The Big Bend Guzzler War

[SHANEA]

.
    Re: Permission to Post
    Posted by: "Don Mahan" (EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED BY SHANEA)
    Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:57 am (PDT)

    SHANE , you have my permission to post The Big Bend Guzzler War Chapters
    1-5 on www.bigbendchat. com . Please post the title as written, as I
    want the people to know when that that information was written, six
    years ago.

    Times changes and I currently do not believe that reform is possible. It
    may be possible some day, but not likely in my lifetime.

    Don Mahan

 
   
     Don,
   
     I am seeking permission to post your stories over at
    www.bigbendchat. com - or you could post them there if you would like
    too. I'm sure that there are a number of folks over there that would
    like to read the story.
   
     Best Regards,

     ShaneA   

[SHANEA]

    The Big Bend Guzzler War Chapter 1
    Posted by: "Don Mahan" (EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED BY SHANEA)
    Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:37 am (PDT)
    PROSE The Big Bend Guzzler War
    A true story of a modern day range war.
    © Copyright 2002, By Don Mahan
    Used here with permission.
    Chapter 1
    The Early Days

    Hey partner, did you think that range wars were a thing of the past?
    Well let me tell you a secret, they are still happening on Terlingua
    Ranch. This ranch is located between the Big Bend National Park , to the
    East, and Big Bend Ranch State Park, to the West. By golly, I had to use
    the title "The Big Bend Guzzler War" because no one knows
    exactly where Terlingua is located. They only know that Terlingua is
    some place where the World Championship Chili Cook Off is held. Even
    fewer people know what a guzzler is. For my readers only, I will inform
    you that a guzzler is not a falling down drunk, like we sometime see at
    the Chili Cook Off. It is a modern day device used to collect rainwater,
    stores it in a tank and then delivers it to a watering trough via a
    float valve. This helps desert animals survive the brutal desert
    climate. For my readers in Terlingua and Study Butte, I will tell you
    that rainwater is something that falls from the heavens, but never hits
    your home.

    Today's wars are a lot more civilized than the ones our forefathers
    had 100 years ago. We don't shoot, stab, and spit at each other, as
    in earlier times, at least so far, but the battles are just as real. The
    same things that caused earlier range wars are causing a range war
    today. LAND, MONEY, and WATER are items that stir men's souls and
    prod them to action and then finally to war. Nobody ever, ever does
    anything without a little prodding.

    For the roots of this modern day range war, you have to go way, way, way
    back, more than thirty years.

    Back then, the original ranchers on what is the modern day Terlingua
    Ranch decided to sell their worthless land, take the money and run. They
    sold out their beloved ranches to a land developer. The land developer
    then had a big, big problem. How do you sell land in one of the most
    remote areas in all of Texas, Mexico, the United States of America, and
    North America? Like magic, others (H. Allen Smith and Francis X.
    Tolbert) solved this problem, thank you, by starting the World
    Championship Chili Cook Off, to bring people to the most remote place in
    North America. Today, there are two (2) World Championship Chili Cook
    Offs going on at the same time and five miles apart since the sponsors
    agreed to disagree. The original Chili Cook Off was held at the
    Terlingua, Texas Ghost Town. This was the only place, people could find
    in this barren, god forsaken desert land. I don't know if it is
    called a ghost town because it is one, or maybe, it is because Terlingua
    has a big cemetery filled with the real ghosts of departed mercury
    miners? The Chili Cook Off attracted chili heads from all over Texas and
    a few from other states. Of course no one other than Texans knew how to
    cook a proper bowl of red and non-Texans never won unless they cheated
    or bribed the judges. After much beer, chili, and the eagerly
    anticipated sexy wet T-shirt contests, the chili heads were easy prey
    for the land developer.

    But alas, there are only so many chili heads even in Texas or even on
    this planet earth. The developer had a whole lot of land to sell. They
    ended up with 200,000 acres or 312 square miles of prime real estate to
    sell with no one to sell it to. They were 60 miles from the large
    metropolitan city of Alpine. Alpine is a city of several million, well
    several million visitors over the past 30 years, visitors just passing
    through. Not very many people wanted to commute to Alpine, since it
    meant a 120 to 160 mile round trip each day. The developer looked at his
    desert ranch land and decided that its biggest assets were large herds
    of desert mule deer and scenic mountain views. These hardy animals were
    thriving, because the ranchers provided water and the deer ate strange
    things like lechegula cactus, prickly pear cactus and other exotic
    plants, which I cannot even begin to spell properly. The previous
    rancher's cows had eaten practically everything else and were the
    reason the ranchers had to sell out in the first place. Everyone in West
    Texas knows that a section of land is a square mile, or is about the
    area required for one cow to live on. Sometimes this desert range is so
    poor that cows can't gain weight, being as, they have to walk so far
    to find a single clump of grass. Then ranchers have to ship him
    elsewhere or shoot the poor critter to put him out of his misery.

    Then the developer had a bit of luck. They decided to promote this
    worthless land as a HUNTER'S PARADISE and a place where you could own a
    desert RETIREMENT HEAVEN or VACATION RETREAT. Really, the land salesmen
    would just determine what you wanted and then convince you that he had,
    just what you wanted. Well not too many people in their right mind, ever
    thought very long, about retiring 60 to 80 miles away from the nearest
    doctor. Of course there are some very hardy souls that don't ever
    need doctoring and a few of them did actually buy Terlingua Ranch land
    as a RETIREMENT HEAVEN. Also not too many people thought that a desert
    was a proper place for a VACATION RETREAT. It reaches 120 degrees in the
    shade and is not a very friendly place in the summer. Some people will
    tell you today that the ranch was originally developed as a place to
    live and retire. If you believe that, you may be suffering from a
    sometimes fatal disease called the CHIHUAHUAN DESERT DEAD BRAIN DISEASE.
    It is thought to be caused by excessive exposure to the sunlight in the
    Chihuahuan desert, but it is a very rare disease and little is known
    about it.

    Today there are only 290 residents living in this vast paradise, but
    there are 4,923 property owners. Why we don't have 4, 923 residents
    living on Terlingua ranch is one of the great mysteries of this century.
    I would have thought that most of the original purchasers would be ready
    to retire here in this paradise or be dead after 30 years. My father, an
    original purchaser, is a long life feller at 87 years, but he never
    could take desert living more than about two weeks in a row. My mother
    being a fragile gentle soul, didn't like the extreme desert heat, desert
    dust, and once almost froze to death in a sudden winter blizzard, since
    our hunt camp didn't have a proper heating system.

    The real bonanza came when the hunters started buying the ranch land as
    a hunter's paradise. THE DEVELOPER SOLD ALL THEIR ORIGINAL LAND AND
    THEN HAD TO BUY MORE LOCAL RANCHES TO HAVE LAND TO SELL. The hunters
    were dying to buy land in the HUNTER'S PARADISE. The bulldozers were
    working day and night to rip roads through out the ranch. The bulldozers
    destroyed most of the ranches' original water systems (under ground
    water pipes from water wells to water storage tanks and watering
    troughs), in their haste to provide road access to the hunter's
    paradise. Property owner hunters and their guests would line up by the
    hundreds during hunting season at the Terlingua ranch gate to register
    and get into their hunting paradise. The ranch developers brought in
    refrigerated 18 wheel trucks to cool and store all the mule deer the
    hunters killed.

    The developer maintained the dirt roads they constructed. The developer
    set aside 15 % of the land purchased in dedicated "Hunt Parks".
    The developer leased up large tracts of state owned property, (three
    sections in Cedar Springs and five sections in the Solitario area) and
    called them "Hunt Parks" so that property owners would have good
    access to prime hunting. Later on the Adobe Walls ranch was leased for
    hunting. Also the developer provided a bunkhouse for hunters at the
    ranch headquarters lodge for hunters to stay in, while on the ranch.
    Also the developer built a motel, swimming pool, and restaurant on the
    ranch to provide a beautiful place for people looking to buy land.
    Another little known secret, is that the developer would salt the dirt
    around the motel cabins with a few rough semi-precious gemstones to
    convince rock hounds that they had indeed found the ROCK HUNTER'S HEAVEN
    or THE MOTHER LODE.

    The land sales were very, very, very good.

    When the dust finally cleared after a while, the ranch had 1100 miles of
    unpaved dirt roads, 4700 property owners, almost no deer, almost no
    water, and a very rich land developer. My father was one of the original
    hunters looking for a hunter's paradise. My brother and I were at
    his side and saw all this with our own eyes.

    Tune in again for another thrilling chapter in "The Big Bend Guzzler
    Wars"

[SHANEA]

  Chapter 2 The Big Bend Guzzler War
Posted by: "Don Mahan" (EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED BY SHANEA)
Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:27 am (PDT)
PROSE The Big Bend Guzzler War
A true story of a modern day range war.
© Copyright 2002, By Donald Mahan (EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED BY SHANEA)
Used here with permission.
Chapter 2

The range war breaks out
Well partner, now we will discuss a serious war. Some readers have had
extreme difficulty in understanding such a complex war as this one, so I
will give everyone an explanation even my seven-year-old grandson
understands. In range wars, if you don't lose anything, you may not even
call this war a conflict. If you are an anti-hunter, non-hunter, bunny
hugger, bird watcher, or a recent Terlingua ranch land purchaser your
losses have been minimal except for decreasing land values. If you are a
hunter who purchased land 10 to 30 years ago, your losses in this WAR
have been astronomical and include loss of hunting rights on 60,000
acres of prime hunt park land, loss of a hunter bunkhouse, loss of other
hunting rights enjoyed for 25 years, and severe property value
decreases, since hunting land on Terlingua ranch is now almost
worthless. Only 33 deer were killed during the current hunt season on
200,000 acres of land.
Also you will find that you are unwelcome on the ranch, even though you
as a nonresident property owner still pay 90 % of the maintenance fees
that the ranch operates on. Also you will find that you are also denied
access to the ranch newsletter to even complain about this sorry state
of affairs. The present board of directors is attempting to convert the
ranch into a tourist resort instead honoring the original purpose
(hunting) of the ranch association of property owners. Resort operations
lost $69,066.71 in 2001 and when you add the fair share cost of
administration (50% of $104,814.92) to this loss, the total loss is
$121, 474.17. Is it any wonder that we are concerned?

The response of the nonresident property owners to this war has been
mixed. About 1500 property owners (40%) have voted with their pocket
books and quit paying maintenance fees and have abandoned their hunters
paradise. Many of the other nonresident owners, still pay maintenance
fees but seldom even bother to vote. Some people have not given up. One
long time property owner said, "We should fight till hell freezes over
and then fight on the ice".

The smart original developer then set up a Terlingua Ranch Maintenance
Association, which had the power to tax property owners to pay for all
required maintenance on Terlingua Ranch. You didn't think it was going
to come out of his profits did you? This original document is still in
effect today after 30 years, having been automatically extended for
another 10 years on November 1, 2000. This document may be nearly
impossible to amend, since this requires a 51% vote of Subject Property
(as shown by the Deed Records of Brewster County, Texas). The current
board of directors is largely ignoring many of the original provisions
of this document. This action, of ignoring the original provisions of
this document, is like gasoline fueling the fire of the current range
war between property owners on Terlingua Ranch. Taxation without
representation has started many bloody conflicts, including the War of
Independence with the British in 1776. There are many, many other root
causes of the war. If this were a simpler war, it would have been
stopped a long, long time ago.

One simple truth, people who do not know each other, seldom trust each
other, especially when the strangers are always carrying big guns. Maybe
we should break bread together.

Many local residents and non-residents alike have had their property
poached. Road hunting outlaws (most of which don't even own property on
Terlingua ranch) have stolen deer and quail which have been carefully
nourished all year long. These outlaws have threatened the life of
property owners (residents and non-residents) , these outlaws have
refused to leave private property when asked to; the outlaws will say
"that they can hunt any damm where they want". Also many a person
(resident and non-resident) , with a house, mobile home, travel trailer,
truck camper, or tent would have to hit the deck when high-powered
bullets started flying over their abode. This year, during the deer hunt
season, there were four State game wardens, two Brewster County deputy
sheriffs and a helicopter, trying to put a serious hurt on the poachers.
I hope they lock the outlaws up for life. Next year, I guess the
National Guard will be called in with hummers and tanks.

My brother Ron and I, personally refuse to go into such a dangerous war
zone during deer hunting season, and have confined all our hunting
activities to safer or less worrisome times during the dove or quail
hunting seasons. With no water on the ranch, deer hunting, is an
exercise in futility. Also hunting rabbits and javelina is much safer
and can be done year round without encountering any outlaws or angry
locals. I have only seen one (1) other dove hunter on Terlingua ranch in
the past ten years. It may be that no one even remotely considers dove
hunting on the ranch, since this is still one of the most remote areas
in the United States or Mexico or North America, and the cost of
gasoline has been escalating something terrible. In recent years, I
think quail hunters have become extinct and maybe we should put them on
an endangered species list. Birdshot normally never kills anyone, unless
the poor unfortunate hunter has the bad luck to shoot himself.

I have considered game calling of predators and have even purchased a
game caller. I know that coyotes put a serious hurt on deer, quail, and
rabbits, but by golly; they look too much like my dog Toby, for me to
shoot one. I think I will just call them and photograph them. Then, Toby
will keep loving me. Also I know that Toby has a crush on coyotes and
wants to mate with one, since he is still a virgin. He tried to learn
the art of howling so that he could communicate with the coyotes, but
was unsuccessful. Also Toby and I always eat what we shoot and neither
of us would ever consider eating a coyote. Do you think that you could
eat coyote meat?

Toby is a highly trained Labrador retriever desert dog and a rare breed
indeed. He is so highly trained that he can remove a Chihuahuan desert
ball cactus from his feet without getting it in his mouth. One day while
hunting quail, my brothers' young inexperienced desert dog B.J.,
suddenly began running in tight circles and foaming at the mouth. We
figured he must have gone plumb loco crazy and were afraid to get too
close. Finally my brother abandoning all his fear, grabbed his dog,
pried open his mouth and found the most terrible looking ball cactus he
or I had ever seen, firmly stuck to the roof of the terrified dog's
mouth. Well he pulled the offensive thing out, and to this day B.J. has
never ever, never ever picked another one off his feet with his mouth.
Sometimes dogs and people just have to learn the hard way.

The local residents, with no where to flee during deer hunting season,
have banned together and have declared an undeclared war against anyone
who even remotely looks like a hunter and I don't blame them. Since
outlaws, slob hunters, and legal hunters all look alike, smell alike,
and appear on the ranch at the same time, it is generally assumed that
they all may be related and they are all bad, bad, bad. After all a
person can't be too careful, when his life and the lives of his loved
ones are involved. The local residents, having banned together for
self-preservation, gained control of the Property Owners Association of
Terlingua Ranch by electing a majority of the Board of Directors.

1 Samuel versus 46 & 49 & 50 "This day the Lord will deliver thee into
mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I
will give the carcases of the host of Philistines this day unto the
fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the
earth may know that there is a God of Israel". "And David put his hand
in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the
Philistine (Goliath) in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his
forehead; and he fell upon the face to the earth." "So David prevailed
over the Philistine (Goliath) with a sling and with a stone, and smote
the Philistine (Goliath) and slew him but there was no sword in the hand
of David".

It should be noted that in April 1998 there were 4, 923 property owners
and there were only 290 property owners residing in the Big Bend area.
David had indeed slain the mighty giant Goliath. Residents represent 5.9
% of all the property owners. Now how in holy tarnation, did less than
6% of the property owners elect a majority on the board of directors?
Could there be something rotten in the desert or does blissful ignorance
and sinful neglect by non-residents figure mightily into the equation?
Never have I ever seen any financial statements (quartile or annual)
published in the ranch newsletter. Terrible things can happen when there
is no freedom of information. How can non-resident members who may want
to help solve problems, do so, if the problems are kept hidden under a
rug?

In 1998, $291,887 was paid in maintenance fees, non-residents paid 94 %
of the maintenance fees ($274,373). Residents paid 6% or $17,513 of the
maintenance fees. In the year 2001, the ranch collected $224,960.86 in
maintenance fees. This is a decrease of $66,926 or 23.9% decrease in
revenue in three years. With this rate of declining revenue, I doubt
that the club can survive financial bankruptcy very long. Maybe seven
years at the most. By golly, even I didn't know things were this bad.
But as always, when the grease hits the skillet, things heat up. The
problem will be either solved or the next generation can always talk
about the previous generations' trials and tribulations.

Oh sweet, sweet, sweet revenge. The new board of directors now
controlled by residents had at last prevailed, promptly set about to
dismember the hunter's paradise or the evil empire. I told you that this
was a war, didn't I? All the beloved hunting parks were closed down.
Most of the dedicated hunt park land was lost in 1994, when the original
25-year lease with the original developer expired. Some state owned hunt
parks were leased for a short while and then dropped. I guess our
enlightened board of directors never considered what effect these
actions might have on the majority of property owners who had purchased
land for hunting recreation. Also they did not realize that it would
cause hunter flight and an increase in illegal hunting. The beloved
flea/lice infested bunkhouse was converted into a gift house for
tourists who rarely ventured into this war-ravaged area. The ranch
motel, restaurant, etc. was dedicated to resort operations since the
ranch was losing the hunter business faster than a speeding bullet or
faster than anyone cared to admit. Even worse, some nonresident hunters
with no taste for warfare, actually surrendered, quit paying maintenance
fees, and abandoned their land in the former hunter paradise. The motel
and restaurant operations kept on losing money as they always have. At
least, the lodge could be used as a community center and social center
by the 290 local residents and was not a total waste of money. All road
hunting was banned. Also you were required to have permission if you
even dared to hunt on some one else's property, even if that land was
not posted. Some even wanted to declare the entire ranch of 312.5 square
miles a metropolitan city and then they could completely ban hunting
forever and forever.

To add insult to injury to the despicable hunters, the board of
directors recently again leased some state hunt park land to use for
conservation and bird watching. If it had been leased for hunting, then
both hunters and bird watchers could use the land. I have never seen a
bird watcher on the ranch and we may also need to put them on the
endangered species list. Of course I may not know one when I see one,
because they don't carry big guns and I may have missed a few. They do
however; carry binoculars and one sweet lady told me that, she thinks
that they invade her privacy, by looking at things other than
red-breasted wrens.

The board of directors even censored the beloved ranch newsletter by
refusing to take paid advertisements except for real estate, thereby
preventing any dissenting viewpoints from ever seeing the light of day.
Sounds like a serious abridgement of the freedom of speech and may
violate a freedom guaranteed by the United States Constitution. Even if
this is not a federal crime, it is not a thing that you would want your
mother or preacher or priest or rabbi to know. Terrible things can
happen when there is no freedom of speech. This is even worse than no
freedom of information. The war had heated up another notch.

In trying to promote the Terlingua ranch as a Tourist's heaven all kind
of groups have been encouraged to visit the ranch. Personally, being a
friendly sort of feller, I think that this ranch is big enough (200,000
acres or 312.5 square miles) for all hunters, local residents, bird
watchers, non-hunters, tree huggers, motorbike riders, bicycle riders,
horseback riders, jeep riders, rock collectors, and especially lovers to
enjoy in peace and safety. We just need to respect the rights of others.

Toby, Ron and I have been on the ranch for as long as two weeks and
never seen another person or car, except for the ranch managers' lonely
daily trips. Some places on the ranch are so remote and so hard to find
your way out of; that I think road-grading crews may refuse to go there
in fear for their lives. Any organizations (making money) using
Terlingua Ranch private roads should help with the cost of road
maintenance. This could be in use of our motel/restaurant or road fees.
Big Bend National Park and the Big Bend Ranch State Park charge for use
of their roads and having others pay their fair share would be better
than our raising maintenance fees. Our dirt roads are better maintained
than the ones I have traveled on in Big Bend National Park. The Board
should control these type activities so that they do not harm residents
or hunters.

Now for a bone stuck in my craw. For the past five years, organized
motorcycle rallies have come by my land at the start of quail season and
make quail hunting impossible as 100 + motor bikes go by for half a day.
Been scaring my dog Toby, and all my quail half to death. Ron and I have
complained to the board president, but he told us that he couldn't
control it. True sportsmen can read and do read the State and Federal
hunting regulations. I consider this a serious state hunting violation
called "Harassment of Hunters" which carries a fine up to $2000.00 and
/or 180 days in the Brewster County jailhouse. I am naturally inclined
to be big on laws, because my father, the Honorable J. W. Mahan, was a
Texas Harris County Justice of the Peace for over 20 years. He kept me
on the straight and narrow and put many a sinner into the Tomball, Texas
Harris County jailhouse.

These are private roads, paid for by property owners, maintained by
property owners taxes, and owned by the property owners. The board
should control usage so that local residents and non-residents alike are
not harmed. I have nothing against motorbike rallies, since free
enterprise is a good thing, but the board should do three things to
control motorbike rallies. First, approve the date of the rally (clue:
avoid hunting season). Second, approve the route of the rally so that
the same people do not have to put up with a rally every year (clue: run
the motor bike rallies by the board members' homes and the race
sponsors' home at least one time). Third, make sure that rally riders
use ranch facilities or rally organizers should pay a road use fee
(clue: make some money).

[SHANEA]

Chapter Three "The Big Bend Guzzler War"
Posted by: "Don Mahan" (EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED BY SHANEA)   
Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:59 am (PDT)
PROSE The Big Bend Guzzler War A true story of a modern day range war.
© Copyright 2002, By Donald Mahan (EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED BY SHANEA)
Used here with permission.
Chapter 3

Guzzlers to the rescue
Well now partner, I can't hardly believe we got all the way to chapter 3
without telling you anything about guzzlers, but this is a complex story
and storytelling is a downright hard thing to do especially, if you want
to tell the truth like I do, and not just a pack of lies. I am a
recently retired engineer who used to build paper mills. We all know
that used car salesmen, lawyers, real estate salesmen and politicians
lie every other breath, but have you ever heard of an engineer who lied?
Also I am a rather peaceful sort and all this warfare on Terlingua ranch
has caused Toby and me to be upset to no end.
One day as Toby and I pondered about life in general, we wondered if
Terlingua Ranch would really be worth saving. After all, there is very
little wildlife here, certainly not enough game to warrant the use of
such a highly trained desert dog like Toby, no water, it is a long way
out here, constant warfare, the ranch facing terrible financial problems
as all the hunters depart and it would require considerable effort to
save this worthless hellhole. Well now, I do have two grandsons, and a
granddaughter who I would like to bring out here and let them enjoy what
I have learned to love. My son really enjoys coming to Terlingua ranch
and he shot his first rabbit here. He developed a love for hunting at
this ranch. I have a 20-year-old picture of him, with his grandfather
when he shot his very first rabbit on Terlingua ranch. The pride is
showing in his face. On my last trip to the ranch, we brought my
87-year-old father (the Judge), with us so that he could see another
sunrise, see another sunset and write a little poetry. Toby and I
decided to at least, try to save something. My brother Ron, also agreed
to help and he recently purchased a computer, just so he could help with
the roundup of other people willing to help save the ranch. He has a
slight distance problem, as he lives in Alabama and it is 1400 miles one
way from his front doorstep to our hunt camp. He already makes two round
trips per year to visit our hunting paradise. I told you it would take
considerable effort, and this shore ain't no one-man job.

My first experience with a guzzler came about quite by accident. One day
while Ron and I were looking for rabbits and quail on a remote state
hunt park in the Chalk Mountains, I noticed a galvanized water tank
sitting in a field with what looked like a collapsed barn. Toby and I
went over to investigate. Might even find a fat rabbit or quail in such
prime habitat. There to our surprise, was a flat roof about three feet
above ground, fitted with a gutter to collect water, piping to a 3,000
gallon galvanized water tank and then plastic tubing to a float valve
and watering trough. It was a guzzler. I had only read about them, but
had never ever seen one. The thing wasn't working as javelinas had eaten
part of the plastic tubing in probably, a vain effort to get the last
drop of water out of this device.

Toby was not impressed. Another trip and he didn't get to pick up a
single rabbit or quail. Toby, a very eager hunter, but not a real menace
to any local residents, would get up very early in the morning, jump in
the back of a pickup truck, begin barking to tell the world it was time
to get up and let's go find a rabbit or bird. I have even made a little
bargain with Toby regarding the rabbits. He gets the jack rabbits and I
get the cotton tail rabbits. Toby is convinced that he is getting the
best part of the deal because jacks are a much bigger rabbit.

Returning to our hunt camp, I decided that I must have a guzzler of my
very own and being an engineer I could build one, a hell sight better
than the one I had seen in the field. Engineering is a tough business
and if you don't come up with good designs, you don't stay in business
too long. The guzzler would solve a lot of problems at our hunt camp:

* We wouldn't have to haul truckload after truckload of water to our
hunt camp. This leaves more time for the important things of life. Like
hunting, drinking, eating, playing cards, sleeping, or just figuring out
life.

* We would have plenty of water to take proper baths. (Told you that
hunters smelled).

* We could attract all kinds of game to our property. To date we have
seen wildlife beyond our wildest dreams.

The very next trip to the ranch, my brother Ron and I returned with
materials and tools to build a guzzler. You need to carefully plan your
raw material and tool requirements for this little construction project.
If you forget something, you are looking at a 160 mile round trip back
to Alpine. We used the roof of our hunt camp to collect water with a
gutter and then put the gutter downspout pipe into a 1550-gallon plastic
storage tank. The tank sits on a poured concrete foundation and is tied
down with steel cables. The tank we used is designed to not let one
single drop of water evaporate from it. Water is as precious as gold in
the desert. Some years it doesn't rain at all in the Chihuahuan desert.
Then we ran an under ground plastic pipe to a watering trough. The
javelina and deer were not going to eat my guzzler piping. We used steel
pipe fitting to go above ground to a float valve sitting on the top lip
of a 10 gallon galvanized tub. Hard for a javelina to eat steel. We
covered the float valve with a board and large rocks to protect it.
Javelina, don't eat rocks either, but they will eat wood, so use very
large boulders. Then we primed our storage tank with exactly 536 gallons
of water to test the system out. It worked perfectly. The system has
never gone dry in seven years of use and we have never had to do any
maintenance on the system except to keep the clear plastic tank painted
every three years to prevent slime growth in our tank. Also when we
leave our hunt camp we always put a pint of bleach or left over booze
(normally none is left over) in the tank to kill any bacteria. Recently
we added another 360 square foot roof (for a large covered patio) to our
hunt camp for more shade and installed another guzzler. As you get
older, shade for your rocking chair is an absolute necessity in the
Chihuahuan desert. I can't think of any improvement to your property
that would be a better investment. If you want to see a real life
guzzler, follow the Mahan signs to our hunt cabin and have a look at the
real thing. Please do not disturb the wildlife. One non-hunter didn't
think I should build a guzzler and steal my neighbors game. I told him
that there wasn't any game on the neighbor's property to steal since
they didn't have any water.

"One word of caution! Have you ever seen the Chihuahuan desert termites?
If you provide a permanent water supply they will visit your guzzler.
They require water to make mud to protect them from the fierce desert
sun. They even tried to eat the dead juniper tree we planted near our
guzzler. Locating a guzzler too close to a cabin could be hazardous to
your cabin"." My brother Ron contributed this important information.

The current ranch is almost devoid of permanent water except at Cedar
Springs, a few guzzlers, and watering troughs at local residences. You
were told, how the original ranchers' permanent water systems were
destroyed. After thirty years, all original lakes now have holes in them
or they will not retain water. Almost all of the original ranch water
systems are not usable today. Even the big Lake Ament and the Cedar
Spring Lake have gone dry. I could almost cry when I see all the dry
lakes and I know what that means.

"Studies indicate that the average home range of desert mule deer is
fairly small (approximately 1.5 mile radius). Sources of permanent water
should be no greater than 2.5 to 3 miles apart, throughout any range
unit in order to utilize deer habitat to its capacity." From "Water for
West Texas Wildlife" by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Authors
Timothy L. Bone, Ruben Cantu and Sam Brownlee.

The State of Texas Black Gap W.M.A on the east side of Big Bend National
Park has approximately 107,000 acres and 35 guzzlers (Information from
Black Gap W.M.A. web site and Mike Pittman, Ranch Manager). Our
Terlingua Ranch has 200,000 acres or 312.5 square miles of land and we
should have at least 65 guzzlers if we do as good as the Black Gap
W.M.A. If we locate a guzzler every 2.5 miles then we would need
approximately 78 guzzlers. Black Gap W.M.A. currently has one (1) deer
every 200 acres. If we could do as good on Terlingua ranch, we would
have 1000 deer on the ranch. Well, we never will do as good as the Texas
Parks & Wildlife people, but we can make it a lot better place to hunt
on. Toby agreed.

Since my brother Ron and I, built water guzzlers next to our hunt camp
we have seen buck mule deer, javelina, quail, rabbits, coyotes, and
doves on or adjacent to our property. These wild animals are not dumb,
they realized that we are true hunters and we will shoot them. They also
realized that they have found something very rare in the desert, a
permanent water supply that they can use 365 days per year. Hopefully,
Ron, Toby and I can convince some non-hunters that building a guzzler in
the desert is the right thing to do even if they don't hunt.

We recently saw 11 mule deer in the front yard of a prominent local
resident that waters and feeds mule deer. Toby thinks deer are giant
rabbits and wants to chase them. We want to spread the good news about
guzzlers to other hunters and non-hunters who love the outdoors. Just
imagine what 100 guzzlers could do to increase wildlife populations on
the Terlingua Ranch. We would hear a giant sucking sound as deer migrate
from Big Bend National Park and from the Big Bend Ranch State Park and
from several private ranches to a well-watered Terlingua ranch. We could
have more wildlife per acre than Big Bend because we would have the
water. I have already told you that, in the Chihuahuan desert, water is
the gold standard. We would then need to hire numerous permanent
security guards or put locks on all our gates to keep poachers and road
hunters out of the ranch. That my friends would be a far better problem
than having warfare between our existing property owners.

Outlaws, being natural born cowards, long ago figured out, that it was
much safer to poach out in the boondocks, than to poach close to houses
who always have angry homeowners with big guns who could shoot back. Of
course they also figured out that most deer and game existed close to
water and most of the water on the ranch was close to houses. Building
guzzlers out in the boondocks or all over the ranch will have the
beneficial effect of having less poaching next to houses and may even
save some lives. Like I said, outlaws are natural born cowards and they
do not like to be seen or shot at when they are doing their evil
despicable deeds. You would have thought that the smart board members,
who live on the ranch, would have figured this out long ago, and put
some water elsewhere on the ranch, just to keep the outlaws away from
their homes. Like I said, some dogs and people just have to learn the
hard way.

Ranchers could not raise cows without providing water for them. We
cannot have wildlife on our beautiful desert ranch without providing
water for all the wildlife. Every hunter and non-hunter alike should
understand this. All property owners are responsible for wildlife on
their private land. What are you doing for the wildlife on your land?

How can we get 100 guzzlers built on Terlingua ranch? The Board of
Directors has said they are broke and must raise maintenance fees. Most
local residents already have water troughs for wild life on their
property, many are like me in the golden years (older than dirt), and
many don't have the money to go out in the desert and build additional
guzzlers. It's time for legal hunters and true sportsmen to step up to
the plate and do the right thing. If sportsmen build the 100 guzzlers
for the ranch and revive this parched hellhole, I bet money that the
locals would gladly and carefully guard all property owners' wildlife.

The property owners must trust one another, if they want this ranch to
be around another 10 years and not go bankrupt. There are a lot of
incentives for both sides to give a little and try to get along
together. Why I would bet that nonresidents would even agree to pay
higher maintenance fees if we could restore hunting parks and get good
hunting back on the ranch. Good hunting was the primary reason this
ranch was established 30 years ago and we can restore hunting to an
acceptable level if we bring back permanent water supplies to the ranch.
But we must do something, not just hope the problem will go away.
Residents face a very large problem, if nonresidents (94% of property
owners) keep abandoning the ranch. How do you replace 94% of the money?
Nonresidents pull out, because they own land of little value, especially
since hunting is so poor. Some nonresidents are even giving their land
away and recently Ron and I were offered free land. Land values have not
increased in thirty years.

Toby, Ron, and I have chosen a hunt club, as the means to accomplish the
building of 100 guzzlers because hunters love to see wildlife. Also the
hunters generally spend a lot of money and the price of a guzzler is
downright cheap compared to the price of good hunting land, big 4-wheel
drive trucks, four wheeler motorcycles, trained hunting dogs, expensive
hunting rifles/scopes, and travel expenses from distant locations.
Hunters only hunt a week or two, but the desert animals have to endure
the brutal desert climate 365 days per year. Existing without water is
impossible! Every hunter I have met on the dusty Terlingua ranch roads
has expressed support for a new hunt club, which promotes water
conservation.

The very first organizational meeting of the hunt club was held on
November 25, 2001. About 45 property owners attended and 15 people
joined our club. Today we have 21 members who have pledged to have or
build permanent water supplies on their property.

At the meeting, three (3) goals for the Many Tinajas Hunt Club were
listed:

1. Improve hunting on the ranch
2. Provide water for all the ranch wildlife
3. Promote good will between all property owners

I hope the Board of Directors will also adopt a similar goal of trying
to "promote good will between all property owners".

"The guiding principle for this club is that every member will have or
build a permanent water supply on his land".

At the meeting, it was recommended that the Many Tinajas Hunt Club have
an annual barbecue during hunt season and invite all property owners. We
share many, many common problems and need to break bread and get to know
each other better. Many of the non-resident property owners expressed
concerns about illegal poaching occurring, on their land. They don't
like poaching either and have to endure tons and tons of poaching.

Information was given out explaining:

* Why water conservation is needed?
* Basic Guzzler Design
* Guzzler cost estimate
* Hunt club comments
* Hunt club membership application form

Anyone who owns property on Terlingua Ranch and is current on
maintenance and taxes can join the hunt club. Also you must abide with
all State and Federal hunting rules. Our primary requirement is that you
have, or build a permanent water supply on your land. You do not have to
hunt. You could be a bird watcher, nature photographer, animal lover,
etc. You do not have to share your land, but you can if you want to. It
is your private property and with a permanent water supply on it, desert
animals/wildlife will visit you frequently.

We have been trying to get an article about the Many Tinajas Hunt Club
published in the ranch newsletter, but since it is opposed by the ranch
manager and board of directors, we have been unsuccessful in getting
this important information to Terlingua property owners. This is very
important because the newsletter reaches all our property owners all
over Texas and the USA. This could jump start our hunt club, water
conservation, and help the desert wildlife. Also I have no doubt that
property values will increase as hunting improves. Also better hunting
will bring more people to our motel and restaurant.

Big dreams and big projects have the power to stir men's souls to
action.

Well Toby, Ron and I have told you about a modern day range war going on
in our own backyard. We have proposed a solution to end this conflict
and we will dedicate ourselves to make this ranch a better place. Will
you join us in making Terlingua ranch something we can be proud of? If
you don't like our plan then, please tell us your plan or what you don't
like about this plan. Like I told you, the grease is in the skillet.

I believe that guzzlers could be the salvation of this ranch. Now Mahan
has done gone and got the Chihuahan Desert dead brain disease. Well if
you have read this far, you will probably make it to the end. People get
real curious to know if the writer really knows something, they don't
know.

The End

Currently no end to the war is seen.

[SHANEA]

Chapter 4 THE BIG BEND GUZZLER WAR
Posted by: "Don Mahan"  (EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED BY SHANEA)
Sat Aug 16, 2008 4:19 pm (PDT)

Shane here is chapter four. This was written back in 2003. There are
currently over 90 guzzlers and water catchments on Terlingua Ranch that
I have photographs of.
PROSE The Big Bend Guzzler War A true story of a modern day range war.
© Copyright 2003, By Donald Mahan
Used here with permission.
Chapter 4

Updated: January 2002 thru January 2003

Well now partner, I can't hardly believe I have not written anything
about the bloody Big Bend Guzzler War in a whole year. But it was over a
year ago when, I first wrote the first three chapters of the Guzzler
War. Also I have promised my worthy opponents that I would declare an
end to the war. Well I did declare an end to the war, but my opponents
keep violating the true spirit of peace and well a man is just not a man
unless he is willing to defend certain basic rights. Rights like:

* Freedom of speech and access to the Terlingua Ranch Newsletter.
* Freedom to hunt in peace on his own land without 100 to 125
motorbikes crossing his land.
* Elections with qualified observers allowed for both residents and
non-residents.
* Proper road maintenance is not received, but paid for.
* Money losing resort operations, which only benefits a few property
owners and tourists.
* Decreasing property values with no board action or plans to stop
this.
* Adequate water for wildlife on Terlingua ranch.

Well if all the above sounds like sour grapes from a loser in an
election, think again. The three candidates from the Many Tinajas Hunt
Club won in the board election held on January 25, 2003. Don Mahan,
Suzan Ivy and Jim Miller won all three board seats being voted on in the
recent election. Their stated platform goals were as follows:

1. Providing water for wildlife by building guzzlers at no cost to
the ranch or other property owners.
2. Improve hunting all over the ranch.
3. Improve Road Maintenance.
4. Give non-resident property owners an effective voice on the POATRI
Board.
5. Establish common sense guidelines for managing the money taken in
by the POATRI board in the form of Maintenance Fees.
6. Establish better relations between residents and non-residents.

During the past year the Board of Directors, finally decided to let us
have a paid advertisement in the Ranch Newsletter. After over six months
of trying we finally were able to get a small ad for the Many Tinajas
Hunt Club along with information concerning our telephone number, email
address and web page address. This is why we declared an end to the
Guzzler War. They also let Beechie have an advertisement for his
automobile repair shop, and the Terlingua Community Church to run a
small advertisement. Some people on the ranch could benefit from a
little preaching. The ranch newsletter also even set up a new bulletin
board for property owner comments on their web site. Not one single
property owner comment was ever permitted on their web site. Finally
before the infant bulletin board could ever utter a word the Terlingua
Board of Directors took it off the web site. The Board of Directors has
never permitted us to run a story in the ranch newsletter, telling
property owners of the advantages of building guzzlers on their private
property. I ask you, who is holding the smoking gun?

Now for a true humorous story of how elections are conducted on
Terlingua Ranch. In the previous election in January of 2002 the
previous board president told us that the ballots would be opened
starting 15 days before the election day and that we could have an
observer watching the vote counting. Well it doesn't take a genius
to figure out that no one in his right mind would sit in Alpine for 15
days watching the Official Independent Vote Counter counting votes.
Maybe if the observer had a slight case of the dreaded Chihuahuan desert
dead brain disease, he could endure two weeks of watching vote counting.
Being greenhorns and more interested in guzzler building and quail
hunting, we decided to skip the vote watching.

This year in January of 2003, we again asked the entire board of
directors when the ballots would be opened? Also we told them that this
year they should follow POATRI by-laws and open the ballots on Election
Day. Total silence from the board of directors, like they had all
contacted lockjaw or all broken their writing hands. Then, they told us
that it was up to the Official Independent Vote Counter to decide.
Finally, I wrote the Official Independent Vote Counter a letter and
requested to know when the ballots would be opened, requested that we be
permitted to have an official observer, and where would the ballots be
counted?

She wrote me back a very nice letter stating the following:

· Vote counting would be on Election Day.

· We could have an observer present.

· Vote counting would be at the ranch.

· She thanked us for informing her about the POATRI By-laws.
(Wonder if our tricky opponents had forgotten about that little chore?)

After getting her letter, I got a telephone call from the Official
Independent Vote Counter telling me that board president had just called
her and told her that we now could not have an official observer to
watch the vote counting this year. Now all city, school, county, state,
and federal elections permit official observers. Why does a non-profit
corporation like Terlingua Ranch not permit observers? Needless to say,
due to their past tricks, we were extremely nervous to think about all
the tricks that could now be played. We then told the board that if we
couldn't have an observer watching the vote counting, then we would
be watching the door to the vote counting room to make sure that no one
else entered the room. We even had a camera to take their picture. We
thought we had talked to enough voters to win, but were afraid of the
unknown. Our suspicions proved unfounded, but when the next election
comes around next year, I still want an official observer so that I can
sleep better at night.

The vote counting did finally get started on Election Day. The vote
count for the board election took 1 1/2 days because of the record high
number of ballots cast for recent elections. In year 2002 only 997 votes
were cast, and in the year 2003 a total of 2605 votes were cast. This is
an increase of 1608 votes being cast or a 161 % increase in voter
participation. This increase was primarily due to hard work by the Many
Tinajas Hunt Club members and friends.

The 2605 votes counted represent approximately 867 property owners who
voted, since each property owner is allowed to vote for three
candidates. This means that approximately 24.8 % of the 3500 property
owners eligible to vote, actually voted. This is a significant increase
from the 9.5 % that voted the previous year.

I would like to personally thank all the people who worked so hard to
make this grass roots victory possible and the property owners who voted
for our candidates. We now have three (3) board members who favor our
platform/goals on a nine (9) member board of directors. While we plan to
work very hard to advance our platform /goals, progress will be slow
until we elect two more board members and gain a majority status on the
board. My chief objective this year will be to serve the property owners
and to find still additional voters who want change on Terlingua Ranch.
The voters this year have given a clear signal about the need for change
on the ranch and the present board of directors should listen to the
voters if they want to remain relevant and in office.

Well so much for politics and on with the story. Toby, my trusted
yellow lab died last year after a long and full life (14 years) hunting
blue quail, doves, ducks and rabbits on Terlingua ranch. I plan on
purchasing a new yellow lab in February 2003. I tried out a chocolate
lab, but he was a bit too hyper for me, bit my wife's hand (four
stitches) and then bit a fellow in Del Rio who got too close to his dog
food. Going back to yellow labs for good. I almost died last year when
I went into a lake to retrieve two ducks without good old Toby. I
thought the water was shallow until it went over my knees/ head after
taking one step too far. Being a good swimmer I then pretended to be a
Toby. The next day I came down with the worse case of flu I have ever
had. Yep, a new dog is definitely needed.

Well the guzzler building business is really taking off these days.
Don't have to pay any income taxes on all the profits, as there is
no income. Ron Mahan, my twin brother in Florence Alabama, has talked
his wife into setting us up the finest little web page you ever saw. It
tells the hunters why they should build guzzlers, how to build guzzlers,
cost estimates for guzzlers, guzzler schematics, guzzler plans, guzzler
photographs, applications forms to join our club, financial information
on how Terlingua ranch spends our money, poetry, short stories and a
bulletin board for your comments. Just go to
http://home. hiwaay.net/ `rhmahan/ <http://home. hiwaay.net/ %60rhmahan/>
and click on it. It is all free information.

Since the majority of property owners now senior citizens no longer hunt
we have set up a separate group for "Friends". Most of these
members are more concerned about the declining property values on
Terlingua ranch than in shooting game. "Friends" are club
members who do not build guzzlers, do not pay dues, do not vote, but are
kept informed about the club and the ranch. Only informed people can
help to select proper board members or suggest changes in ranch policy.

More than a year ago, a small group of property owners started
organizing a club with the unique purpose of furnishing adequate water
for all wildlife on the 200,000-acre ranch. The club has a funny
sounding name originated by Ron Mahan, the Many Tinajas Hunt Club. The
name was chosen because it means "many waterholes". Year 2002
has been a good one for the Many Tinajas Hunt Club or MTHC. In about
fourteen months we have grown from zero to 41 members. All have pledged
to build a guzzler (or have one) for our desert wildlife. We are well
on our way towards 100 members, so we can get 100 guzzlers built in two
or three years. Our members have now built 7 new guzzlers and repaired
2 old guzzlers for a total of 9 operating guzzlers on the ranch. Neil
Burch, former ranch manager, had said that there was no interest in
guzzler building among property owners, but I guess he was just talking
to the wrong property owners. Non-hunters and birdwatchers instead of
hunters!!

By improving wildlife populations with water for wildlife, we will
attract back the hunters and thereby improve property values. The
present POATRI board's policy of no water conservation for wildlife,
and no programs to improve hunting activities on the ranch, and
supporting the money losing resort operations is a failed policy, and
will eventually result in zero property value and bankrupt the POATRI
organization. The failed resort operations lost $120,000 in year 2001.
The board has not submitted the financial reports for year 2002. These
losses caused the ranch board to curtail current road maintenance.

The next time you are in the Terlingua Ranch restaurant, go to the south
dining area and look at the framed picture of a cartoon about Rick
O'Shay close to the bathrooms. Then look at the bottom of the framed
picture and see what Terlingua Ranch land prices were selling for in
about 1970.

The motorbike rally people are still interfering with hunting on
Terlingua ranch despite Burl Hughes, Barbara Trammel, and the POATRI
board being told several times that they are interfering with our
hunting. Some of our opponents like to stir up the war on a regular
basis. Another darn smoking gun. Darn is about the strongest curse word,
my 88 year old father, the Judge will allow. Again this past year, the
motorbike rally was run on the first and second day of quail hunting
season. We tried to stop the rally by the following means:

* Requested that Burl Hughes move the motorbike rally to a date other
than during quail season. He refused to do this. He is currently
planning another motorbike rally in year 2003, during hunt season.

* Tried to get the game wardens Captain Steve Whitaker and Ray Spears
to file criminal charges against Burl Hughes, Barbara Trammel, and the
POATRI board. Charges were to be filed for "Harassment of
Hunters". The hunting property owners of the Terlingua Ranch have
had their legal right to lawfully hunt quail on their own property
intentionally interfered with for the past six years by the actions of
the Houston Trail Riders Club (represented by Burl Hughes), local
sponsor Barbara Trammel and the POATRI board of directors. This occurs
annually when 100 or more motorbikes go roaring down our private roads
in front of and thru our private hunting property. This frightens the
wild birds so badly, no hunting can be done.

When you tell someone his actions are causing you a problem, a good
neighbor will generally not keep on interfering with your hunting. When
he keeps on doing it, it is intentional interference of your hunting.

Captain Steve Whitaker and Warden Ray Spears met with Brewster County
Judge Val Beard and Brewster County Attorney Steve Houston and decided
there was no violation of law based on what we sent to Judge Val Beard
and also to the TPWD.

Captain Whitaker said that they could not file a case in Brewster County
on this because the local officials would not do anything just for
bikers driving by our property. He also stated that wardens will be
"in the area" to make sure actual harassment of hunters
"like a biker driving around you when you are trying to shoot a
quail does not, in fact happen".

I can assure you that no quail will be present to shoot at when
100 to 125 motorbikes come thru your property. The loud motorbikes will
have already scared all the quail away and it is impossible for hunters
to shoot quail or for bikers to ride around you while you shoot quail.
Please ask any quail hunter about this if you are not an experienced
quail hunter.

Judge Val Beard and Steve Houston should have realized this and
permitted our request for Harassment of Hunters charges to be filed.
Steve Houston also has a serious conflict of interest as he is currently
representing the POATRI board of directors on civil suits.

* We filed a motion in the Brewster County District for a temporary
restraining order against the Houston Trail Riders. We had twelve (12)
notarized affidavits by property owners that stated that the motor bike
rally was interfering with their quail hunting and that they did not
give permission for the Houston Trail Riders to cross their land.
District Judge DeHart ruled our request for a Temporary Restraining
Order was moot or invalid because the October 27, 2002 dirt bike rally
had already been run. He didn't mention the fact he was the one who
delayed the hearing until the rally had been run. He also would not let
me represent my brother in the hearing because I am not a lawyer.
Never the less, we are still hopeful the Houston Dirt Bike Club will
want to compromise, and schedule their rally at a time other than our
quail and deer hunting season. The election results may also help bring
them back to the bargaining table. Then, we also have additional plans
to stop the motorbike rallies if required. Of course I do not intend to
shoot myself in the foot and file criminal charges against myself as a
board member.

Texans and General Sam Houston, the first president of the independent
country of Texas, lost many battles with the Santa Anna and the Mexicans
before they won the war at San Jacinto. We are also determined to fight
on, because we know our cause is right and we will prevail.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about hunt parks. Terlingua ranch
should have some hunt parks for the average hunter to have a place to
hunt deer. Since the majority of property owners no longer hunt, it
would not be fair to require non-hunters to pay for this. There are a
number of ways to go about re-establishing hunt parks.

1. Private groups could lease land (state land or private land) for
the hunters. Hunters would then pay for an annual lease and would be
allowed exclusive hunting rights on the property. Some of the Many
Tinajas Hunt Club members are currently doing exactly this and we hope
to obtain more land for more members. On leased land we plan to provide
permanent water and some game feeders.
2. POATRI could lease land (state land or private land) for the
hunters. Hunters would then pay for an annual lease and would be allowed
exclusive hunting rights to the property. Permanent water should be
provided on all the hunt parks.
3. Hunters can buy up additional Terlingua land to create small
private hunt parks. Some of our members are already doing this, due to
current low land prices.
4. Other plans are possible.

Everyone will benefit from the development of hunt parks. Land will
become more valuable due to increased game harvests. Also road hunting
will decrease as more hunt parks are created. Some of the people that no
longer hunt, may want to lease their land for hunting. Some people that
no longer hunt may want to donate their land to POATRI for the creation
of new hunt parks. Already some property owners are giving land to
POATRI and this land is being auctioned off. Resort operations should
benefit from increased hunter visits. Organizations that do not satisfy
the needs of its members tend to go out of business.

Also I have been thinking about our resort operations (motel,
restaurant, water sales, gasoline sales, souvenir sales, and stables).
The majority of property owners also do not use these resort operations
either. If it is not fair for hunt parks to be paid for by the general
funds, then it is also equally unfair for people who do not use these
resort facilities to have to pay for them.

The current resort operation losses are slowly bankrupting POATRI.
Already road maintenance is being curtailed due to resort operation
losses. Needed maintenance on the motel, restaurant, RV bathhouse, and
ranch office is also being curtailed. We
need to wake up and stop these losses. Consideration should be given to
putting the motel and restaurant up for lease or for sale or on a profit
basis (break even or be shut down). Even if both the motel and
restaurant were shut down, there are other motels and restaurants on
highway 118 available to property owners on both sides of 118. The
existing lodge is not used much by property owners with land west of
118. Maybe the new asphalt pavement to the lodge will help resort
operations prosper, but don't count on it. I see many failed
businesses out on highway 118, not sixteen miles off the highway. We
need a discussion on this subject as it is slowly destroying our ranch.

This is your ranch, which is owned by all the property owners of
Terlingua Ranch. . Input from all property owners is badly needed. What
do you think should be done about hunt parks, resort operations and
other areas of concern?

The End

While the war has ended, a peace treaty has not been worked out nor
signed.