It is with a heavy heart that I post that Joe (oso45-70) Bice has passed away.
I had know Joe for just a few short years and corresponded with him regularly through e-mail & even phone calls just like a lot of you had. He was like a 2nd Father along with being a great friend.
Joe was like a true pioneer in every sense of the word. I believe that he grew up in the rough country south of Gallup, NM and seem to recall that he said he was six or seven before he even saw his first automobile!
It was here that he learned to love the predator calling but didn’t own one and became quite proficient at calling in a Coyote or fox with by imitating an injured rabbit with his mouth alone!. I had heard him do this in a phone conversation, he sounded real beyond belief. Joe did eventually use mouth calls and even a foxpro and was a true master of this sport.
He had many good years trapping & hunting in the northern NM mountain ranges with many an authentic tale that would rival the Mountain Man!
Joe also became an accomplished pipefitter and got to do some traveling around the states and was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was a (do as you say, say as you do) type of person and I will miss him greatly.
If you knew Joe like I did and would like to send a card for the family the address is…
Joe E Bice
620 south 2nd street
Tucumcari, NM 88401