Post by Big Joe on Aug 24, 2016 21:23:25 GMT -5
While we were at the café this morning the local ranger came in and ask what i was doing this afternoon. I told him had to take the tater to school at 12:30 but could be free after that. Well me and the two newbs got an invite to come out to the state owned range and help them mine the berms. The one hitch was could I bring my little tractor with the front end scoop..... I figured we would load it on a big truck and that was that. Would get a thank you front he wildlife dept. and be done with it. This is isn't the first time we have done this, but today was a change.... after I dropped off tater and made arrangements to get him picked up we hooked up the trailer got the tractor and headed out. We were just about to leave when the ranger called and told me I might need to get a good tarp too.
Ok, got one and when we got there we had about 4 other helpers all with pickups. This was including the rangers wife in hers.
I was starting to think we may have got roped into a full blown fix or replace bench parts, That has happened too. But instead he had me scoop the face of the berms and put two scoops in each truck. Each guy left when he was loaded and all was working out fine. I got his wife's truck loaded and she got out and ask if I needed help spreading the tarp on my trailer. Then the ranger told me I could scoop the rest and put in on the trailer or all I wanted anyway. Anyway I have a 16ft trailer loaded to the max setting out with 4x4s under each corner to save the springs until we can get it unloaded. I'm guessing nearly 4 tons of mixed dirt and lead. Ended up letting the oldest drive the tractor back with the ranger behind us all the way. Only took us 2 1/2 hrs to drive back, the little thing isn't a speed demon but I also told the boy not to go fast enough he was afraid of it. So think of 24 miles at 8 miles an hour LOL.
Got back and as we had coffee while the boys jacked the corners up and blocked them, then covered it. The ranger told me the guy who was supposed to haul it to the usual recyclers wanted to be paid for it along with his free fuel. His wife came up with the idea of getting the guys that usually do all the work to keep it up and give it to them. They are going to close the range Oct 1 for a complete rebuild over the winter and wildlife dept got a grant to pay for doing all the work and to buy the supplies. So we are going to put in concrete slabs with roofs over new benches and even new target holders. I got silly and ask him just how long did they think it would be before it gets all shot up. He chuckled and told me the new surprise is it will have a full time ranger there all year long starting in the spring. From what he said they are raising the berms by another 8 to 10 feet so I'm guessing a dozer will be leveling out the lanes and pushing it up the existing berms to help raise them.
Now I just have to figure out what and where to put my bounty for now. I know there will be a lot more dirt and gravel by volume than lead. Dang I guess being nice the ranger paid off today. I figure the boys did their community service today so I will pay then to unload it. We may have to dodge the weather while doing it though. I really don't want barrels of mud all hardened up with the lead in that..