Cattle Country?

Cattle Country?

Well, a long dreaded day is fast approaching. We are moving the cattle to Main Pasture this week. When we first bought the ranch 6 years ago and drove up the Coronado Trail, the Main Pasture was the first part of the ranch we could see. I thought at the time that it must be impossible to turn out cattle and actually gather them back out in that country. It is one steep mountain after the other. 6,000 acres of woods and canyons a billy goat would have trouble traveling. But cattle have grazed there for years. Unfortunately, it has been probably 15 years since it has been grazed and the trails are all brushed up. I talked to our neighbor who ranched similar country where the Blue Mountain Primitive Area is now. They used catch dogs to locate cattle and hold them up, roped and sidelined the cattle, then brought them out. They also had 2 camps and took 2 months gathering at each – and still missed about 20% of the cattle. He said they always had some yearlings to brand the next year. This country is not for the faint-hearted!

But next time we use the pasture- probably 2 years from now- I’ll have a feel for the lay of the land. I’ll know where the water is, where old trails are, and hopefully have new trails from the cattle. This year will be hard – then it will seem easier every time we graze Main Pasture. One thing for sure, this is not a pasture we will take guests riding in. I am just glad we have a new cowboy. If he makes this cut, he is a keeper!