50/50Farms
Well-known member
Father in law told me a big red cow got out from somewhere and was wandering his hay fields, when he saw her she was grazing and plucking at an old hay bale almost in his yard and his dog ran her off. I have done work for a few ranchers out on his road and seen the cattle of the rest of them in passing, so I asked if he could describe the cow and when he did I was almost certain I knew where she came from. Cranked up, drove out there, and something told me to go to this one spot where the ground moisture, terrain, and soil make really good winter time growth. Sure enough, drove straight to her. Found a good looking brahma cross mama cow, pretty good looking cow. Nothing special, just a good ranching cow. I had brought my dogs because I didn't know what kind of cow she'd be. I never even let them out of the truck, I just drove up around her and told her "Gig's up, mama, let's go home" and started behind her. She started out for home, I just kept my distance. She stopped at a brush belt and acted like she might try to hide, I gave her just a second in a brushy spot under a tree in case she had a calf stashed. I didn't think she did, she didn't look like it, but better safe than sorry. After a moment, I just opened the truck door and stepped onto the running board and waved my hand and said "Yope-yope, let's go" and she started off again. She slowly followed her tracks home and when we hit the woods and I couldn't drive anymore, I gave her about a 20 second head start, made sure the dogs were secure, and grabbed a sorting stick out of the vehicle and went in behind her. Sure enough, old girl was eating a cedar frond. I just pushed up behind her and yo'd softly a few times and she trotted down to the fence where a limb had brought the wire down low, step-hopped over, and I walked up to the fence behind her and gave her a little haze to go on and she went. I took the limb off the fence, stilted up the fence in several places so it couldn't be stepped over, and then got in contact with the guy leasing that place and made sure I put the right cow in the right place. I had, and that was that.