Ramey Harrell was hunting in Claiborne County in mid-December 2006 when he bagged his big typical buck. Photo courtesy of Ramey Harrell.

Most hunters with at least a couple of seasons behind them know the heartache of a muffed shot. If that shot connected, but didn't result in the animal's being recovered, the ache is enhanced, often to the point of physical illness.

But even when the shot misses cleanly -- which we all prefer to the other situation -- the confusion and questioning and shades of disgust persist. There is an ongoing instant replay of the events that led up to the error; there may even be sleepless nights. Anxiety can breed a lack of confidence, and those moments when errant arrows or bullets fly astray are not easily overcome.

But even such wrenching events don't have to signal that all's lost. A hunter can first make sure equipment isn't at fault. If it is, see to the repair; if it's not, a review of personal discipline may be in order -- and that usually translates into practice. Above all, a hunter shouldn't permit himself to conclude that he's incapable of accomplishing the task of finishing the kill as it should and must be done. Rather, as the old saw advises, get right back on the horse when you fall off it.

And that's exactly what happened with Ramey Harrell, a Leake County native from Carthage, who now lives in Natchez. A skilled hunter, Harrell experienced one of those sickening episodes this past hunting season. But he didn't despair -- he regrouped, and went back to basics, and as a result, he won. This is his story.

THE HUNTER
"I grew up with a deep passion for the outdoors," Harrell said. "As a young child, I did a lot of hunting with my dad. I really started doing a lot of deer hunting when I was in high school and could get around on my own. I grew up really liking the outdoors."

Harrell noted that his love of nature and being outside were instrumental in his choice of a career. Being confined to an office wasn't for him, so he chose something that would perhaps afford some opportunity to be outdoors.

"I knew I wanted to do something in the outdoors," he said, "so I decided to go to school in forestry. I went to Mississippi State University and graduated with a degree in forestry in 1999. I then went to work here at home with International Paper. I enjoy my work -- I am able to be outdoors and in the woods."

THE HUNT
"Two years ago," Harrell continued, "I moved with IP to Natchez. I really didn't have anywhere to hunt there. I tried public land a little.

"That same year, my brother-in-law, Kevin Trest, invited me to go hunting with him in Claiborne County. He and his family have a camp there they have had for maybe 30 years. I went and hunted as a guest a couple of times. I took a doe that season.

"I really fell in love with that place. There were big rubs on trees, and there was hog sign. I had never experienced any of that growing up. There were no hogs on the places I hunted at home, and even though I had taken three or four bucks in the 125-to-130 range, I had never taken a monster like those big rubs indicated were present on that club.

"Luckily, the next year my brother-in-law invited me to join the camp with him, his dad, and his mom. That family was the only ones who hunted there. I was fortunate to get to join."

Harrell recalled that during the first year of his membership, he didn't get to hunt much, as he was busy with work for the entire season, and so didn't take a deer from the property. "I didn't really see a lot of deer," he noted. "I think I was hog hunting more than deer hunting, because I had never seen a hog in the wild, and I always wanted to shoot one, especially with my bow."

But that was not to be for this hunter. The family took several good bucks, but Harrell's limited time interfered with his success.

"That next year -- 2006 -- started out good for me," he recounted. "Opening day of bow season, I took a boar, something that I had always wanted to do. I went on to take a doe, but after that I didn't get to do much hunting. I planned to take some vacation time around Thanksgiving and Christmas to deer hunt."

Deer management, in various forms, has become the norm across most of Mississippi. And while the camp where Harrell hunts doesn't concentrate on specific management practices, an informal program is certainly in place. The group looks for mature bucks and they also take does.

"We have a lot of thick places on our land, and most of the area around us is open and big woods," Harrell said. "And there is a lot of management in the area to grow nice bucks. So this area is intensively managed for good bucks."