This article originally appeared in my column in Texas Wildlife magazine, a monthly publication for Texas Wildlife Association members. 

Being an absentee landowner presents its challenges. As I have shared with you all before, my family has a farm in South Texas, about three hours away from my home in Austin. To get to our farm, I have to pass through two major cities, and because I leave after work, I am driving during rush hour and arriving after dark. (On the plus side, this gives me plenty of time to pray the water will turn on when I arrive.)

After I get there, I have a lot to catch up on—checking on the status of projects, meeting with lessees, meeting with workers, and then of course, making sure no varmints or snakes have made their way into the house.

Like many modern-day landowners, I have to figure out how to be a good land owner from afar. How do I keep my family’s property safe from trespassers, pay workers on time, make sure our pastures aren’t overgrazed, oversee hunters, implement projects to improve habitat, and manage repairs without being there every day? And then, when do I squeeze in time to actually enjoy the place?

Here are some tips I’ve learned from other absentee landowners.

1. Get a lessee you trust and build a good relationship.

Having someone you trust on your property regularly is helpful in many ways. They will keep an eye on the place, notice if something is off or needs fixing, and will have the local connections and expertise to help you accomplish whatever needs to be done. Send them a Christmas present, call or text them regularly to check in, and establish mutual trust. A grazing tenant and a hunting lessee will be a great help in making sure your ponds and feeders are full.

2. Collaborate with your neighbors.

Always let them know if you are doing something that might affect their property (like spraying a fence line, for example). Bring them wild game or produce from your property, keep the lines of communication open, and in turn you will build mutual respect. If it works for you, you all could even share workers or equipment. Neighbors are great resources out in the country.

3. Take advantage of technology.

There are so many great remote security systems out there nowadays that connect to apps on your phone and enable you to monitor activity on your property from anywhere in the world. Several companies are represented at the TWA Convention each year. I also utilize apps like Paypal for paying workers. Of course, you can’t go wrong with an old fashioned game camera either, strategically placed.

4. Get to know your Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Warden.

If you see anything unusual that might indicate trespassing and/or poaching, let them know.

5. Ensure “No Trespassing” signs are visibly posted around your property.

I also recommend showing up unannounced. Having regular activity on a property is a great way to keep it more secure.

6. Get to know your NRCS agent.

He or she can be invaluable in keeping you apprised of deadlines for programs and can help you fill out forms and conduct business over the internet.

7. Get a capable contractor.

We found a reliable contractor who does a great job and arrives on time, and though he may be a little more expensive than the average worker because he has to drive from San Antonio, the peace of mind of having someone reliable on-call is worth it to us.

8. Don’t take on too many projects at one time.

Over the year and a half it took to renovate our ranch house, I had to learn that because I was not present every day, some projects just took longer to accomplish—and that is okay.

As much as I dream about getting to run off to the ranch every time I want, I have family, community, and work commitments in the city so do the best I can. I hope all of you have success navigating the challenges being an absentee landowner presents, and still find time to hunt, fish, and enjoy the reason you own the property, whatever that may be.

Do you have any other tips I missed? Feel free to leave a comment!

Hat tip to my friend Greg Simons for contributing to this article.

Today I wanted to share an article I had published on a big national hiking website for women!

Have you all seen REI’s new Force of Nature campaign celebrating women in the outdoors? In it, REI is calling those of us who love the outdoors “Forces of Nature” and striving to make the outdoors the “most level playing field on earth.”

You can read all about it HERE on their website. It’s cool!

This photo courtesy of their recent magazine.

In honor of this campaign, REI challenged me and my fellow Hike Like a Woman Ambassadors to write about what it meant to us to be a Force of Nature, and HERE IS MY POST! (<–click on that link  to see it on HLAW’s site!)

“The more women who get outdoors, the more people who will care about a healthy and vibrant future for nature.” — Let’s Be a Force of Nature, For Nature

 

It’s a short piece, and speaks to the core of why I write this blog. As you ladies may know, sharing the outdoors with women in an effort to inspire conservation actions is the driving passion behind every word I write. I hope those of you who come back to this blog feel a little bit more connected to the natural world each time and want to be a part of efforts to care for it.

“Every woman on earth, regardless of class, age, race, or economic status, benefits from the gifts nature gives: clean, healthy flowing rivers, wildlands in which to recreate, fresh produce, food and clean air.”

Grab a cup of joe, head on over to Hike Like a Woman, and check out mine and all of the other great articles on being a Force of Nature! There are about twenty articles being published May 1 – 20.

And be sure to check out REI’s hashtag #forceofnature for some good outdoor travel inspo.

I’m a little overdue in posting about this! We had friends down to my family’s farm recently (and you can read about our turkey hunting experience here) but there was a lot more to the weekend than just hunting!

First, this critter greeted us in the kitchen sink when we arrived.

One thing about farms and ranches, is they are full of surprises! Sadly this is one of the tamest beasts we have found inside the house.

(We released him back into the wild.)

Kristin got a turkey, which was very rewarding and tasty.

And like any good Texan with a Saturday afternoon and some ammunition to spare, we did a little target practice.

Girls just wanna have guns, y’all.

Kristin and her husband Adam have silencers on their guns, and at first I did not understand the need for this menacing sounding feature. But after an hour of shooting pistols and rifles with no jarring noise rattling my eardrums, I started to get it. Then they explained that it helps when hunting to be able to hear animals approach, and not have to wear earplugs, and I could totally see their point of view!

Adam is a great coach and instructor. Both Kristin and Adam volunteer as hunt guides with the Texas Youth Hunting Program, which gives kids the opportunity to go hunting on ranches across the state.

You see me laying on the ground in this picture — HUGE mistake! The sticker burrs were out in force!

Kristin’s collie Jane came to party with Trooper, and even though Trooper was a little stinker I think it could be the beginning of a friendship!

A scarlet tanager paid us a visit while we were taking a break in the afternoon.

And two baby owls kept a close eye on us from their perch in one of our trees!

Their mom did not like us being nearby.

The cactus and huisache were in bloom, and even though those plants are pesky (we have far too many of them and they shade out grass and forb growth) they were very pretty to look at!

A great weekend that like usual, went by too fast but recharged my batteries way more than any weekend I spend in the city.

The next time you are near Breckenridge, Colorado during the summer months, be sure to set aside time for the McCullough Gulch Trail. If you only have time for one trail in Breckenridge, it should be this one!

Summer vacations in the mountains are a must for Texans, don’t you think? After spending the last five days in the cool air of the Rockies, and not in the Texas heat, I am beginning to think so.

Some friends and I hiked the McCullough Gulch Trail near Breckenridge this past weekend, and despite overcast skies and chilly conditions, we could not have been more pleased. My thought is, if 8 people huff and puff up a mountainside in the cold and wind, and still enjoy themselves, then the trail must be good.

In fact, McCullough Gulch Trail is rated as #4 of 68 things to do on TripAdvisor and it has earned their Certificate of Excellence.

The trail starts as a wide dirt road, and follows McCullough Gulch waterfalls up the side of the mountain to a small glacial lake.

I usually look for trails that have some natural feature like falls, a view, a river or lake to keep me entertained. If I’m going to be burning my buns up the side of the mountain, I want some reward–and not just an Oreo in my picnic lunch. (Though that is nice.)

McCullough Gulch definitely delivered on the rewards front.

You pass boulders, fallen trees, gurgling creeks, and slopes with mountain goats, snow patches, and rock slides.

Within the first quarter mile, there is a pretty view of the McCullough Gulch waterfalls, and for most of the hike you are treated to the sound of the stream rushing down the mountain.

The final 200 yards or so to the lake is the most challenging part.

But just think of it as another day at the gym.

Feel free to take a break along the way and look for white mountain goats on the surrounding hills…and catch your breath.

…or stop and admire the view.

(That’s hiker speak for “catch your breath.”)

Because in the end, it’s worth it!

The lake and surrounding snow capped peaks is a treat. And the good news is, it’s all downhill from there.

Plan Your Trip

Who Can Do This

This trail is a work out. That said, it’s not very dangerous–the trail does not involve cliffsides, thank goodness. 🙂

But rather, it’s a challenge because of the continuous 683 feet of elevation gain from the parking lot to the first lake. If you’re a Texas flatlander like myself, and not used to the thin air of Colorado, you will be breathing hard. We certainly were. And you will be acutely aware of your muscles.

I would recommend this for:

• Ages 7 – 70
• Fit and active

We developed a theory on our hike that kids would actually be the best candidate for this trail, because they would view it as a giant playground.

We were all in our 30’s and work out a few times per week, and ended up taking about four 3 to 5-minute long breaks on the way up. For pictures, of course. Not because we couldn’t breathe.

Map & Directions

This trail is 15 minutes south of Breckenridge off of Hwy 9 and 851. Specific directions can be found here: All Trails – McCullough Gulch Trail

When to Start

• 8:30am

It is worth getting up early for this!! Even on vacation. Here is why:

You’ll want to beat the weather that usually rolls in mid afternoon, and you’ll also want to beat the crowds. (Everyone  reading TripAdvisor has discovered this trail.) Nature is so much more romantic without a ton of other people around.

How Much Time to Allow

I’d allow half a day. We hiked for two hours up to the lake, stopped for a picnic, and then the hike down to the car only took about 15-30 minutes.

Plan a Picnic Lunch

This is critical to maximum enjoyment of this trail! McCullough Gulch trail leads to a gorgeous little lake, with another lake just half a mile away. Enjoy lunch beside the first lake and after lunch taking a jaunt up to the second lake.

Whit’s Recommended Lunch

• Chicken Bacon Avocado wraps, using a rotisserie chicken and fresh avocado. Mmm!
• Cookies (essential.)

Parking

Parking is very limited at the trailhead, so unless you get there very early (around 8:30 am) you will either have to park on the side of a narrow road leading to the trailhead, or at the lower parking lot, which is a little over a mile away.

What to Wear

See my posts What to Wear on a Day Hike and 6 Things to Always Pack in Your Day Pack for guidance on this.

Read More

Fore more details on this trail, check out AllTrails.com (<–this link goes straight to the McCullough Gulch Trail page.)

All Trails is a great place to see pictures and reviews of various trails.

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