These days, it is quite fashionable to beat up on "The Rich" and you see it everywhere. It's in the news, in politics and in everyday conversations. As one who knows how much these people pump into our economy, I don't buy into it. As a matter of fact, they support my industry (construction) in a big way and even help me out in my recreation (crow hunting).
Around where I live there is a group of well-to-do landowners who love to hunt. This particular group is into dove hunting in a big way. I have previously posted a couple of stories on hunting behind high fences and as I get additional phone calls, I'm seeing how the system works...I call it "The Circuit." It appears to be 8 or 10 landowners who have made a mission out of planting the best dove field(s). Some have only one, while other have two or three. Most have high fences around their dove fields, but some are open and subject to damage from deer and/or hogs. During dove season this group of hunters visit each field in an orderly progression of structured hunts. This way, the pressure on any one field is minimal so everyone gets the most bang for their bucks (pun intended).
As most of you know, a finely manicured dove field is irresistible to a crow and even more irresistible to a murder of crows. That's when I get a call...Woo Hoo! The more crows, the less doves for them, and they hate it! To date, I have hunted crows in four of their fields and have three other dove fields to tend in the near future. In spite of the fact that I don't expect to be invited to hunt their doves, this is what I call a Win-Win (after all, who want to stop shooting after 12 or 15 birds).
On Monday, I will be hunting crows in a new field on The Circuit, then yet another one later next week. I can't do it this week as these same landowners are hunting ducks and dove in Mexico and won't be back until Saturday. The attached photo is a picture of some of the crows leaving a line of trees I drove under when scouting out the field. What you don't see is the massive group of 500-1,000 crows on the ground behind the trees. Although most of these are fish crows, my trigger finger is already itching!
You are old like me, so I'll help you out. O.P. is forum speak for Original Poster.
Arkie,
You got a chuckle out of me with that remark. Almost snorted my hot tea!
Seriously, though, as we go through life it's the relationships that are important. My intent on the original post was to spell out how keeping on good terms with people pays off richly. You make one person happy and the word spreads (and you feel good, too!).
Relative to relationships in crow hunting, I have met many great people though this sport and hope to continue in the foreseeable future. These people have been landowners, crow guide (Jerry Tomlin), fellow crow hunters and others by just talking about the sport. It's been a great ride.
Speaking of this network of landowners that I'm working with, there are similar groups that can be tapped for hunting rights. For instance, peanut farmers, pecan orchard owners, corn/soybean/melon farmers, etc. Jerry's van has "Free Crow Removal" with his phone number for possible contact with others. Craig's List probably could be used. Once word gets sent out, the network starts working for you.
Anyway, thanks again for the poke. Hope to meet you sometime.
Demi
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The man who thinks he can, and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.
I ran this one about a "post turtle" for approx a year;
While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year old rancher, whose hand was caught in the squeeze gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man.
Eventually the topic got around to Obama and his role as our president.
The old rancher said, 'Well, ya know, Obama is a 'Post Turtle''.
Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him, what a 'post turtle' was.
The old rancher said, 'When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a 'post turtle'.
The old rancher saw the puzzled look on the doctor's face so he continued to explain. "You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while he's up there, he's elevated beyond his ability to function, and you just Wonder what kind of dumb arse put him up there to begin with."
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