Took 3 of my Grandsons to our property in Rule, Texas. We got there Friday eve. We checked the corn feeders and they were all out. Went back to camp, got the generator going for the lights and A/C. We are a little spoiled. We told the usual stories around the campfire and went to bed. At 4AM a hell of a storm came in and lasted until 6:30. Damn, we were out of coffee. We headed to the convenience store for diesel for the generator and coffee. 1/4 mile from our gate the roads were dusty and we got 1". Coming back I ran over a piece of pipe sticking out of the ground and ruined a new Michelin tire. It was a lot of fun for an old fat man with 2 steel rods in his back changing tires in the mud. The kids helped as much as they could. Hey Papaw, you look like one of those hogs we are going after. We have a 55 gal barrel on a tower for showers. Of course it was empty. After pumping it full of water I finally got clean. We drove to my blind and noticed that some one left the windows open. Of course I called my Bro and Bro in law to see who had been in it last. Nobody has been in it they said, maybe the latches came loose and the windows raised themeselves. If you have hunted in Texas from a tower blind you know what happened. My macho 14yr. old grandson climbed the ladder and opened the door. An owl almost took his head off flying out. He survived that, but looked back in and saw 3 eggs, piles of owl shit, regurgitated bones and so forth from the owls meals. He pulled his self up a little further and a 3 1/2' foot bullsnake hissed at him. They all look like rattlers to him. He got down pretty quick. The owl must have put him there as I don't think he could have climbed the fiberglass walls. I know he could have probably climbed the tower. We think that he was a meal for the owl. We finally got it cleaned out and the windows closed. We forgot to bring the wasp spray. I will deal with them next time. We got the corn feeders filled and my game camera set up with no troubles. We went back to camp and ate and took a nap. Since I was on a spare on my truck, I took my brothers Samurai when we went back out to hunt that evening. Of course the fuel pump went out a mile into the drive to the blind. It came another hell of a storm as we walked back to get my truck. We towed the POS back to camp and I had a shot or 2 of Crown and went to bed. Needless to say we left early this morning and came home.
The boys said they never had such fun. I really question how my sons raised them if this was such fun. They did go through 4000 BBs and 400 Pellets. Everything was a target. I can't wait until next time!!
Butch

It was just one of "THOSE" days....
I wish you better luck next time
L

Spending time with the family is never wasted time. The most important thing is that the boys had a good time and that they'll want to go again when the opportunity presents itself!

It is amazing how children can view events totally different from us adults. I remember going fishing with my Dad to an uncles ranch. It had some great tanks to fish. My Dad fought taking me each time but as most Dads do, he would always cave. Our uncle always made you do something around the ranch before you could fish. I always thought the things were fun. My Dad always thought it was to much like work. We laugh about those times now. Great memories.

Friends,
In spite of everything, it was fun. We will have a few extra tales for future campfires and they will tell their sons.
Butch

I have a friend, helluva hog hunter, who is quite athletic and reasonably young (30). He is deathly, phobicly, afraid of snakes. If he'd been on that 14 foot ladder and came eye to eye with that snake, he'd have FLOWN over the owl.

Good story. We've got a lot of locust trees locally, I've changed more tires than I can remember and haven't learned to like it yet.

quote:

Gatogordo: We've got a lot of locust trees locally, I've changed more tires than I can remember and haven't learned to like it yet.

Ditto! Locusts and huisache. Both tires flat right now on a brush hog.

Butch, I think I mentioned it before on a thread here but my mother was born on a farm between Rule and the Brazos. I visited the old place twice as a kid and those are very fond memories.

Thank God we don't have locust trees. We have a lot of cactus and mesquite thorns. They haven't been a problem for good tires. Forrest, I do remember you mentioning that you had family in Rule. It looks like our quail are back and we are just over run with doves at this time. We also saw several baby turkey.
Butch

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
Friends,
In spite of everything, it was fun. We will have a few extra tales for future campfires and they will tell their sons.
Butch

You'll have a better one to tell around the camp fire if the federal wildlife people read this and find out you destroyed an owl's nest with eggs in it! All birds of prey, and their nests are federally protected! It's not a big deal, I think the fine is only $1000.00!

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