Author Topic: More Land! (Read 2031 times)

markc · « **on:** January 13, 2010, 09:09:44 AM »

Well, it looks like I've made a deal to purchase the 88.9 acres in the hill country that adjoins my current 71.42 acres. I got them to discount the price by $245.00 per acre, down to $750.00 per acre. No down payment, owner finance. I think it is a done deal. There is a hugh T shaped canyon on that tract, along with 3 other smaller draws...

Skunk · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2010, 09:55:06 AM »

Wow! WTG Mark.

markc · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2010, 01:51:05 AM »

Thanks skunk. It has been my dream to own my own place, no more lease issues, etc.. This tract adjoins the one we began buying a year and a half ago, and is very steep and rugged. So come march Spring break, I will be marking a trail down into the canyons that I can find in the dark, and selecting a stand placement site or two, maybe setting up a new feeder. We have to do our wildlife management work beginning this year, so I will be placing out a couple of on demand protein feeders, and bird houses, and hopefully reseeding the land with natural grasses that were over grazed by the cattle that used to be out there.

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2010, 04:02:09 AM »

That's great Mark. Is this the tract you suggested to me to buy back when you got the first one? I'd love to be able to but finances just won't allow it. Maybe one of these days we'll be able to get out and visit with you guys again and see your ranch.

Boxhead · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2010, 01:25:23 AM »

Whereabouts in the Hill Country if I may ask?

markc · « **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2010, 02:39:57 PM »

GB, I'm not sure if that is the same tract. It was for sale when we bought our place, so it might have been. There are a couple of tracts for sale out there now. Boxhead, it is southern Edwards county near Carta Valley.

Mohawk · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2010, 06:42:16 AM »

Check into getting a gas/oil well. An old rancher friend of ours from Freestone county did that. He traded his cattle truck for a Mercedes and is doing very well!!!

markc · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2010, 10:40:09 AM »

It is nearly impossible to get any mineral rights when purchasing land these days. So putting in an oil or gas well isn't really on option.

grout-scout · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2010, 10:11:58 AM »

Man you almost gave me a stroke when you said hill country and $750.00 an acre, I live in Boerne and all the land around here goes about $9,000 an acre and up. To dang hard for me to afford that so I bought some property 5 years ago in Dryden for $162.00 an acre. All it's good for is hunting though, I couldn't make a living out there if I had to. Good purchase and good luck! You are totally right about the minerals, most are gone, gone, gone.

markc · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2010, 02:31:25 PM »

grout-scout, yes sir, we looked all over the hill country to the east around the name brand towns everyone thinks of when they hear hill country. But we could not afford anything over a couple of acres. So we finally went farther west and love it out there. I am heading out 5am tomorrow morning to check on a little construction job I had down to our little cabin. Hope to explore the new tract and take some pics, switch to protein in the feeders. Love Boerne! It is really nice out there, and in Comfort, Gruene. Love that area, love Texas..

Oldshooter · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2010, 04:25:20 PM »

Very nice Mark, Your mega ranch is under way! Do you have any water on it? Good luck with it!

markc · « **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2010, 07:27:29 AM »

Thanks. there isn't any live water, but the front tract has a nice dry river bed that carries a lot of water when it rains and will hold pools of water for a while afterwards. I took a few pics over the weekend on the new tract, but my friend with me is a bit older, and not in great [hysical condition, so I did not explore as much as I would have liked. Here are a few pics...

Oldshooter · « **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2010, 02:16:07 PM »

I am envious! Very nice place indeed. How are you liking the R25?

Skunk · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2010, 02:18:32 PM »

Looking good Mark.

markc · « **Reply #14 on:** February 20, 2010, 04:22:19 AM »

Thanks guys. That place is going to look so different in another month when the weather warms and the leaves return to the trees and other bushes. It looks really open right now, and as you can tell it was timbered(cleared) of cedar a few years back.

The R-25 is a dream to shoot and with one trip to the range with Rem 100gr Core Lokt ammo was grouping under an inch at 100 yds. Someone who spent more time at the range, and worked up loads or tried other factory loads could likely do even better. The complaints are:
1. it is heavy
2. the trigger is a long, but steady pull
3. it dings the tip of the bullet when it chambers a round (doesn't seem to harm accuracy at short distances 0-100 yds)
4. did I mention that it was heavy?

Here is a pic of the cabin deck roof after it was completed...
I hope to ding a mouflon in March when I go back to the ranch. Will see how it performs...

Oldshooter · « **Reply #15 on:** February 20, 2010, 05:02:19 AM »

Very nice cabin ! I did notice the absence of Cedar, the scourge of the west these days, they take over in some places.

Yep the R25 in 308 is heavy as well. Mark I'm using some Fed 180 grain sp's in mine that shoot very well , they have a jacket all the way out and and a protected lead tip. dont know if they make em in a suitable weight for 243 but they dont deform in my 308. Did I also say it is heavy, you dont sling it and walk cross country for sure. Its kinda like a varmit special, you prop it on a bag or shooting sticks and fire away. I used a camera tripod while sitting in a folding chair in Junction with good success. I did make a good shot on an axis buck at 220 yards, the bullet did its part with a good exit hole that was larger than the entrance. I'm going to try the hornady leverevolutuion gummies when I reload for it.

markc · « **Reply #16 on:** February 20, 2010, 03:34:55 PM »

oldshooter, I did put an adjustable sling on mine, and it does begin to wear on the shoulder much more quickly than I would like, but I likethe rifle quite a bit so far. I am thinking about getting a camo adjustable stock for it, but other than that, it needs to begin earning the big price tag..

Oldshooter · « **Reply #17 on:** February 20, 2010, 04:06:55 PM »

Thats for sure, never thought i'd pay that much for a rifle but its all relative I guess.

Keep us posted on its productivity!

rdmallory · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2010, 03:58:51 AM »

Guess you don't have the option you get in Ky. Letting the state pay you to NOT plant corn or beans on it.

Doug

markc · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2010, 03:00:10 PM »

Hello Doug, I'm not familiar with that. I'm not sure corn or beans would grow out there, but I do have the pleasure of paying $10.00 per acre taxes without an ag exemption, and $1.00 per acre with it. Now if the Govt wants to pay me not to plant, I will let them. How does that work exactly.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #20 on:** February 21, 2010, 03:04:09 PM »

A few head of cattle, goats or sheep will get you an ag exemption Mark, Is it fenced?

rdmallory · « **Reply #21 on:** February 21, 2010, 03:16:52 PM »

Ky called it "soil bank" you got paid if you had land that was "tillable" and let it go fallow. That was supposed to help the corn and bean prices. Don't know it is still done. My Uncle used to put all his bottom land that would flood in it.

Doug

markc · « **Reply #22 on:** February 22, 2010, 01:14:42 PM »

There are very few tillable areas out there. The top soil is Shallow. Olshooter, we had cows, got rid of them. It was a lease to a local rancher. He was suppossed to pay a certain amount per acre, and maintain the windmills. He did little of either, and the cows over grazed down to bare dirt in many areas. So they are gone. We are only fenced on 2 side, and about to have the front fenced. We are doing a 2 year rest, and then will go the wildlife managemtn route. We attended a workshop recently put on by the appraisal district and the Tx parks n wildlife dept. Lots of work involved to get started..