This is topic Leonard and Mercer's Big Adventure in forum Member forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
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Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 11, 2009, 03:19 PM:
I met up with Mercer at his home yesterday and we checked out his operation and I was very impressed.
Then, we left to do a bit of night hunting and check some of his cages that he had out.
It was very easy to see the advantage of his cage design, the way a set of three nest together, to save room in the back of the truck.
We lit up a nice tom, while checking cages. See here:
and here:
But then, (teaser) the night got interesting!
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Lone Howl (Member # 29) on December 11, 2009, 03:50 PM:
That is a neat looking trap. Any more pics of em nested together?
Nice cat!
Mark
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 11, 2009, 04:06 PM:
We always read reports in the paper and on TV where someone is out in the desert and finds a body.
On several occasions, I have had conversations with people. With the amount of time that I spend in remote areas, why is it I have never discovered a dumped body, or something? Not that I would want to, but just to blindly stumble onto a dead person thrown in a ditch somewhere, that's blind luck.
So, last night we were having a good time, checking traps and pulling some that were unproductive, when we came upon a vehicle partially pulled off to the side of the two track.
We went on by, but I asked the question of Mercer...was the back open? and he said it wasn't but I had some sort of mental image of something not being right with the situation.
Of course, once we reached the end of the road and turned around, we took a much slower and better look at the Jeep Cherokee with the US ARMY RETIRED decal on the back window.
Then we stopped about maybe 40 feet past the vehicle and discussed the situation, the passanger side door was definitely open, and it was raining at the time......
Then I asked Mercer if he had a handgun with him and he said "Glock".
So, we approached the vehicle. I mean, you know, the guy could have had a sleeping bag under a bush and been sleeping with a gun. You don't necessarily want to startle somebody at 2 A.M. twenty remote miles up in the hills.
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on December 11, 2009, 04:07 PM:
Very cool , Nice cats! I'd also like to see the cages nested.with those darn cage traps you just about need a flat bed.
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on December 11, 2009, 04:12 PM:
Did you get somebody to feed Rocky while youre out having an adventure?
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 11, 2009, 04:22 PM:
I know what you're thinking? But, it was better than nothing!
Posted by Briguy (Member # 3471) on December 11, 2009, 04:48 PM:
Wellllllll, dammit, I'm on the edge of my seat here!!!
Posted by Paul Melching (Member # 885) on December 11, 2009, 04:50 PM:
C 'mon Leonard give it!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 11, 2009, 04:59 PM:
Where was I? Oh yeah, Rocky.
He ate all the rest of the crackers, but didn't seem to notice the egg I dropped in one of his holes?
I would have left out some cat food, but who wants soggy cat food? Ya know?
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 11, 2009, 05:11 PM:
To resume the narrative:
Mercer took a direct approach and I covered him with my Maglite. He saw the guy in the bush before I did and began talking to him.
I thought, okay, we have a person in distress but I waded in through the creasote, breaking off branches to get closer while Mercer edged along the front fender.
He was dressed in blue plaid, fully dressed and he looked (to me) for all the world, like a Muslim in a prayer position. His flashlight was right beside his elbow, which to me, meant that he had left the vehicle in the dark?
We couldn't see his face and didn't really want to disturb anything, but saw no blood, so foul play didn't seem apparent?
But the face, which was buried in the dirt at the base of the bush, seen from the side, was a vivid shade of blue, or was it purple? Hair was salt and pepper.
Good hunting. LB
edit: about that time I asked Mercer if he had cell phone reception in these hills. I didn't.
[ December 11, 2009, 05:13 PM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 11, 2009, 06:18 PM:
Mercer got the 911 operator and I'm listening. Drives me nuts because it seemed like he was repeating everything three or four times, especially the part about our location.
The phrase, "middle of nowhere" seemed to sink in, eventually.
Then, the call was dropped.
So, what do you do; wait for them to call back or head down the hill?
So, we left the scene. Sounds morbid, but later I wished I had taken a couple pictures.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 11, 2009, 06:43 PM:
Now, we are driving toward city lights, all the bad roads have become graded and here comes a couple vehicles. It is the Sheriff. After a short powwow, we told them that the squad cars won't make it to where we need to go, but they can follow us to a spot where they can park and then all of them get in the Suburban. Which they did.
They parked and did a bunch of transfering of gear into the SUV and again we took off. Roads were getting rocky and bumpy, made for slow going and they were using their spotlights behind us, scanning the terrain. Isn't that illegal? No? Okay.
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 11, 2009, 07:35 PM:
As we made the last turn, Mercer waved them to pull along side and said they could go ahead the vehicle was only a quarter mile distant.
So, they came over the last rise and stopped short. They all got out and approached like it was a barracaded suspect. When we got out and walked up the path, one of them came back and told us to stay in our vehicles; more command and control bs.
One of them came up and interviewed us one by one. When I said that I had walked completely around the vehicle, he asked me what kind of boots I was wearing and what was the size.
A little later, he took a photo of the bottom of my boot.
Then one of the Deputies got in the back seat and we drove him down to where he was parked so that he could go down to the highway and wait for the coroner to escort him up the hill. We went and pulled one last cage and as we crossed the bridge heading for the onramp, the Deputy saw us and waved.
That's about all we know, except one thing they said was that the victim, who apparently had been reported missing the day before, based on the license plate information we gave the 911 operator had been suspected to have early signs of Alzheimers....don't we all?
Good hunting. LB
Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on December 11, 2009, 07:54 PM:
60 some years to find your first dead guy... Not too shabby.
I never want to find someone dead out in the woods. I'd never go out again. It'd scar me for life.
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on December 11, 2009, 08:40 PM:
That's a pretty good run of luck, Leonard. Just a couple weeks ago, about twenty miles from here, a guy was out with his bird dog hunting pheasants and quail and came upon what looked like an encampment complete with a well decomposed body. White male from, I believe, Ohio or Maryland or some such exotic place. Been missing for several months. No car anywhere around. He'd camped out several miles from the Interstate down along the river bottom for God only knows what reason. Strange.
A buddy of mine was deer hunting an area we all used to hunt quite regularly a bunch of years ago and found the skeletal remains of what used to be a black female. Nothing but bones and half-rotted denim jeans, leather shoes and a dark pink sweater. That was twenty-five years ago and they still don't have an ID on her.
As far as finding a body, hell, each of us will someday die, and each of us will have to be found by someone. I can recall the first, oh, twenty or so dead bodies I had to examine and run a strip on to confirm death. Each and every one was uniqeuly posed by fate to be memorable. And each one made you wonder to yourself just what happened that someone else would find them here like this. Perfect case in point, something my first EMS instructor told us about and by gawd, I even saw one or two myself... dead body in the bathroom wedged between the commode and the wall or vanity cabinet directly in front of the "sitter" as he "rested". Usually an elderly male, widowed or living alone. Went to take his constitution and, for lack of good fiber and roughage, pushed too hard and caused himself a heart attack. In their last moments of life, they often fall forward and do a header into the wall in front of them and more times that you'd think, end up wedged there, parttially seated, with their speedos around their ankles. neighbors or family only check him once a day at most, and often as not, even less frequently, so many were found to have been there for "some time". Live 90 years doing your best to be remembered honorably and that's how they find you last.
Yep, strange.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 11, 2009, 09:13 PM:
Yeah, thanks for that vivid description, Lance. My fate awaits me. LB
Posted by Briguy (Member # 3471) on December 11, 2009, 10:05 PM:
Dang Cdog, I know that isn't supposed to be funny, but...
I apologize Lord, please be with the starving pygmies in New Guinea...
Posted by Briguy (Member # 3471) on December 11, 2009, 10:51 PM:
Oh, and LB, you weren't hunting out my way today by chance, were you?
http://www.kpho.com/video/21938386/index.html
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 12, 2009, 06:58 AM:
Bri, no. CA desert, and apparently there were two, that night, the other in Pioneer Town?
Lance, if I have to go like Elvis, with my undies around my ankles, let me leave you with this little tear jerker: When I was a boy and old Shep was a pup....buba buboom.
Good hunting. LB
Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on December 12, 2009, 07:34 AM:
The dead guy seems to be a sidebar to an otherwise productive night. Stumbling over that guy ruined the continuity of the night. It's an inconvenience to find a stiff.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 12, 2009, 07:58 AM:
Yeah, he almost owes us an apology, don't ya think?
It's what I have always said: You never remember the hunts where everything went perfect. Okay, you can recall that you were successful; but no details, and not much stands out.
It's those "other" hunts that you really log the details on your hard drive. I'm talking five years ago, maybe longer, like ancient history?
When shit happens, you remember it and those are the stories that you talk about. The "great" hunts are usually routine and bore the hell out of everybody. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Lone Howl (Member # 29) on December 12, 2009, 09:13 AM:
How bout the 2 dozen stranded elk hunters in Arizona? They find them yet?
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 12, 2009, 10:27 AM:
Almost seems like an oxymoron, donut? How can you get trapped in a snowstorm in Arizona? Well, aside from the reputation, nothing but desert, you can easily run into snotty weather, in that area, and don't worry, I know from firsthand experience.
And, it's just pouring here right now! If they don't find those guys, there is more headed their way!
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 12, 2009, 01:13 PM:
I've been seeing news reports on that, but nothing recent. From what I saw, they all got out, but their vechicles will be there for a while. The sheriff's spokesman for up Coconino way is some handsom rascal that's using Gerry Blair's name. Even kind of talks like the beloved BeastMaster. Anybody know if he's any kin-folk to the real Gerry Blair?????
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 12, 2009, 01:23 PM:
Don't know about that, but Gerry has a place north of Flag and he used to be in law enforcement, I think it was AZ highway Patrol? Could be a son?
Good hunting. LB
edit: now that I think of it, we have the new twins, Gerry Blair and Richard Roop and Santa
[ December 12, 2009, 01:24 PM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by Dusty Hunter (Member # 1031) on December 12, 2009, 03:16 PM:
Quote:
"Anybody know if he's any kin-folk to the real Gerry Blair?????"
That's one of the Beastmaster's sons. He does the pr work for the Sheriff in Coconino County. He's about the same size as his dad and just as friendly.
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on December 12, 2009, 04:08 PM:
Thats pretty wild stuff LB. I would have been like you and wanted to take pics. Whats the odds you will ever see anything like that again?
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 12, 2009, 09:12 PM:
Well, it's good to know that this other Gerry Blair's the real deal, & not an imposter!!!
Posted by furhvstr (Member # 1389) on December 13, 2009, 07:13 PM:
Leonard is good guy. I enjoyed my time out with him. He was little stingy with the braggin stories. I am sure he must have a bunch.
I was happy and relieved to have a cat in a cage to show him.
Not sure he is all too impressed with my ability to identify critters at night. I was a little off my game. Never had a living legend in the truck with me. Seriously I am having trouble with my eyesight in low light. I geuss my age is creeping up with me. It cost us a cat.
I sure don't need no pictures. I have been seeing that poor old guy everytime that I close my eyes.
I have been out many hundreds of nights over the years but that night with LB will likely stay with me forever.
Thanks for coming up LB
ML
[ December 13, 2009, 07:14 PM: Message edited by: furhvstr ]
Posted by Tim Behle (Member # 209) on December 14, 2009, 07:27 AM:
I found an Elderly woman that I had known for several years last February. I still see her every time I turn down Leslie Canyon Road, or hear someone start to tell a story such as this.
Posted by Patterson (Member # 3304) on December 14, 2009, 10:19 AM:
Leonard, I have always wondered if I will ever find a body out an about. I dont really want to and I really dont want the image stuck in my head. Bones would be one thing but a body with a face is another. At the same time I have some kinda interest in it and if facinates me to wonder why/how a body got their. Pictures.....little much for me though.
Lance, did you hear about that body they found in Chapman just a couple weeks/month ago?? Just off the blacktop and sitting under a tree? I think found by a pheasant hunter.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 14, 2009, 11:51 AM:
A long time ago, when the state organization was large with membership, we tried to donate our expertise to the authorities involved in searches; down aircraft, lost child, missing person, etc etc. Tha arrogant bastards always turned us down; no thanks! If there is anybody that knows the desert and can cover a lot of ground especially at night, it's a predator hunter.
Now, what Mercer is alluding to, talking about impressions, is that there were a number of times that there was a mild difference of opinion, and it involved identification of animals. That's it. He's a good shot and a hard hunter and very talented trapper. There were a few times when I was pretty sure of what we had out there, and he had a different opinion. That's what it's all about, you see eyes and what do you do about it? Well, I was not going to be impolite, nor was I going to distract him from checking his cages. We DID drive by a road at least once while I was yaking, and spinning yarns, going down memory lane, which was not the purpose of this trip, at least I didn't think it was? We can do that over a brew, or as I suggested, during a 600 mile drive. There are few blank spots in the conversation, on a road trip....but once we turn off into the dirt and break out the gear, it's all business, right?
I'd get out with Mercer any day, he's definitely got the fever.
Good hunting. LB
[ December 14, 2009, 11:54 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on December 14, 2009, 04:38 PM:
Yeah, that's the one I was speaking about in my above post. Didn't sound like much beyond just a guy that set up camp and died. I'd careful about the coyotes in that area thogh,... taste of flesh and all in their mouth.
Leanord,
Your decription of the guy was that he was kneeling, leaned forward like he was in a muslim prayer pose? Right? Maybe the guy was driving down the road, felt sick to his stomach and got out to vomit, which is why he was on the ground like that. One of the early signs of a massive heart attackm is the onset of nausea and vomiting, which would explain how he went from alive to sick to dead in short order. No foul play, just a guy who died and needed finding by somebody who'd make sure what he left behind got taken care of.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 16, 2009, 01:40 PM:
In any case, the mystery continues.
I emailed a reporter for the Barstow Desert Dispatch yesterday explaining the situation. He checked the county coroner's website and couldn't find anything? He promised to get back to me when he learned something, and as of now, he has not got back to me.
I'm pretty sure he believed me, although I had no concrete information, didn't have a record of the vehicle license, had no idea of the victim's name. But, if he can find the original 911 call log and maybe a dispatch by San Bernardino Sheriff's, we might at least verify that something happened, and I'm not a crank?
The question remains, why no report, no newspaper account and no obituary?
Good hunting. LB
Posted by 4949shooter (Member # 3530) on December 16, 2009, 06:37 PM:
The Sheriff's dept. might not yet have a positive ID on the victim, or the investigation is continuing and they don't want to compromise it, so they are keeping it quiet for now.
Interesting story...and it's good you guys stayed away from the body and didn't contaminate the scene.
Yes, Gerry Blair retired as a captain with AZ DPS.
Posted by 4949shooter (Member # 3530) on December 27, 2009, 02:15 PM:
Any updates?
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 27, 2009, 09:40 PM:
Mercer told me, (he's local, I'm 80 miles away) that the coroner determined that it was a heart attack. That's all I know, never got a name?
Good hunting. LB
Posted by 4949shooter (Member # 3530) on December 28, 2009, 10:30 AM:
That makes sense.
Posted by RonFin (Member # 3483) on January 05, 2010, 07:39 PM:
Leonard, There is a Mercer about 80 miles from Upland that offers guide service. Same guy?
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on January 05, 2010, 09:37 PM:
Beats me? He never mentioned it? He's in Barstow.
Posted by RonFin (Member # 3483) on January 05, 2010, 10:44 PM:
The add I saw was for a Mercer up in Yucca Valley.
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