Mississippi photographer and documentarian Melody Golding has compiled a fantastic new book that showcases one of the least explored areas of Mississippi culture in Panther Tract: Wild Board Hunting in the Mississippi Delta (University Press of Mississippi). We've all heard stories of hunting wild hogs, and how some johnny-come-lately had to limp out of the woods after an altercation with these mean feral critters. But we've never seen the full spectrum of the hunt captured as well as it is here.
Melody is the Vicksburg photographer who brought us stories and photos of women's experiences on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember. She's assembled a similar kind of montage for Panther Tract, weaving together photos and stories from a hunt at the Yazoo County camp for which the book is named.
The book begins with a stark photo of first light at the gates of Panther Tract and follows the path to the camp, where a mix of revealing portrait, landscape and action photos invites us to know the hunters, their dogs, and the Delta winter landscape as well as imagine the thrill of the hunt. Interspersed throughout the photos are stories from various Panther Tract hunters, people from all walks of life who candidly reveal their personal experiences of hunting wild boars and great tales from the field. There's even a section of hog recipes from Louisiana chef John Folse.
The format of the book highlights one of the biggest lures to the sport, "the camaraderie and social aspects of our hunting tradition," as one contributor describes it. Golding expounds on this in her introduction:
As a rule, hunters tend to be a lively and colorful bunch, but those at Panther Tract possess a unique verve and exuberance. Tales are woven in and out of time, as the great southern American folklore unfolds in the flesh. The sharing of these tales and experiences and knowledge can carry late into the afternoon and leaves the listener in awe and most times admiration.
Golding and some of her new-found hog-hunting friends have carried this tradition to bookstores across the state for a series of book-signing events for Panther Tract, the latest of which will occur right here at Turnrow Books this Friday, April 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. We're honored to be hosting this group, who, Melody assures us, you'll hear coming from a mile away. Come down and meet the folks, hear some stories, watch a video they've compiled on the singular hunt at Panther Tract and even hear some live music. This is a rare slice of backwoods Mississippi culture in town, so make plans to be here. If not, reserve your signed copies of Panther Tract here.
