But I was always too busy hunting to take anytime out or even take the time to get my camera out. But I have made myself a promise to photo all the old structures I now see while hunting or on the way or return.
I am sure to many this sounds dumb, but certainly there are others out there that have a similar feeling. Some must wonder, like I do, about who lived there and some of the history of the people who built and stayed in these homes and you must question what finally happened to make them leave.
So with that thought in mind, I want this thread to be a long running thread, dedicated to all those with that same interest, but even more importantly, to those who built, lived, and died during "THEIR" existence.
So next time you see an old homestead, please take the time, to take out your camera and take a few shots and share on this thread, for those of us who share this interest affliction.
I will add a couple of the photos I have taken and will add a few more down the line. Please share yours. Thanks and looking forward to your photos.
Some of you might know or have seen this cabin if you have ever been in the Bookcliffs. It is located just past the end of the road, at the bottom of Railroad Canyon. I know that fellow Bowsiter PAV has seen this, as he hunted that area last year for elk.
And perhaps a few of you might know where this one is located. If you think you know, tell us.
Have a great bowhunt. BB
The first picture is looking east from my deer blind to the old horse barn. The house and old orchard are approx. 150 yards to the south, which can been seen behind my brother and his buck. It's the nicest buck we've taken so far off the farm and and shot it the second day from my post. There's just nowhere I'd rather be.
Talk about bittersweet.
Here’s another photo I took just last week. Through the years I don't know how many times I passed this building without every stopping to take its photo. I promise that's not going to happen as much as it used to. If I have any time at all, or if I am forced to make some time, then I promise to do way better than I did in the past.
It thrills me to see that so many others have an interest in these old buildings. They are the model T's of today’s housing and their intrigue is captivating.
Here’s another photo I took just last week. 
This one is located just west of the Crawford Mountains, in Rich County Utah.
If anyone knows any history about it, please let us know.
Have a great bowhunt. BB
Bogenschütze, that sounds like my old stopming grounds near the Stafford/Fauquier county lines.
My cousin owns some property outside Fredericksbug, Va. that was a Union soldier camp during the winter of 1862. I used to hunt it and found where the soldiers had camped. Sadly there aren't any structures remaining.
I have some really neat places in Wyo. I still need to photograph.
The cabin was built in the early 30's by a group of cattlemen and used as a place to stay while they grazed their cattle on the forest. About 1980 their lease expired and the government put out orders to burn the cabin down. But after long talks, they finally came to an agreement, that if the government would leave the cabin in place, the cattlemen would allow its use to anyone, with the exception of the time frame on which they grazed their cattle on their leases.
So its now used by the cattlemen during the summer, and the general public can use it on a first come first served basis.
Like mentioned, I have spent well over 1 full year of my life in that cabin. Its a great place and very dear to my heart.
Have a great bowhunt BB
Here is the farmhouse that I bought recently. 40 acres that was homesteaded by my great-grandparents. We are in the process of fixing up the place, I estimate it is about 100 years old.
Have a great bowhunt. BB
House is just two rooms, the part to the left is built with old square nails, the part in back of the girls uses round..
House sets in a major wildlife hub, I have shot deer and turkey while setting next to it.
WindLaker
Colorado 08'...
This is an old Wyoming cabin in the Jackson Hole area. Can you imagine what those people went through, in the winter, in that country?
Have a great bowhunt. BB
THE DOWSE SOD HOUSE - Earth has reclaimed most of the sod houses which once made Custer County the "sod house capital of the world," yet the Dowse Sod house, built at the tail-end of the sod house era, stands as one of the few' remaining original and furnished sod houses in Nebraska.
William Ryan Dowse, son of the first white family to settle in Custer County, constructed this sod house in 1900 for his bride-to-be, Florence E. Murphy. Heavy earth matted by bluestem grass was plowed when the ground was moist, preventing crumbling of the soil. The plowed soil was laid out in long strips, then cut into brick-size pieces 30" long, 4 to 5" deep.- Sod bricks were laid grass-side down on' he rising wall and the tops planed level. The root system held the sod together. Dirt "shavings" were packed into crevasses of the newly-built rows. The thick walls insulated the home from temperature extremes, being 2 1/2' deep. Although the windows appear very narrow from the outside, inside the walls fan away to permit maximum entrance of light without loss of insulation or structural support. Across the completed walls Dowse laid two-by-fours. Muslin was stretched beneath the ceiling: boards and fastened by carpet tacks. This formed the ceiling for the original rooms and was not replaced until about 1915. Twice yearly Florence took the muslin ceiling down for washing. Most sod houses were roofed by laying sod over building paper-covered boards. Dowse used cedar shingles which- still protect the interior. He later thrust the sod exterior walls with cement, which account for it still standing after it was abandoned as a dwelling in the 1950's.
Oh, Ron has hosted "Winchester Revolutions" and a few other TV shows in addition to being a feature writer, rifle and travel columnist in many outdoor magazines for the past 50 years. He's planted a lot of trees on this property, dug a pond with an island for nesting geese, etc. It's a wildlife mecca in the middle of a heavily farmed region.
When we were kids, we used to sleep on mattresses on the floor of the abandoned home and "camp out." We'd listen to the mice chewing on the old wood and talk about hunting, fishing and trapping. Big dreams and adventures back then!
Shadow Man
Have a great bowhunt. BB
When my sons take a turkey on this property I always take this type of photo of them walking out.
Great thread! I love old buildings as well.
BC
Good Times!
BC
