Month: May 2018

Gone Now

This video tells the story of the Sheldon horses in NW Nevada, former inhabitants of Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge.  Rounded up a few years ago.  The area is managed by the FWS, not the BLM, although a BLM contractor was involved in the gathers.

The size of the refuge is 574,000 acres, and at the time of the removals there were 800 horses and 90 burros roaming the land, for a stocking rate of 1.6 animals per thousand acres, almost twice the rate of your average HMA in Nevada.

The gathers themselves, sometimes difficult to watch, are an effect, not a cause.  Instead of criticizing the contractor, question the basis on which they were justified.  Does everything appear to be legit?

Sheldon-Horses-1

For example, this section of the SNWR brochure indicates that plants grow back quickly after a fire but grow slowly after grazing.  Does that sound right?  What happens to the risk of fire when you allow vegetation to grow unchecked?

These Women Don’t Fit the Narrative

What is a narrative?  A story that explains why things are the way they are, or why the current situation is unacceptable and must be changed.  The farther from the truth, the more outrageous, the better.  Only fools believe the narrative.

Example: Black folks are victims of white oppression, they’re not responsible for their station in life and only the Democrat Party can save them.  Standards must be lowered and concessions must be made.  The Founding Fathers were aristocratic slave owners who crafted the Constitution to favor white people.  The system must be changed.

That last statement, of course, was the goal all along, but it had to be justified (which is why you invent a narrative).  Another example: Global warming.  Goal: Massive government involvement in your life.

The narrative for WHB contains several elements, here’s one of them: They were simply turned loose or escaped from nearby ranches, no special significance.

Home Defense

If you’re in a rural area, you’ll want a means of defending yourself, your family, your livestock and your property (assuming you live in a state where it’s legal to do so).

Your arsenal should include some or all of the following, plus 5000 rounds of ammo (at least) and a working knowledge of said weapons and ammunition.

  • Handgun with night sights and weapon light
  • Shotgun, 18″ barrel, with mag extension, night sights, weapon light
  • Semi-auto rifle configured for close quarters, 16″ barrel, weapon light, red dot sight
  • Semi-auto rifle configured for medium range, 18″ barrel, magnified optic
  • Bolt-action rifle for long range, 20 to 24″ barrel, magnified optic

A common handgun size is 9 mm.  Ammo is usually plentiful and inexpensive.  If you’re nostalgic for the Old West, get a Single Action Army (Colt .45).

The shotgun would likely fall into the tactical category, 12 gauge, with an assortment of rifled slugs and buckshot.

The 16″ semi-automatic rifle could be chambered in 5.56.  Bulk ammo (55 and 62 grain) runs around 40 cents per round, match ammo (75 grain) costs about 90 cents per round.

The 18″ rifle would probably be chambered in .308.  Match ammo (168 grain) costs about 90 cents per round.  Like the 5.56, get extra mags and pre-load them.

The bolt action rifle can be also used for hunting.  It can be chambered in .308 or something larger.  Ammo may cost $1.00 to $2.00 per round.  The optic should cost as much or more as the rifle.

You’ll also want eye and ear protection.

Basic safety rules for guns:

  • Keep them in a safe (but accessible) place
  • Always assume they’re loaded
  • Don’t put your finger on the trigger until ready to fire
  • Never point them at anything you wouldn’t want to destroy
  • Know what’s in the background of your shot

There are many Youtube channels, many videos and many opinions out there so take some time to learn what’s right for you.  A few examples:

Hickok45

Sootch00

Mrgunsngear

Iraqveteran8888

And finally, The Nutnfancy Project, an all-around gear and adventure channel.  He’s based in Utah, so you may even see a few wild horses in his videos.

Quick Tour of Virginia City

Aerial view of Virginia City posted to this FB page.  Starts with some mining ruins, including hoisting works and tailings.

The view beginning at -1:37 is to the east, away from town, followed by a view to the west, towards town, with a snow-covered Mt. Davidson in the background (originally Sun Mountain).

St. Mary’s church appears at -1:11, followed by the Fourth Ward School at -1:06.

Next is the Silver Terrace Cemetery (NE part of town) at -0:57.  The Silverland Inn is at the center of the frame at -0:32.

The view at -0:12 is to the north, showing some of the ‘alphabet’ streets.  The main drag running through town is C Street.  Mine owners and superintendents lived up the hill on A and B Streets while the rank-and-file lived in the lower part of town, D Street, E street, etc.

The Virginia Range mustangs occasionally pass through the area, as noted in this post.

H/T St. Mary’s in the Mountains.

What is PZP?

The common name is Porcine Zona Pellucida, a protein derived from pig ovaries which interferes with conception.

According to the EPA Pesticide Fact Sheet, it’s a tool for management of nuisance feral and wild horses and burros.  The technical registrant is the Humane Society of the United States.

The substance is injected intramuscularly by hand-held syringe, syringe mounted on a jabstick or by syringe dart fired from a CO2 cartridge-powered projection system.

The goal is to have fewer of these little guys running around on the range.  You have to wonder how anyone who agrees with this can be called a wild horse advocate.

IMG_5097a