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Years ago a gun writer wrote articles called "The Witness Trees". Any one remember who it was? I keep trying and can't remember his name.

Sorry, I don't know.

Me either

I’ve read several witness tree articles, mostly about Civil War trees. Probably a google search would help you out...

I don’t recall either.....but it was a great read! If I recall, he had only written a few stories/articles.....not a recognized author. I’m probably incorrect, but, I thought that he was from Montana! memtb



Addendum: I think it was in Peterson’s Hunting, I kept the magazine for several years (for that article), but let it get away!

memtb,

You're right, he was an outfitter from northwestern Montana, as I recall from around Seeley Lake. He wrote a couple stories and that was it. Craig Boddington (then the editor of PH) told me it was because the guy apparently found writing to be really hard work compared to hunting and outfitting.

I can't remember his name either!

I read that story, multiple times his name eludes me also. He spent a lifetime outfitting and packing in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area, it was a good article and well written. MB

You guys are no help at all. I should of known better then to ask this question during hunting season from a bunch of guys who have spent most of their lives shooting and hunting and reading about it, guys that are aging! LOL

What makes it even worse is a few years ago another gun writer wrote about a bunch of guys that wrote good stuff and no longer write and named the guy and I still can't remember his name.

I will keep trying internet searches.

Howard Copenhaver?

I read both of Howards books "They left their tracks" and "more tracks" same country but not Howard. Thinking back to the "The Witness trees" wasn't a lot of those packing trails in the Swan range? He talked of the scarred up trees along the trail where loads had rubbed and scarred the bark off the trees over many years of trail use.It was a great story. MB

I think Howard did 4 books and yes I don't recall a story about witness trees in any of those books. Howard passed away in 2004

It wasn't Howard.

I seem to recall the guy's first name was Ed, but could be wrong.

According to a quick ,Google search, this was a topic here 9 years ago and Mule Deer thought then that his name was Ed Dixon.

KC

Ed Dixon certainly sounds right! Who ever wrote it....it was a darn good story! memtb

I believe it was Ed Nixon, he was based in the Swan valley and outfitted in the Bob Marshall.

An Ed Nixon quote as told by Craig Boddington......


My old friend Ed Nixon lived his life in Montana's Swan Valley, grizzly country, and he said it better than I ever could: "One animal surpasses them all as (Nature's) final taskmaster — the grizzly. When you bump into one of these great bears, you will learn many things never to be forgotten, and yet, after a lifetime of it, you still won't understand, for no one really knows the grizzly."

Another thing about Nixon I recall he loved the 338 Win mag.

irfubar, Not only a very good writer....very knowledgeable of his hunting rifle cartridges! .338 WM.....perhaps the best “all around” factory produced cartridge! memtb

memtb,

Most outfitters aren't gun guys like us. I believe Ed Nixon was a gun guy, he often mentioned his 338 and the faith he had in it. Working and living in griz country he was a wise man to choose the 338.
His writings influenced me enough when I moved to griz country I built a custom Mauser 338 of my own.
I have hunted the Swan & Bob Marshal and yes both are full of grizzly bears.

irfubar, I’m constantly amazed at the number of “gun guys”, who believe that a .338 WM is “overkill”......whatever that is! We’ve never failed to recover one of my wife’s Antelope taken with my wife’s .338 WM.....because it was “vaporized”? memtb