Calving on the range

It's been quite a while since we've posted anything about our cows out at Whisky Flat in Mineral County, Nevada.  Since winter grazing on public land is something new for us, we had a lot of potential concerns.  Would the cows need to be moved around to new feed or would they range out on their own?  Would the nutrition be adequate for lactating cows or would they lose body condition?  And what about calving?

People with experience have told us that cows on the range that get a lot of exercise and are not fed supplemental feed during calving have less calving issues than cows in pastures fed hay.  So far this has been our experience completely. 

This young cow is a little thinner than some but has a very healthy and vigorous calf.

This Charolais cow of mine had trouble calving last year.  She needed help to get the calf out.  I was apprehensive about her being on the range and having the same issue this year but with nobody around to help her.  Turns out I needn't have worried, she had a healthy heifer calf and is still in great condition.  We call her "Bugler" because her bawl sounds like an elk bugling.

The calves all look very healthy. 

The 1975 International 1810B Cargostar continues to fulfill the most important role in the operation.

Pinzgauers!

Rhiannon's cow comes in for a morning drink.

Desert scenery on the north end of the permit.

Filling troughs with the one-of-a-kind 1975 International.

These calves are almost certain that they are totally wild.

This grass makes up the most available forage for the cows.

This is an example of a stand where the dead forage is preventing new growth and consequently limits production.  Grazing and fire are the effective ways to reduce "decadent forage".

This is a broken spearpoint I spotted while taking photos.

Looking back at years past and Looking forward to a great 2015 at the Hunewill Ranch!

Looking back at some of our happy memories at Hunewill Ranch...This time of year we are looking forward to seeing the friends we've made over the years at the ranch and the new adventures to come in the months ahead. Good friends, good horses, working cattle, loping in the meadows, and spending time with family these are the things that make for a memorable Hunewill Ranch vacation.

 Moving cows in the big meadows.

 A look back at when we gathered Sinnamon Meadows in 2013 with our Big Fall Gather.

A happy little buckaroo leading Teton to the barn.

Nancy Turner and Wrangler Benny enjoying an afternoon lope across the meadows.

Having some family fun!

A new adventure

By Blair Hunewill
December 29th marked the beginning of a new era here at the Hunewill Ranch.  On that day we turned the first of our cows out on the Whiskey Flat grazing permit.  This permit covers 239,000 acres (373 square miles) in Mineral County, Nevada and includes Whiskey Flat, Little Whiskey Flat, Garfield Flat, Rattlesnake and Douglas Valley.  This is a beautiful and desolate area northeast of Mono Lake.  We have been busy moving vehicles, trailers and equipment out to the camp in preparation for the big turn outs.  Our cows have been out on grazing permits before, but never something of this size.

The first cows exit the truck on the morning of December 29.  I had returned from Oregon's buckaroo country the night before and drove out early to be with my parents when the first cows arrived.

The first cows are held in a rodear while the second truck unloads.  It may look barren to the untrained eye, but there is a lot of good forage.  The cows will eat Rice Grass, White Sage (aka "Winter Fat"), Four Wing Salt Bush and other plants.

My mother and Riley let the cows drift south towards the water tanks.  Temperatures were in the high teens with a slight icy breeze.

  While a very handsome horse, Potter was very "spirited" and energetic after not being ridden much in the last few weeks.  Eating a lot of wheat hay back at the corral made sure that he was full of energy and a handful.

The first day we were careful to drift all the cows to the water point and leave them only after the entire herd had settled.  The ordinance disposal site to our south set off ten big explosions up on a mountain top about six miles from us.  The booms and smoke were impressive but horses and cows didn't seem to notice.  We were pretty pleased with everything and relieved at how well things were going.  Sure we had a few surprises like the water pump going out on a truck and frozen pipes in the camp trailer but things were going okay.  We decided to head into Hawthorne for dinner.  We spotted the cows heading north at a brisk walk.  They thought they were back on the cattle drive!  We turned them back to water and went in to eat.  The next morning they were gone!  We found them bedded seven miles north of where we left them.

Out here water has to be hauled until we can improve some of the spring sites.  This water truck is doing a fine job of getting the job done.  I broke the handle off a frozen drain valve before getting smart and pouring hot water on the other frozen valve to loosen it up.  We decided instead of  trailing the cows back to the first water point we would haul tanks and water to a nearby place and show them where to drink.

Did I mention how darned cold it was?  The temperatures stayed around 18 degrees all day with a frigid north wind of around 20mph.  By afternoon our relief crew had showed up.  Leslie, Dalton, Ashley and Sierra brought horses to take over for us and allow us to return home to showers and warmth.  Leslie and I trailered about a mile and a half from the cows and an equal distance from the water troughs.  Trotting into the wind was not fun but the wind helped the cows move south.

We crossed a steep ravine about a mile from the troughs.  The cows ran down the hill and up the other side.  There are few things colder than pushing cows at a slow walk and just sitting in the saddle.  Trotting helps keep a rider warm but we didn't have a lot of chances for that.  I took a glove off to answer the radio and it just made me cold.  I had long underwear, two pairs of socks, five layers up top, jeans, armitas, silk wildrag and a warm hat and I didn't feel warm until I got home and into a hot shower hours later.

December at the Ranch

It is December at the Hunewill Ranch and we have had a few storms and are hoping for more to help end the drought. But it is definitely exciting to see some of the white stuff sticking in the mountains.  This last week we got the last of the animals moved to Smith Valley for the winter. The bulls left on Tuesday and the horses were hauled out in a total of 18 stock trailer loads.

This is Blair and his dog Ham leading horses out to load them in the trailers. 

Horses waiting to be loaded. 

Leslie holding the gate.

Trailers at the ready.

Heading up the ranch road to pick up more horses.

 On Wednesday as I drove up and down the road I thought about the horses in the back of my trailer and the people who had enjoyed riding them during the summer. As I loaded, Josh, the Morgan, I thought about the German gentleman, that had raved about working cattle aboard his sturdy back, as Chief jumped aboard I thought about the blond six-year-old with the movie star mom who wrote him a letter on the way home thanking him for being such a great horse, and Lorna Dun made me think of Austin, the enthusiastic teenager, chasing after Tyler on the advanced ride. These great horses of ours make me proud, week after week as they help our wonderful guests make ranch memories. 

Here is a picture of the horses in Smith Valley. They will spend the winter here at 4500 feet.

We were really glad we moved everything out of Bridgeport when we did. The day after we were done we had 100 mile an hour winds at the ranch. The winds blew the top off a tree, moved a shed and broke windows.  Winter is here.

Here is a picture that Blair took today of the top of a pine tree that was blown out of one of our ranch trees. He went to Bridgeport to check on storm damage. We are lucky the tree didn't land on anything.

 

 

 

December windstorm

Like much of California, the Bridgeport Valley endured some exciting weather over the last few days.  Unlike other parts of the state that endured record setting rainfall, the ranch enjoyed an incredible windstorm with a light sprinkling of precipitation.  Lots of tree limbs fell, a window was broken and a building was wedged between a fence and a pole. 

 This 10x10 foot building was moved to the ranch last spring.  It was sitting on several 4x4s to keep it off the ground.  The wind blew the shed until it wedged itself.

 

This tree top landed right in front of the reading room.  

Talent Night at Hunewill Ranch

Hunewill Ranch Talent Night

While cell phones and wifi usually work; here at the Hunewill Ranch almost all of our entertainment, activities, relaxation, and fun are “unplugged”.  In addition to the amazing horseback riding and great meals, we have cookouts, colt gentling, roping practice, bingo, square dancing, hay rides, campfire, and of course, Talent Night.   After all these years one would think there is nothing new, but human ingenuity continues to surprise us.  This summer, among other things, we had “Horrible Histories”, a rap about Charles II, recited in a lovely English accent by three young ladies.  They said it is a fun way that history is sometimes taught in the UK.    We also had a guest show an amazing movie trailer for a documentary film that she recently completed.   Some of our guests showed their fishing talents  by filming their experience.   Whether you like to fish or not, the enthusiasm & humor shared was infectious.   They caught and released over 150 fish.     A professional singer, a young artist, and a seamstress also performed or exhibited their talents.    In the past we have had a concert cellist, a concert pianist, and a concert violinist share their gifts.    Along with the guest participation, the staff and Hunewill Family contribute to the evening.     You may see “The Singing Chins”, hear classic cowboy poetry, original cowboy poetry, musical duets, or a cappella songs.  You may learn some history about the cowbell or perhaps barbed wire.  You may see some tap, jazz, or ballet dance.  And you may experience a hearty belly laugh inspired by an unexpected joke.  So I guess you get the idea.  Talent Night at Hunewill Ranch is fun, entertaining, and sometimes even awe inspiring.

The "Singing Chins", an old favorite with new energy & faces.

Sim Quintero, Tyler Elliott, Dalton Wright, Aspen Wright, Elisha Pierce-Brown, Ashley Murray, Sierra Hunewill, Rhiannon Wright, Izzie Raitt, (probably not in that order)

Guitar/Accordion Duet

Betsy Hunewill Elliott & Dr. Ken Gardner

 You probably shouldn't believe everything this guy tells you....

He is fondly referred to as Dr. Ken.

The "Chins" up close.

 

For those who want to share their piano playing talents, we go to the parlor.  Before we had the "Summer House" this is where everyone got together. 

 

                         Elisha Pierce Brown (one of our wranglers) and his dad Matt play a humorous 

                       song about a gal who loves a guy because of his automobile.

 

                     Aspen Hunewill Wright - when she's dancing, you can't take your eyes off of her.

    This was a rousing version of Zack Brown's "Chicken Fry" by Marissa Lundvall and Collin Seelye. 

     

 Talent Night is truly an evening that will move the audience from laughter to tears and back again -

 brush up, you might be the next undiscovered act.

Hunewill Ranch July Fun!

We have been having some great summer fun here at the ranch!

Here is a photo our our intermediate ride loping through the puddle last Friday!

Winding through the willows behind Robinson Creek.

Bradley, one of the babysitter buckaroos doing an art project!

Family bonding time in the ranch house swing.

Roping on Monday night under some great clouds.

Sky, Mountains, Riders, Puddle, Meadow- What more do you need?

Riding out on Friday afternoon.