((cow moos))
((metal gate clanking))
[narrator] Monty Harkins and his son Jase are rounding
up some of their loose cattle. Keeping the cows in their place is something the Harkins
family has been doing for five generations.
[Monty Harkins] When I was 14 my dad asked me if I wanted
to be a partner in the ranch. I said Yes I do. So I bought in at 14. My name is Monty
Harkins, and we�re at the Harkins Ranch.
((music))
[narrator] The Harkins Ranch is 36,000 acres of Trans
Pecos desert. Its rocky. Its dry. Its dusty. Its windy. And its been in the family since
1905.
[Jase Harkins] I�m Jase Harkins and Im fifth generation
here at Harkins Ranch.
((music))
[narrator] Monty and Jase do the heavy lifting on the
ranch. Montys wife Lisa handles the business side. The rest of the family, well, they pitch
in, too.
[Monty Harkins] We been really, really lucky in keeping this
ranch together and ranching it. Its just a great way of life, it�s not an easy way
of life but you can make a living.
[narrator] Historically this ranch was primarily livestock.
Some cattle, some goats, and a lot of sheep.
[Monty] This is some of the best sheep country in
the state of Texas. People look at it and dont believe that but it really is.
[narrator] Monty and Jase have done things a bit differently.
Sheep and goats were removed from the ranch. Cattle grazing was greatly reduced. Managing
for wildlife became more important.
[Jase Harkins] We were able to see a bigger picture. The
deer management became a big deal in 1978 and from there it just took off.
((bulldozer rumbling))
[narrator] Grubbing the red-berry juniper and mesquite
has helped open up the land and increased the foods available for the native wildlife.
[Jase Harkins] The brush removal process has been going on
here for 50 years. My grandad started back in the sixties.
[Austin Stolte] So this site was treated about a year ago.
This particular spot here where a juniper was removed, you create that low spot where
rainfall is able to gather, and youve got grasses coming back and theres a lot of young
weeds and forbs coming up here where that rainwater is able to collect.
[Monty Harkins] When we�re up here its real plain. I mean
you can see there�s a line of brush coming from the windmill down into the corner over
here.
[Austin Stolte] The Harkins understand that the juniper is
also somewhat of a beneficial plant in the form of cover. So they do leave wildlife corridors,
you know we call that edge effect. And it seems that the wildlife have greatly benefited
from that.
[narrator] Since Terrell County only gets about 13 inches
of rain a year, water on the Harkins Ranch is hard to come by.
[Jase Harkins] We have no spring water, no flowing water.
((windmill))
[narrator] What they do have is an intricate water system.
Miles and miles of pipes feed over 100 water troughs scattered throughout the ranch.
[Jase Harkins] Im really proud of the water systems that
my dad and my granddad put it. Its unbelievable. We have pumped it either with solar or wind
to get it to the surface and gravity flowed wherever we want it to go.
((turkey gobbles))
[narrator] As the Harkins ranching practices have evolved,
theyve seen a resurgence in white tailed deer, mule deer, quail, and turkey. Theyve opened
up their ranch for limited lease hunting, something that previous generations never
envisioned.
[Monty Harkins] You know we could have made it just straight
ranching but the wildlife has really given us the extra income to make improvements that
we wouldn�t have been able to do. It takes a little bit of everything to make it go.
[Jase Harkins] We promote a balance, and we try to follow
through with that balance, and it can be done. My parents want to leave it better for me
and it sounds so clich� but its true.
[boy] Stop sitting. Go.
[Jase] What I see happening to this place is passing
it to the sixth generation.
[boy] Stop.
[Jase] Not always easy but great rewards.
[son] Stop! More!
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