No Hiking, Just Ranchin

[Little Big Man MT Chris]

For a little over the last month I’ve been going on a hike somewhere in Montana on my days off , this week was different, I got invited to a Ranch and spent the last 2 days helping out with the branding of this years calves . Had a lot of fun , worked hard , met some great people, and learned a little bit about ranching

Bringing the herd in this morning

Stock is in the pen


Bringing us a calf


Time to work


Smiling for the camera with my friend Sam


After 2 days of wrestling calves , this old man is worn out , loved every minute of it though

PS my Kenetreks worked great as a wrangling boot

 

[Little Big Man MT Chris]

Just got sent my calf ride ! Was told that I had to ride one on my first day of branding



And a less than graceful dismount

 

[hank4elk]

Just got sent my calf ride ! Was told that I had to ride one on my first day of branding

View attachment 229210View attachment 229211

And a less than graceful dismount

Watch that stuff, getting close to old guy.

 

[golfer]

How late did those guys calve? Seems kinda late in the year to be branding.

 

[Stocker]

I used to go out and help my family in the Sandhills brand every summer, we always ended up at a few neighboring ranches to help out. Even in high school I was sore and wore out. I’m just glad I live east of the inspection area. A chute and ear tags are to marking calves what a heated deer blind is to hunting. There’s just something wrong with us fellers that wanna do it the hard way though.

 

[mtmuley]

Cool stuff Chris. I miss the branding and all the rest. Seems rancher is a dirty word sometimes. mtmuley

 

[Little Big Man MT Chris]

Cool stuff Chris. I miss the branding and all the rest. Seems rancher is a dirty word sometimes. mtmuley

I’ve never seen anybody complain when they’re sitting at the steakhouse

 

[CowboyLeroy]

Good stuff, @robertgot to play cowboy with us this week too.

 

[RobG]

That’s pretty awesome.

 

[kansasdad]

I am enjoying your Montana adventure stories @MT Rookie aka OR Chris

With modern castration banding instead of surgery via an emasculator, I imagine there were no “oysters” to be had during mealtime?

And good on you to be a part of the entertainment with your calf riding (attempt?!?). I’m certain I’d be down and crumpled up after the first lunge.

 

[Flatbrimmer]

This is awesome lol I enjoy the hiking pics and the way you share your Montana experience— in a different tone than most of the locals do. This looks so fun and I’m a little jealous lol I’ve been asking every rancher I can find if they need help- for free. The knowledge gained is handsome payment… They think I’m pulling their leg or something!? Ha seriously So cool thanks for sharing!

 

[geetar]

Man! That’s cool stuff Chris.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

This is awesome lol I enjoy the hiking pics and the way you share your Montana experience— in a different tone than most of the locals do. This looks so fun and I’m a little jealous lol I’ve been asking every rancher I can find if they need help- for free. The knowledge gained is handsome payment… They think I’m pulling their leg or something!? Ha seriously So cool thanks for sharing!

Do you travel?

 

[Little Big Man MT Chris]

Do you travel?

@FoodIsMemories needs to take a vacation to your place in Eastern Oregon!!!!

 

[Flatbrimmer]

Do you travel?

Within a reasonable distance from Bozeman, my wife would allow my absence.. unfortunately I think Oregon is too far.. if I could ever make the trip, I might have to charge you a catfishing excursion!! Lol

 

[bowhuntmontana]

That's awesome! I never got to do the full roping and brand-them-on-the-ground version of branding. The places I helped out at sorted them, ran them into a squeeze chute table that we could flip and we'd brand them there. The calves also looked much smaller than the ones you were wrangling. I miss doing that kind of thing. Good way to stay connected to the land and real life.

 

[gwhunter]

Those are some cool pictures and a cool experience to share. I doubt I'll ever get to experience something like that living in the Midwest.

 

[2rocky]

Chris, you look like good help. I love seeing the way that folks handle their calves in different parts of the country. Lots of places in CA and NV head and heel the calves because many times they are too big...In this case we had some novices and green horses.