Texas Drifter: Update Ranch Scout Notes
Marshall’s Law Dateline – Only world of sanity for many ranch scouts like Texas Drifter is their ranch scouting duties. Why no politically correct affirmative action standards in ranch scouts’ environments. Getting careless or being stupid for all creatures including people equally results in being some other creature’s supper.
Seems to be lots of talking from pilgrims and everyone in between to professional outdoor types about “game cameras”; consider following criteria for game cameras.
Some criteria for game cameras first know camera’s limitations; second be able to constantly push camera to camera’s limitations.
Also, be able to identify objectives for game camera’s uses. Objectives like:
1. intelligence about people
2. intelligence about predators
3. intelligence about “harvest” animals
4. know tactics which vary from above specific objectives
As for performance producing equipment, Texas Drifter can provide unsolicited earned compliments for Moultrie game cameras. Why earned, their products perform, and follow up service when needed is better. Above compliment is based on personal experiences.
Recall repetition is good training tool. Rules are constant and apply to all humans and critters alike, be careless or stupid and end up hurt, crippled, or dead.
Following writing exercise materials are based on field experiences, and sections of class “Art and Ethics of Surveillance”. I have been certified to teach to private sector investigators by State of Texas. Additional reference materials can be reviewed at Library Entry # 775 - "Texas Drifter: Conservation Basics Revisited".
Random notes:
- Start with selecting ranch scout’s client, which is different than client’s client selection process which is usually limited to profit motives. Ranch scout should inform their client that a mutual probation period will exist both ways. Old adage: bosses money, boss is always right even when boss is not; still working for a fool or someone who knows more than God can get a ranch scout crossing lines that can not always be re-crossed.
- Ranch management should have liability waiver signed by all visitors, hunters/harvesters and others provided access to ranch to keep property owners from being subjected to law suit lottery.
- Ranch scouts best tools are physical condition, knowledge, experience, mental abilities, and cameras: personal and fixed remote.
- Letting human or critter predators get behind you; makes funnel frontal defense strategy less efficient. Theory, decreasing this which decreases that is subject matter for another writing exercise.
- Keep all artificial noise to a minimum, can not hear what is going on around you with artificial noise like “golden oldies” or talk radio shows diverting your undivided attention from your work environment, No big deal until you step in a hole or on a rattlesnake which you should have seen or heard doing your work, again artificial noise divides your undivided attention. About only artificial noise I tolerate is radio weather channel updates as weather plays major role in ranch scouting work.
- Learn ranch components subtle differences. For example behavior differences between hardened feral dogs and someone’s pet mutt out partying.
Recreation ranch security guidelines:
1) Prevention through high profile status.
2) Tactics: observe (surveillance) and report (use incident reports and other necessary written, visual, audio equipment).
3) Reduce criminal and civil liability exposure with the following:
- No asking for ID (unless company policy).
- No pretending to be law enforcement.
- No physical detaining (avoids false imprisonment charges).
- No interfering in child custody disputes.
- No arresting (avoids potential kidnapping or false arrest charges due to lack of attention to four arrest criteria and other constitutional requirements).
- No search of person or their private property unless ordered by supervisor (avoid assault and civil rights complaints).
- No abusive language (avoids terrorist threats complaints).
- No interrogations (avoids false terrorist threats complaints).
- No fighting (avoids assault complaints).
- No pursuit chasing on premises (avoids unnecessary potential civil liability injury suits).
- No leaving premises (“assigned and confined rule”).
- No cuffing (avoids improper equipment use civil suits).
- No touching or disturbing evidence (unless necessary to preserve).
- More “no’s” added to list as needed.
4) Have attorney review third party contract relationship between security personnel and customers.
5) Do not violate laws.
6) Report all law breakers to client.
7) Understand client’s policies for customer “careless” and non-sporting behavior (like hunting, guns, and alcohol are never good combination).
8) Do not see or hear what not your business.
9) Necessary force used only for self defense.
10) Let professional law enforcement do their jobs, and assume liability for their jurisdiction and conduct.
Observations: Good resources for addition information are other ranch scouts and security-law newsletters. Also, applying Texas State Board of Investigators and Security Agencies standards’ based on public sector law enforcement to private ranch security can get ranch scouts and their ranch manager or ranch owners sued.
Never forget, ranch scouts are employed to protect ranch owners’ property which in today’s litigious society means keeping them from becoming victims of law suit lottery. Potential law suit predators can include: family members, socialite visitors, employees, hunter or photographer customers, illegal immigrants “passing through”, greenist environmental terrorists getting hurt or having rights violated while engaging in acts of terrorism against property owner.
Occasionally managing critter poachers mostly involves old, injured or displaced animals. Efforts are made to identify “right” poacher” by taking plaster casts of tracks of offending animal. This policy is consistent with my “avoid and let live” standard which seems to be less and less respected by more and more radical environmentalists. My initial strategy for both kinds of unwanted poachers is to “scare them off”.
Greenism or radical environmentalism is an anti-property rights anti-ethical capitalism, and anti inalienable rights movement based on Marxism, and fascism by using governments to regulate private property until private property though owned by private citizens is controlled by government not private citizens paying property taxes on land they own in name only.
Several years ago, radical environmentalists would cut game fences, trespass with ATV’s minus mufflers to chase game out of area to disrupt animal population control hunts. Guess they thought watching animals suffer from starvation was less cruel than hunting. A separate writing exercise or even entire text could be devoted to managing environmental terrorists who know less about protecting environment then (reader can fill in word).
Explaining not complaining, Marshall’s Law Townhall writing exercises are intended to portray current events in America. As contemporary government policies are evolving into scenarios stranger than fiction, conclusion might be that fictitious short stories are non-fiction writing exercises. Example, non-fiction short story screen play concept entitled “Last Letter.”
"Last Letter"
Players:
Ranch Owner
Texas Drifter
Dog
Author of Letter
Act I
Ranch Owner: Drifter, postmaster gave me a letter he said might be for one of my workers. Envelope is addressed to Richard Blake (hands letter to Texas Drifter).
Drifter: (takes letter and quips) Thanks.
Rancher Owner: Did not know your name was Richard Blake.
Drifter: Did not say it was. (Dog growls at Ranch Owner as Drifter turns to walk away.)
Ranch Owner: Never did like that dog; Drifter, know why I keep you around?
Drifter (stops and turns half way around): Then things are even, Dog never liked you either. Why you keep me around, good work for ten dollars a day; plus food, shelter, and expenses.
Ranch Owner: That too, mostly cause trespassing, vandalism to, stealing from, and poaching on this ranch has completely stopped since you signed on as security scout.
Texas Drifter: If I told you how I do my job, you would cut my meager wages, or run me and Dog off. I half way like working here; so do not change that by bringing me any more mail.
Ranch Owner: Go read your mail; that is last letter I will ever bring you.
Texas Drifter: Sounds fair enough, here is a list of some supplies Dog and I need.
Sundown next day: Drifter sets pot of coffee and metal bowl full of beer on small camp fire, and opens letter.
Dearest Friend,
Just a few words to dispel your anxieties about man made natural disaster camps; there are probably forty thousand to fifty thousand citizens here. Camp is fenced in to protect us from outsiders wanting in to escape worsening conditions in this part of America. We are truly lucky ones despite less than perfect conditions. We at least have security, and solace knowing our federal government is doing everything it can to provide for us.
Sanitary conditions are an open ditch. Food is served once a day and consists of liquid powdered milk over uncooked rice. Medical care is limited to barbiturates. Healthy camp residents are engaged in constructing red brick buildings to be used as showers. Rumors abound that our Emperor, will visit to dedicate new showers we are all looking forward to enjoying.
I bribed one of guards with my wedding rings to mail you this letter to let you know even though times may be hard, government is doing everything it can to help us rebuild ours’ and America’s future.
(Texas Drifter crumbles letter and envelope and gently drops into camp fire.)
Texas Drifter whispers: You know Dog, tears still never change anything.
(Picks up coffee pot and asks Dog): Want some coffee in your beer?
Dog (smiles by bearing teeth with soft growl):
Drifter: Just asking, I finish my coffee; you finish your beer; be time to go earn our meager wages.
Here’s hoping that reader will enjoy their life; as it is only one they have.
