|
Post by davep on Dec 10, 2011 20:21:07 GMT -5
Heck, I still hear rumors down here about DNR bringing in truckloads of deer in the 60's from up north! Remember, believe half of what you see and none of what you hear... LOL Dave those aren't rumors: it's well documented. Vagn Flyger trapped well over 1000 deer at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in the '50s and early '60s for restocking throughout the state. Was basically NONE outside of there and western MD at that time. Years ago he told me that folks begged him to release deer on their farms, and the same folks, 30-40 years later were cussing the SOB that released deer on their farms! If you ever get the chance, read up on some of his exploits, from WWII, tranquilizing polar bears in the '50s, to shooting whales, to his work in Africa, etc (and I'm pretty sure most of his "good' stories never made print!) He set off a LOT of explosives in Dorchester back in the day, making potholes in the marshes. Talked about chunks of marsh the size of Volkswagons raining down all around him. Just about the most fascinating person I have ever had the honor to know!
|
|
|
Post by hunteronwheels on Dec 17, 2011 17:55:30 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by davep on Dec 17, 2011 19:52:21 GMT -5
Thanks, hadn't seen that obit! Guy really had done about everything!
Said Artic was so cold, they had to drain the oil out of the planes at night, and bring it in near a fire, or it'd get so cold, couldn't crank the engine next morning.
And how he learned not to have ANY lube on bolt/firing pin, or it wouldn't work at -50F.
Told a great story about shooting a polar bar with a tranquilizer dart that was about 10 yds directly over him, up on an ice ridge. Said it just stood there staring at him, and he couldn't cycle the bolt. Said he was going to try urine to thaw it, as he was just about to piss himself, when it teetered a bit and slid down!
Also said Nat'l Geo, or the like, had taken out a nice insurance policy on him before sending him up there. Really cutting edge stuff back then.
I also recall that one of the farmers who begged for deer and later cussed them/him was near Prince Frederick, LOL.
He regularly wore a pith helmet, walked around with a Mini FA .22 in his belt buckle, and always tried, sometimes successfully, passing squirrel turds off as squirrel eggs, to unenlightened folks.
Old guy I know met him when he heard someone holler to him in the woods. Seems Vagn was up a tree, observing squirrels, when his ladder fell. So he just stayed up there, watching, until someone happened by!
True eccentric genius!
|
|