’re never too young or old to enjoy. Just ask Ms. Rose and she’ll tell you how much fun you can have in the Mississippi outdoors!