D&DH-TV Producer Chris Hermans and I just returned from southern Mississippi where we met loyal D&DH subscriber David Cargill for a hunt with renowned hunter and callmaker Will Primos. Cargill was the winner of our latest sweepstakes hunt and prize package that was publicized throughout the year in the magazine.

The hunt could be described in one word: HOT! When I left home from Wisconsin the morning of December 6th, the temperature gauge in the vehicle read minus 11.

We met Cargill at the Atlanta airport. Needless to say, he was fired up- -- as we were -- to get into the woods that night, but due to some airline issues we didn't arrive in Jackson in time to hunt. We did get a chance to walk though the office and meet a lot of great people, and stock up on the latest Primos calls. We then headed to camp just in time to give us a quick tour and the first food plot that we saw had a number of deer in it, including one nice buck. To say we were excited would be an understatement. But the next morning the warm weather had already arrive. Cargill would be filmed by Chris for a muzzleloader hunt, while I bowhunted. However, with the warm weather, the deer just didn't move.

After the entire first day we had seen a total of six deer, all does and fawns. Maybe our luck would change the next day! Mine didn't, as I got skunked for the second strait sit on stand. However, Cargill faired much better, harvesting the largest buck of his lifetime on film. It was a main frame eight with great mass. It grosses well over 130.

The highlight of the hunt for me was the final 30 minutes when a 3.5 year old 8-point came into range. The place we were hunting is intensely managed and try shooting only 4.5 year olds or better so we abided by the rules and passed him up, and as always once you decide to pass him up he didn't want to leave the area. He stood for the longest time at 20 yards giving us some great behavioral footage.

As we were driving back to the airport the temperature was hovering around 80 degrees and very humid and I found myself wondering what the hunt would have been like had the temperatures been 20 degree's cooler. All and all it was a great trip, and I want to thank the staff at Primos for hosting a great hunt!

--Brad Rucks, Publisher