May 15-21, 2005: Spring Gather

Sunday, May 15, 2005

We had our first foal of the season last night. A mare named Geez Mom had a cute bay filly. They both are doing great and brought a smile to our faces when we went out to feed this morning.

Monday, May 16, 2005

A big crew this week, we have eleven folks here helping us out.

Fred from California is here again, he brought our stallion home from California where he spent the winter. Roseanne from New Jersey is here for what she figured was her 17 th week. Peg from Mass. is here for her who knows how many times, probably ten or so. Betsy a friend of Pegs is here for a second visit. Julian from Albq. is here for a third time and he brought along his 21-year-old grandson Ben who is from Alabama. And of course Jose is here for the second of his two-week stay. First timers are Mike from Illinois. James from Mass. also a friend of Pegs and Ferris and Sharon from Texas.

Today after the Monday morning usuals we headed into the south trap to gather the cattle we had worked over the last week. It took a couple hours to gather the trap and we held them at the Silver gate while we sat and watched everything pair up. Then it was through the gate and up to Dog Spring leaving the cattle to drift there.

It had been a four hour or so day and everyone felt that was just right to start out with. I had told them the next days were to be long ones so they saved their horses for the real workdays. Tomorrow we are going to go out in the open country so it was good for the folks to get a bit of timber riding in.

The day was great, hi about 70 a bit of a breeze and over night was about 44.

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

We had our second foal this morning. Our good mare Babe had a nice red and white colt. Looks just like her other son Preacher who now works in the string for us. Two down, four to go.

The weeks plan had been to work in two groups. One going out and camping at Fence Tank and working yearlings out of Pitchfork pasture into Canyon Creek while the other stayed here at H.Q. and worked strays and small pairs out of 7HL pasture.

As you know things have a way of changing around here.

Over the weekend I had gotten word from the wolf people that a pack of wolves was denning on our range. They wouldn’t tell me exactly where. So I called the Forest Service folks and asked them about it. As usual they knew nothing about any wolves anywhere. They said they hadn’t heard from the wolf people in months. Nothing like a little interagency communication.

In the last two weeks the wolves have been running rampant around here. They have killed four head of cattle on our three neighbors and still the Forest Service knows nothing of what’s going on. But calling the Forest Service threw some fuel on the fire and big shots started calling big shots. Last night I was told that the wolves were denned in Ewe canyon in Negrito pasture. Right where we had just gotten done putting all our cattle. I wonder why they decided to den there? The den is also just over a mile from Snow Lake campground, the most recreational area in the entire forest.

This is the same pack that denned on us last year but then they were a mile and a half farther away from the campground. Now they are just a couple hundred yards away from the main road that runs through the recreation area. I guess they have even less fear of humans than they did last year.

The wolf people decided that they had to have a closure of all humans from a two-mile radius of the den. This would include the campground at the lake. This right before a holiday weekend.

As of today the bitch wolf had not whelped yet. I wanted the pack hazed out before she did have those pups. But nooooooo. Wolves have precedence over humans. I took the stand of a concerned resident rather than a mad cowman; cows have no concern to the wolf folks. I cited that it was a stupid idea to allow wolves to den near the campground. They obviously are not afraid of people, and once those pups grow they too will be denning in the same area. Next thing you know some ones dog will get eaten or worse yet a child attacked at the campground or at a popular swimming pond a few hundred yards from the den. I told them that they should close the area, and for that matter they should close the whole damn forest. What with the other killer packs working no one is safe anywhere and the sheriff should not let anyone in the area. So I exaggerated the worry some but for reason.

I want the general public to get pissed off!

It has always been just the ranchers, outfitters and locals that have complained and resisted the wolves. But if you tell all the campers, fisherman and hikers including the average family from Albq. or Phoenix that they could not come and camp and swim and fish or enjoy the forest in any way because of the wolves then they might realize that this wolf program is now affecting THEIR lives and not in a good way.

Well as the day ended the two agencies were in a fight. The Forest Service didn’t want anything closed because they didn’t want to deal with the public over doing it. The wolf folks want the closure and the public be damned. The public includes me, they said I could not go in the area for any reason. BULLSHIT.

I have to tend my cattle. I’m not going to ride off into the sunset and leave hundreds of newborn calves at the mercy of the wolves. I explained that the only trail down to the Snow Canyon area goes right above their den.

Drive around they said.

It takes over an hour to drive around not to mention the fuel costs and wear and tear on equipment. I told them I’d drive around if they’d pay $4.00 a mile plus time. They chuckled.

Who knows what the mighty minds in power will decide.

I decided to move my cattle.

After three weeks of work getting them all settled in that area we are going to move them over Negrito Mountain and get them a few miles south towards Gilita ridge. Just what those little calves need to be doing.

So today we headed out to undo all that has been done.

We rode to the east side of the pasture in two groups not stopping until we were on the rim of Ewe canyon right above the den. We started gathering and soon had about fifty head from right around the canyon and Little Fenced Spring. I was over there with Nate and about half the crew.

Lyndsey went down to Dog Spring Meadow with the other riders and gathered up about the same number.

I rode with Nates crew trying a new way around the mountain. Our final destination was Burnt Cabin but to get there we have to skirt along the edge of Quaking Aspen Canyon and the infamous “Negrito Triangle”. A place I have mentioned many times as one that is a confusing mess of canyons and ridges and pines that is really hard to travel through. We headed up an old logging road that looked right and by luck it worked out just fine. It swung south around the mountain and went a round a bout way to Burnt Cabin. We had gotten about half way there when Lyndsey called and said she needed a hand. She was still on the north side of the mountain and had a stupid cow and calf along. The cow was way in front and the calf had run all the way back to the spring, about a mile. It took me awhile to get there going over South pass and when I caught up with them they had everything under control and moving well. I stayed with them till we got the herd over the pass and then went exploring a shorter route.

Both groups of riders did a great job. It’s tough working cattle in timber up and down mountains. You really learn your stuff fast in there.

Late in the day we all met up at Burnt Cabin, the cattle spread out while we took a well deserved break. From there it was a pretty forty minute ride home.

Ferris took the day off from riding and repaired some of our saddles, something he does at home for a hobby. Betsy also decided a day around the ranch sounded pretty good and she spent part of her morning grooming old Moses. He thought he’d died and gone to his reward. It felt sooo good. She then spent time helping Leasha around the cookhouse. Something that’s always thought highly of.

Hi was about 73, sunny, moderate wind but not too bad in trees at all. Lo was 46.

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

It was a rerun of yesterday. Back out in two groups gathering what ever we could find. Nate went back to Little Fenced Spring with his crew while Lyndsey went to the Rock Mesa with hers. I messed around in between the two finally going up South Pass with Lindsey's crew. They had the most cattle, about forty head. The push went well and we were over the mountain by early afternoon.

I went ahead to spot a short cut I had scouted yesterday and directed the herd to it. While I was going down the slope I saw that Nate’s herd had also taken the same route. The trail dropped off the mountain into the upper end of a gentle canyon. The cattle lined right out and I believe it saved about thirty minutes on the push.

Nate’s crew had been about an hour ahead of us and they went on home before we got there. They then loaded up some yearlings we had in the corrals and along with Fred and James, Nate drove them out to Juniper tank in Canyon Creek pasture. It’s a long drive but the guys enjoyed seeing the country out there.

When we got home about 5pm Mike helped me load some salt and take it out hoping to hold the cattle on this side of the mountain.

Maggie went to Silver City to ship some orders off and get some supplies for the ranch. She’ll be gone over night.

Julian took the day off from riding and worked on repairing some of our old boardwalk boards and porch boards. Something that damn maintenance man never has gotten to.

Hi was 74 light breeze, sun. Low was a balmy 50.

Thursday, May 19, 2005

I woke to the sound of horses hollering around the house here. The yearlings were going at it as well as the mares. I got up knowing we had a new foal from all the sounds of excitement.

I went out and quickly saw that our best mare Chancey had foaled.

But there was no foal with her.

I started walking the pasture the mares are in, it’s only about 50 acres and Chancey walked along with me. Almost to the end of the pasture she took off at a trot ahead and stood over her foal.

It was just in the edge of the trees and still in the placenta. It was a nice red and white leopard looking like his dad, a little stud colt. The placenta was so thick that I couldn’t tear it with my fingers, having to use my knife to get through the tough stuff. She had a healthy foal but the foal suffocated when it couldn’t break free of the placenta. It was such a waste. I knew she was going to foal the night before. I should have kept her up but…

I like my mares to foal out in the fresh grass of the pasture. I feel it’s healthier for them and the babies. Most of our mares have never been touched so you can’t put them in a stall anyway. In over 60 foals we have had in the last six years we have never lost one. But it’s heart breaking to know that I could have easily saved her if only I had been there.

When I got in from disposing the carcass there were messages from the Wolf folks and the Forest Service. Seems they were still fighting and wanted me to get in the middle of it. I was happy to oblige them. I didn’t ride so I could write a couple letters they wanted me to telling them my views “In my own words”. It’s a good thing I was writing and not speaking so I could have time to choose words other than the ones I would have used verbally.

Lyndsey and Nate took the crews out into 7HL finally getting back to hunting strays and the little pairs we had been leaving out there the last few weeks.

Lyndsey was back pretty early with about 20 head they had gotten off Telegraph mesa.

Nate and his riders went out to the feeders in T Bar Valley and brought home about 20 head, which they put in the south trap. They got home about 5pm. A long dang day for them.

The weather was just plain nice all day. A bit windy but warm as could be. Got up to about 77 after another nice night with a low of 50.

Friday, May 20, 2005

Most of us rode out to gather the south trap getting in the cattle the riders had put in there yesterday. Our plan was to have them all in by 12:18pm. We gathered the pasture in reverse of how we usually do it and I figured out why we didn’t do it that way. There is no good place to hold and pair everything up. Even with some extra riding getting everything gathered up we still got to the corrals at 12:20pm.

We then took a lunch break letting the cattle settle down.

Julian didn’t ride today; he spent the morning cleaning my shop, which sure needed some help. Sharon and Ferris who had driven their truck in from Texas spent the day touring around looking at country. They were gone all day and never got off the ranch.

After lunch we got branding. Our crew was a little short. Julian and Ben left after lunch, Ferris and Sharon were out, and Betsy wasn’t much interested in the branding. Roseanne took pictures. So it was up to Fred, Mike and James to get the calves roped while Jose tended the fire. They hadn’t practiced as much as they should have and soon it was looking like it would be breakfast before we were done and we were already hungry for dinner. Nate and I stepped in and got a few roped so we could get the show going. It took two hours to brand ten calves. Sure no record but we had fun. Then there were a few cows to doctor in the chute and we were soon done.

A good crew, I really appreciated the fact they were so willing to go with the flow and took change in plans so well. With all the veterans it was easy on the mind knowing they knew what they were doing and where they were going…most of the time.

It got dang near hot today, hi was 80 with a big breeze going on. Low was only 50.

Saturday, May 21, 2005

We had cut out about 20 yearlings from the cattle we worked yesterday so after the folks left this morning Maggie and I grabbed our trucks and trailers and headed to the corrals to load them and take them out to Canyon Creek pasture.

The loading didn’t go so well. I was quickly reminded why I would never be a yearling rancher. They are so damn stupid it’s a wonder anyone can put up with them. They wouldn’t stay on the trailer. We put hay in and would get a couple in who would be happy eating then the rest would stand and watch them. A few more would jump in and chase out the ones that were there first. Around and around it went. In the process we lost two out into the house lot when a gate got popped open. It was over two hours before we had them all in. I tried to keep the swearing down and my temper at just below boiling. So I started chanting a rap song to them. We all know coming up with rap lyrics is not hard.

You know stuff like “stay in tha trailer life be so grand…come out here I’ll beat your brand…stay in tha trailer et some hay…run by me I’ll poke ya all tha way”

Before we were done I had Maggie laughing so hard it became infectious and we were laughing when I usually would have been crying. Finally we got rolling and the job done. It took almost four hours to get to Canyon Creek and back.

The afternoon was spent hauling water, filling tanks, stocking barns and then ending with a couple hours painting and scrapping windows. We have vowed we would do at least a couple hours work on this house every weekend. Lord knows it sure needs it.

This evening Barnee our old, old, old dog started feeling poor. A vet told us four years ago he was full of cancer and had only 60 days left. He amazed everyone going on for years with vigor. The last six months he’s really slowed down taking to staying in bed except during chore time. He is then out there like Mr. Magoo making sure everything got done.

But tonight it’s different. The shine is going from his eyes and he’s fading fast. He hasn’t eaten since yesterday and always wants water. By the color of his urine and his tissue my guess is his liver is shutting down. I will be surprised if he will see the sunrise.

Sunday, May 22, 2005

As the night went on Barnee got worse. About 6am he started whimpering and we knew it was time. I gave him some drugs orally, the last thing I wanted to do was to be poking the old man. He settled into a nice stupor while we took care of chores.

Then we sat with him in the yard, his head in his moms’ lap, the sun shinning on him. I gave him more drugs orally as Maggie whom he had been with since a pup 16 years ago stroked his head. Soon I gave him an injection without getting even a flutter from an eyelid and he was gone. A very nice way to go for a true and loyal buddy.