Fence Lines

[Torvy]

Texas stock laws by county

I'm glad this topic was started as I didn't know the laws of the state. I live in Bowie County and evidently there is a stock law (meaning closed range) for most livestock.

Thanks for this. We are just a few counties SW of you and we are open range. Looks like I have some fencing in my future.

 

[Torvy]

I'm aware that in Texas this won't work. As mentioned in an earlier post, it is cattle rustling. If I need to have the cattle removed, it has to be done by the County Sherriff.

That booklet posted by two_bit was very informative. It confirmed what I suspected. So far, the two of us are on good terms. But, his cows got out again - two days in a row. This is a closed range county and they were out on a Farm to Market road. Not good with the hills and low visibility we have out here. I help with what I can, but I've never run cattle so I don't have anything to deal with them. No ATV and they are faster than I am. I realized very quickly that trying to coral 20 cows while I'm on foot, just isn't going to work.

Need a trained cattle dog.

 

[oosik]

Check the local laws in your county/state. What is required here, where I live, will have absolutely no bearing on what may be required where you live.

 

[tradosaurus]

That is called Rustling and they can still hang you for it in Texas. Some old laws are never recinded, like"It is illegal to take a bath in a horse trough on Polk Avenue in Amarillio Texas"

It's only rustling if you keep the money from the sale.

 

[CobyRupert]

I have a neighbor in Texas who put up an electric wire fence. It looks to be just one wire.

Maybe call the sale barn near you next time you have cattle on your property and have them come pick it up for processing. Give your neighbor the sale proceeds minus a 10% surcharge.

….just make sure it’s not a pregnant cow you drive to the processor in Texas. They’ll fine you $10,000 and then hang you.

 

[tradosaurus]

….just make sure it’s not a pregnant cow you drive to the processor in Texas. They’ll fine you $10,000 and then hang you.

You in the wrong century there bub.

 

[Cat385B]

Are you comfortable with the fence location or is a survey in order?
I’d offer to pay for the survey and the fence cost goes to the neighbor if it’s on the lot line.

 

[tradosaurus]

I'm aware that in Texas this won't work. As mentioned in an earlier post, it is cattle rustling. If I need to have the cattle removed, it has to be done by the County Sherriff.

That booklet posted by two_bit was very informative. It confirmed what I suspected. So far, the two of us are on good terms. But, his cows got out again - two days in a row. This is a closed range county and they were out on a Farm to Market road. Not good with the hills and low visibility we have out here. I help with what I can, but I've never run cattle so I don't have anything to deal with them. No ATV and they are faster than I am. I realized very quickly that trying to coral 20 cows while I'm on foot, just isn't going to work.

Your neighbor has the responsibility to pay for the fence to keep his cows from wandering. I'm hoping you get a get resolution to your situation. No one likes to be the bad guy but if you have to call the Sheriff that on your neighbor.

When we first moved on our property (45 acres and mostly timber) a few of the neighbors cows got out on our property as well as the Farm to Market road. The neighbor upgrade his fence and haven't seen a cow on our property in 3 years.

I don't know what you do if the Sheriff won't help you and the neighbor doesn't keep his cows on his property. I'm sure the Sheriff would respond quickly if you sent the neighbors cattle (on your property) to the sale barn.

 

[3Ts]

Are you comfortable with the fence location or is a survey in order?
I’d offer to pay for the survey and the fence cost goes to the neighbor if it’s on the lot line.

We had a survey done when we bought our place and the fence is on the surveyed line, except for 1 corner where it is about 2' off at a jog in the property line, makes a difference of about 10 sq ft. I'm ok with that. However, if he bulldozes the line, I'd want a surveyor to re-lay out the line, and even though it's not required, I'd offer some limited help with the costs. (He bought 384 acres and I'm only 1 of a dozen families that abut his property and he's coming from a farm that is being turned into housing developments so I suspect he can afford it.)

 

[DieselBound]

Deal with the pressing issue FIRST. Then go for the longer-term solution: aiming high right off the bat might over-escalate.

For now I'd ask him to run a hot wire. Pretty simple and effective, and, cheap. Or, you could do it. Requires diligence (tattle-tales can be helpful if you can locate them such that you can see them from, say, your house or such; if they ain't blinking then it's time to put the boots on...).