Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Just BSers left here.

Need One,

As you know, much of the West's knowledge gets passed on by story tellin around the campfire and other spots.

Back in the early 1980's, when busted up but somewhat savvy old pricks such as yourself could still get away with calling me a young feller, I landed a job with the federal government patrollin the backcountry in a national park. The second day on the job, the old boys decided to see if the new recruits could ride a pony or not. Keith was the barn boss, more than a little full of himself, loud, pretty good with the stock, and as I would eventually learn, a BS�er. Frank was a sullen old hand, presenting much the same profile as you did in your first post on this thread. Keith was in charge of the days shenanigans, of course.

After a bit of BS about saddles, brushes, hooves and the usual stuff, we got down to brass tacks. Keith got aboard an old and thoroughly sombitched Thoroughbred by the name of Star and proceeded to ride him over a pack tarp laid on the ground. Now Star was a medium useful horse, but he had a particular hate for anything strange laid upon the ground. The only thing he hated worse than a tarp on the ground was manhole covers in a street, which I was to discover a few years later in the middle of a big and very well attended parade. Anyway, Keith rode Star over that tarp until he was rearing and just startin to give some sign that a good and decent wreck was immanent. Then Keith, bless his black heart, piled off and casually asked if anyone would like to climb aboard.

Not being one to waste an opportunity that presents itself, I stepped boldly forward and announced that I had concluded it was my turn in the round corral. I walked up to Star and him and I had a bit of time together when we established that I wasn't a mean as Keith but I was gonna ride his sorry bones regardless. I climbed aboard amidst much side steppin and a very short rein. Star gave a couple of crow hops and trotted around the pen blowin off some stress. Shortly, he settled down and we sort of wandered around for a bit in front of Keith and the new recruits. I stepped off and handed the reins to Keith, who had old Star ready to fire again within about 30 seconds. Randy, a fellow who turned out to be a bit silly I was eventually to discover, volunteered next and within a minute was hangin on rather tightly to the saddle horn and had a funny look on his face as he went up and down in the air above Star. The day sort of progressed from there.

Now Frank, the Need One type of hand I mentioned earlier, loaded me into his truck the next day and declared to me that he had watched the performance yesterday and had decided that he and I could ride together that summer. I thought that was great, but ride turned out to be in his truck rather than on the stock. Frank was a bit pissed that things weren't like they were in the old days when the cowboy was king of the park, and he had taken to driving around the park, declaring the place was filled with BS'ers and generally just picking bottles in the campgrounds during work.

I rode around for two days with Frank and then we had words. Didn't turn out too good at first, but basically he informed me that I was just like the rest of the BS'ers and I told him that I hired on to ride the backcountry and look after the park not pick bottles. Couple of days after the first set to, I approached Frank and told him that I figured from our time together he knew a thing or two that I should know, and if he was willing, I'd appreciate his teachin me some of the old ways, since the young pricks and Keith sure the heck didn't seem likely or able to share it with me.

Frank stewed on this for a few days, then asked if I was interested in a little pack trip next week. That trip started one of the best learnin streaks I've ever been on in my life. Frank started to set a bit straighter in the saddle and grin a bit more too. Few years later, I was MC at Frank's retirement party. We told lies, roasted the old prick royally, drank too much whiskey and danced the feet off every little filly in the whole valley. Frank promptly started to collect his pension and hired on with the provincial government as a forest warden, renting his own string of ponies and tack to them each summer and patrolling the forest for the government again. Last I heard, the old buzzard was the oldest employee in the whole forest service and still goin strong. He'll keel off a bronco stone dead some day out there and be the happiest prick in heaven.

Now Need One, if you don't mind, I've clean forgot how to tail the halter shank to the pack horse in front, since Frank showed me that more than 20 years ago. I was just wonderin if you remembered, and if you do, could you give a go at describing it to me. Maybe I'll be able to remember it. Not sure.

Just a quick bump for an old friend.

Tex

Well Guys and Gals this old hunter has been pretty busy trying to sell out property in Dallas and going to Dr up there. It's an eighty mile drive to Dallas and fighting the traffic while there and driving home this old hand is tuckered out most of the time but will post about the pack in trip soon. Thanks for being patient. -- no <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

PS Gun Show in Mesquite this week end and pool tournament tomorrow night. Gosh I didn't realize how hooked up I am.
No horse but bought a Honda motor scooter awhile back, 100 miles to the gallon and gas here just went up to $2.53 and $2.65 - $270 in Dallas. Sure get some strange looks, (a 76 year young), riding it to Post Office, grocery store, bank, but I enjoy it. Met a young old lady in a store and she couldn't believe it was mine till I rode off. Young folks have the wrong perspective, first thing they do is call us old when they should call us experienced. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Been awhile Tex, sorry to hear about Robin, had the same problem here. Bet you wind up back in Dallas where the money is. -- no

Nice post 350 Mag, as you know this is a changing world and many on this board are quick to remind you. Horses are following the trail of the cowboy and open range. Heck even Boggy rides a four wheeler around his place and I can assure you it jumps and bounces as bad as any horse when he's in a hurry. Don't have an answer for your question we just tied the lead rope to the pack in front. One year when leaving Poison Park Trailhead out North of Pagosa Springs, CO we had a horse have a fit, broke loose and spread campstuff a hundred yards over and around the trail, two aspen close together helped open the packs. That horse was sent back to the barn fast since we were at the trailhead. Made us late getting to camp, (dusk), and the bridge crossing a small creek was mostly washed out so one of the wranglers decided to ford the creek. Horse didn't like water and bolted draging the wrangler through the ice water. It was only several hundred yards to campsite and we set up tents in a hurry amid a snow storm. I happened to have an extra sleeping bag inside my bag so the wrangler undressed and crawled in while his clothes dried overnight. Next morning we had about four inches of snow on ground with elk bugling all around the campsite. I pulled my rifle out of the full leather scabbord only to find my scope turned down behind the back ring and no spare or iron sights. Never pack in without a spare rifle, scope or iron sights on your rifle!! Nothing for me to do but pack back out with the wranglers who were working another camp from the ranch. I spent the next four days riding roads into back country, (4X4 suburban), met an oncoming pickup on a single file mountain road with drop off several hundred feet so I backed into a nich and waited. He stopped and I asked what part of Dallas he was from and he laughed, said the little town of Alba, eighty miles East of Dallas. I told him I was from Alba, found out he was my neighbour one block from my house and we were 800 miles away on a remote back road ten miles off a highway. Small world indeed. ---- The year we were snowed in was just another mile up the mountain. -- no

Danged glad to see you back, need_one. Expect an e-mail from me soon; I plan to pick your brain considerably.

Now we are seeing real posts for our old friend.

Toot, if you were fishing across from the golf course on Lake Fork you were a fer piece from your launch pad. Yes that's a good cove but there is a launch and marina just to the South under the bridge from the mouth of the cove, saves much rough water ride and stumps. I had much rather trailer to fishing than fight waves, never know when the wind is coming up here in Texas. Where are you located? Health and moving has prevented me from fishing for awhile. I have two lots fenced in just to the South of that bridge on East side in Steamboat Shores, pulled my travel trailer off a couple of months ago if you want to use them. -- no

Must say this is all interesting reading.
Nice to see it pretty civil. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Need One,

Did you ever find a leather scabbord that would fit a scoped rifle well? I just put a Leupold 6x42 on my alltime favorite gun, a Remington 660 carbine in 350 Mag. Now that scope is of fair proportions and I'd like to aquire a scabbord that does not put too much pressure on it. I'm not intendin to buy another one before I'm done fer, so I don't mind paying a premium if required. Do you know of anyone who makes something decent, or a custom shop that does work along the lines of what I'm seeking?

needone, you're about the most cantakerous fellow here. If you leave, someone of lesser abilities and qualifications will rush in to fill the void you left. Think about that...

Knowing you appreciate respect for knowledge in all forms related to survival under duress, I invite you to simply inform us as to your personal experiences where, applicable to the subject, you can be of help to those less experienced. Leaving this forum right now would simply be a fool's errand.

You're no fool...

350 Mag,
The full scabbord I had was great but the horse breaking the strap and it falling to the ground bent my scope no falt of the scabbord. Since I will not be packing in anymore I sold it at gun show for $50. I know of no scabbord to fit the little rifles and have not used a maker. Like you I love little light rifles for the mountains but sold a full set of 600s,(8), to a dealer in CO. I now have a Rem mod 7 in 7-08 and a Ruger 308 along with a Interarms Mini Mauser in 223 in the light class. Never got a shot at elk with the 350 Mag but decapitated a deer. Fine caliber for heavy game, I now have a 35 Whelen for elk in timber and brush. -- Gun Show in Mesquite, (Dallas), tomorrow, if I see or hear of anything will PM you. -- no

Texas Hunter and Partsman!!

Faces from the past! Good faces might I add!


Need One,
Don't go showing off that Whelen to others until I get my mind made up!! I am still negotiating with the chief and I think I am starting to wear her down with my constant sniveling--"But honey, all the other guys on the board have .35 Whelens. It's not fair. How come I don't get to have a Whelen?? OK, I know I just bought a .25-06.....and a 7mm-08...but...I really NEED a Whelen. Please!" Give me another week. She'll buy the Whelen herself just to be rid of me!

Keith, thank you, I think? I have been called much worse than a fool being an old drill sargent in the AF. As all know I love this Campfire as do many others even if they are hiding in the shadows right now. There is much knowledge around this Campfire, much more than what I know or experienced. Some of these guys live in the mountains or Alaska and live it everyday. Several outfitters and ranchers have logs around this fire. Just get them started talking, ask them a question perhaps one will start. Just leave the religion and politics for other boards, too many hard feelings involved. -- no

Wade, I have to go out to Alba this weekend and will pull the Remington Classic out of the safe, the pump is not for sale. I sold the auto and been crying ever since. -- no

PS Last I heard Tex was in Dallas, don't know if he's moving back or not. He loves CO and was at Colorado Springs but sometimes new places don't work out. Charlie, (CAT), is content on his spread up on the border, doubt if he ever reads here. He was and is what he described, more of everything you can think of. As you know Boggy has more brain power than most, don't talk much but listen when he does. Oh yes, never get on a four wheeler with him driving.

______________________

Sonny,
You warmed my old black heart with this post, you ole stud! Just finished a bodacious 5 day hunt for Rios north of Sweetwater (Rotan) and now have new job offerings so may can't make Lake Fork with the gang but will try to do so. I'm fishing with a buddy who has the biggest Skeeter but you ain't jokin about the wind and waves in Tx. We were to go on from there to Tawakoni for strippers but I'll not be able to make that for sure. My loss.

BTW, you ain't a 76 yr old "Harley rider". You're 76 yrs young. Glad to see you back here among the unwashed!!

Located presently in La. but looks like Corpus Christi/ Brazil or Algeria next and soon, too. Too soon. I wasn't ready for these offers. Chicken or feathers, ain't it? Gotta roll, though. Retirement sucks, sorta. George Jones' song about "Ain't Ready For No Rockin Chair", comes to mind. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Plenty of time for that, I hope. Take care and stay well, Sonny.
Old Toot

well Toot, from your post being in LA and going to the countries you mention I would say you are in the oil field business. I have been there and didn't like the feathers. Roughnecked, drilled, pushed tools, and finally drilling super running the company in four corners area of NM until moving to Dallas in 63. I retired and moved to lake country in 83. -- no <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yep, Oilfield since college summer jobs in 65. There's so much business out there right now, in all phases of it, that it's not a matter of if you'll go but will you please come? Contrast that with the late 80's when it was hard to keep or buy a job in the oil patch. This may last a while and be more enduring than past booms and busts. Looks that way right now and has for a while.

4 Corners, eh? Heh! We've plowed the same ground in different seasons, I'm thinking. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Old Toot