Gunnison news-champion., 1920-01-30
INTERESTING
TRIP IN HILLS
WHAT BECOMES OF
MANY LOST CATTLE
A Ceanunication Of Interest u
Stoekmen on the Gunnison Ranges.

Being curious to know what be-
comes Of the average five per cent loss
Of cattle grazed on the Gunnison Ma
tional Forest during each grazing
season, when we know that Only from
two 70 two and q half per cent are
found dead on the range from various
causes, has led me to feel that furth-
er investigation on the range might
produce evidence to show where some
of the loss not before located had real
ly occurred. ] suggested q trip to
some Of the higher points at this
season to various parties, but in each
instance found that the parties felt
such . trip was useless. However,
, while in Gunnison on January 22nd,
] met Ranger Hodges of the Taylor
Park district and suggested to him q
trip to North Beaver for the purpose
Of investigating the game situation
with the possibility Of finding cattle
that might have been overlooked in
the final ride.
found Ranger Hodges anxious and
willing for q trip Of this kind, and up
on his arrival at'my ranch at 1000 q.
m, January 23rd, thoroly equipped for
the trip, we packed the mule and start
ed thru the breaks Of North Beaver,
due north from my ranch. At sun
down We arrived at . point ON the
ridge east Of North Beaver creek 1t
. distance Of IL miles up the valley.
Searching the slopes Of Beaver creek
we found eight head Of cattle On an
open hillside, facing the south 1t the
head Of gulch two miles above the
forks. These cattle did not appear
snow-bound altho surrounded by snow
not to exceed . foot deep, and seem-
ingly content to remain there rather
than buck the trail down North Beav-
er to the ranches.
Owing to the fact that Il WAS sun-
down and cur aalee1ed camping gTuund
was yet distance Of four miles, we
decided to camp there for the night
and move forward the following day.
After unpacking We left our horses to
Craze while getting supper. Going
out to look for them after supper, we
found they had returned TO the
ranch. The following morning il
was showing SO that We could not see
clearly with the glasses but we con-
tinued on foot for four miles. On this
route we discovered the tracks of
three mountain lions going toward the
habitats Of the mountain sheep.
Owing to the fact that we did not
have suitable snowshoes it was i'm
possible to continue on their trail, SO
we returned to our camp. The fol-
lowing morning. after studying with
the field glasses the earmarks and
brands of the cattle, and finding that
one belonged TO A. X. Stevens, one to
70 w. L. Curtis, one to Glenn Williams
and five TO X. w. Cooper, We walked
the twelve miles back to my ranch.
A trip of this kind has plenty Of
hArdships, but Ranger Hodges stood
It without complaining and appeared
well pleased with the result in finding
these cattle which are well worth $500
TO the users Of the forest.
In all probability this is not the
only, instance of cattle that are left
ON the range and get pocketed IN the
hill parks. Usually they get along
well till January or February, then
they almost invariably die. Some
stockmen tell Of instances where .
small bunch, or an isolated animal has
weathered . mild winter. Other
bunches can probably be found in the
Cunnison forest with more extensive
riding.
As for myself, I feel better salts
ned regarding the two and . half per
cent Of cattle unaccounted for.
GLENN WILLIAMS.