Bandera Co. voters say 'no' to free range law

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

February 6, 2003 -- While producers in some precincts of Bandara County have continued to enjoy the open range law for many years, it all came to an end with a vote on Feb. 1.

By a large margin, citizens voted 387 to 95 for a law that will require producers to fence in their animals to keep them off adjoining properties, according to Bernice Bates, Bandara Co. clerk.

The Bandera County Commissioners called the special election after petitions from residents weary of dodging cows on roads, shooing goats and other four-legged trespassers from gardens and yards.

While some of the citizens still believe in the "don't fence me in," Wild West type of ranching, others are tired of having cattle, goats, horses, sheep mules and hogs grazing on their property, their lawns and their gardens.

According to a story by The Associated Press, one such producer, Dick Hicks, sued a neighbor in the amount of over $27,000 for hay eaten in 2000 by the neighbor's cattle. While the case was dismissed on a motion by the defendant's lawyer, Hicks has appealed the ruling to the 4th Court of Appeals.

Opponents of the new ruling believed that it was the responsibility of the landowners to fence their property if they didn't want other people's animals on it.