THE FREEDOM ARMS MODEL 97 ‘PACKER’
I have been surveying land since I was 11. I’ve spent an awful lot of time in the rural, remote areas of New York in all seasons and am very familiar with both the fauna and flora. Undoubtedly, the populations of deer, bear and coyote have increased significantly, and while there are few instances when I’ve been truly concerned, there have also been some instances that stand out.
Perhaps a decade ago, a young man working as summer help was supposed to be about 100 yards away, giving me a backsight in order to turn the angle to the forward station. Instead, I saw him taking giant steps toward me, his face as pale as if he’d just seen a ghost.
When I inquired as to why he was “here” when I needed him “there,” he stammered, “Bear—and more than one!”
When I took a look at the tracks, I realized that the young man had ended up between
