A Cattle Drive

Coming Home

 

The wildfires and droughts of 2010-2011 had left a shortage of grassland on the 59,020 acres contained in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge of Southwest Oklahoma. The adjoining Ft. Sill Army Base offered several thousand acres of pasture which were adequately fenced with water to help relieve the problem. Several head of Texas Longhorn cattle were rounded up and driven thru the gate to the unfamiliar range in the winter of 2011. Now that the refuge had recovered it's grass sufficiently, it was time to bring the Longhorns home! Cowboys from the area ranches were borrowed and showed up bringing their horses and know-how with them. Pickups and horse trailers lined the road by the Cache Gate. At least a dozen!

 

Lining Them Out

 

I first saw them about three miles south of the refuge. Dust was in the air from their hooves as the cowboys were gathering and building the herd. From the trucks and horse trailers I saw on my way to get fuel at Cache and then the scene just described, I figured out a cattle drive was being formed to bring the missed Longhorns back home. A once in a lifetime photo opportunity was upon me!

 

Positioned my truck where I knew they would be coming thru the gate and onto the refuge. Climbed into the bed and used the top of the truck to rest my elbows (tripod) on. Ring side seat! Captured the two pics above just after they crossed the road and started north.  

 

 

Riding Flank

 

The cowboys and their cow-savy horses started narrowing and stretching the herd into an easy walking drive. No stress on the animals! Cowboys took their places, Trail Boss-Point-Swing-Flank and Drag.

 

 

Gathering Strays

 

Some of the momma cows seemed to recognize their old range and tried to stray off from the drive but a horse and rider gently nudged them back to the others!

 

 

Headed North

 

Moving at a steady pace the Longhorns were trailing well. 

 

 

Riding Drag

 

Gets a little dusty on the back end of a trail drive. All those hooves on the ground really stirs the dirt!

 

 

Swing Man

 

The swing men (one on each side of  the trailing animals) follows the point men to help steer the herd which ever way the point men are leading.

 

More Trailing Adventures and Pics Next Post!