February 7-17, 2005: No Guests

Monday, February 7, 2005

It snowed off and on all weekend, about three inches each day was left in the shade and more mud and running water wherever the sun shone. It’s just a mess out there.

Gambler and I headed out for a couple days at Fence tank camp. We rode out from the ranch with my saddlebags full of grub and supplies, I have Gamblers food already out there left in the camper. I wanted to trailer out but there is no way the truck would make it. The lows this weekend were only in the upper 20’s and that just isn’t enough to set the mud up for driving.

We pushed about twenty head from Elladeane over T Bar Saddle getting them down into the valley. I want to get everything moved out of the west side of the pasture from the Ewe canyon area and get them all in the valley. I am not going to fill the Mesa feeders or salt up there any more so they will get the idea that they need to use the Intersection feeders. Next month I will open the gates into Pitchfork pasture and start filling the feeders there so they will have some fresh graze for the late winter. There were seventy-five head at the Intersection feeders when I came by there, they all sure looked good.

It was a pretty nice morning till about noon when the snow started up again. A thick wet snow fell the rest of the afternoon. I got to camp about 3pm and called it a day, unsaddling Gambler and turning him out to graze as I organized camp. I found the propane bottle for the heater was leaking so it looks like a cold couple nights. At least the outside temperature should be moderate. I can use the camp stove and lantern that run off a different bottle for a little heat. The long window in the door of the camper has been missing for years, a few months ago I had taped plastic over the opening but it has blown out so I hung a rug over it. There are several other windows missing glass and just covered with plastic. All this makes me sure I won’t kill myself with the burners running as there is plenty of fresh air coming in here.

I fired up the stove on high and hung up my clothes which being wet soon made the camper steamy and somewhat warmer.

At sunset I fed Gambler, the snow had stopped and he stood steaming munching his hay. He is so cool to be in camp with. He doesn’t care in the least that there’re no other horses around. Never sounds a whinny or seems worried, most other horses would be concerned about it.

I then went in and heated up some chile Verde stew and called it a night.

Hi 30 sunny AM, heavy snow afternoon, 3 inches. Lo 28.

Tuesday, February 8, 2005

I was up early as I usually am when in camp, drinking coffee and reading waiting for it to be light enough to feed.

While gambler ate I made Oatmeal and gave him an hour for his breakfast to settle.

As I swung in the saddle fog was lying thick in the valley but I could see the sun hit the top of T Bar Ridge, which was above the fog. I rode down the valley towards the feeders and as I did I watched a herd of over a hundred elk work their way down T Bar Ridge following the sunshine as it burned it’s way through the fog. It made me smile to be alive.

My main mission for the day was to find some calves and old cows to sell. We turned out a dozen calves in the fall that were too small to sell at that time. The job now is to find them.

I rode above Fence tank to the north covering the country there in a couple hours and didn’t even see a cow. I then rode down 7HL Valley towards the feeders and came across a few head but nothing I needed. I stopped and glassed a line of cattle I saw coming off T Bar Ridge, what caught my attention was one that was following the main bunch about a quarter mile behind them. As they got a bit close to the bottom I saw there were wolves following the last cow. I gave Gambler a nudge and we trotted that direction the closer I got the madder I got. It was a ’02 heifer; she was bagged up and fully dilated ready to calve. Those wolves were just going to follow her around till she went down to calve and get themselves one fresh out of the oven. They saw me riding towards them but they had their mind set on a veal dinner and just didn’t pay me any mind at all. When we were a couple hundred yards apart in the valley I lifted Gambler into a lope. Now this is a cow horse and his life revolves around cows. He sensed I was mad and in an urgent state of mind. He focused in on the wolves and pinned his ears taking it upon himself to break into a run as we charged past the cow. I started yelling and the wolves finally broke into a run when we were thirty yards from them. One went up the slope and the other down the valley. Even tho the mud was slick and riding at a dead run was dangerous I was too fired up to care. We came on that wolf fast with full intention of running it down. We were gaining on it fast; I saw it look over its shoulder with bug eyes. It turned faster than we could and bounded up into the rocks on the side of the canyon.

I jumped off Gambler and pulled my rifle from the scabbard sending two shots after him.

This also sent Gambler running back to the feeders a couple hundred yards away were he stopped and waited for me. I had never fired a gun right next to him and he sure didn’t like that much. I’ll have to work on that sometime.

There were a hundred head of cattle at the feeders; I let the pregnant cow settle down to some salt licking as I rode the cattle seeing what else I needed there. I found two pairs there, which the calves were big enough to sell. Weedy the bull was there as well. Where he came from I’m not sure but I saw him breeding one older baldy cow. This told me the cow was not pregnant and if he got her bred then we would have a November calf, which does us no good so I decided I’d sell her as well. The next twenty minutes was spent trying to get the cattle I wanted out of the herd and headed down to Fence Tank. It was a slow process of easing one to the out side of the crowd then going after another. I figured it wouldn’t work and I’d have to bring along a whole bunch but to my surprise it went perfectly and I ended up with just one extra cow and for this I was glad.

The extra was the first cow I ever bought, Old Tex. She was the ideal cow to have along as she led the little bunch down the valley and in an hour they were all in the corral at Fence tank. It was 3pm when we got them penned and too late to go out for another loop so I called it a day.

After dinner I started a big fire next to the corral hoping to keep the wolves away during the night.

Hi 30, plenty of sun and just a slight breeze. Low was 22.

Wednesday, February 9, 2005

I didn’t sleep well. It was really cold, down to 9 degrees, 17 inside the trailer. Plus I heard wolves howling all night close by. They knew where the cow was and they wanted her but weren’t willing to get near the fire. They stayed up on the ridge above camp.

I was in the saddle early again and rode down T Bar Valley into T Bar canyon below the tank. I rode down to the lower gate and found it open explaining how Weedy had gotten into the pasture. There were plenty of tracks going both ways through the gate. I rode the rest of the canyon to Snow Lake but found no cattle.

We then looped back up into Loco Flats but again found no cattle. From the top of T Bar Ridge I saw there were once again a hundred head around the feeders. When I had came by in the morning there hadn’t been a single cow there. They are feeding on the slopes, which are clear of snow at night, and then heading to the feeders in the afternoon.

An hour later I was back down at the feeders looking though the cattle for something useful. I came up with two more pairs and one big bull calf. It went just as well as yesterday as I eased the ones I needed out of the crowd and got them headed to Fence Tank. The big bull calf wanted to turn back so Gambler and I had to stay on him all the way. When we got to the corrals the gate was closed holding yesterdays gather in and I swung off to open it. That damn bull calf saw his chance and took off at a run all the way back down the valley. It really pissed me and Gambler off. We let him go for another day.

It was late with just enough light to feed and build another fire.

I didn’t hear any wolves during the night, which was another cold one, down to about 15.

Hi 30 sunny with late day clouds and wind.

Thursday, February 10, 2005

It was cloudy and gray when I saddled up but the wind was blowing out of the south and it was getting warm. I started my bunch of cattle out of the pens and headed back towards home.

It was a pleasant push, the cattle lined out and traveled well.

A couple hours later I saw eagles about a mile north floating over Telegraph Mesa. I pushed my bunch down to Elladeane tank and left them there while I backtracked and went up on the mesa. Following the birds I rode a little draw I hardly ever go into and came across three coyotes in the bottom of the draw. They took off at a run but I saw nothing of interest there. I rounded a bend in the draw and spotted a dead steer. One wolf was eating on it with his back to me but the other was facing me, spotted me and took off. The one stayed on the steer till I was a hundred yards away then it too ran off. I guess they had learned a lesson the other day.

The steer was one of our best. I recognized it right away as I had just seen it the day before at the feeders. He was about 700 pounds, slick and healthy. Now he was just a hunk of chewed on beef, stomach gone and a pitiful sight.

There was nothing to be done so I went back, collected my cattle and continued on home. It started raining about an hour out from the house and got heavier with each passing minute. Just before dark I got the cattle penned and unsaddled Gambler giving him a big rub down and a good dinner. We were both glad to be home.

Hi 30 lo 20.

Friday, February 11, 2005

I had called the wolf investigation guy last night and he showed up about 8am. I sent Lyndsey out with him to look over the kill while I messed around with a colt we call “Milkshake”, he’s a funny looking cream and tan swirled up colored guy. Toms full brother.

The girls had pointed out a grapefruit size abscess on his chest during feeding. As always none of these colts are gentled at all. While feeding I had touched Milkshake a couple times but that was as far as his training went. I eased up next to him while he was eating and gently stroked his neck, gradually moving farther down his chest with each stroke till I was able to hold the abscess which was so big and heavy it kinda hung there. It was hard and hot with an easy to feel soft spot at the bottom. I eased out my new Christmas knife that’s super sharp and with a flick of my wrist made an incision and out poured the funk. It was enough to fill a BIG GULP cup I figure and of course every chicken around came running for the delicacy. Chickens are so gross.

Lyndsey and the investigator got back about noon. They had skinned out the steer and found bite marks of which the incisors measured 43 MM. The perfect match for a wolf. They found these on two different legs but none anywhere else. Not surprising since a lot of the hide had been chewed away. So once again it was put down in the book as a Possible/Probable. Meaning no payment and no bad reports for the wolf PR people. That’s why I didn’t bother to go out and waste my time. I knew they would never say a wolf killed it. To them it’s not the money; it’s the bad publicity that a confirmed kill would bring.

I have to report the progress Maggie has made with Townes our new dog. In just a couple days she has gone from a wild banshee to a respectable dog. She now comes at a run from anywhere when you call her. She sits and lies down on command. She is the smartest dog I have ever been around and oh so sweet. She likes nothing better than to lay her upper body across your lap as you sit in a chair and go to sleep after a dozen face licks.

I got a call tonight from a woman who is our voice in the wolf battle. She is the wife of a rancher over in Winston, New Mexico and the one who keeps up on all the lawsuits and wolf problems while the rest of us are out trying to make a living. She called to say that our congressman Steve Pearce was sending out his chief of staff to have a meeting with the locals about the wolf problems. It was to be a hush hush meeting in Glenwood without the Feds there. It may not be the best time to attend such an event considering my frame of mind concerning wolves.

Hi 35 cloudy with mixed rain and snow in the afternoon. Lo was 30

Saturday, February 12, 2005

It rained all night at a steady pace, almost two inches fell and the temperature was 32. We were up early to get to Glenwood for the meeting at 10am. On the way down the mountain we were amazed at the water flowing everywhere. The warm rain on the heavy snow pack made it melt. The water was running with that blue/white color of spring run off. I wonder why it gets that color? Must have something to do with oxygen in the water or something anyway it sure is pretty.

When we got to the meeting there was the Chief of Staff in a heated debate with my least favorite Forest Service honcho. He was telling him that there was no reason that the Forest Service should be present and he had to leave. I decided I liked this guy already!

No sooner had the Forest Service guy left than here came the head wolf folks. It was decided that attendees could vote if they wanted them to attend or leave. For some reason most everyone decided to let them stay. I wasn’t one of them.

We were given cards to write our proposed questions or comments on and maybe we would be chosen to get five minutes to make our points. I was surprised when a couple folks into it my name was called.

Now I have a bit of a reputation for being a “hot head” and saying what’s on my mind so I have never been allowed to talk at a meeting before.

I rose to my feet and cordially address the chief of staff then started on my usual point that they need to have a system of payment for unconfirmed wolf kills. I don’t care who eats my beef; I just want to get paid for it. They asked how to figure the losses. I told them to take pre wolf calf crop numbers compare calf crop numbers to now and balance the difference. The head wolf guy snorted his disgust and said they couldn’t be sure that we would turn in accurate numbers.

“You don’t trust us in other words?” I asked

“Well I’m not saying that” he retorted

“Let me tell you about trust” I started “ I have been lied to by every one of you, I have been lied to by every wolf program employee. You keep everything a secret. I don’t trust you at all! I don’t trust you as far as I could throw you out that door!”

The room was dead silent for a moment. I knew I had just black marked myself and affirmed my reputation. Then suddenly a smattering of applause, which soon became a crescendo of hooting and hollering, broke the silence. They called the room to order and I composed myself going on to my next point, which is that if congress is funding the wolf program they also have to fund the compensation to ranchers, not the Defenders Of the Wildlife who won’t confirm a kill. Along with that congress should budget having investigators who are not funded by the wolf program. It’s the fox watching the hen house.

I was pleased to once again get a rousing round of applause when I sat down.

The meeting went on for a couple more hours. At one point the chief of staff turned to the wolf people and told them he knew their agenda was to get the people off the land and if he had his way the wolves would be gone…yesterday. I really liked this guy.

After the meeting was over we left right away going to the restaurant to get lunch and head home. While we were there the officials with the congressman’s party came in for a bite to eat. There was a table full of them and locals hanging on still voicing their thoughts. We finished eating and headed for the door. The chief of staff got up and caught us. He told me he was impressed by my candor and concerns and told me they were setting up a panel of enviros, scientists, and civilians to try and work out some of the problems. I allowed it was a good idea. He smiled and asked me to be on the panel. I chuckled and told him I really didn’t think my temper and prejudice would be constructive to such an undertaking and declined his invitation.

Yea, me in Washington. Not good.

The river along the highway was nearing its banks. A State Trooper SUV passed us in Alma then just ahead of us it slowed and pulled to the side of the road. We watched it sink in the mud. I slowed debating whether I should stop or not. Maggie made me. Two young pup troopers got out as I backed up. I quick grabbed a chain and hooked to them. In less than two minutes I had them back out on the road and was back on my way. I figure they own me a speeding ticket now.

When we got home we had to leave the truck at the shipping pens, the road was just too muddy to get through.

Hi 35 lo 30.

Sunday, February 13, 2005

It rained all night but the sun came out early and it shone all day. I was out early getting the battery on the jeep charged up and loading my traps.

I went out as close as I could get to the dead steer. I had to walk the last mile or so. I set six traps on the trails leading to the carcass. I’m a bit worried as the ground is so wet that if it freezes the traps won’t spring or will be slow when they do.

I got home about noon and spent the rest of the day working on the tractor setting a culvert and back filling it in a spot on the driveway where a drainage run goes. It usually only flows after a really hard rain and then only for a few hours. It started flowing a week or so ago filling the little pond there then overflowing across the drive. It cut a five-foot deep ditch across the road.

By days end I had it all done but the last bit of grading. I couldn’t get to the other side to work it because I didn’t want to drive over the mushy, muddy fill I put over the culvert. I decided I’d wait and drive around on the freeze in the morning and work the other side then.

Sunny hi 38 sunfactor 45 lo 30.

Monday, February 14, 2005

Happy Valentines Day

I went out early to check my traps. There wasn’t much of a freeze so again I had to walk in. I was really disappointed when I looked over into the draw and saw nothing caught. I checked all the traps, two were tripped. As I worried would happen the ground froze just enough to make the action of the sets slow. Frustrated I pulled them all up and headed home. You just can’t trap in wet ground.

I had a second breakfast then fired up the tractor. I had driven the jeep around the lower end of the pond and figured I’d take the tractor the same way. Lyndsey came by and moaned about the ruts I had made and said she’d been driving the four-wheeler around the upper end and it was a lot better. Why in the hell do I listen to her! I went about fifty yards then sank to the axles.

Now we have the backhoe, a hay trailer, the 4x4 tractor, and the ’69 pickup stuck around here in different places and I’d venture they will be that way several months.

Frustrated I decided to take the jeep to Snow Lake and check cattle there. I got about a mile from the house and as soon as I got into the timber the snow was deep and hard. The two track ruts I’d made over the past couple weeks were now two ice tracks. I had to turn around and head home.

I decided to start on ’04 taxes, maybe get them done on time this year, a first.

It started raining again at chore time, a cold 30-degree rain.

Hi 35 lo 27 sun am rain pm

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

As we got done with chores Lyndsey came to report the overdue cow I had brought in last week had a calf. Of course born in the cold and wet night. It was doing fine and up nursing. This poor heifer had a bag on her that would have made a Holstein jealous. That calf sure won’t be going hungry. It’s good to have the first calf on the ground. Calving season is a stressful and joyous time of year.

It rained off and on all day, cold and blustery 32 degrees. We sure have lucked out with this rain. Each big system that has come through has been from the south coming from southern California across Arizona pushing warm air ahead of it.

We have had over seven inches of rain since the first of the year and the temperature has been at 30-35 each time. That would have been seven to eight feet of snow. It could have been a cattle-killing season. I hope I haven’t just jinxed myself.

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

It was cloudy and warm all day but no rain. I took the day to clean up around the house and barnyard.

Maggie goes for a walk every day with the dogs. She has a habit of bringing home “interesting” pieces of wood. Over eight years she has built up a pretty big pile in the yard.

I fired up the chain saw and made that ‘Interesting” wood into almost a cord of firewood. I was surprised she wasn’t mad about it; she laughed and said there was plenty more where that came from.

I kept cutting all day. Old posts scattered around, old lumber that was warped and no good, nothing was safe. I eventually wore myself out.

Hi 40 cloudy, windy with a low of 32

Thursday, February 17, 2005

Maggie had plans to go to Silver City to ship some orders and get some grub. We had not driven across the new culvert since I put it in hoping it would dry some and settle. About 7am I tried driving her truck across it. It just nose dived into the three feet of fill and stuck hard. I got the dump truck going and we managed to pull it out the way I had gone in.

I went back to the store yard and loaded a bunch of thick slab wood I had stacked up there for years knowing some day I would need it. I hauled it to the crossing and laid it down making a “corduroy road” of it. I eased her truck over it sinking the wood as I went but made it across and she was able to get on her way.

After a late breakfast I saddled up Dakota and we went prowling around. It started a rain snow mix about midday and got harder as the day went along. We rode Ewe canyon pushing cattle out again. Some of them were ones I had pushed out last week. We got them over T Bar Saddle and looped up onto Telegraph Mesa. Just riding looking things over. We rode past the dead steer, there was nothing but bones left.

Then up and over Feathery Hill and on back home. A wet six-hour day in the saddle.

After chores I realized Townes was not around. I called and she came running from half way down the drive. She ate her dinner and then I watched her go back out to her spot in the drive waiting for Maggie to come home. She didn’t know Maggie wasn’t coming home so she spent the night out there in a steady rain.

Cloudy hi of 33, 1 inch of rain between 1pm and midnight. Lo was 33.