Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[Western]

Ron,
When I was little fishing with Dad and Grandpa in the creeks around Higgins, we had a huge turtle clean our stringer of fish. Later, I caught that big turtle, but Dad had to land that 15 inch turtle. I wanted to keep the turtle, but Dad cut it's neck off.

First and last turtle I have ever caught. We would always (still do) sharpen our 22 skills (like Dennis) taking them out. The last rains brought (about) a 8 inch turtle to the island pond. I saw him from the seat of the Big RED Beast, while building fence last weekend. I had Dad's very old Winchester pump with me, as I was looking for the big cotton mouth Booger flushed earlier.
I only saw the snake, after I ran for the Winchester, from the seat of the tractor. Shooting from an idling (vibrating) tractor is a little hard when your front site is off to the left. Needless to say, the snake and turtle live still.
hugs, Brandi

Well Annie Oakley, set them sights!! At least get that snake before he gets you!

 

[Bird]

Getting hot out for me, 90* is about my "whining" point

Me, too!! Yesterday morning, I took our little mutt to the Community Park at 6:30 a.m. for a 45 minute walk on the trails in the woods, stopped on the way home to fill the truck with gas, came home and removed the window screens from 7 windows, cleaned the mud/dirt from the window tracks, washed the outside of 9 windows, as well as front and back doors and the screens, put the screens back on, ran the Mantis tiller with the dethatcher under the bird feeders for a few minutes, then started edging and trimming our yard and one next door with the string trimmer. I finished that just about 11 a.m. and just as I was getting some pretty strong chest pains. So I took a break, sat in the shade on the patio and had a cold bottle of Shiner Bock, then cleaned up the string trimmer and put it away, got out the Toro ZTR and mowed both yards, cleaned it up and put it away. Then back to the gas station for lawnmower gas, then Walmart for StaBil and Shiner Bock, and got home for a shower just about 1 p.m.

I just ain't used to working that much in one day in the heat. I stepped on the scales and weighted 4.2 pounds less than the same time the day before. So I guess that part was good.:laughing:

 

[NativeSon]

Ron, I used to set my Case near the pond edge , then raise the bucket. Sit in the bucket with my .22, and cold drinks, killed the heck out turtles that way.

Dennis-I like the "Snake Stand Front Loader" idea. A neighbor and I once went out to a friends place in Parker County for a little tank fishing and goofing off. Fished for a while and there was nothing there except lots of turtles. So we had some .22's and we started eradicating the turtle population........what great fun. We came back a year later and the fishing was great (Catch & Release). I had to make my neighbor stop fishing just so he could have a beer. Going to give that "FEL Stand" a try.

Charlie

 

[txdon]

Me, too!! Yesterday morning, I took our little mutt to the Community Park at 6:30 a.m. for a 45 minute walk on the trails in the woods, stopped on the way home to fill the truck with gas, came home and removed the window screens from 7 windows, cleaned the mud/dirt from the window tracks, washed the outside of 9 windows, as well as front and back doors and the screens, put the screens back on, ran the Mantis tiller with the dethatcher under the bird feeders for a few minutes, then started edging and trimming our yard and one next door with the string trimmer. I finished that just about 11 a.m. and just as I was getting some pretty strong chest pains. So I took a break, sat in the shade on the patio and had a cold bottle of Shiner Bock, then cleaned up the string trimmer and put it away, got out the Toro ZTR and mowed both yards, cleaned it up and put it away. Then back to the gas station for lawnmower gas, then Walmart for StaBil and Shiner Bock, and got home for a shower just about 1 p.m.

I just ain't used to working that much in one day in the heat. I stepped on the scales and weighted 4.2 pounds less than the same time the day before. So I guess that part was good.:laughing:

Actually is was not good.
You were dehydrated.
Be careful. A trip to the ER to rehydrate via IV is about $1200.00 Don't ask me how I know.

 

[Bird]

Actually is was not good.
You were dehydrated.
Be careful. A trip to the ER to rehydrate via IV is about $1200.00 Don't ask me how I know.

I did drink lots of ice water the rest of the day.:laughing: And I've gotten back about 1.6 pounds.

 

[Western]

Charlie, it is fun., taught the middle son to shoot that way, down into the water is the safest way and you can see the shy ones surfacing soon enough to get ready.
I did end up rigging a stool, that fit the bucket so I could sit "flat"

 

[pacerron]

Dennis-I like the "Snake Stand Front Loader" idea. A neighbor and I once went out to a friends place in Parker County for a little tank fishing and goofing off. Fished for a while and there was nothing there except lots of turtles. So we had some .22's and we started eradicating the turtle population........what great fun. We came back a year later and the fishing was great (Catch & Release). I had to make my neighbor stop fishing just so he could have a beer. Going to give that "FEL Stand" a try.

Charlie

I guess I'll have to wash the manure out of the bucket on the old Ford and give it a try. I usually only clean it once a year so my wife can sit in it while I boost her up to trim fruit trees.
It is a nice open bucket with a flat bottom and straight back so it is not bad to sit in/on. The bottom actually comes off to reveal 7 heavy manure bars. They are great fro hauling big trees and brush, too.
The newer bucket holds a lot more material but would be very uncomfortable to sit in tilted upright. It was made in Sweden, as I recall, and reminds me of the Cialis bath tubs seen on TV...:laughing:

 

[Western]

I used a 2' piece of pipe insulation on the front blade, made a heck of a rifle rest and kept the .22 from getting many scratches. My bucket was shaped like the 2nd one in your post Ron, it was huge though, 7' long IIRC.

Edit to add, the height advantage is you can see the whole turtle, or at least enough silhouette to get a shot. I didnt care where I hit it, but a body shot usually made them leave the water to rot on the bank. Head shots are cool, but I was more concerned about the kill since I had about 1k in stocker fish in 3 tanks.

 

[txdon]

I did drink lots of ice water the rest of the day.:laughing: And I've gotten back about 1.6 pounds.

That's good. One thing I did learn is that dehydration can occur over the course of several days unless the fluid is replaced. I did not fell the effects of the dehydration for three days, then it hit me like a sledge hammer on the third day which was a cool morning. I still thought it was something else until the second IV bag.

 

[bindian]

Well Annie Oakley, set them sights!! At least get that snake before he gets you!

Dennis,
Dad's old rifle is a 1937 Winchester with iron sights. My Uncle, for some unknown reason, had to cut the muzzle off and reattached the front sight off a little to the left. This is what happens when you move off the farm and leave your firearms in "good hands". This rifle has had more shorts, longs, and long rifle bullets fired in it then anyone can count.
Now shoot that on an idling, vibrating tractor and all bets are off. I did like being high in the seat while spoting the little beastees. My question is...............how did you get "up" in the bucket. Did someone raise you up? Did they ever dump you in the pond? Inquiring blonds what to know.
hugs, Brandi