We get $150-$200/ day for just day work. A buddy of mine and myself also find a catch some hard to get cattle, sometimes its one, sometimes it is a bunch. We charge on the situation, and its usually cattle that are spoiled or wild that we typically have to use dogs to find and rope/tie or drive the cattle to get them out. We don't get a call unless we are really needed. If its to the point that I am being called for a catching deal, its usually between the choice of calling me and getting the cattle, or not getting the cattle at all. The most I have ever charged is a 50/50 split on the cattle at the sale and that was an extreme case. But even at a 50/50 split, what is cheaper? Hiring me and getting half of whatever they bring or not hiring me and getting 100% of nothing?
Most catching deal we have run around $400-$500, and that gets you two men, dogs, and a catch trailer if stuff gets roped in the pasture. There are a few cases where its cheaper and there are a few cases when its obviously more expensive.
When you think about the risk people take who catch wild or spoiled cattle, its really not that expensive. You have just the cost and time of showing up, you could loose a tire on truck or trailer loading cattle in the brush, dangerous for horses and dogs and people. Good cow horse $5000-$7000, good set of finished cow dogs $5000-$10,000, could get killed or injured (vets aren't cheap), then you have all the regular maintenance of working animals even if they stay safe. Ruin a rope -$50. Ruin a hat- $100, tear up jeans and shirts in brush $75 (I have had shirts dang near ripped off my back). Thats a lot at risk and stuff to support that we are not asking anyone to take responsibility for when something goes wrong. If I have a dog killed, its going to take 10 more regular catching jobs to replace that dog.
All that and it doesn't even include all the bad habits we have to support like rolling dice, dipping snuff, or all the wild women we try to catch free of charge
