But what exactly is Turner serious about?

MULLEN, Neb. — Ted Turner's men didn't flinch. As the price climbed past $8 million, $9 million, $9.5 million, they continued bidding at a rapid-fire pace.

When the auction was over, they walked away with what they came for: 26,300 acres of prime ranch land, at a cost of nearly $10 million.

"It hasn't taken long to find out he's serious," said Duane Kime, a rancher and Turner neighbor who was outbid by about $100,000 by the CNN founder.

But what exactly is Turner serious about?

The question gnaws at folks here and in other rural areas of the country where people once thought the billionaire just wanted to play cowboy.

Turner has amassed 2 million acres over the past two decades to become the largest private landowner in the country. He owns land in at least nine states, with most of his holdings in New Mexico, Nebraska, Montana and South Dakota, and is restoring buffalo, cutthroat trout, wolves, black-footed ferrets and other flora and fauna that filled the Plains before the West was won.

His front men say their boss doesn't have a secret agenda — he just wants to be a rancher. But each big buy only heightens the anxiety and gives rise to conspiracy theories, the most ominous of which hold that the swashbuckling Atlanta executive is bent on putting Nebraska ranchers and farmers out of business.

"With him it's such a concern," said Cindy Weller, who lives on the family ranch near Mullen. "You don't know what his plan is and what he's going to do."

Among the theories: Turner is trying to corner the land over the Ogallala Aquifer, the world's largest underground water system, to gain power in the water-starved West.

Or: He is scheming, perhaps with the United Nations, to create a vast wildlife refuge and turn it over to the federal government, removing the land from Nebraska's tax rolls. That could hurt Nebraska schools and other services, which are already starved for cash.

"The entire way of life here is threatened, and it's not just Turner, but he's one reason. The whole area is economically depressed," Weller said.

Mike Phillips, executive director of the Turner Endangered Species Fund, a Turner offshoot, insisted his boss is just a "doggone serious rancher," though one dedicated to preserving the environment.

But Phillips' very presence is making people wonder. He once worked with The Wildlands Project, an environmental group that wants to create a continent-wide network of nature preserves to save endangered species. The Turner Foundation, the charity arm of Turner's empire, has contributed money to it and gives millions to dozens of other environmental groups.

Turner's organizations also have been in discussions with the World Wildlife Fund and the World Conservation Union about conserving bison. The groups have expressed interest in developing a huge park where bison could once again roam the Great Plains.

Actually, Turner's spokesmen say, the driving force behind Turner's land purchases is the desire to make money. Turner's Vermejo Park Ranch in New Mexico, for example, offers weeklong elk hunting excursions at $12,000 a pop. He has also entered the restaurant business with gusto, opening more than 50 Ted's Montana Grill restaurants across the country that feature bison meat.

Turner declined to be interviewed, only accepting written questions answered by spokesman Phillip Evans.

"Our agenda is not to create a vast wildlife preserve," Evans, vice president of Turner Enterprises, said in an e-mail. However, he said, Turner is concerned about preserving animal habitat while ranching. "We think we can do both."

Ron Arnold, head of the Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise and author of several books critical of the environmental movement, said he has studied Turner's activities and come to his own conclusion.

Turner is amassing land for "his own sense of grandiosity," he said. "If he wants to hunt ducks on it, he hunts ducks on it. If he wanted to raise buffalo, he raised buffalo on it. That's all I could conclude."

Turner owns the largest buffalo herd in the country, 45,000 strong, many of them on the 425,000 acres he owns in Nebraska.

The sturdy bison need less attention than cattle, requiring fewer ranch hands. That adds to people's worries here in Hooker County, where there is about one person for every 721 square miles, just 15 kids graduated from high school last year, and the population dropped 3.4 percent from 2000 to 2006.

Another persistent complaint is that Turner's extraordinary ability to outbid just about anyone is driving up land prices, making it tougher for longtime ranchers to expand and keep their operations afloat.

Over the past decade, ranch land in the Sandhills region of the state where Turner owns all his property has more than doubled in price to over $300 an acre.

Kevin McCully, a Mullen-area land broker, said only a part of the increase can be attributed to Turner. Maybe, said Kime, but he just knows he can't compete: The recent auction was the third time in recent years that he was outbid by Turner, who now borders about three-quarters of Kime's ranch.

Kime now wonders whether someday he might have to sell the ranch that has been in the family for generations.

"Turner might be the only one around that would want to buy it," he said.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,313607,00.html

Don't miss it. Feb 2nd -10th

http://www.easternsportshow.com/

Caroline County VA

The "Sparta Buck"

Hunting Nat'l Forest

Great read on hunting the Nat'l forest.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/recreation/hunting/hunting_article.shtml

Hunting clothes. Any thoughts?

Anyone have thoughts on the best hunting clothes?

I have been studying the Raven Wear system. http://www.ravenwear.ca/

Polartec long underwear

Fleece outer wear

Sherpa over wear


Woolpower makes some great wool clothing and socks also. http://www.woolpower.se/en/asp/info_us.asp


More of my picks from this years show in Harrisburg PA


Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show 2007 - America’s largest, most comprehensive cons

Knife Sharpener :: Spyderco Product Details ::

Raven Wear Home Page

King of the mountain, professional hunting consultant, hunting clothes, wool camouflage, extreme weather gear, rugged outdoo

Woolpower - wool, garments, underwear, ull, underkläder, thermo-wear, micron, work-wear, merino, merinoull, klar, underställ

Ghillie Suits.com Inc. We offer the Original Patented Ghillie suits and supplies.

Alberta Whitetail Deer Hunting with Ron Nemetchek

Alberta Trophy Whitetail Deer Hunting, Alberta Mule Deer & Black Bear Hunting, Moose & Elk Hunting Alberta Hunting Guide & O

Bowhunters Hall of Fame Chuck Adams

Albert Wutsch From kill to table, handle venison properly - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

"The Art of Cooking Venison"

Bob Foulkrod.com "Preparing for your next Big Game Hunting Adventure"

The Chameleon Blind

Buckstumps Custom Antler Mounts Specializing in Whitetail Deer Antlers

Welcome to Emmrod.com - Compact Fishing Poles, Compact Fishing Rods, Travel Rods, Fishing Poles, Fishing Gear, Home of the 22" pole with the action of a 6' Rod

How's the hunting out there?

My friend and hunting buddy dropped a large doe early Saturday morning at about 30 yds. A double lung shot the deer only went 20 yds. His first Bow kill! He started bow hunting last year and missed some nice deer. So in the off season he practiced and practiced. It payed off opening morning, congrats!!!!!

Here's a nice story from the RTD. Link

Anyone else see or shoot anything?

A surprise wedding of sorts

http://www.hampshirereview.com/xnm/anmviewer.asp?a=139&print=yes

Deer population needs culling

Hunting restrictions on deer loosened due to overpopulation
Lynchburg News and Advance - Lynchburg,VA,USA
More than 223000 deer were reported killed by hunters in Virginia last year, according to the DGIF Web site. That was a 4 percent increase from the year ...
See all stories on this topic

Bow season opens Tomorrow!

Good link here

Archery Deer Seasons

Archery Either-Sex Deer Hunting

• Deer of either sex may be taken full season during all archery seasons, unless otherwise noted below.
  • Only antlered deer may be taken during the early and late archery deer seasons on PALS (Public Access Lands) in Dickenson County.

Early Archery Season

October 6-November 16: statewide

Late Archery Seasons

December 3-January 5:

• In all areas west of the Blue Ridge (except Clarke and Floyd counties and on private lands in Frederick County).
• In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Amherst (west of Rt. 29), Bedford, Campbell (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), and Nelson (west of Rt. 151).
• On the Chester F. Phelps WMA and on National Forest lands in Frederick County.

December 1-January 5:

• In the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp line), and Virginia Beach.

December 17-January 5:

• In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Floyd, Franklin, Henry, Patrick, and Pittsylvania (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad).

Urban Archery Deer Seasons

September 15-October 5 and January 7-March 29

• Within the incorporated limits of the cities of Colonial Heights, Danville, Emporia, Franklin, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Radford, Richmond, Winchester and the towns of Altavista, Amherst, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Farmville, Independence, Purcellville, Richlands, Rocky Mount, Tazewell, West Point and in Fairfax County.
• During these seasons only antlerless deer may be taken.
• Lists of properties available for hunting are not maintained by the Department or local governments.
• Go to the Urban Archery Season page on this Web site for local restrictions and other urban archery information.

Legal Methods and Restrictions During Archery Deer Seasons

Special restrictions may apply during this season. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Equipment and Local Firearms Ordinances for details.

• Archery tackle only.
• Crossbows are legal.
• Broadhead widths must be at least 7/8-inch wide or expand upon impact to 7/8-inch.
• Bows must be capable of propelling a broadhead arrow at least 125 yards.
• It is unlawful to use arrows to which any drug, chemical or toxic substance has been added or explosive head arrows.
• It is unlawful to have a firearm in possession (see exception for concealed handguns).
• It is unlawful to use dogs.

Do you own or have a favorite GPS unit

I own a discontinued Garmin model, GPS III Plus, I find it meets all my needs and more, although I wish it had a stationary compass. The compass only works while moving.



I'm shopping for a unit for my 19 yo son.

I'm looking at these two: link

Anyone have any opinions or comments?