Texans sure love their high fences

[Poser]

Summary:

-Texan buys a 82,000 acres in the San Luis Valley of Colorado for 105 million dollars.
-Immediately proceeds to bulldoze a 20 foot wide maintenance of way path around the entire 82,000 acres and install a 8 foot fence.
-Inside of the fence of are 20 peaks in the Sangre De Christo range, a whole bunch of pinion and pine country, multiple herds of elk and a bunch of deer that now cannot migrate and, according to local reports, cut off from water sources in certain areas.
-Possibly some mountain goats and big horn sheep behind the fence as well (not specially mentioned, but both species live in that range).
-legal battle and injunctions ensue. Landowner expresses he needs the fence to contain his herd of bison and keep out trespassers.
-new legislation is passed to prevent landowners in the San Luis valley from installing fences taller than 5 feet without a permit.
-However, the court case that resulted in the injunction is still pending and he ranch owner and county commissioners are now conducting separate wildlife studies.

A fence around a billionaire’s San Luis Valley ranch leads to new state law

Gov. Jared Polis visited Costilla County on Tuesday to sign a law that gives local governments the authority to prohibit disruptive fences

coloradosun.com

 

[flatlanderhuffandpuff]

That fence wouldn't hold up to a bison if it wanted out.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

That fence wouldn't hold up to a bison if it wanted out.

Looks like a temp fence...once the lawsuit blows over he will call in the welders and install a proper West Tx high fence.

 

[jolemons]

@Poser very tough situation on that ranch. I used to neighbor them so am very familiar with the situation. The intention was never for the entire ranch to be high fenced. There is a lot of trespassing and other criminal activities that the ranch has to tolerate and was hoping to control. I don't agree with the high fence, but it is the result of blatant disregard for private property rights. They have spent decades trying to control the illegal activity through security presence, signage, cameras, etc. and felt a high fence was the last effort. It reminds me of the high fences you see in South Africa which are just as much about keeping people out as game in.

There are no mountain goats, only sheep. The fence is not up in their high country where most of the wildlife are present. Nor is the fence present along boundaries with other large ranches.

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[Slick8]

I'm 50/50 to lukewarm on high fences but I appreciate the post above. Always two sides to the story.

 

[Wprinkle]

When I lived in Kremmling a guy from New York started buying ranches around there (including ours) and then trading private for land locked public. He did/ does a ton for the community and schools but same outcome. (He also has buffalo) all low fence no high fence but he feeds his buffalo and in return every elk in Grand County seems to end up on his place. As a rancher I am all for getting as big as you can and doing what the F you want on it but I can not get on the high fence bandwagon at all. If you want to keep all the wildlife, improve the habitat and manage it.

Kinda like the corner crossing thing. As a public land hunter I want access to all the public land but at the same time I understand the private land owners side. I have been woken up by guys shooting a cow 75 yards from our house when the house is 1.2 miles from the nearest public land. Or the cut fences. Or fishermen that leave a shit ton of trash. Fn hikers that ignore fences and leave trash and firepits all over.

Got off topic but I truly believe the game belongs to people and should not be fenced in. Hope the public wins this one.

 

[5MilesBack]

I remember maybe 30 years ago when I was talking to someone about land and ranches and I said I would absolutely love to have a 100k acre ranch. The other person said "what would you do with that much land"? And I replied "fence people out". It's not just Texans, it's anyone that believes in private property rights.

But that piece of property has a long history that goes all the way back to the original Spanish Land Grant. Not even sure how it became private, but it's been in legal battles ever since it did decades ago. It may be classified as "private", but when a bunch of the public also seem to have "rights" to it's use........then it's really not private.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

When I lived in Kremmling a guy from New York started buying ranches around there (including ours) and then trading private for land locked public. He did/ does a ton for the community and schools but same outcome. (He also has buffalo) all low fence no high fence but he feeds his buffalo and in return every elk in Grand County seems to end up on his place. As a rancher I am all for getting as big as you can and doing what the F you want on it but I can not get on the high fence bandwagon at all. If you want to keep all the wildlife, improve the habitat and manage it.

Kinda like the corner crossing thing. As a public land hunter I want access to all the public land but at the same time I understand the private land owners side. I have been woken up by guys shooting a cow 75 yards from our house when the house is 1.2 miles from the nearest public land. Or the cut fences. Or fishermen that leave a shit ton of trash. Fn hikers that ignore fences and leave trash and firepits all over.

Got off topic but I truly believe the game belongs to people and should not be fenced in. Hope the public wins this one.

Lol all too familiar with the Jones mega ranch. I don't think anybody's land is safe here in the near future. Access points keep getting cut. Sucks but it is what it is, just gotta hunt better. Doesn't help that the elk population is also 50% from 2000s numbers!

The land swap was just made official in January. Some areas now have better access, others not so much. It will not be marked on OnX for a hot minute FYI.

 

[Poser]

@Poser very tough situation on that ranch. I used to neighbor them so am very familiar with the situation. The intention was never for the entire ranch to be high fenced. There is a lot of trespassing and other criminal activities that the ranch has to tolerate and was hoping to control. I don't agree with the high fence, but it is the result of blatant disregard for private property rights. They have spent decades trying to control the illegal activity through security presence, signage, cameras, etc. and felt a high fence was the last effort. It reminds me of the high fences you see in South Africa which are just as much about keeping people out as game in.

There are no mountain goats, only sheep. The fence is not up in their high country where most of the wildlife are present. Nor is the fence present along boundaries with other large ranches.

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Does an 8 foot fence prevent trespassing anymore than a 5 foot fence?
Its obviously 3 feet taller and a bit more of a PITA to cross, but a 5 foot fence is also enough of a PITA to cross that one has to be deliberate. I have a turkey hunting spot where the area is seasonally closed to public access unless you have a turkey tag. The 5 foot fence and gate is wired shut and locked meaning I have to climb over it and its a little tricky. Definitely requires one to be deliberate in their intent to get to the other side. Especially in the dark while safely managing a firearm.

What's the nature of the trespassing and why that particular ranch? An ATV, which was mentioned, would have to cut a fence regardless of the height.

 

[go_deep]

Does an 8 foot fence prevent trespassing anymore than a 5 foot fence?
Its obviously 3 feet taller and a bit more of a PITA to cross, but a 5 foot fence is also enough of a PITA to cross that one has to be deliberate. I have a turkey hunting spot where the area is seasonally closed to public access unless you have a turkey tag. The 5 foot fence and gate is wired shut and locked meaning I have to climb over it and its a little tricky. Definitely requires one to be deliberate in their intent to get to the other side. Especially in the dark while safely managing a firearm.

What's the nature of the trespassing and why that particular ranch?

 

[BrownTroutGuy]

It would be 5 ft. high tensile & electric if the purpose was to keep Buffalo in.

 

[jolemons]

Does an 8 foot fence prevent trespassing anymore than a 5 foot fence?
Its obviously 3 feet taller and a bit more of a PITA to cross, but a 5 foot fence is also enough of a PITA to cross that one has to be deliberate. I have a turkey hunting spot where the area is seasonally closed to public access unless you have a turkey tag. The 5 foot fence and gate is wired shut and locked meaning I have to climb over it and its a little tricky. Definitely requires one to be deliberate in their intent to get to the other side. Especially in the dark while safely managing a firearm.

What's the nature of the trespassing and why that particular ranch? An ATV, which was mentioned, would have to cut a fence regardless of the height.

As I stated, I don't agree with the high fence.

The situation with the ranch is very complex, revolves around a Spanish Land Grant and CO Supreme Court ruling and discussed in two books. It's not worth the effort of trying to explain on a forum. Read "The Taylor Ranch War" (former ranch name) and "American Grasslands" of you want to dive into the details. My two cents is that the ranch was screwed over and wil forever be burdened with the legal issues.

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[S-3 ranch]

@Poser very tough situation on that ranch. I used to neighbor them so am very familiar with the situation. The intention was never for the entire ranch to be high fenced. There is a lot of trespassing and other criminal activities that the ranch has to tolerate and was hoping to control. I don't agree with the high fence, but it is the result of blatant disregard for private property rights. They have spent decades trying to control the illegal activity through security presence, signage, cameras, etc. and felt a high fence was the last effort. It reminds me of the high fences you see in South Africa which are just as much about keeping people out as game in.

There are no mountain goats, only sheep. The fence is not up in their high country where most of the wildlife are present. Nor is the fence present along boundaries with other large ranches.

Sent from my SM-S936U using Tapatalk

I hunted this ranch before, yes lots of trespassing and illegal activity where going on , I don’t know if a high fence would solve the problems?
There is a right of way to culebra peak that is a problem imo
Plus it needs the south side low fence for migration to that Ted Turner ranch

 

[Wprinkle]

Lol all too familiar with the Jones mega ranch. I don't think anybody's land is safe here in the near future. Access points keep getting cut. Sucks but it is what it is, just gotta hunt better. Doesn't help that the elk population is also 50% from 2000s numbers!

The land swap was just made official in January. Some areas now have better access, others not so much. It will not be marked on OnX for a hot minute FYI.

Ya when it started it was just the original Eagles nest ranch and us then boom I come back and he own EVERYTHING!! I got a tag for that area about 4-5 years ago and Just knew I would be tagged out opening morning as my honey holes appeared untouched. I did not see 1 single elk on public land. Talked to some guys I went to school with in Kremmling and they were like ya deer and elk are gone....

 

[LostArra]

No fence is preventing trespassing or illegal activity. Law enforcement can if they are motivated.

In Oklahoma to enclose an acreage of a size I don't remember the wildlife department has to ensure every game animal, primarily deer, is outside the enclosure.

 

[OKHunter84]

When I lived in Kremmling a guy from New York started buying ranches around there (including ours) and then trading private for land locked public. He did/ does a ton for the community and schools but same outcome. (He also has buffalo) all low fence no high fence but he feeds his buffalo and in return every elk in Grand County seems to end up on his place. As a rancher I am all for getting as big as you can and doing what the F you want on it but I can not get on the high fence bandwagon at all. If you want to keep all the wildlife, improve the habitat and manage it.

Kinda like the corner crossing thing. As a public land hunter I want access to all the public land but at the same time I understand the private land owners side. I have been woken up by guys shooting a cow 75 yards from our house when the house is 1.2 miles from the nearest public land. Or the cut fences. Or fishermen that leave a shit ton of trash. Fn hikers that ignore fences and leave trash and firepits all over.

Got off topic but I truly believe the game belongs to people and should not be fenced in. Hope the public wins this one.

The surface sh*tters would be enough to make most people go crazy.

 

[Wheels]

20 miles of fence isn’t going to enclose 82,000 acres.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

@Poser very tough situation on that ranch. I used to neighbor them so am very familiar with the situation. The intention was never for the entire ranch to be high fenced. There is a lot of trespassing and other criminal activities that the ranch has to tolerate and was hoping to control. I don't agree with the high fence, but it is the result of blatant disregard for private property rights. They have spent decades trying to control the illegal activity through security presence, signage, cameras, etc. and felt a high fence was the last effort. It reminds me of the high fences you see in South Africa which are just as much about keeping people out as game in.

There are no mountain goats, only sheep. The fence is not up in their high country where most of the wildlife are present. Nor is the fence present along boundaries with other large ranches.

Sent from my SM-S936U using Tapatalk

Always interesting to read the real story.