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Author
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Topic: Home on the bovine range...
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CatTracker
Knows what it's all about
Member # 3526
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posted January 18, 2010 12:24 PM
Morning started off pretty good. Temps were in the low 20's slight breeze out of the NW. Knocked down a small female on stand number four. Things were looking good and I was looking forward to a mild mid winter hunt.
A few dry stands later and rapidly approaching noon, I ventured down the forest access road. Temp's now past 40 and the road is turning to mush from snow melt (should have taken a picture). Truck is packing the wheel wells with clay and no chains in the truck (mistake #1). It's no wonder why the desert dwellers of yore made adobe homes from this stuff (turns to concrete when dry).
Onward and upward...
Made a few more stands with no luck and decided to take a lunch break. After lunch, I parked the truck at my next stand and proceeded to walk around the bend to a dirt tank that I had scouted earlier in the year with a lot of bobcat sign. This is where things got interesting... When I approached the dirt tank, I noticed a herd of Black Angus lounging around. Damn I thought, so much for this stand. No sooner than that thought came to mind, a Brahma Bull comes to the top of the dirt tank and decides he's coming to check me out and the whole herd follows. I didn't like his aggressive posture and the speed of which he was approaching so I promptly did a 180 back towards the truck 300 yards distant. Frequently checking to see how close the herd was behind me. Funny thing was, after I got about 100 yards closer towards the truck, I noticed they had stopped coming. On the other side of the road from where I was parked, there was another good calling location so I just walked over there (mistake #2). The truck and the herd were at least a quarter mile behind me now. Got set up and started my first series. Three or so minutes later, I hear this rumble, a stampede coming from behind me with that old Brahma Bull leading the charge. They made a run 50 yards out front not knowing exactly where I was. Oh well I thought, I'll blow my call and they'll leave (mistake #3). I proceed to blow and now all Hell brakes loose. I've just given my location away so here they come stopping 30 yards yonder. I've never seen a group of cattle so Hell bent on flushing out an intruder. I had enough so I thought I’ll just gather my stuff and walk out. Now trust me when I say, my next move might have been my last had I made the wrong decision. Ya I know, I could have shot to scare them off, but given that they were on both sides of me, I wasn’t sure what they would do. Not to mention, last weekend another group of cattle ran right up to a coyote that I drilled so loud noises don’t seem to bother these Einstein’s. I was too far from my truck and with only sage brush between me and the herd of 50 or so cattle. As I started to walk, the cattle turned and started running straight at me when I decided to hold my ground raising my arms and telling them to stop. No further than 5 paces away, it was like Moses parting of the Red Sea as the Lord Almighty gave me a pass. They sped past me snorting. Believe me when I say, I was damn lucky today! Yes sir, I won’t be forgetting this day anytime soon…Good Hunting!
[ January 18, 2010, 12:55 PM: Message edited by: CatTracker ]
Posts: 38 | From: NM | Registered: Nov 2009
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted January 18, 2010 01:57 PM
You may have misinterpreted their actions? You know how a cat responds to a can opener? Maybe they were just hungry and they mistook you for the guy that feeds them?
Good story though, and you are very good at posing your photos! Thanks for contributing.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31462 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Cdog911
"There are some ideas so absurd only an intellectual could believe them."--George Orwell.
Member # 7
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posted January 18, 2010 03:10 PM
Nope, they do that. My gunner this season - we'll call him Kevin because, well, that's his name - is what I call "boviphobic" which is a damned tough problem to have in Kansas since we're number two in beef production in this country, second to Texas. Anyway, this time of year, you have to be careful. A few of my guys still calf at this time and a pregnant heifer or cow, or even one with a little one in tow, will stomp the bat crap out of you for just looking at them wrong. Couple weeks back, we were in my regular pasture full of longhorns and I'd just told Kevin that I'd never had a problem with them and me calling. I called and shot this coyote and as I'm watching it spin to a dead stop, Kevin says, "Oh crap, here come the cattle. I look to his side and eight nice big-spread longhorn cows are at full charge coming to the call. Kevin gets ready to bail from hiding and head the the nearest fence and I tell him to sit still since the other side of that fence has longhorns in it, too. I jump up after killing the caller and all but one leaves. She's a big old nasty red and black bitch with white legs and about a forty-inch spread (horns, boys, pay attention here). I walked at her waving my sticks and arms and,. at about ten yards, she gave up the bluff and stormed off. Kevin told me afterwards that he had the crosshairs on her noggin' the whole time. The cows I don't worry about there,.... much.... it's the two angus bulls and the charolais bull that usually have my attention because those angus bulls don't like me being there.
Sounds like you had some fun, CatTracker. If you want to step it up a notch, come on down. I have a 160-acre patch where they winter about fifty head of rodeo bulls. Big nasty ol' bastards, they are and a half-section with about 300 buffalo. Might be fun. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
[ January 18, 2010, 03:13 PM: Message edited by: Cdog911 ]
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I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something; and, because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
Posts: 5438 | From: The gun-lovin', gun-friendly wild, wild west | Registered: Jan 2003
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Kokopelli
SENIOR DISCOUNT & Dispenser of Sage Advice
Member # 633
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posted January 18, 2010 03:52 PM
Sounds like fun times.
I had a herd of wild burros come to the call once in Northern Nev. Good looking beasts, but they had my undivided attention there for a while. Very aggresive creatures.
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And lo, the Light of the Trump shown upon the Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it.
Posts: 7580 | From: Under a wandering star | Registered: Apr 2005
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Dave Allen
Hi, I'm SUPER DAVE, IN CHARGE OF Q STUFF (and Goat Leader) "I'm really not trying to be a dick".
Member # 3102
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posted January 18, 2010 04:59 PM
Yeah,once I howled up a wild horse,he made a bee line straight towards me. I guess he doesn't like coyotes..lol..Anyway when he got to the 150 yard area or so from me,I stood up waved my arms,yelled and even fired a shot in the air.He showed no indication of stopping,so I hastily made a retreat to the pickup parked on the back side of the ridge I was calling.Good times..
I guess I'm a wimp
Posts: 1986 | From: Jordan Valley Oregon | Registered: Aug 2008
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Kelly Jackson
SECOND PLACE/GARTH BROOKS LOOK-A-LIKE CONTEST
Member # 977
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posted January 18, 2010 06:06 PM
you aint lived till you hunt a pasture full of mexican fighting bulls.
Posts: 997 | From: Comanche OK | Registered: Oct 2006
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CatTracker
Knows what it's all about
Member # 3526
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posted January 18, 2010 07:07 PM
Ok I'll be honest... I don't no for sure what type of steer that was in the lead but he weren't no Heifer. All I remember as he was bearing down on me was that he was a tawny color with a massive head & rack of horns!
Posts: 38 | From: NM | Registered: Nov 2009
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Kelly Jackson
SECOND PLACE/GARTH BROOKS LOOK-A-LIKE CONTEST
Member # 977
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posted January 18, 2010 07:27 PM
Cat,
I got an old rodeo clown that lives 5 miles down the road from me. He puts on bull fighing schools. Let me tell you they will get in your hip pocket.
I stay one pasture over....lol
Posts: 997 | From: Comanche OK | Registered: Oct 2006
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CatTracker
Knows what it's all about
Member # 3526
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posted January 18, 2010 07:30 PM
Ok I'll be honest... I don't no for sure what type of steer that was in the lead but he weren't no Heifer. All I remember as he was bearing down on me was that he was a tawny color with a massive head & rack of horns! I felt like a rodeo clown there for a moment.
[ January 18, 2010, 07:36 PM: Message edited by: CatTracker ]
Posts: 38 | From: NM | Registered: Nov 2009
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