Free grazers were not welcome on the range where Robert Duvall aka Bluebonnet “Boss” Spearman and his cattle herd sidekick Charley (Postel) Waite played by Kevin Costner held camp with their cows on open range grass. The local cattle baron and landowner did not take kindly to Boss feeding his cows on local grass, even though it was perfectly legal in those days before private lands were fenced. And so the drama unfolded in my all-time favorite movie I have now seen at least 20 times. The story line behind Open Range was really about the “invasion” upon seemingly private held grasslands (presumably “owned” by adverse possession) by an outsider with no vested interest in the property.
By Dr. John J. Woods, a contributing author
The local cattle baron felt he owned the land, because his cattle had been grazing on it for years. Thus he argued that the grass freely growing there belonged to him for his cows to use exclusively, though in reality it was public land at the time. Still viral hostilities resulted from outsiders coming into another’s domain. But Boss Spearman and his gunslinger cow punching partner defended their grazing rights to the death of the cattle baron and his collection of enforcers. Open Range was an epic tale of outsiders using public lands when the locals wanted to secure the property only for their use.
Fast Forward
The story line portrayed in Open Range continues to play itself out even today. Just a few years ago I did some web site research on a National Wildlife Refuge I was interested in hunting for wild turkey. I got the open season dates and drove the 60 miles to survey the open public lands (though under Federal control) for a hunt.
As I drove down the main property access road, I stopped to read a regulations board at one of the parking areas. I was a bit amazed there were no other vehicles parked. Within a few minutes the federal ranger or whatever they call the game wardens on federal lands drove into the lot. I inquired about the turkey hunting and was promptly told there was no open season that year. He summarily dismissed my having found the information on the NWR web site.
I left dismayed that I could not hunt. A few miles down the road I stopped to take some photos of the refuge signs when a state wildlife truck pulled up. I told the guy the story and he just laughed that the “ranger” was at it again, telling people there was no season when there was in fact an open season. Turns out the local ranger ran everybody off, because he felt like the federal land was his own personal place to hunt and he didn’t want anybody else there.
I filed a report with the nearby federal lands office. A year later I revisited the property and met a very friendly young man who told me the previous guy had been relieved of his duties. This ranger offered to show me around and spent over an hour with me, mainly I think because I was an outdoor writer that could tell a positive story on the place. I did.
So the local guy just like the cattle baron in the movie felt like I was invading his space. He wanted me out of there, because the property was “his”. There are a lot of lessons to be learned here by preppers searching for a hideaway place to Bug Out. It’s easier said than done.
Picking a Bug Out Location
I have a suspicion that many preppers of modest income levels are not financially able to go out into the rural areas of their state or region to purchase Bug Out land or a property with housing available. They may be looking for public land options to squat or camp out during a SHTF event. However, the flip side is that some would be able to do this. Regardless you just have to be careful in the selection process to make sure you don’t “invade” other’s space or that you get labeled as an outsider. You want to give time to assimilate into the area to become as a local even though you may only stay or visit periodically.
You will want to make some neighbors there. Buy some stuff locally, and generally be seen in the community. Eat at a local restaurant, hire a local plumber, etc. Maybe attend church in the area or participate in local festivals, town activities or whatever to blend in. You may discover other families that just come to the area on weekends as a getaway. Ideally you can initiate this planning soon to start the welcoming process so you fit in if and when a SHTF event does hit.
I am also guessing there are a certain amount of preppers that are thinking about holding out at some secret locale on a state land or federal national park, refuge or maybe some BLM land somewhere. Make darn sure you research these areas so you have some profile of the local population of citizens. Remember what happened to the family in Alaska that was building a home in a new area. They were shot at and run off by the locals.
For example, I have had a gun pointed at my head by out-of-state hunters in a national forest in my home state. They informed me I was hunting in their woods. Who was I to argue with 10 hunters, some carrying 30-round magazine AR-15s? Sure as heck, I got out of there. I sure would have hated to be camping there and have that bunch walk in on me. See my point? If your Bug Out plan is to utilize public lands, then make sure you try out your plan on as many occasions as possible to see how it all works out. This is not only a good time to test your camping skills and Bug Out practice execution, but also learn more about the area, local traffic, visitors, and resources that might contribute to a long(er) term SHTF.
If you get harassed, then you will know up front that the area might not be a good choice. You have to be wise enough to know in this day and age that nothing private is sacred any longer. Campers all the time encounter thieves of their gear, vehicle break-ins, and unannounced visits. It can be unsettling to say the least.
Just keep in perspective what things could be like if a real SHTF event was unfolding. Those unprepared are going to be looking for easy prey. And caution has to be used with any kind of an armed defense just shy of a full bore assault on you or your family. These will be dicey times. And so goes the argument for teaming up with other people as well.
So, an “open range” might not be so open even today with so-called public access. The best option would be to secure some Bug Out location on private property even if you have to lease something. If you can’t do that, then you just have extra homework to do to locate a secure place to Bug Out.
Photos By:
Dr. John J. Woods
Heidi G
Nicholas Rinaldi
35 comments
scary sad and true!!! years ago 3 or 4 of us had gone to another little town 15 or 20 miles away and started going out with some of the local girls. some of the redneck white trash told us if we came back we wouldn’t leave alive so some of em never went back to that town me I just laughed at em and married the one I was chasing
Interesting article! Depending upon the population density where one lives, the type of event say a terrorist nuclear attack, you could have a million people on the road, on the streets and everywhere you look there would be absolute panic and mayham.
It wouldn’t be so bad if one lived in more remote areas of the country but in concentrated areas would be crawling with people looking to hide, get away, camp etc. To find real isolation you are going to have to be very well equipped and you will have to be willing to walk a long distance through mountains. You will need food and water and medical supplies and those without it will be looking for those who do have it. This is where survival of the fittest will play itself out. How well can you defend what little you may have to survive with, how hard are you willing to fight to protect yourself, your family and resources?
In times like these I believe Americans will come together to overcome whatever catastrophe we may be faced-with but make no mistake, most people will not be prepared and will be desperate and willing to kill you so they can take your gear, food etc. If you are a prepper you shouldn’t be telling everybody. You are making yourself a huge target if SHTF. Keep it quiet and discreet. Plan ahead, find a place, go camping and hiking to explore remote areas especially areas that are accessible by SUV or off-road ATF if possible. From there you must walk in where there is no access by vehicle. You must be well stocked and well armed!
God Bless America
I live in Deschutes County, Oregon, which is 85% public land. But there are people who think that certain parcels of land are “theirs,” because they’ve hunted it for years. In central Idaho in 2010, my party of elk hunters met another group that felt that way. These situations will only get worse if the stuff hits the fan. People thinking about “heading for the hills” during a disaster better think twice: http://www.survivalcommonsense.com/five-reasons-why-heading-for-the-hills-during-an-emergency-is-a-bad-ideafeed/
anything west of montana down to arizona is mostly federal land the Fed owns… anyone that has preconceived notions about what they will or wont do to stay alive. may as well give up their bugout plan and sit down and roll over… if the shit hits the fan you are one of 2 things. a survivor or a victim.
I do not understand the bug out mentality. Unless you have a specific stocked location, how long do you think you will last in the woods? I think heading into the woods to survive is a fantisy for the vast majority of people. Personally nothing short of radioactive fall out will have me leaving my home aka every resource I would have avaliable to me.
Leaving your home may be necessary if you live in a city. I bought a rural home and have to drive 45 minutes to work everyday. Some may be able to hunker down in place but others won’t. Don’t discount what some may have to do to survive. If you have food and supplies and live in a heavily populated area you will quickly become a victim while the hungry campers still breathe in the woods. My 2 cents worth
In the case of radioactive fallout you Don’t want to leave your home. Shelter in place for a month, Then leave if you have to.
Novice is right. There is no point to bugging out. Just stay home everyone. Nothing to see here but grizzly bears, rattlesnakes, mosquitos, and armed locals.
Actually, unless one is both prepared and practiced for a bugout, you won’t last long without either some new best friends or divine intervention.
Hey doc Montana a little off topic. but what gun would you recommend for a bug out/handy rifle. but not an AR or AK.
neither one fits me right.
Plus they will attract unwanted attention.
Check out the keltec su-16, it is an interesting alternative to the AR-15. It takes the same magazines, and is ideal for bugout because of it’s light weight and folding ability. However, it does have more recoil and is less readily modified.
Hey doc Montana a little off topic. but what gun would you recommend for a bug out/handy rifle. but not an AR or AK.
neither one fits me right.
Plus they may attract unwanted attention.
I tend to like short guns.
Hi Lance,
I get that question often so I wrote up my suggestions here.
http://professorprepper.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-top-5-prepper-guns-period.html
Happy reading.
20gauge is lighter.
than 12 gauge and gives you good options. And I am looking at the Rossi ranch hand any experience with it?
As you’ve read, I’m not a fan of the scattergun for the bugout. But to answer your question I have no experience with the particular Rossi you mention but I cut my shotgun teeth on a bolt action 20g, and currently have in my safe a favorite in a Savage 20g 3″ mag over-under .22 mag. Love that little woodstocked pair of pipes. A toggle on the exposed hammer switches between barrels and the whole thing breaks down short and quick.
The venerable deer cartridge, the .30-30 in terms of ballistics is the equivalent to the 7.63×39 used in the AK family of rifles. It can serve as a tactical rifle as well as a hunting rifle.
Thank but I can’t hunt with the 30-30 in Ohio. However I can hunt with a .357mag
So I was thinking about a lever rifle
In .357mag and a wheel gun in .357mag.
Sorry doc Montana but I don’t have the
Money to spend on an AR15 or glock.
With where I live all possible engagement will be around 1/200yards. and an AR will not blend in I could get away with MOLLE,camo,bdu, or standard looking guns Though.
On futher looking at the Rossi ranch hand it is classified as a pistol by the atf. so I could not
Get it till I turn 21 well technically I can’t get any gun.
Till I turn 18 but i can use guns that my parents or grandparents have.
when bugging out I think for my area a shot gun is a good choice and a 22lr pistol.
Doc
That’s kinda my point. Say you have young children or elderly in your party. How long can you expect them to last living out of a tent and a back pack? Forest fire, yes get the F out. Imminent nuke attack, obviously. Even if I lived in a city I would plan to shelter in place. Let the ill prepared duke it out for a while. Once things die down a little then perhaps I’d try to slip out.
Just because you don’t plan on bugging out…doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a bugout plan. There are a myriad of reasons you could be driven from your fortress. A forest fire bearing down on you, an armed mob of looters, a flood, etc. It would be prudent to have a cache or 2 buried on the way to or at some secluded location. You may just need a safe place to regroup or meet up with others.
Bugging out is a last resort
Dr. Woods
I knew a Dr. Woods that worked on a vocational campus in Forrest County Ms. He gave me a sheep skin to display knives that I made on. He moved to Jackson Ms. and my wife and I have moved to east Tn. Would love to hear from him. He also wrote sporting stories for a local news paper.
Thanks Len
Here’s DJ bio page at survival cache
http://survivalcache.com/dr-john-j-woods/
Here’s DJ bio page at survival cache
http://survivalcache.com/dr-john-j-woods/
fortunately you lived to tell about it..
I don’t know, but it seems like 30 round mags are a bit excessive for a
“hunter”. a guy got himself murdered for his AR, at the range here in PA, a while back. every now and then people here do get robbed of a deer, at gunpoint. I’ve heard of it enough to wonder how I would handle the situation if it happened to me. (aside from changing underwear)
any thoughts about this, anyone?
IDU
my thought is illegal activity including drug growing ,storage, and running.
the guys who mow our cemetery here in town noticed something odd- a trail through the unused, uncut area. they followed it and found marijuana growing. the police came and cleaned it out but the growers were not found.
now the area is watched. if you met runners of hard drugs you could be in trouble. thirty guys would frighten away the game. you can bet they weren’t there to hunt–at least not wildlife!
that’s what occurred to me also. PA is about the last holdout, we still have laws against semi-auto hunting. (unconstitutional, and maybe soon to change)
… but having some Numbskull deliberately point a gun at you, will change your life. and if there are ten of them and only one or two “us”…
can I react quickly enough to somehow survive this?
they “got the drop” on me, they will probably take my piece so I can’t shoot them….
my first instinct would be to run for cover, rather than stay and listen to what their spokesman has to say. might this work?
When it comes to SHTF scenario, he who can control the area will ‘own it’ whether it is private or public land!!! Why you ask, because there will be NO LAW, that’s why! So no matter where you choose be prepared to defend it!!!
You should not believe everything you see on TV. I am referring to your Alaska reference. That did not actually happen. It was inserted. for dramatic effect for ratings. Nothing more.
Fact is that family has 30 plus indictments, in Alaska. (Most Fraud related)
And 90% of the Reality TV shot in Alaska is fake. I am a life long Alaskan who is out of state for medical reasons right now. But I have heavy ties to the area. Including the people working with the TV people. 90% of it is fake. Even Buying Alaska is not real, other than people do want to buy homes. The rest is staged.
So please before you pick a location. make sure your research is ACTUAL and not Television only.
one thing I notices that WASNT in this article why not bug out to a CAMP GROUND find one that’s a LONG way off the beaten path and hole up there some of these places have bathrooms showers running water all the stuff that’s really needed
I live in rural Oregon, and this article is dead-on. The nearest metro area is Portland, with nearly two million souls in and about it.
Here’s the funny part (okay, not funny, but serious): Even though PDX has the highest percentage of outdoor camping/hunting/fishing/hiking/kayaking/biking types, and the overall fittest population around? The news is chock-full of stories about perfectly young and healthy outdoorsy folks who got lost in nearby woods, then being found dead of starvation, exposure (usually exposure), drowning, occasional violence, and similar.
Mind you, these are gorgeous forests which are green almost year-round. No shortage of water. In spite of that, these woods are treacherous as hell – hidden holes, a sizable population of large animals who have no problem with eating people, steep cliffs, and –oh yeah– there’s the fact that for most of the year, *everything* is slick from the rain.
Oh, I forgot to mention one other thing: most of the woods are populated (albeit sparsely) with folks who have a sizable arsenal of firearms, and have no compunctions about using them on trespassers.
I already know that when SHTF, most of PDX will move in one of three directions (as North is blocked by the Columbia River, leaving only a few chokepoints as bridges.) Any rate, these three directions are determined by location. Those West of the Willamette river will make for the coast. Those East of it will make for the Columbia Gorge and Mt. Hood. A few living south of town will start pushing for Salem, with the idea of making for Bend or perhaps further southwards.
Few of them will make it. The major highways (e.g. Hwy 30, 26, and 6) will become criminal paradises. The forests will swallow herds of people whole – especially if SHTF hits in Winter. Why? Extreme weather at the higher elevations/passes, most logging roads are gated everywhere (and are highly confusing), and most back-roads are barely passable for 4WD vehicles, let alone anything else. Most city-dwellers here do not own a firearm, mostly for ideological reasons. Those who do have one don’t know what to do with it outside of keeping in a bedroom drawer “for protection”, or to go hunting with it once a year… and few of them have enough ammunition to do very much with it for long.
Long story short – yeah, not seeing it happen.
hey, Merry Christmas O Q.
Heya – sorry I’ve been mostly under-the-radar; life has been more than a little eventful of late. 🙂
I don’t think many cops (including rangers) will be wearing their uniforms post-SHTF, since that shiny badge will make them a prime target to the ‘bad’ guys! Don’t go to established camp grounds, the two-legged predators will be there, maybe in uniform! Pre-positioned, pre-established shelters in hard-to-get-to places that blend in with the surroundings, like steep hill/mountains sides near (200yards) to running water sources are best! Personally, I plan to stay put, but I have three plan B’s in place. Good Luck!
You have to realize that pot farmers and smugglers occupy lots of public land and they do not want bug out Bob setting up camp next door. Large areas of the US have heavy smuggling traffic to the point that they have had to build fortifications to protect wilderness areas from the truck traffic Pot farms are every where as are insane religious cults and outlaws hiding out in bands. Going into the woods is stepping back 200 yrs as far as law enforcement. I have run into insane religious cults and bands of homeless kids living in the woods. You take your chances out there
My thought and opinion. Take it for what it is worth. Why do you want to make yourself a volunteer refugee. It gets cold outside in the winter folks. Nope staying put as long as I can then if have to I will shoot anybody who tries to stop me from leaving when time comes. If I did well then I am bugging out to a better place