Like most, our shooting lanes and clearings historically overgrown. Besides a brush hog, does anyone have ideas how to chop/cut this stuff down? Is a brush hog my only option?!? What are the best rental options? I'm in Young County.

Spray it to kill it first. Solves the regrowth after shredding.

A shredder (brush hog is a brand of shredder btW) is your best, most effective option if it is high enough to bother you. No description to how much area you are talking about, but if it is just a 100 yard lane or 2, that would easily be a less than hr job. Wouldn't take long at all.

I can get someone out to mow it in young county if that's what you want let me know I'll get you numbers.

My guys had been working on lanes by hand and a small tractor/bush hog for years. When I signed on three years ago I hauled my tractor out on work weekend. Those guys stood there agape while I drove right through and made nice wide shooting lanes in 30 minutes. Took out all the mesquite and prickly pear in a heartbeat. Drove back to camp and had me a nice honey-do list of tractor chores. Didn't get off that tractor all weekend.

It'll be out there in September. I drive 79 to Throckmorton. Is your place near 79?

We're off 114. Thanks for the replies. I think we're going to talk to our rancher about options.

I run 114 to Olney. If you're close enough to be convenient I could swing by.

This.

Or spray immediately after shredding.

I have a similar need to clear some tall grass and saplings on a small scale. I am thinking a Stihl FS 130 Trimmer + a shredder blade or a saw blade.

Before we got our shredder we used a DR Field and Brush mower from the local rental place. It took a while, but it got done.

I'm thinking that none of y'all have ever run a good sized tractor (50+ HP) with a big old bush hog behind it, and a good sized FEL in front. If I can run it over, it gets mowed down, if I can't run it over, I can knock it down with the FEL, then crush it and mow it, or move it aside to rot, and I'll get it next year. I don't have to worry about regrowth because the new growth is gone next mow job.

I guess that mowing all these years has given me long term perspective. It gets better every time you mow it, until it is in good shape and easy to mow. I've been maintaining the same property for almost 20 years, and it looks much better now than it did when I got the job.

Rent a good sized tractor with a Bush Hog & FEL, and don't kill yourself learning to use it. SEAT BELT & ROLL CAGE

Cast, Tell this city boy what a FEL is.

Front end loader.

Thanks JTS, Didn't try to figure out the initials.

True. Have never run a tractor before, big or small.

Certainly not at the same scale, but my idea of Stihl trimmer with shredder or saw blade will not work? I am hoping to get by with that.

A lot of it depends on what your trying to clear. Clearing a couple shooting lanes by hand is no biggie, trying to clear and maintain a few miles of road wide enough that nothing touches a vehicle is another all together. Lots of folks spend 20k on a utv for their lease when in reality they would be better served buying a tractor.

Best and fastest way is to rent a tractor with Bush Hog and Front End Loader. Seat belt on, fire it up, set throttle to PTO speed plus a little, lower bush hog, raise FEL, engage PTO, put her in low and ease forward. Resist the urge to go faster, could be a big old tractor breaker out there, so use the FEL to skim the ground ahead while you explore and mow. Once you get familiar with the ground, you can go a little faster but remember, that tractor wants to kill you, so be careful.

That made me laugh, but so true.

That would work but in my experience the saw blade takes 4 E V E R. I'd just run regular twine unless it's mostly saplings or large weeds. I have an ECHO PAS 260 and an articulating hedge trimmer that I can use like a scythe for woody stuff up to 1/2". Looks something like this:

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I was in a similar situation as you up until a few weeks ago. I do not own a tractor, did not really want to look for a local guy to shred the lease, and was feeling bad as the weeds choked out the roads and senderos. Then I checked Craig's List and bought a used Swisher 44" TrailCutter for 500 bucks. I can pull it with my ATV and it didn't break the bank. I had to order a heigth adjustment rod and a belt cover as both of these were bad/missing when I bought it. I also changed the spark plug and bought a new belt for it. Once everything was replaced, it looked like a new mower! Well last weekend we headed down and put it to use. WOW. Totally exceeded my expectations. Pulled easily, and cut everything in it's path. The roads look great, and hopefully the animals will be using the senderos again now that they are not all clogged up with weeds and brush. Very happy with it, and I am actually looking forward to going back down next month to do some more mowing! I would honestly say that it is the next best thing to having a tractor with a shredder.