Dart Gun

[Dave]

I have Pneu dart gun. The greatest thing since sliced bread. Have another calf with an eye. Loaded up the dart gun with 5 cc of Draxxin. Drove the quad up within about 30-40 feet of the steer. Shot him in the neck. He jogged off shaking his head. All done no stress on me or the rest of the calves. So much easier than gathering the entire herd to sort off one calf to treat. Easier on both the calf and me than roping it, knocking it over and tying it down to give it a shot. I wish I would have had one of these 50 years ago.

 

[bird dog]

Yeah you come to rely on them the older you get. I use to rope them and then run over the rope with the side x side because I couldn't hold them other wise.
FYI. a lot of the "real cowboys" around here are using Zuprevo for the small amount needed (smaller length darts) and the length of time it continually works.

I use a generic draxxin/meloxicam combo that a local vet makes in his lab.

 

[coachg]

Only problem I've had is if you need to give a second dose they are a little harder to get close to and the 3rd time you can forget it ! I've got a cow that after 2 last year I still can't get close to her . We had a lot of pinkeye last year . 2 shots for most .

 

[Silver]

I find they don’t necessarily associate me with the dart so I can usually get a second shot.
I have the Pneu-Dart that uses .22 blanks. Agree with Dave, so much less stress for everyone involved.

 

[Silver]

Only problem I've had is if you need to give a second dose they are a little harder to get close to and the 3rd time you can forget it ! I've got a cow that after 2 last year I still can't get close to her . We had a lot of pinkeye last year . 2 shots for most .

I have a medi-dart crossbow and I can say for sure that I seldom ever got a second shot with that thing. But the rifle I shoot from far enough away that they don’t know where it cafe from. I’m a big fan of Draxxin because I can’t usually give enough in one dart to do the job, 2 for bigger cows.

 

[bird dog]

I agree with Silver. They move from me when they see me get out a spray bottle, but the dart gun is something they don't see enough of to get alarmed. Most of my shots are less than 20'. Its like a wasp sting to them, a jump or two and some head shakes and thats it.

 

[kenny thomas]

Just shot a dart for a friend's cow with crackheal. Very easy.

 

[Brute 23]

If all you do is negative actions (darting, chasing, etc) from you sxs or atv they will always associate it with bad. I can tell right away when I jump in some ones buggy what they do just by watching their cattle. It usually comes out later in the conversation as the cows fault in comments like "these stupid cows won't do this or that". Most of the time they trained the actions they don't like with out even knowing it.

 

[sstterry]

If all you do is negative actions (darting, chasing, etc) from you sxs or atv they will always associate it with bad. I can tell right away when I jump in some ones buggy what they do just by watching their cattle. It usually comes out later in the conversation as the cows fault in comments like "these stupid cows won't do this or that". Most of the time they trained the actions they don't like with out even knowing it.

I will feed mine from out in the field on my sxs on occasion. If they hear me coming, they start to follow me.

 

[Lucky]

We do pretty much everything from a SxS now. The cows don't seem to care if we're out there checking on them. Go to singling one out and it's a different story though lol. After this round of Pinkeye we have a few calves on high alert but other than that the cows don't mind. A rattling cattle trailer goes by and they head for the hills.

 

[anewcomer]

Brute 23 is right. Think about it, people.

 

[Brute 23]

We do the majority of stuff off sxs or atvs, also.

When my buddy was darting the calves a couple weeks ago you could tell the cows wanted no part of the buggy. He was having a hard time getting to the calves, also.

I messed up a couple months ago and hauled cows from a place I predominantly pen cows by myself on a sxs to a place my buddy shares with us like 2 weeks before we were suppose to work cows there. Despite warning him and me knowing better he went to catch the cows in the traps, with one of his kids, and he got down on foot. It did not go well. Cows are smart... when they want to be.