Just got word from my neighbor at my hunting property. He’s a friend from high school and he runs his family’s 2000+ acre cattle ranch adjacent to my land.
He went over to check some cattle that were pastured in the 160 acres that joins me and he rode his horse all over and couldn’t find a one of them. So he starts riding the fence looking for a break.
Finally he comes to my gate and the gate’s standing wide open. Uh oh. There is a chain on the gate but it’s one of those twist hasps and he said his cattle figured those out about 10 years ago. He knew the gate was shut before as he rides the fences once a week. Hmmm. Where’d everybody go?
So he rides down to my first food plot, which is nice clover. Or rather WAS nice clover. Here stands about 50 cattle shoulder to shoulder in my little clover plot and they’re chowing down. Others are loafing in the shade of the oak trees. Some are swimming in my creek. It’s like summer camp for cattle! I’d love to know how they knew there was clover in there, they must be able to smell blossoms?
He finally got everybody back on the right side of the fence except for 2 rangy ones that seemed to especially like the new arrangement. He said they’ll miss the herd and be standing by the gate tomorrow morning, so he’ll let them out.
The good news is I won’t have to mow the clover anytime soon. I also got about 200 pounds of free fertilizer out of the deal. Oh, and I’m sure my plot cams are going to have PLENTY of good cattle pictures on them.
Note to self. The damn cattle can undo those twist hasp gate chain holders, so you have to have a complete loop with a snap closure on all gates bordering cattle. Clever b@stards. I’m going to do some burgers for lunch this weekend at the property, just to show them who the boss is.
Cattle. If they didn’t taste so good, they’d really be a pain in the @ss.
Grouse
