That’s the message I’m trying to send to the latest herd of free-range steers, which have finally made their way this deep into the desert in serious numbers.
Yesterday morning I had an errand to run in the Jeep that took me nearer to where the power poles roam than I usually drive. On the way back I saw a big herd eating a meadow near the wash crossing closest to the Lair. Then as I went into the wash for the last leg home, I saw four steers actually headed toward the Lair itself. It’s not unusual that a herd is preceded by a few bold souls, and I had a feeling I’d be seeing those four again soon. Sure enough, a few hours later I looked out the window and saw them coming up my driveway from the wash as if they’d been invited to tea.
It had been raining off and on all day and the boys were inside. They never even noticed the cattle were there. So I quietly took my rifle and earmuffs off the wall and stepped outside.
Oh, we could have eaten steak for a week and jerky for a year, but the law frowns on that sort of thing. The stupid things looked up and watched me approach, then jumped a foot in the air and headed for the hills when I pointed the AK at the hillside and started making Big Noise. They disappeared into the brush on the other side of the wash. I tracked them until they relaxed and slowed down, and then I crept up and did it again. Judging from their leavings, those particular cattle might not need to shit for a while. When they disappeared around the turn of the wash, they were still running.
Then this morning on my way to D&L’s I encountered another bunch just like the first, also heading toward the Lair. This time I aimed the Jeep at them. When they left the wash for the brush, I just kept going after them. They’ve seen cars and trucks, of course, but I’ll bet never any that kept coming after they left the road. Scattered them good before I went about my business. When I got back this afternoon there was no sign of them.
I’m trying to give them the idea that this is a good place to avoid, though I’m not convinced they have the brains to learn it. I’m sure Ghost will be happy to help reinforce the lesson when he inevitably encounters them, but the cattle (or rather their owners) are a danger to him. Cow-chasing dogs may legally be shot on sight, and the ranchers who hold the lease aren’t shy about doing so. That’s the only real reason I object to the cattle so strenuously. Otherwise, since the only vegetation I don’t want them eating is securely behind wire, I’d be happy to live and let live. Cattle with more legal rights than residents offend me strongly.
Roll it back a few score years and you could have a range war without the dogs help.
I joke at every chance about ‘slow elk’ – partly because I know ranchers have no sense of humor in that department. As a kid I’d harass the calves my uncle would pasture with lariat and sometimes astride an unwilling burro. Once he’d see me he’d always yell at me for ‘running the fat off those calves’.
I’m lucky – the guy that runs cattle adjacent to our place usually loses track of several head every spring and they’ll eventually show up around here. He actually comes and collects them once I give him a call and tip him on where to find them. It’s open range here too – but one factor is that he uses state land and has to abide by his agreement with them – which includes his maintenance of his fences. Overall he simply seems to think like a good neighbor – so far so good!