A pic for huntinstuff and James

[Noel]

Randy I found this picture of my great uncle Reuben. It is from the early 30's showing him with the black bear he slayed with his 44-40. It was a problem bear that was hassling the local school teacher and even forced her to sleep at the school one night. Reuben lived a mile south of the school and was visited by the bear fairly often, he never had a gun in his hand at the time. He set a trap (leg hold) and chained it to a big log. Before long, there was a heck of a ruckus and the bear making off withthe trap and log. He thought the log was close to 20-24" dia and sixteen feet long, a hefty drag. It didn't suffer as he was tending to his colts in the corral when it happened. I believe it was over in a shot or two. He cannot rememeber how many, but it was more than one as it was not real happy being on a leash.

He cannot remember what kind of rifle it was, but he thinks it was a Winchester. Given he is 97 years old now I guess he has the right to forget that! He is pretty sure this is the same trap he used, lent to him by a local trapper, Martin Arneson, who was also a local gun nut.

If I remember right you were thinking about using a 44 for the bear trip this spring, I thought I would post this for you both to enjoy.

Hope you enjoy it!

Noel

 

[crazy_davey]

Cool shots Noel!

 

[gitrdun]

Dang it Noel, I wanna be THAT vertical when I'm 97. Great pics, I was kinda thinking to start a thread where we could post pics of our mentors and kins that started it all. What do you think?

 

[Noel]

Dang it Noel, I wanna be THAT vertical when I'm 97. Great pics, I was kinda thinking to start a thread where we could post pics of our mentors and kins that started it all. What do you think?

Absolutely Man! Let 'er buck! I have lots I have posted already, but it is about time the whipper snappers saw what this hunting stuff was all about!

Git-er-dun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[huntinstuff]

That is simply amazing Noel. I admire folks who have the foresight to save old pictures and learn the story behind them. God bless those fellas from years ago who took matters into their own hands and had the courage to do something. Man how things have changed. Im glad you took the time to post this. I really appreciate it. Reubin looks to be in fine form for 97. Spend as much time with him as you can. You will never regret it.

I showed James the picture and he loved it. He is heading north tomorrow and packed his 44-40 before he packed his underwear.

 

[crazy_davey]

and packed his 44-40 before he packed his underwear.

As every well brought up hunter should

 

[gitrdun]

Thanks Noel,

So this is my grandpa, this picture was taken in the Ardennes in Belgium shortly after WW2 I believe. He was taken prisoner of war, this was not long after his release.

 

[huntinstuff]

....and yes i think the idea of posting pics of our true mentors is a great idea.....I will check the "tickle trunk" at grandma's place tomorrow and see what I come up with.

 

[Noel]

That is simply amazing Noel. I applaude folks who have the foresight to save old pictures and learn the story behind them. I showed James and he loved it. He is heading north tomorrow and packed his 44-40 before he packed his underwear.

Right on Randy!

I sat down with Uncle Reuben a couple times over the last few years and I soak up every single story he has to tell. They are getting dim for him. He was a harness maker but being as he is now blind in one eye and not much better in the other his buisness slumped this last winter. I got him back at it a couple months back. I took him out for lunch, and then we used some of his scrap leather to build a saddle scabbard for my 1899 Savage he has in the picture there. I really treasure that afternoon and I hope others will do the same if they can.
Kids, you can ride your dirt bike later, go be with your grandparents!

We both get a kick out of hanging out together, and the rest of the family gets to find out twice over.

We expect a full report when he gets back! Not all of us are lucky enough to get to go hunting with Dad let alone go for bears likely every year of his life from now on!

Have a great, and safe trip!
Noel

 

[Noel]

Thanks Noel,

So this is my grandpa, this picture was taken in the Ardennes in Belgium shortly after WW2 I believe. He was taken prisoner of war, this was not long after his release.

Glad to hear he pulled through that!

I hope lots of folks are going to ad their pics in here. I am going to look like a nut by the time I am done posting. Actually, that should have been very obvious by my posts from a couple years ago! lol

Not sure where to start, here are a bunch of misc pics I found, not relations but from an era I wish I could have seen.

 

[Noel]

This one is of my co-worker's Grandfather, in California.
His rifle sits in my safe, it is a 25-36 Marlin, dating to 1902 IIRC

This is my Great Grampa Ivar Shesrud. No one could pronounce their name when they came over from Norway, so naturally they went with Erickson!
This picture is somewhere around 1897 when they married. I have his pictures when he was Seargeant in the Army in 1897 too. Won't be able to post them until Monday.

Some may or may not have seen these ones before. This is my great uncle Leif as a wee lad. This would be 191x somewhere......

Back then you ate whatever you could! They were very poor. G.Grampa would give Leif three .22 cartridges and send him out with his little Remington and by gosh you didn't come home empty handed. Leifs trapping and hunting kept them alive right throught he hungry 30's.

Showing off his collection in 1932:

1932 Bullwinkle, not sure of the rifle but it is the same as the one in the above pic. If anyone knows, please let me know!

And lastly, his Mule Deer from 1945. Remmy pump of some sort. Sadly he was shot in the back in the 70's IIRC, they never solved the case. My gramma Marie always told me how much I am just like him, always talking about gunz she would say. Boy I wish I could have met him! He was a real crack shot Grampa said. Every year they had a community picnic and the locals would bring their guns to see who could shoot the best. More often than not Leif took the prize. It drove Martin Arneson wild as he would practice alot to beat him. They were good friends, except when competing! lol

My Grandma Marie worked for a colorful guy, known by all as the "Colonal".
He owned Red Deer River Ranches, west of Sundre Alberta and went on safaris all over by the looks of it! I believe he is holding an Oberndorf Mauser.

Some of his trophies:

This picture is classic, my Gramma took it:

This is Grandpa Fred before going over to Camp Borden for Training. He is second in from the right. He trained as a Mechanic and went in on just after D-day, driving truck to take munitions to the front.
He used to tell me about driving the railroad tracks at night in convoys as the Germans wouldn't hit them in hopes of gaining them back. They only has a little red light on the back of each truck for the next guy to follow. I was very lucky to get all his trappings from being over there, including pics of his sweathearts, his pass books, the whole lot. This is the relationship I put on the backburner because my YZ250 was wayyy cooler man.

And lastly (for tonight) here is my Grampa, left, my Mom, her big Sister and the infamous Martin Arneson. He was a trapper in the area, that was his sole income. I guess hwe was a bit like Doug Southen is to CGN. Everyone in the area had bought a gun from him! Unlce Reuben got a full octogon Remmy pump from him, used in 1933 and used it until the barrel was shot out. It was built in 1928, and resides in my safe too.

 

[crazy_davey]

I have seen some of those before, but thanks for sharing them Noel. Not many people around these days who take thier family history very serious.

 

[Pat Brennan]

Great stuff Noel, thanks for sharing with us.
Pat

 

[Lazy Ike]

Not sure where to start, here are a bunch of misc pics I found, not relations but from an era I wish I could have seen.

I think I might be able to help you out Noel. My sons just built a time machine out of a fridge box and duct tape. They're still working out the kinks but right now it seems to take them back to a point in time when they get in $%!# for not cleaning their rooms and using up all my duct tape.

 

[bronco_mudder]

I can't believe that they got all those animals with out any hi-tech camo, or synthetic materials such as gortex and the like. Ha ha ha I love the old pictures, and many times I wish life could be the same way now.

 

[SignGuy]

awesome pics guys,
unfortunatly i have no pics of my mentors anymore
several years traveling out of a backpack has taken its toll on my picture collection from before i met my wife.
but my grandpa on my moms side and my father *well stepdad* whom i havent seen in over 10 years now are my mentors i just hope i can do for my kids what they did for me

 

[Noel]

I think I might be able to help you out Noel. My sons just built a time machine out of a fridge box and duct tape. They're still working out the kinks but right now it seems to take them back to a point in time when they get in $%!# for not cleaning their rooms and using up all my duct tape.

Keep me posted on this Jarrod, I will pack my things. I think I will sell my house, load up a bazillion rounds and head way back, buy some big spread of property and just live off the fat of the land.

I likely won't last long but it would be fun for awhile!

 

[ontgunner]

Very nice stories and pics, Noel.
Thanks.

 

[Noel]

A bit off topic here, but Uncle Reuben's wife of 50 some years just passed away Sunday morning. Esther was in her 97th year of life, the changes they have seen!
For those who do so, please find time to pray for Reuben.

Thanks everyone!

Noel

 

[crazy_davey]

A bit off topic here, but Uncle Reuben's wife of 50 some years just passed away Sunday morning. Esther was in her 97th year of life, the changes they have seen!
For those who do so, please find time to pray for Reuben.

Thanks everyone!

Noel

Sorry to hear about your great aunt Noel . I have never met your uncle Reuben, but with all the stories you have told me I feel I have. We are thinking of you and your family, and of course your uncle Reuben.

You know who to call if your family needs anything........