Ranchers and ground squirrels

[Daryl]

Same here in BC, Dean. Have been offered ammo by farmers, but decline, saying just "happy to help out", so poisoning isn't necessary.

[Bayou City Boy]

All that we pay is a $10 per day per group shooting fee on the ranch in north Texas that I mentioned. The rancher checks in with us one or two times a day and he lets us know if we can expect any quick forming stormy weather before dark. It's tornado country so he watches daily in the warmer months. And it keeps groups of shooters separated if someone decides to move over the hill to greener pastures. And there are lots of pd's and places to shoot every time that we go.

If we plan our trip far enough ahead, we can usually stay in the older ranch home where the ranch owner grew up before he married and built a newer house. The last time that we stayed was pre-Covid (spring 2019), and it was $10 a night per person for beds and a full kitchen with a refrigerator to use. Bring your own grub and run the dishwasher daily. Motels ~10 miles away in a small town run about $180 a night for 2 rooms plus restaurant meals in the evening. Not factoring in cost, we enjoy staying in the older ranch house. It's cheap fun with outside grilled steaks at least twice per 3-4 day stay. I've known the rancher for years, so we have "first squatter's rights. The "ranch hotel" has been shut down since covid.

Unfortunately there are no pd's anywhere close to the Texas Gulf Coast. Once a year the trip is entirely on Dad's wallet. One time it was just my youngest son and I going from our homes and we drove to Waco and met my oldest son who has a private pilot license. We flew up to the ranch from there and landed and parked the plane on the rancher's private strip. The rancher loaned us his back up feed truck to use while we were there for transportation. A very memorable trip that saved time, but it was kinda' pricey for the aviation fuel and the plane rental, etc. for 3 people plus essentials and shooting gear on the old dad's wallet......

Most of the time we drive 7-8 hours a day each way with a planned lunch stop each day at a rustic place called Catfish O'Harleys for all you can eat fish filets, hush puppies, cole slaw, beans, tea, and fruit cobbler...... They have other options that are all good, but the catfish is my choice.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/catfish-o-harlies-decatur

-BCB

[barretcreek]

You guys are wearing on my willpower. Just talked myself out of a 527 Kevlar on GB and also 'no' to a Ruger from the local death merchant.

For you weaklings: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/932398711

[Kevin Gullette]

Careful around Decatur........

The speed traps can catch ya........coming or going!!

Kevin

[Bayou City Boy]

Originally Posted by Kevin Gullette

Careful around Decatur........

The speed traps can catch ya........coming or going!!

Kevin

The worst one. Ready for the chase with a pumped up Ford Mustang Patrol car............... And they will chase you beyond the maybe 2 city block long "city limits"........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estelline,_Texas

https://texastidbitsdotinfo.wordpres...xas-panhandle/

LOL..!! Texas, Oh Texas.......

I couldn't find the Cooter Graw song where they mention the sheriff in Esteline, so this will have to do.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=screw+you+...youtube&ia=web A little bit of fine Texas culture fit for a head bumpin', down home, honky-tonk bar on Saturday night. Ray Wylie actually wrote "Up Against the Wall Red Neck Mother" that Jerry Jeff Walker rode to fame.

-BCB