MONTANA "Big Sky Country"

I have mentioned here before that I have a cow in my buddies herd in Montana.  I decided to send another heifer and two bulls out to him this year as well.  However, this year I was able to deliver them myself.  I have been wanting to visit him ever since he moved out there and this year turned out to be a good opportunity to do so.

Well, work ran late on the Friday of our departure so instead of leaving around 4pm like I had hoped we didn't get rolling till 6:30pm.  We did get loaded and rolled out safely and were on our way.

The three of us, Steve, Josh, and I, all took turns driving out.  None of us had a chance to sleep during the day so it was a rotation of one person driving while the other two napped on and off.  Short of a problem with the radiator (that was supposed to be fixed) 100 miles before reaching our destination we had a pretty good trip out.  It was just getting to freezing temps when we left Ohio.  We hit temps as low as 8 degrees on the way out and it was zero in Montana when we reached David's house Saturday evening.

Sunday, after a lazy start to the day, we checked the cattle and tended to some issues there and then headed out to see some of the land and do a little hunting.  

Montana Landscape

I think I spent as much time looking at the landscape as I did looking for deer and other animals!  The climate and landscape is so different there I spent most of my time asking questions and taking it all in.  The rocks you see perched on their pedestals got that way not  due to water erosion, but wind erosion.  The small amount of moisture that does get into the soil freezes and loosens the soil and then the wind blows it away.   

Coulee in Montana

It makes for some pretty sweet views and landscapes!

My first ever successful "Selfie"!!

The wind was a steady 20-30 mph all day long and the temps were around 20 degrees.  That was the coldest it would be all week.  While we were in Montana the cold weather moved east and took all the snow with it!!!!  After getting pretty dang cold the first day the rest of the week was a breeze and didn't seem nearly as nasty as the first night when we arrived!

Pearl's baby girl and David's longhorns.  

I quickly found Pearl and her Longhorn cross heifer.  They are doing quite well and fit right in with the herd.  The plan is next year to possibly bring Pearls little girl back home here to Ohio.  I may change my mind before then but in the mean time I will lend occasional thought to it so I can make the right decision.  

Pearl with her calf.

Monday, after helping David and his wife with a herd check, we loaded up his calves and headed south to Miles City Livestock Commission to sell them.  

Some people might find the auctions boring but if you know what to look for and what to pay attention to you can learn a lot in a hurry.

Miles City Livestock Commission Sale ring.

There were some ranches that had just a few to sell and some that had several semi loads of cattle to sell.  The entire show ring is a large scale so, unlike here where the animal is weighed at drop off and then sold several hours later, these animals are kept fed and watered and weighed at the exact time of sale.  If you look closely at both photos you will notice the computer screen above the auctioneer.  It shows the weight of the current lot for sale and all the information from the last lot sold.  The above picture is of the 24 head lot.  The below picture is after they sold and the next group had just entered the ring.  

Miles City Livestock Commission Sale ring.

I have seen several pictures online of the famous "catwalks" above the cattle pens but never saw one in person.  I was super excited to get to use one for the first time.  

Miles City Livestock Commission Sale catwalk over cattle pens.

This was also my first time seeing over 8000 head of cattle in one place at one time.  

Miles City Livestock Commission Sale catwalk over cattle pens.

They sold almost 9000 head of cattle that day and were still selling when we left town at 6pm that evening.  

Miles City Livestock Commission Sale catwalk over cattle pens.

It is a good thing I didn't have a checkbook or I may have been inclined to purchase a pen or two of these light colored beauties to bring home!

Miles City Livestock Commission Sale catwalk over cattle pens.

As we were leaving the auction barns to head home we looked over at the mountains and saw these little black dots on the top of the hill.  If you look close enough you will see they are cattle.  I am not sure if I could even climb those hills even on all fours but these cattle seemed to have no problem doing so.  There were even some laying down on the side of the hill on the back side of the mountain as well.  

Cattle on mountainside near Miles City Livestock Commission.

Wednesday we had a family thanksgiving dinner and then, after eating way too much to move, we needed to pregnancy check all of David's cows and brand the new heifer and two bulls I brought out with me.  

Getting ready to brand cattle.

I am happy to announce that Pearl is happily pregnant.  I also got to see Davids wife use her Ultrasound machine during the pregnancy check.  It was quite awesome to see some of the new technology available to veterinarians today.  

Another picture of Pearl and her baby. 

I was able to brand the bulls myself.  I spoke about branding in my post when Pearl got her brand and I will discuss it again today.  Here in Ohio, we use mostly ear tags.  We do not have cattle roaming vast areas of land to sustain themselves.  We also do not have problems with cattle rustling (stealing cattle).  In Montana, these are issues that are dealt with daily.  You need a way of marking cattle in such a way that cannot be changed or removed that is easily recognizable and able to be seen from a short distance away.  Cattle hides are very thick and durable.  The brand only burns deep enough to create a scar.  Within just a few minutes the bulls and heifer were back to normal as if nothing had happened.  CRF is my registered brand with the Montana Department of Livestock.  

The new brand on one of the bulls I took to Montana

This is the longhorn bull that David is planning to use for breeding next year.  I do not remember the father's breed but the mother is Longhorn.  He should throw some nice looking calves!

Longhorn x Angus bull.

Thursday I had the opportunity to assist David and his wife on a large herd check.  I got to spend the day running the hydraulic squeeze chute.  The squeeze chute catches the cattle and firmly squeezes them so they cannot kick or jump around during vaccinations, worming, branding, pregnancy checks, and any other animal husbandry that may need done while it is being performed.  It is much safer for the animals as well as those working with them.  

About half way through the herd check I had to stop and take a picture.  This cow was in the herd in upstate Montana 1600 miles from my farm.....however, I swear this has got to be the sister of my sweat heart 50 here at home!!  They look so much alike that I was taken aback when I saw her!

Here is a link to a picture of FIFTY.  What do you think!?

Fifty's long lost twin sister!!!!

Since we hadn't gotten a deer during our 4 hours of hunting on Sunday, and due to us all three managing to contract a stomach flu in the middle of the week, we decided to extend the stay by one day and take advantage of the beautiful Saturday and try our luck one more time.  

Hunting in Montana

We hiked back about three or four miles in a Coulee  to get behind a field where we saw a large number of Mule deer at sun up.   

I had a chance to get a picture of all three of the boys together during our hike.  From left to right, Steven, David, and Josh.

The brothers that brought me to Montana

The views along the way were breathtaking and worth the drive out just to see them.  After about two hours of hiking we reached the plateau we were trying to get to and while there decided to get some pictures.  

Hunting in Montana

From this spot you could see hundreds of miles west and north.  If there was ever a place to have a campsite this was it!

The view to the West.

If I hadn't been there myself I would not believe that it existed.  I felt so full of energy and happiness getting to see this I knew I had to share it.  I want to say these pictures do this spot no justice at all!

The view to the North.

After getting all our pictures and sneaking over the back edge of the field we found......nothing!!!  We kicked up one large and one small doe on the way back to the truck but nothing else. 

If you want to truly understand how far we walked pull the picture up to full screen.  In the left center of the photo you will see a small line of evergreens.  Just forward of that line of trees you will see a snow patch with a black dot.  That dot is the roof of the truck.  About three miles away.  

My last picture is from our last night after the hunt.  We ended up getting two mule deer bucks and headed back home.  We feed the cows and helped David with a couple last minute things and then went back to pack and load up.  I wanted one last pic of the cows enjoying the sun before we let them back out to the pasture.  

We hit the road for home at 6:20am Sunday morning.  I managed to drive 1325 miles and 21 hour back before I was too tired to drive any more and Josh drove for a couple hours while I took a nap and then I finished driving home when I woke back up.  

I cannot wait to go out again.  However, the next time I will be taking the family so I can share this with them.  I definitely can't wait to see more of the west as a family some day in the future when the kids are old enough to enjoy it and remember it!!!

To David and his wonderful wife I say thank you for an awesome and very educational trip.  Without your help and hospitality this could never have happened.  I look forward to future trips and many more happy occasions to see you guys again!

Goodnight,

Kenny