Author Topic: Young GI Wants A Handi 45-70 Now  (Read 768 times)

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Offline Sourdough

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Young GI Wants A Handi 45-70 Now
« on: June 05, 2012, 12:20:29 PM »
Bunch of young GIs are baiting on an old site my partner and I did not want to use this year.  Now these guys just got back from Afganistan, and are shipping out soon.  So they are all hopped up to go out and shoot a Spring Bear.  They have been taking Bears off the site, eight so far.  One young man Josh did not have a gun, and his buddy is my Hunting Partner's nephew Jess.  So the Nephew came over a borrowed a gun from my partner.  He loaned them a Marlin 45-70.  I was there and said NO, both of you need a gun, too many Bears for two people walking into the site with just one gun.  You have to walk right beside the bait to get to the tree stand.  So I loaned Josh the second guy my Handi 45-70.  Off they went last Friday night, up the Haul Rd, (You guys know it as the Ice Road) to spend the weekend on the site.

They came back last night.  Both was so excited they could hardly talk.  Now at this site we put the bait at the top of a bluff.  We then built a tree stand between three trees that grow at the base of the bluff, and on the edge of the river bank.  I screwed one of those Resin Chairs to the stand facing the bait, with a rail in front of it to use as a rest.  Now it's only 15 feet from the chair to the top edge of the bluff.  Now the bait is back another five to ten feet from the edge.  The wind is always blowing up or down the river, so our scent does not get to the bait site.  Since it does not get dark we set up all night taking turns watching the bait.  They got there late Friday night so they slept in their truck and waited till morning to go and replinish the bait and get into the stand.

Saturday morning they walked down the hill, packing two bags of dog food and a gallon of pancake syrup.  There was a bear at the site as they approched, but it got up and ran.  Now they are excited, they have already seen a Bear, not a good look at it but it was a Bear.  They poured one bag of dog food into the barrel, and poured half the syrup over it.  Then they climbed into the stand taking the other bag of food and syrup with them.  Not a bright thing to do, but they got away with it.  They waited all day Saturday, no Bears showed.  They were getting bored, and the mosquitoes were vicious.  Suddenly there was a Black Bear on the bait, about 10PM.  Already had it's head in the barrel  so it was hard to judge how big it was.  Jess the one with the Marlin shot it.  The Bear turned and ran about 30 yards and fell starting it's death wail.  That spooked them pretty good.  Anyway they went down there and skinned it.  (Not the best skinning job either.)  Then back to the stand.

They replinished the bait with the second bag of dog food and the rest of the syrup.  Once in the stand it was about 2AM, they were taking turns watching the bait.  Josh was the guy watching, and he fell asleep in the chair.  Some sound woke him up.  As he awoke he mumbled something and the Bear heard it.  The young man sat up straight, and looked the Bear right in the eye.  The Bear came over to the edge of the bluff, and stood on it's hind legs.  Josh knew the Bear could jump that far, but he said he was not scared.  Josh raised the Handi, aimed at the base of the throat and fired.  Josh said he saw blood and hair flying out the back, and the Bear fell over backwards like a tree.  They skinned out this second Bear, and headed for the truck.  As they skinned the Bear they found about 6 inches of spine distroyed, and a hole the size of your fist in the hide.  Josh was shooting a 400gr Flat Nosed lead bullet.  At 15 to 20 ft that was one heck of a shock to that Bear. 

They came back last night to return the guns and show the hides.  Josh said he does not want to taxidermist to patch the hole in the hide, he wants everyone to see the hole he blew in that Bear.  I rode over on my Bicycle and did not take a camera, but they are going to make some pictures and bring them to us.  I'll post them as soon as I get them.  Josh wanted to buy my Handi 45-70.  I told him NO.  Josh said when he opened the Rifle the empty flew over his shoulder, gone.  They never were able to find it.  Most likely flew into the river. 
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline Swampman

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Re: Young GI Wants A Handi 45-70 Now
« Reply #1 on: June 05, 2012, 12:42:24 PM »
Mind if I share this on my .45-70 Club facebook page?
"Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the Book?" Sogoyewapha, "Red Jacket" - Senaca

1st Special Operations Wing 1975-1983
919th Special Operations Wing  1983-1985 1993-1994

"Manus haec inimica tyrannis / Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem" ~Algernon Sidney~

Offline bikerbeans

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Re: Young GI Wants A Handi 45-70 Now
« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2012, 01:00:06 PM »
Great for those two young vets.  Get them mind of the back side of the planet for awhile and give them a great story to tell their kids and grandkids one day.
 
BB
RIP Tom: Tom Nolan, ( bikerbeans) passed away this afternoon (02-04-2021).

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MINE:  270W, 308x444, 44 Bodeen, 410 shorty rifled slug gun, 445 SuperMag Shikari, 45 ACP shorty,  45-70 Shikari, 45 Cal Smokeless MZ, 50cal 24" SS Sidekick, 50 cal 24" Huntsman, 50 cal 26" Huntsman, 50 cal 26" Sidekick, 50-70 Govt Shikari, Tracker II 20 ga shorty, 20 ga VR Pardner, 20ga USH, 12ga VR NWTF, 12ga Tracker II shorty WITHOUT scope, 12ga USH, 10 ga  Pardner Smoothbore slug gun & 24ga Profino Custom rifled slug gun.

Offline tacklebury

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Re: Young GI Wants A Handi 45-70 Now
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2012, 01:18:17 PM »
Very cool!  I know the .45-70 does a great job on deer, even big-uns.  hehe  Tell them congrats and thanks for the story!
Tacklebury --}>>>>>    Multi-Barrel: .223 Superlite, 7mm-08 22", .30-40 Krag M158, .357 Maximum 16-1/4 HB, .45 Colt, .45-70 22" irons, 32" .45-70 Peeps, 12 Ga. 3-1/2 w/ Chokes, .410 Smooth slugger, .45 Cal Muzzy, .50 Cal Muzzy, .58 Cal Muzzy

also classics: M903 9-shot Target .22 Revolver, 1926 .410 Single, 1915 38 S&W Break top Revolver and 7-shot H&R Trapper .22 6" bbl.


Offline Sourdough

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Re: Young GI Wants A Handi 45-70 Now
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2012, 03:05:54 PM »
Swampman: go right ahead.
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline Dinny

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Re: Young GI Wants A Handi 45-70 Now
« Reply #5 on: June 06, 2012, 06:53:38 AM »
Rog,
  That's a great story! I hope to get up there and hunt with you someday soon. I reup indefinite this Friday, but don't get any options. The Army's being really tight right now. When I get back from this forsaken country I will talk to my assignment manager and do my best job to convince her the Army needs me in AK. ;)

Thanks, Dinny in Afg
Handi Family: 357 Max, 45 LC, 45-70, 300 BLK, 50 cal Huntsman, and 348 Win.

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Offline Jimbow4570

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Re: Young GI Wants A Handi 45-70 Now
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2012, 12:17:56 PM »
..........awesome..............Just, Awesome................
"Teach a man to fish and he feeds himself for life...give a man welfare and he will go fishing while YOU go to work"

Offline Swampman

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Re: Young GI Wants A Handi 45-70 Now
« Reply #7 on: June 08, 2012, 01:40:35 PM »
Do you guys eat the bears?
"Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the Book?" Sogoyewapha, "Red Jacket" - Senaca

1st Special Operations Wing 1975-1983
919th Special Operations Wing  1983-1985 1993-1994

"Manus haec inimica tyrannis / Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem" ~Algernon Sidney~

Offline jeepmann1948

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Re: Young GI Wants A Handi 45-70 Now
« Reply #8 on: June 08, 2012, 02:18:33 PM »
Do you guys eat the bears?
Much better to eat the bears than the other way around :D
The black bear I ate was better than possum or coon almost as good as Armadillo or python
"it ain't what you shoot em with......................
  it's where you hit em "

Offline Ireload2

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Re: Young GI Wants A Handi 45-70 Now
« Reply #9 on: June 08, 2012, 03:06:10 PM »
Do you guys eat the bears?
Much better to eat the bears than the other way around :D
The black bear I ate was better than possum or coon almost as good as Armadillo or python

Be careful with those armadillos. Some one will run over your when you stop to pick them up.  :)