Every successful Adirondack Guide knew where to find fish and game for the sports he was leading. A guide also knew how to set up camp in the wilderness, prepare meals and entertain with stories around the campfire.

Red Perkins was a successful guide in the early 20th Century in the Central Adirondacks. His recollections are captured in a book by Ed Levine, “The Adventures of Red Perkins, Remembrances of an Adirondack Guide.” One of Red’s stories from the Levine book tells of 1922 when Red was hired by an Adirondack League Club member to guide a deer hunt. At Panther Mountain while searching for deer, they spotted a female bear that the hunter was more excited to find than even a big buck.

He decided to take the animal; he aimed carefully then pulled the trigger of his weapon. His shot brought down the sow, but as she collapsed in death she gave a cry that was both ear-piercing and soul-shattering. Her cry was heard by her mate, and he came charging onto the scene with vengeance in his heart. The charging bear unnerved the hunter and Perk. It was heading directly for them. The hunter seemed to be frozen by fear. Precious moments were lost as the angry animal moved toward them. Finally, Perk put his hand on the hunter’s shoulder and urged, “Shoot. Now.” When he touched him, Perk became aware that the hunter was literally shaking in his boots. But he fired in time and the bear fell dead. “I thought that a guide like you had nerves of steel,” the hunter said to Perk after the excitement subsided. “That’s right,” Perk answered, “but I don’t make a habit of picking on a bear’s wife.” Perk measured the male. It was more than six feet tall.

There’s little doubt that Red Perkins shared that story many times around many an Adirondack campfire.