middlefork
Active Member
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How come this doesn't seem to apply to feral horses? I know SS will be proud.
Feral cows
- Thread starter middlefork
- Start date
tailchasers
Long Time Member
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If the cow doesn't have a brand or ear tag it's considered free game aka feral. Shot one myself 20 years ago and fully legal. Worst tasting beef I've ever had. Lmao.
feddoc
Long Time Member
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- 7,221
A few years ago a friend of mine had a cow tag. It was getting late in the season, so I pushed four cows into his camp. Angus.
He was not amused.
He was not amused.
Last edited:
eelgrass
Long Time Member
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- 31,423
"The work, namely noise from the helicopter, also can't interrupt the breeding season for the Mexican spotted owl, the southwestern willow flycatcher and other endangered species. The aerial gunning operation is expected to be complete before April, when the season begins for Mexican gray wolves to have pups."
Whew! That was my main concern.
Whew! That was my main concern.
Packsaddles
Member
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- 16
I will try to make the feral cow issue in NM as short and concise as possible.
Over the last 15 years there have been contracts to remove the cattle from the Gila Wilderness. 99% of them are found between the Gila Cliff Dwellings and Gila NM on the Gila River. The area is rough, remote brushy country. It is about 30 miles of river. While most of the cattle stay on the ridges within a mile of the river, some will be a few miles off the river. There are 2 ranches that border area where the cattle are located. Their cattle are easy to identify from the Galloway feral cattle. It was estimated that there were 200 + head on the river.
An environmental group sued the Forest Service based on perceived damage to the river bottom. The Continental Trail runs up 15 miles of that stretch of river which caused a lot of complaints of over grazing.
NM Cattle Growers lobbied the NM Livestock Board to shut down the proposal to issue (tags) to hunters to shoot the cattle and pack them out.
The Forest Service (FS) had a contract in place with the Fish and Wilfe Service to shoot the cows from a helicopter before they issued a contract to gather them alive.
The FS issued a one year contract to remove the cattle from the Gila Wilderness alive. The contractor chose to wait until December for all the leaves to fall off the trees so the helicopter crew could work the cattle in the Sycamore trees on the river and drive them to a corral. Since it is wilderness that area only has two locations where roads make contact close to the wilderness where it's reasonable put corrals and they are 30 miles apart.
Feral cattle just don't run into a corral. It has to be disguised like they are just running through the brush and the gate closed before they see any humans. These feral cattle over the years have learned when they see humans or horses they bust and run to the first place they can find out of the river and go as hard as they can to the brush. If they feel trapped they will go like deer and elk over a horse, under a horse or the bulls through a horse. Feral cattle have to be trained by the helicopter crew to herd just as they do with a horse. You better have one hell of a good pilot and observer to stay out of the trees and cliffs in the bottom of that narrow river. Most of the day is spent 10 to 20 feet above the trees or down between them to move the cattle.
Feral cattle travel better when other cattle have traveled in front of them.
The first day the helicopter crew picked up about 15 head, 16 miles up river from the corral. They dropped the bulls that wanted to fight each other as quick as possible. They pushed them down the river about 10 miles before the cattle sign in the river ended and then had to push them 6 more miles with tired cows that wanted out of the river at every opportunity.
They ended up with 10 head at the corral.
The helicopter crew has to put one cow per hour in the corral to make the cost work.
The next day only 2 cows were in the river in the 30 mile stretch. No way to make money.
It's going to snow for 3 days so everyone goes home for the holidays.
Mid January, 11 head are put in the corral on the first day. Nothing in the river for next two days.
Fish and Wildlife Life Service comes in and shoots 67 from the air. All hell breaks loose as the public finds out they are shooting them.
3 cowboys come in June and July and rope and lead out 8 head.
So there are plenty of cows and bulls left to repopulate the area. The helicopter crew did not see one animal with a brand or earmark on it and most were seen from less than 20 feet above them.
What is the solution?
IMO
Those that want one, buy a permit. You hunt them in a very specific location away from any game season. You are required to bring both ears, photos and GPS location out. If requested you have to be able to a cattle inspector back to the kill location. Just like a bear, a cattle inspector is contacted and verifies the kill. Both ranchers also get to inspect the ears within 10 days. If there is any question at all, both ranchers would have an arbitrator already selected. The arbitrator,s decision is final for all parties. Rancher has to be paid within 14 business days or the State is assessed a penalty for every late day.
The program pays for itself and no unnecessary expense to the taxpayers.
Way longer than expected for sure.
Over the last 15 years there have been contracts to remove the cattle from the Gila Wilderness. 99% of them are found between the Gila Cliff Dwellings and Gila NM on the Gila River. The area is rough, remote brushy country. It is about 30 miles of river. While most of the cattle stay on the ridges within a mile of the river, some will be a few miles off the river. There are 2 ranches that border area where the cattle are located. Their cattle are easy to identify from the Galloway feral cattle. It was estimated that there were 200 + head on the river.
An environmental group sued the Forest Service based on perceived damage to the river bottom. The Continental Trail runs up 15 miles of that stretch of river which caused a lot of complaints of over grazing.
NM Cattle Growers lobbied the NM Livestock Board to shut down the proposal to issue (tags) to hunters to shoot the cattle and pack them out.
The Forest Service (FS) had a contract in place with the Fish and Wilfe Service to shoot the cows from a helicopter before they issued a contract to gather them alive.
The FS issued a one year contract to remove the cattle from the Gila Wilderness alive. The contractor chose to wait until December for all the leaves to fall off the trees so the helicopter crew could work the cattle in the Sycamore trees on the river and drive them to a corral. Since it is wilderness that area only has two locations where roads make contact close to the wilderness where it's reasonable put corrals and they are 30 miles apart.
Feral cattle just don't run into a corral. It has to be disguised like they are just running through the brush and the gate closed before they see any humans. These feral cattle over the years have learned when they see humans or horses they bust and run to the first place they can find out of the river and go as hard as they can to the brush. If they feel trapped they will go like deer and elk over a horse, under a horse or the bulls through a horse. Feral cattle have to be trained by the helicopter crew to herd just as they do with a horse. You better have one hell of a good pilot and observer to stay out of the trees and cliffs in the bottom of that narrow river. Most of the day is spent 10 to 20 feet above the trees or down between them to move the cattle.
Feral cattle travel better when other cattle have traveled in front of them.
The first day the helicopter crew picked up about 15 head, 16 miles up river from the corral. They dropped the bulls that wanted to fight each other as quick as possible. They pushed them down the river about 10 miles before the cattle sign in the river ended and then had to push them 6 more miles with tired cows that wanted out of the river at every opportunity.
They ended up with 10 head at the corral.
The helicopter crew has to put one cow per hour in the corral to make the cost work.
The next day only 2 cows were in the river in the 30 mile stretch. No way to make money.
It's going to snow for 3 days so everyone goes home for the holidays.
Mid January, 11 head are put in the corral on the first day. Nothing in the river for next two days.
Fish and Wildlife Life Service comes in and shoots 67 from the air. All hell breaks loose as the public finds out they are shooting them.
3 cowboys come in June and July and rope and lead out 8 head.
So there are plenty of cows and bulls left to repopulate the area. The helicopter crew did not see one animal with a brand or earmark on it and most were seen from less than 20 feet above them.
What is the solution?
IMO
Those that want one, buy a permit. You hunt them in a very specific location away from any game season. You are required to bring both ears, photos and GPS location out. If requested you have to be able to a cattle inspector back to the kill location. Just like a bear, a cattle inspector is contacted and verifies the kill. Both ranchers also get to inspect the ears within 10 days. If there is any question at all, both ranchers would have an arbitrator already selected. The arbitrator,s decision is final for all parties. Rancher has to be paid within 14 business days or the State is assessed a penalty for every late day.
The program pays for itself and no unnecessary expense to the taxpayers.
Way longer than expected for sure.
Bux n Dux
Active Member
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- 696
I hate cattle on public lands beyond the dates specified on their grazing permits. Freeloaders think they can do just whatever they want because they paid to be there. The entitlement is unreal.
I had always wanted to kill a cow. In November of 2017 I got my wish. It was at the expense of a smashed front end of my truck, but at least I got that desire out of the way.
I had always wanted to kill a cow. In November of 2017 I got my wish. It was at the expense of a smashed front end of my truck, but at least I got that desire out of the way.
littlebull209338
Active Member
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- 968
Friends use to hunt them on Grand Mesa in Colorado. Said they were as wild as elk.
tailchasers
Long Time Member
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The beef I shot took us 2 weekends in January knee deep snow to get a shot opportunity. She was wild as littlebull suggest. She lived in the nastiest river bottom cover too that was nearly impossible to put any sort of stalk on. Ended up doing a slow 3 man drive to gently bump her out of the cover keeping our distance. She'd typically stay 200-300 yds in front not leaving cover. I ended up finding a spot where there was about a 50 yard opening she would have to cross in order to get to the next batch of river bottom willows. I held up there and sure enough she came to the edge on a trail without noticing me at 30 yards ish. Shot her between the eyes with my 12 gauge slug gun folding her knees up where she stood. Then the real work started carving and dragging out a 1200# steer in knee deep snow. Hung it up for a couple weeks before cutting and packaging. First roast we had was the stringiest beef with the wildest river bottom flavor. Definitely not a grass or corn fed critter. Took some learning to cook. Still a fun experience hunting a bovine Betty that got the better of us for several days. Who new a feral cow would be so smart.
heywouldya
Very Active Member
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What does this have to do with feral cattle?
Bux n Dux
Active Member
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Well, I didn’t hit the damn thing on an open range. Seemed pretty feral to me at the time and location it got smoked
elkassassin
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tailchasers
Long Time Member
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Guess I'm ignorant on he/she/steer/heifer/nutted on beef critters. No worries...It was a female that was not bred escaping from a feed lot, living several years wild along the Lower Big Sioux River in NW Iowa .
elkassassin
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Just RAZZIN Ya Tail!
tayhot
Active Member
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I’m wondering how a feral beef can be a steer?Hey Tail?
You Said 'She' a few Times!
And Then You Said 'Steer'!
elkassassin
Long Time Member
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Howdy tayhot!
