Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-04-06
sKMI-ANNuAL ROUNDUP.
How the Cowboys In the West Col
lect and Brand Cattle.

Press.
q On the northern ranges in Dakota
Montana and Wyoming Territories the
cattle are all allowed to run at large
through the winter and summer. They
! do not stray great distance on, how
ever, and unless stampeded may usual
ly be found within thirty miles or SO Of
their respective ranges.
To collect these immense herds OF
cattle in the spring and fall is no easy
matter, and to do this roundup is
formed. This is made up by the own
ers Of the ranches which are on the
same range sending roundup" out
fit and their quota OF cowboys.
A roundup" outfit consists OF. be-
sides the indispensable cowboys, a
camp-wagon drawn by four horses or
mules, at least five horses for each cow
boy, branding irons, cooking utensils,
and last, but not least, a cook who gem
orally drives the wagon.
The respective representatives OF the
different ranches meet at the end OF
their range of district and slowly go
through the country, collecting and
branding the cattle and calves. The
wagons do not drive more than ten or
fifteen miles day, but the cowboys in
search OF cattle ride sixty or seventy
miles. This is where the necessity
for each cowboy having so many horses
comes In.
The cattle collected during tho
days riding are all driven to the near
est ranch where there is a corral.
Cattle are not collected every day, as
the cowboys stop every other day TO
brand the cattle caught. The cattle
collected in days ride by ''round-
up" Of thirty cowboys make an i'm
mense herd. This herd is watched
very carefully during the night. and
the next morning the work Of ''round-
ing them OUT begins.
"Rounding-outn Is the term applied
TO separating tho cattle OF different
brands from the herd. This Is diff
cult work and is done only by very ex-
pert cowboys. They ride into the
herd, and when they find one OF their
own brand they slowly drive It out
from the bunch. When IL Is driven
out 1t Is taken in charge by another
cowboy, who drives II 10 small herd
which is entirely composed OF cattle OF
its own brand. IL win take two or
three hours to get the large herd sepa-
rated into as many small herds as these
brands are represented in the ''round-
up.n
After the small herd is separated the
COWS with calves and unbranded cattle
are rounded out from the branded
cattle. The branded cattle are put into
a herd and driven several miles back
over the same ground and turned loose.
A fire is built in a corner Of the corral,
where the roundup is, the bars arc
let down, and one OF the herds OF cows
with calves and unbranded cattle are
driven in.
Two ropers walk their ponies into
the corral, the bars are put up, the
brands OF the man who owns the cattle
in the corral are heated in the fire.
The work OF branding begins.
The ropers ride around the corral.
swinging their ropes around their
heads As they see single calves on the
edge Of the herd their lassoes leave |
their hands with a snap and wind
around the calves two hind legs. This
is called "heeling," and is a great deal
more difficult to do than catch them BY
the neck. The calves when caught arc
dragged up to the fire, where they are
held and branded. Branding does not
take long and soon the corral Is ready
Tor the next herd. The ropers are
quite expert with the lasso and kept the
men at the fire busy. The calves are
not only branded to mark them, but
'ome owners cut their ears in different
shapes. Other owners even 20 80 far
10 TO cut one Of the ears of entirely.
After herd that is marked this way
has left the corral the ground is some
lime covered with ears. In almost ey-
Try herd that is driven into the corral
here are some cattle that were not
'randed the year before, and these
ave to be handled more carefully or
lse they gore the handler.
One Of the ropers walks his horse
round until he sees a good chance,
rhen, quick as a flash, he catches the
teer by the hind legs. The steer
nows he is caught, and turns at the ,
ian who caught him. As soon as he
rms the other roper throws his lasso ,
round the animals horns, which holds ,
Inn fast. The steer is thus held fast.
nd in that condition is branded, When {.
one the lasso around his head is taken
and he Is allowed 20 rise.
When all the cattle are branded thew
70 driven back over the same ground
lat the roundup" traversed the day
,fore, and turned loose.
On the roundup each man leaves
8 horses TO the care of men caIIad Il