Camping with cattle

[six]

I’m sure this has been touched on before. I’d like to get some thoughts on camping in an area where there is free range. I haven’t archery hunted in 5 years. This year we are planning on hiking back into a wilderness area and setting up camp. I have been told there will be cattle free ranging in the area we will be in. I’ve heard stories of cattle trampling, and pooping all over tents and sleeping bags while guys are out hunting. Not to mention visiting during the night. I don’t really want to pack in a fence as we will be loaded down pretty heavy for the week as it is.

[saddlesore]

I think someone has been spreading a little poop around.
Fist check with the forest service or BLM, whoever manages the public land in your hunt area and find out when grazing leases are done for the year. It varies, from Sept 1, Sept 15 and Oct 15.

Usually cattle stay in particular areas for several days ,if not weeks, and it will be evident when you check around.Just choose another camp area.

In northern CO it will be sheep most likely. Several thousand in flock..Most interactions are when they are being gathered and taken off the grazing leases

[Swede]

Cattle are a problem where I hunt in several ways, but they don't come right in around my camp. I suppose if camp is just a sleeping bag and tarp on the ground it would be different, but you can take in some twine and make a crude fence. Twine is light enough. Just find a spot that you can fence off with it.

[Lefty]

This year we are planning on hiking back into a wilderness area and setting up camp. I have been told there will be cattle free ranging in the area we will be in. I’ve heard stories of cattle trampling, and pooping all over tents and sleeping bags while guys are out hunting. Not to mention visiting during the night. I don’t really want to pack in a fence as we will be loaded down pretty heavy for the week as it is.

Many wilderness areas the at least the ones I visit in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho fewer cattle are some-times run in them. Mostly because ranchers can lose cows on them.
Cows are curious, Last year cows trampled a set of my trekking poles. Ive had cows get into closed/fenced campsites, and just as you described can happen. Cows just hang around some areas more than others. Last fall my camp was in place for a month. I camped in an area that didnt have much forage or water. The cows werent a problem.

As strange as it is most cows in huge pastures tend to stay in them and some ranchers only run one wire on private ground ,...Where I hunted for moose the two pastures are only separated by the top of the mountain,.. I guess thats why the ranchers were looking for lost cows
Twine works,.. for some cows

[Kentrek]

I'd just avoid camping where the cows are at

[Indian Summer]

It's another case of hope for the best but plan for the worst. You can't be sure if they are around and if they are it's hard to say if they'll find camp. But most people are camped in the open which means grass or near water which means cows.

And make no mistake they can destroy things and leave a mess. There are dates when the ranchers are supposed to have them out of there but they are allowed a % of stragglers and 10% is common. Remember that grazing means free feed and less hay expenses so the % of stragglers is usually nowhere near 10%. More like 50+%.

In my experiences you would not want cows near your tent and gear so if they are there I would either take a fence or just a good saw and some bale twine so you can make a corral out of lodgepole or other trees around the site. Just be sure to take it down and clean up the ugly orange twine when you leave.

[Timber]

I hunted in a cattle area in southwest corner of CO but never had an issue other than an occasional skipped heartbeat when I would come across a brownish colored one on the edge of the timber. I was hunting the Flattops and had a base camp in the valley and when glassing our camp from a long ways away noticed 1000's of sheep over running our camp. That was interesting and even pulled 3 out of a washout when they became trapped. I always wondered if they caught back up to the flock or became coyote food as the coyotes were very active that night.

[saddlesore]

Although not a lot,but grazing isn't free on public land. Besides paying for each animal or 5 each sheep, the lesser must put up fence ,and drop it down before late fall migration. In arid area,the lesser must either dig/build dirt tanks and put in windmills or developed water sources. Any improvements are not paid by the FS or BLM

I had 2000+head of sheep come thru our camp at 1AM in the Flat Tops one year. It ruined a darn good mule.

I presently hunt where the rancher that holds the grazing lease is permitted 600 cow calf pairs. Cows are gone by 1st rifle season Colorado. Out of the 600 (actually about 1000 counting calves) we might see 8-10, that got lost. We have never had a problem. If the rancher were to let 50% of his cows still be on the lease,he could lose that lease Usually if we see them the rancher is mighty happy about knowing where they are and will get them out quick, seeing as one cow will bring $2000+ and a 600 pound yearling calf is going for $1000-$1500 at present. Hunting seasons ( rifles) are set in Colorado dictated by where grazing leases are done for the year.

[Mike_Parson]

typically the cattle in the areas i hunt, leave the camping areas alone they are not used to humans and tend to leave the area once we get in there.

[Lefty]

,... Usually if we see them the rancher is mighty happy about knowing where they are and will get them out quick, seeing as one cow will bring $2000+ and a 600 pound yearling calf is going for $1000-$1500 at present.

often a great way to gain more info or places to hunt.

Years back I ran into a rancher in a high pasture. I pulled over to him and asked if he was looking for a bull . we talked for a bit . I mentioned the bull must be coming, He looked at me kind of funny, " Why do you say that?" I said all the cows were looking that way.
Some time later I asked" do you have an older bull?" He was asking the same question just looking at me. I told him the small bull was leaving.
He ended up giving me access to 20 acre of county land where a 5x5 30" mulie hung out. He was a bit ticked at the outfitter on his ranch,..