Im gone!!

[BIGNASTY]

Hi Gail asked me (his Sister-in-law) to put this in a message if anyone sent him Email.


See you later in the Fall Penny & I will be back in June for a wedding but only for a couple of days. By now we are helping the family cattle business pushing them to Greener Pastures WITH FREE FEED!! I can in some spots use the Smart XXX phone but that means that I would have to take the time to figger it out and that just seems like a big waste of time. Penny knows how so maybe you's in's will hear from her every now and again. (that's your fault for clicking on the tab :-laf )

So now you know that im not ignoring your Email, im just not around to answer them, So with that I will leave you with song. Sorry I still don't have Balls enough to post a Video Gary, im not into getting ridiculed about something that I enjoy doing. I do have all my camera equipment so I should have some really good opportunities for some Modern day Cowboy-in pictures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoGZeSTcxwo

BIG & Penny

I will add to this that I will be going out every couple of weeks to rescue my Sister, so she can come back to the world for a week or so. At this time I will check back and give BIG any messages. I don't understand why he wont let us post some of the videos that we have of his singing performances he's very good & even better now that he has an 16 year old Angel that sings with him. She's the Daughter of one of the Wranglers and Friend of Gail's. Oh Well I guess you'll have to knock on their door someday and hear for yourself.

Louise.

 

[The patriot]

Have fun!

 

[KBurgoyne]

Dont let the bed bears bite.

 

[Simplysmn]

Stay Safe Big and Have Fun Penny

 

[BIGNASTY]

Penny, Gail and crew have made camp in what has now become their final one for the summer. They sent some pictures via the Smart Phone that are really pretty. Gail is doing what he's always wanted to do with his Cowboy-in, Sister said that she's also having a wonderful time even though its lots of work.

As soon as I can sit down and figure out how to move pictures from a smart phone or Email, I will post them. Just looking at them I cant wait until we have a change of people so I can have a turn at it. He had another song to give us but I cant get it to work right, I have always liked his singing around the campfires in hunting camp.

Louise

 

[HHhuntitall]

BIG!! I can relate! Babies on the ground, and I'm in a run. It's that time of year!!
God Bless you and yours!!

 

[BIGNASTY]

Mr, HHhuntitall

Sister & Gail are having the same kind of fun. When they called, SOMEBODY HELP ME PLEASE!!! came from the background as I was talking to my Sister. Sounded like Gail had his hands full. He & I talked he's fine, its just is way of expressing his joy in this. Lucky for him our Niece is on her way with another Veterinarian to assist. Until we get there those cows are depending on Gail, (that's a scary thought) these are not the 1st year heifers that most generally need help. Father & Nephew Nathans herd cows are mostly 4th or 5th year cows that have dropped a calf at least once or most twice, Gail is mostly there to point them to the nipple to make sure they are getting their colostrum from the mothers. A calf is still a hand full when they get their feet under them!!

Gail did say that this was kind of a different experience than last years. He's got a six shooter strapped to his hip, with another cowboy covering the high ground. Black Bears are abundant, only one Grizzly Bear has been spotted since they have been there. With all the births its almost a sure thing, the Predators will come running. It will be better once the calves become adjusted to their new surroundings. They are guarded 24/7 by at least 3 wranglers, then on to the branding. That should be fun to watch :-laf Actually Gail does pretty well with a rope, when we went to Las Vegas for the NFR rodeo he picked up a few different kinds of ropes and has done well with them.

Time to go have fun, I will tell Gail of all your messages.

Louise

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Wow Big. Never heard of anyone branding calves that are just a few days old, or a few weeks old. Your calves must be tough?

Maybe at NFR this year, we can actually meet up? Seems like the last two years, you guys always leave early. I think you owe me a case of suds by now...

 

[BIGNASTY]

Mr. JHawes



I hope that his Brother-in-law answering this in BIG's absence is alright. As a general rule Father and Nathan (BIG & Sisters Son) have the calving season run in spring, this way they will be strong enough to withstand the winters of Montana. It was thought to try a calving season in the fall of the year, one to increase the herd size and to see if it could be done. This past winter for the most part had been a relatively mild winter in Seeley. We didn't have the snows that most of the country did, we had a few big storms but our temps were mild enough that taking the risk of having a fall calving season went well. A person could ask BIG how well it went, he was the one taking care of the Seeley part of the herd (aprox. 500 head) feeding everyday, checking on them several times a day when it did get cold. The term " Spring " is not what most people think of in mid-January to April in MT, calves born at this time are weaned in Oct. These are the calves that are going to be cut from their Mothers and branded, not the newborns. Which by the way is most of the herd that BIG cares for.



Most producers try to get cows to calve as often as possible, its not been a practical train of thought for producers, to have a calving season in the fall, practical is not a quality that this family has had a grasp on. Reasons for this as said were herd increased size. Feed was another thought with snow on the ground in Seeley as long as it is their feed has to be bought, increasing the cost per pound.This is the reason for the cattle to be ran on BLM land as long as possible, feed cost free. With a lot of the cattle producers the calves are sold off as soon as they can be or put in feedlots, with this operation Father & Nathan produce the " Finished Product " to their consumers which is not the general public. This is another skill that BIG has had a great deal of luck, gift, expertise call it what you like, Gail could sell screen doors to a submarine manufacture!! on their vacations he has a knack of selling beef to restaurants and other specialty outlets. With a herd size of somewhere near 3500 head he's sold as he puts it " Lots of Big Mac's "



If you like I will have Father & Nathan contact you and delve feather into this business plan of theirs. Its gone from a hobby farm of 10 or 15 head to over 3500 at great expense and work in all areas, from the one at the helm with a phone and pencil, to the one on a horse, tractor, snow sled pulled by Mules in cold that makes sane people move to Florida. I will leave it up to you to decide where BIG fits into this operation. I'm going out later today for a visit to check up on him, in June he, I and a few of his friends are going to (again as BIG puts it) " Slide over the Top of the World " to the Reservation to harvest a Buffalo. BIG asked to have the honor to pack and care for the harvest, Both of which is an honor for me to have him take care of, when we talked last he was having the time of his life.



Kurt

 

[HHhuntitall]

That's a lot of branding!!

Speaking of age of calves, as long as they're a few days old, they'll be fine. I recommend a smaller iron to brand with, and don't leave on too long!! Vacination is critical, as well. If the calf is too young, sometimes they don't develop the antibodies from the vaccine. We sometimes have a big problem with Blackleg here in the spring, so that's a major thing we try to prevent. It certainly is hard on the mommas to calve out in Winter. The calves are bigger to go to market, but to what cost? We try to calve out in late winter, early spring, as the cows have a chance to recover more readily with green grass coming. Calves do better with less chance of freezing to death, as well. We don't get the cold they do up North, but we have a lot longer growing season on grass, too. On one ranch, we can run a cow to every 8-10 acres year round. But with the spring calves, our calves can be a bit smaller than some of my neighbors, but they bring the same amount of money. Genetics are a very important part of your program, here.

Dad and I looked at a ranch in Western Kansas a few years ago. We passed, as there is just barely enough of he and I to go around now, let alone if we expanded our operation. 1500 head is about all the two of us can handle, with our wives helping. Dad's getting older, so now I'm hoping my kids will start getting old enough to start helping.... The drought and a big fire in 2010 has us sold down to just shy of 500 hd.... a 1/3 of what we could run if it'll keep raining.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I came back home to get things ready for a trip over the Divide so my Brother can have a hunt and then back over the Divide again back to work the cattle. We leave Saturday AM and get back to Polebridge when we get back. Gail is still in Polebridge with the cattle along with several others. Just thought that some would like to know what's going on. Im packing the provisions and Gail is waiting for our return.

Penny

 

[KHellewell]

Tell him to be safe we will all be waiting to hear about his adventures

 

[BIGNASTY]

KHellewell

Gail's always safe? yesterday He and our Son went to chase some of the cattle that had roamed off into the forest back with the others. It was much better to find another way for them to come out of the ravine that they were in. Gail shot his gun in the air the cows got the idea and went back through the brush. Gail & Nathan went to find another way out.

They rode to the top of a ridge and found that going down the other side wasn't going to be easy. He said that it was so steep that their feet were at the horses ears and their heads were laying on the rumps of their horses. They made it but he said that he didn't think that he wanted to do that again.

When I got home I plugged the Scan Disk from Gail's camera into the computer and was looking at some of the pictures as they downloaded. Its a 32Gb chip so being full that's a lot of pictures. He's caught the essence of what's going on in Polebridge with his camera. The upcoming trip across the Divide will be something. Gail & my Brother have done this particular pass before, they have always wanted to return but with the remoteness of the start and finish was always a logistical nightmare, this time it will be done twice, going and coming back.

Penny

PS: Gail has been singing up a storm around the campfires in the evening. He sang this one he like the sounds in the first part of the video. He's a GIANT sentimentalist about the Cowboy way of living


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-ZK71ZiM3o

 

[Deleted member 995608]

The story just gets bigger and bigger

 

[Newt]

Polebridge brings back memories. I've been wearing my Polebridge cap the last few days.

Newt

 

[moparguy]

Penny/Big, would this be the Polebridge of which you speak? Wife and I enjoyed the area! Please continue updates on running cattle in Montana, at a Young (?) 63 I thought I'd retired but you make me want to rethink my life plan.

 

[BIGNASTY]

View attachment 91928 Penny/Big, would this be the Polebridge of which you speak? Wife and I enjoyed the area! Please continue updates on running cattle in Montana, at a Young (?) 63 I thought I'd retired but you make me want to rethink my life plan.

YEP!!! That's it, we are another ? miles past the Mercantile and another 30 miles past that on some fire roads that lead off into the mountains. Mopar I have to re-think this lifestyle during the winter, being a Want-to-be Cowboy is hard on ya. Its no wonder that the life expectancy of a cowboy was low, they worked themselves to death. To be perfectly honest about it " It would be a Great way to Check out " this has been a fantastic opportunity to find out just what i'm made of. We have done things that I didn't think I could ever do but when you have to stitch up a really nasty gash on a cow that got tangled up in some long forgotten Barb wire without getting the XXXX kicked out of ya and not causing more harm to the cow it made me think what the HELL is an almost 63 year old one legged AXX Hole doing out here. My first guess was and still is Having a Grand time, before we left I checked on the ER Patient :-laf She was up and running around with the wraps & stitches still holding well, nursing her calf kind of brought a LUMP to my throat that I had something to do with the saving of $1500 of cow or I mean a life or maybe two if her calf couldn't find a substitute Mother.

Our trip over & back across the divide is something that I will be re-thinking for many years of rocking chair time on the front porch when my time comes and I can no longer get my XXX in the saddle. Several times Penny asked me if I knew where we were at and where we are going? I confidently told her " Well Hell Ya " but later confided in her privately that I, at that time had no Frigging idea of where the hell we were at. Lots of time looking at Topo maps and by the Grace of the Big Man above we made it Both Ways accomplished our objective on Penny and her Brothers ancestral land and came back to the cattle camp.

We came home to attend and take part in a Wedding. For some unknown reason this young Girl wants me to walk her down the isle and do some singing at her reception, she has been a gift to the entire family with her just being Dependable Debbie. She runs & cooks in my SIL's café in town and has given SIL some retirement time.

Later next week we will go back to Polebridge and rejoin the fun.

Penny & BIG

 

[HHhuntitall]

An old man from Kent County once told me, "It's a great life, if a man don't weaken." Bob Byrd's 85 this year. He can't take the heat, and can't do the ground work, so not many people hire him. But you should see him rope. He about killed us last month dragging calves. He was catching them faster than we could work them and turn 'em loose. Roped several hundred that week.... Wore his horse plumb out, but he had the next week off, so it wasn't a major issue, he said. He's lived the life and shows it. But what a life it is!! I can only hope I can still go that good at that age.... Same man was helping me break some broncs about 15 years ago, and I had a sure enough AXX KICKIN' by one particular gelding.... After I finally got him rode several hours later, we were sitting on the porch, and Bob smiled over the top of his beer and asked me, "Casey, I wonder what the poor people are doing, today?"

 

[BIGNASTY]

Casey

I know what the poor people are doing, Living in the city is harder on a body than anything in the mountains. I took Penny & her Sister out for dinner last night, to give them a break from cooking for 10 to 15 people every meal 3 times a day. We met with some friends in town at dinner, they looked the same as we left just a short month ago. The wives that I danced with asked what vacation resort we had gone to, because we look so invigorated and alive. When we told them what we had been doing they said that we should keep doing it because it fits well on us. I didn't sleep for XXXX last night to Damn Noisy and this is in a town of 2k with no emergencies last night with fire or ambulance trucks running down the hwy. I have had time to really think about things, and have came to the thought that this world is spiraling down the bowl and there is a line at the handle waiting to flush it down. Not being able to sleep afforded me the time to catch up on some Emails and news on the internet, lots has happened (in town) not much of it good. People shooting others for no apparent reason in SC, some prison worker helping two convicts escape and by the little I read on it, because she was looking for something in her life, the taking of a symbol of the South for as long as I can remember a Flag. These are the things that our lives have come to revolve around? over and over you hear about shootings. I have to ask myself WHY? and it all comes back to lifestyle, I don't think that Man was meant to live like most of us do and when it becomes to much for some they snap and become Catlin Jenner, Rev Al Sharpton, President OBOZO and many other truly " F ed " up people.

Hope I don't become one when we come back to TOWN in the fall, for now I have to help a young couple start a life together and then I'm heading back to the hills for a bit more Cleansing!!

BIG

 

[HHhuntitall]

Big,

We live in this world under a curse... we are cursed to scratch our living from the Earth, toiling fruit from the soil under the sun, under the curse placed on us from God himself on our first forefather, Adam. In as much, many don't understand it. BUT, God made us and understands us from each individual hair on our head, and knows we need to see progress to be satisfied.... working the ground provides that, be it from plowing and growing crops, to tending herds and watching the babies grow to maturity. THAT was the life intended. Living in the city is only a distraction. But was forced upon by the evil one, who roams around like a roaring lion, searching for whom he may devour.... But that is part of the curse. We live under his rule, only in our bodies, not in spirit. So to hope for renewal in Christ is our greatest goal.... And I can only hope to do what it is he called me to do. Seeing that mile of fence finished gives me the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment to carry on. An acre of ground plowed shows me progress towards a goal. That's how I sit there for hours on end in the seat of that tractor, horse, or truck and carry on. Sitting at a desk, a man can't see over the wall in front of him. It can drive one crazy. And these horrendous blows to our culture and erosion of our principles are the birthing pains of the end. The enemy approaches as we watch him bombard us with confusion, lies, insanity, and outright attacks. We can only stand firm and hope for Him to come to us. Until then, we carry on, and find the short joys in watching a calf walk for the first time, the satisfaction of finishing our chores for the day, and the hope of a better tomorrow, this world or the next.....