What more could a cow want?
Tag Archives: routt national forest
Summer Trail
Eamon, Rhen and McCoy trailing cows and calves onto the Forest
July 1st is the on-date for our cows and calves, and ewes and lambs to enter their grazing permits on the Routt National Forest. Since there are several herds, they trail on in stages over several days. We do a lot of planning amongst our crew, with our Forest Service range conservationists, and with the neighbors.
We also work with the Range Cons regarding trailing dates to give them to opportunity to count on, if they wish, and to coordinate the trailing of other permittees who have the same on date. Since it’s mid-summer, we have to start at sunrise so that we can be on the Forest before the heat of the day sets in.
Sunrise, with sheep in the rear-view mirror.
Forest bound
Almost there
and through the Forest gate
Let the summer grazing begin!
Looking for love
Put me in, Coach!
It’s almost time for the bulls to seek romance with the cows. The highlight of the year comes just before the summer solstice, when their long months of waiting are at an end, and they get to hang out with comely cows in the beautiful Routt and Medicine Bow National Forests. What more could a bull want?
Fall Gather
Leaving the Routt National Forest
It’s that time of year again. It seems like we were just trailing the cows and calves onto the Forest for summer grazing. Our “off-date” has rolled around already. We mustered 19 horses and riders, including the six grandkids, to gather the cattle and bring them down to a lower pasture on private land. The calves are looking nice and chubby, and the cows are looking forward to weaning.
Pat with kid crew
Siobhan on Coco with Cinnamon
Cinnamon taking a break
Maeve–the stylish cowgirl
Seamus and Dot
Tiarnan and Daisy
Rhen and McCoy on the job
McCoy, Rhen and Eamon
Peanut contemplating the speed limit
Jim, looking for cows
Eamon has dogs at the ready!
The trailing of the sheep
Trailing off the Routt National Forest
October 1st is the off-date for our National Forest grazing permits–Medicine Bow and Routt; sheep and cattle. Since several herds are involved, we have to stage the trailing, in coordination with our Range Conservationists and neighbors, who are also trailing. Here is one band of ewes and lambs heading down from summer grazing on the Routt. We dodged a couple of fires, and had to change our rotation, but all in all, it was a good summer. Thanks to all our crew and the federal folks who work with us.
heading for lower country
mobile home
the happy sheepherder
the switch horse
Hahns Peak in autumn
Bringing down the Blackfaces
Tiarnan and Maria ready to ride
Our Hampshire ewes and their lambs spend the summer on private land, the Johnson Place, in the middle of the Routt National Forest. In late September, we trail them back to the Home Ranch, so they can hang out with the guys for a few weeks. This year, Siobhan and Tiarnan trailed them 15 miles to the Bull Pasture on our good horses, Maria and Sarah.
on the trail
the happy horseback crew
Tending sheep camp
Jean Carlos and Tiarnan near Tennessee Creek
Tiarnan and Rhen went with me to move sheep camp on Tennessee Creek in the Routt Forest. Jean Carlos was happy to see the boys and fed them a hearty lunch of spaghetti, vienna sausage and mixed vegetables. They were hungry. After pulling the camp down a very rough and narrow road, Jean Carlos gave Tiarnan a ride. In spite of the bouncy trip, Rhen had somehow fallen asleep, and was mad when he learned he had missed a ride on the horse. We then went on to Clark for some of their famous ice cream.
Jean Carlos, Rhen and Tiarnan at the sheep camp
Tiarnan helps to siphon water
Calves: summertime, and the livin’ is easy
Pairs grazing on the Routt National Forest
Cow with her AI calf
Happy calves
On the trail to the Forest
We have spent the last couple of weeks trailing the sheep onto their summer grazing permits on the Medicine Bow and Routt National Forests. All the ewes and lambs are on, and the yearlings are on their way from spring pasture.
Along the Savery Stock Driveway
Ladder Ranch
