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They forecast rain so it was either sit at the reload bench, or drive south and east to comb thru an area had always intrigued me, but knew nothing about.
The Sierra foothills seem more gradual in this area, and while it is 99% private land, maybe I could gain entry at one of the 10 or so places I intended to ask. When I turned the key in the ignition, I noticed that same happy feeling that one gets when going hunting! And why not? For without doing some of this type of hunting, the real hunting will not happen.
I got into this narrow, north/south valley around 10am, and though it looked promising, one side is an old ranch, founded in 1857, that is now a game preserve. On the left, two ranchers were out feeding cows. Turns out they were hired help, and gave me the owners name to call after they return from their trip in January.Mark that one as "possibile". On up the road into those hills, the cover increased, and the only two gates were locked, nobody home. Check them for later. Up near the 4000 ft level, you suddenly see a horse farm. Turns out they breed and raise world champion quarter horses. Absolutely NO HUNTING....thank you!http://www.fairlea.com/
Back down out of the valley heading south and east now, I saw this home, tucked neatly against a backdrop that seems to shout BOBCATS. He farms 120 acres, and said they definitely have them, but knew of no one in the area that allows hunting. I moved on........
At 1 pm, I stopped at a rib place for lunch, and asked a couple guys if they could offer any helpful tips. One said...maybe over on Boswells 44,000 acres. And he pointed a finger toward the south, motioning over the crest of some 2500 ft. tall rolling mountain range covered in brown grass.
I knew the name. Yep, ole J.G. Boswell. The richest farmer in the USA,http://www.nrdc.org/onearth/04win/reviews2.asp but I had always thought he owned cotton farming land near Corcoran, California, but true to his quiet nature, he was also into ranching the foothills, 70 miles east of the farm headquarters. Having read about him, I couldnt wait to get over there and ask. I soon saw the trucks with the trademark blue diamond "<B>" painted on the doors.
Hello, is this the J.G. Boswell ranch?
Yes sir it is
Can you tell me if they would allow a responsible person on the ground to call coyotes?
No, they wont, Im sorry......they are very strict on that. No hunting at all, is the rules.
Thats too bad, it sure looks like ideal habitat.
It is, and we see 'em all the time, just no guns allowed. And here is why.
Unlike other ranchers, Boswell co. has a lot of employees. And if they allow one of their employees to hunt, they would have to allow ALL who asked. Thats why. And they also feel it would not be right to allow a stranger, after telling their employees they could not.
Unfortunately, it made perfect sense, so I shook the mans hand, and waved good bye.
Just to rub it in, I had to wait for this coyote to cross the road, and get up the hill, so I could drive out. Oh, brother!!
To be continued................
The Sierra foothills seem more gradual in this area, and while it is 99% private land, maybe I could gain entry at one of the 10 or so places I intended to ask. When I turned the key in the ignition, I noticed that same happy feeling that one gets when going hunting! And why not? For without doing some of this type of hunting, the real hunting will not happen.
I got into this narrow, north/south valley around 10am, and though it looked promising, one side is an old ranch, founded in 1857, that is now a game preserve. On the left, two ranchers were out feeding cows. Turns out they were hired help, and gave me the owners name to call after they return from their trip in January.Mark that one as "possibile". On up the road into those hills, the cover increased, and the only two gates were locked, nobody home. Check them for later. Up near the 4000 ft level, you suddenly see a horse farm. Turns out they breed and raise world champion quarter horses. Absolutely NO HUNTING....thank you!http://www.fairlea.com/
Back down out of the valley heading south and east now, I saw this home, tucked neatly against a backdrop that seems to shout BOBCATS. He farms 120 acres, and said they definitely have them, but knew of no one in the area that allows hunting. I moved on........
At 1 pm, I stopped at a rib place for lunch, and asked a couple guys if they could offer any helpful tips. One said...maybe over on Boswells 44,000 acres. And he pointed a finger toward the south, motioning over the crest of some 2500 ft. tall rolling mountain range covered in brown grass.
I knew the name. Yep, ole J.G. Boswell. The richest farmer in the USA,http://www.nrdc.org/onearth/04win/reviews2.asp but I had always thought he owned cotton farming land near Corcoran, California, but true to his quiet nature, he was also into ranching the foothills, 70 miles east of the farm headquarters. Having read about him, I couldnt wait to get over there and ask. I soon saw the trucks with the trademark blue diamond "<B>" painted on the doors.
Hello, is this the J.G. Boswell ranch?
Yes sir it is
Can you tell me if they would allow a responsible person on the ground to call coyotes?
No, they wont, Im sorry......they are very strict on that. No hunting at all, is the rules.
Thats too bad, it sure looks like ideal habitat.
It is, and we see 'em all the time, just no guns allowed. And here is why.
Unlike other ranchers, Boswell co. has a lot of employees. And if they allow one of their employees to hunt, they would have to allow ALL who asked. Thats why. And they also feel it would not be right to allow a stranger, after telling their employees they could not.
Unfortunately, it made perfect sense, so I shook the mans hand, and waved good bye.
Just to rub it in, I had to wait for this coyote to cross the road, and get up the hill, so I could drive out. Oh, brother!!
To be continued................