Dog killed by bear this A.M. January First at about 9:00 A.M

Tony | 01/01/2004 | Tony

[razorback-bert]

Holt Collier -- Was born in Greenville (Ms) in 1848, died in Greenville August 1st, 1936, and he was through almost his entire life a remarkable colored citizen of Washington county. He was an ex-slave and a Confederate soldier. He did a great deal for the uplift of his race. He achieved great distinction as a hunter of big game, killing bear all over the country, some on grounds where Greenville homes and public buildings now stand. He gained notice by being in the hunting party of President Theodore Roosevelt, when he came to Washington county in quest of this sport. Holt Collier in relating this colorful incident in his life said: "The President of the United States was anxious to see a live bear the first day of the hunt. I told him he would see that bear if I had to tie it and bring it to him." Collier made good his word. Before the day ended the President had seen the gay old bruin. Upon his return to Washington Mr. Roosevelt sent to Holt a rifle duplicating the one he had used on the hunt, and which Holt had so admired.

I grew up outside Greenville, so I am very familiar with the Holt Collier story.

[razorback-bert]

You could only make half a bear skin rug with what was left.

We all reloaded and only poked it with a long stick after ten minutes passed.

It was old and diseased, we left it right where it fell.

[humblegunner]

I guess if you didn't mind bear parts scattered everywhere, they would do the trick.

Easier than field dressing I imagine.
I've never shot a bear, but from the looks of them I'd hate to clean one.

[razorback-bert]

A good friend of mine's grandfather was on that hunt, interestingly enough his name was Collier too.

[thackney]

That's why folks like to have me around. If lightening is going to strike ............

We like having you in sight, just not too close. ;)

[GladesGuru]

Such an interesting comment - source please? Last time I fired a 165 grain slug ahead of 73 grains of 4350, the slug tore its lil self to pieces in s small palm tree. Which, by the way is a common part of the "biological backstop" throughout the neighborhood we are talking about.

Where the brush is dense, very high velocity ammo breaks up rapidly if the target is missed. But, as a handloader of over thirty years, you know that gun control means hitting ones target.

For the record, I was handloading more than a decade before you - not that that really means anything with the internet. Now a beginner, or even an anti-gunner, can discover even the most arcane reloading or ballistic data quickly and easily.

Long Live Google.com! :-)

For those coming to this discussion late, I still stand by my original position - shooting dangerous animals in Tony's neighborhood is both ballistically and legally OK. Neither buckshot nor frangible high velocity ammo pose a significant danger in heavy brush - which is what we are talking about.

And for the record, if a Florida citizen is in a gun fight and a stray bullet hits a bystander, the citizen is not liable. Our legislators recognize that gunfights are not spectator sports and expect bystanders to take cover. I'd bet on a jury not convicting if Tony or a member of his family had shot the bear. "Endangered" status or not.

Juries are able to nullify what they so see fit, even the socialistic regs and socialism impaired judges in the Sheeples Republic of FloriDUH. All it takes is one of twelve citizens who want to acquit.

[GladesGuru]

Such biological "crap" from the taxinomic splitters is in their own interests. To the credit of Dr. Culver and her colleagues, the panther data was published despite its obvious conclusions regarding the "sub-species" crowd's meal tickets.

While I am on this subject, Dr. Roelke mentioned the DNA problem. using the more politically acceptable term "heretical gene" a decade before Dr. Culver's paper.

What we are really looking at here is the use of "endangered" staus to forward a clearly socialist agenda. Be the critter du jour the Spotted Owl, the Red Cockaded Woodpecker, the manatee or the "Florida" panther - all turned out to be bio-political scams.

But by the time the scam was revealed for what it was, the lands were Federalized, degraded (redundant if the land is Federal), the economy of the region wrecked, and the human toll in terms of divorces, alcoholism, and suicide is always markedly increased.

Not that any ot that bothers the socialists in either the GangGreen bunch of NGO's or the 'crats in the agencies happily rooting in the public trough at the tax payers' expense.

A despicable practice by truely despicable people.

[GladesGuru]

Well, I'm glad you appreciated it. :)

I'd mention that to those at risk, but here we have to deal with close in possibilites due to the heavy brush. Such precise aming may not be possible. Not to mention the problem of a child happening onto the wounded critter.

It is a crying shame that sportsmen have to wound such animals due to regulatory situations. Socialism has more unintended consequences that one can imagine. Unless you are a Russian, of course. Or a Cuban, a Chinese, or worst of all, a North Korean.

[Fire_on_High]

Thanks. The one bad thing about rats...they live such short lives...

[PoorMuttly]

I think it's so important for us to know about and share our history with eachother...and live our own with it in mind.

Thanks for your Posts !