Vicksburg, Mississippi: The Key to the South

At the convergence of the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, in the state of Mississippi’s unique and history-rich Delta region, lies Vicksburg, a city of 22,000 best known for its significant role in the Civil War.

Founded in 1811, Vicksburg is a place shaped by water, agriculture and the environment. Vicksburg’s geographical location made it an ideal center for the early steamboat and railroad industries, thereby turning the town into a strategic target coveted by both the Union and Confederate armies. The “key to the South,” as Abraham Lincoln referred to Vicksburg, prompted a pivotal battle that resulted in the isolation of Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, and heavily influenced the outcome of the Civil War. Today, the area’s numerous rivers, oxbow lakes and vast hardwood bottomlands make Vicksburg a hub for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you’re looking for a Southern destination to track down big deer, shoot gobblers or ducks or wet a line for catfish, bass and panfish, Vicksburg offers a host of opportunities both close by and within comfortable driving distance.

GUNNING FOR GAME

The area has plenty of prime settings for waterfowl hunters to target mallards, gadwalls, teal, pintails, widgeon, shovelers, canvasbacks, wood ducks and other favorites.

Mahannah WMA, just 18 miles north of town, offers a superb balance of cypress swamps, flooded timber and controlled, flooded agricultural lands hosting some of the largest concentrations of wintering waterfowl in the Mississippi Delta.

While deer hunting in Mississippi doesn’t garner the attention it receives in other places, the Magnolia State does produce monster whitetails, and Vicksburg’s surrounding area is home to some of Mississippi’s biggest bucks. Delta National Forest, just 30 minutes from Vicksburg, is the country’s only national forest consisting entirely of hardwood bottomland, an exceptional habitat with all the makings for deer to grow healthy and quite large. Thanks to antler restrictions, the Delta offers hunters excellent odds of taking down a mature buck. As of 2019, in fact, more than half the bucks harvested were 3 1/2 years old or older.

Of course, deer are not the only big-game species that abounds. Wild hogs plague the Delta region and, considered a nuisance species, they remain fair game year-round (check the latest regulations just to be safe). In addition, folks visiting Vicksburg stand a good chance to spot black bears, which are currently protected in Mississippi. Historically, the Delta was a hotspot for bruins, and thanks to the state’s recent conservation efforts, their numbers have been on the rise.

Delta National Forest is also a big draw for turkey chasers, who find a healthy population of birds and 60,000 acres of flat and fertile terrain to hunt. Additionally, the Mississippi Delta offers superb hunting for small game. If you visit during winter, the squirrel and rabbit seasons will both be underway and probably at their best. Along with Delta National Forest, Sunflower WMA and Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge have plenty of habitat for bushytails and bunnies. And though you surely won’t be the only one taking advantage of the prolific hunting grounds, you should have no trouble locating gray and fox squirrels, as well as cottontails and swamp rabbits.

If you intend to hunt with a dog, however, check your prospective area’s regulations and season dates before loading Rover into the dog box. It’s also a good rule of thumb to monitor the river levels ahead of your trip. Mississippi is known for its wet, mild winters, and some of the land you plan to hunt could be under water. If you have a boat, it wouldn’t hurt to bring it along.

ANGLING ALTERNATIVES

With the mighty Mississippi at its doorstep and several tributaries and lakes all around it, Vicksburg has more than enough options to make anglers happy. For starters, the Mississippi River is known for its monster blue catfish and offers endless opportunities for DIY anglers. The largest blue cats are typically caught deep and with heavy gear, so make sure your rigs are up to snuff before making the trek. If you prefer to go the guided route, Bob Crosby of Blue Cat Guide Service (bluecatguideservice.com) is based right in Vicksburg. He’s been fishing the river for more than 20 years and has a reputation for consistently putting his clients on trophy cats.

Action with bass and panfish is both good and consistent in many of Vicksburg’s surrounding waters. If you plan to visit in February, keep in mind that cold snaps in Mississippi can be harsh and the fishing during winter can be fickle. Luckily, some years February brings a false spring that kickstarts the crappie bite. Eagle Lake, a 4,700-acre oxbow, offers some of the best crappie fishing this time of year and is only a half hour away from Vicksburg.

The Yazoo River also affords anglers chances to tangle with catfish, bass and crappies. And depending on the temperatures, Eagle Lake can provide solid bass action during the pre-spawn. It might not quite match the fishing at renown Okhissa Lake just down the road, but it’s still worth a shot. If your trip happens to fall during an especially cold stretch, try your luck with drop-shot rigs along aggressive, vertical drops. If it’s an unseasonably warm February, the bass might already be spawning. Should that be the case, crankbaits, spinnerbaits or some type of a craw imitation can be dynamite in the shallows.

You could also pack a 7- or 8-weight fly rod and fling popping bugs or streamers for bass. Fish repeatedly targeted with the same lures can be more responsive to flies, and even 1- to 2-pounders are loads of fun on the buggy whip.

HERITAGE AND CULTURE

Between outdoor activities, history and music buffs will find plenty to see. The Vicksburg National Military Park boasts more than a thousand acres and nearly 1,400 Civil War monuments and memorials. An hour’s drive south will put you at the Windsor Ruins, the enormous columns that remain from the Windsor Plantation and somehow feel older than the state of Mississippi itself.

The city does a great job of preserving and promoting its African-American and music histories, too. Throughout town, you can find historical markers and follow the African-American Heritage Tour to visit sites of significance and explore prominent buildings associated with the city’s early African-American residents, dating back to before the Civil War.

Many of the markers are also part of the Delta Blues Trail, which highlights the region’s rich musical history and talented musicians like Willie Dixon, the Vicksburg native inducted into the Blues, Rock & Roll and Songwriters halls of fame. He authored many of the hit songs recorded in the 1950s and ’60s by the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Bo Diddley and other blues greats.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

• Recommended places to stay, shop and dine.

If you’re looking for a place to stay, the Anchuca Inn, in Vicksburg’s historic district, is one of the city’s oldest bed-and-breakfasts. While its website glosses over some historical context (i.e. slavery), this nearly 200-year old home survived the Civil War and provides a glimpse into the city’s architectural history and founding members.

There’s a number of specialty shops, boutiques and gift stores around town. Make a pit stop at Parish Waterfowl Company on Washington Street, where you can enjoy a coffee drink and pick up a beautiful, custom duck call or browse through a selection of apparel and outdoor-related products. Be sure to pet the shop’s mascot and namesake, Parish, a black Lab that accompanies the proprietor, Brad Eldridge, on his many duck-hunting forays.

Vicksburg also has plenty of excellent eateries. If you’re in the mood for seafood or Southern cuisine, try 10 South, which offers a rooftop bar with views of the Mississippi River, the Yazoo Diversion Canal and the historic downtown area. Visitors should also try the renowned Delta tamales (different from their Latin-style counterparts in that they are simmered instead of steamed, use cornmeal instead of corn flour and are typically spicier). If you’ve got the time, consider doing the “tamale crawl” and sample the tasty cornmeal concoctions at numerous dives and restaurants in the region.

For additional information on local attractions or lodging and dining options, go to visitvicksburg.com.

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• This article was featured in the February 2025 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe.

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