Fall Cattle Driving

The calendar might not say it yet, but I’m here to tell you that Fall is in the air.  The leaves in the high country are starting to change, the nights are getting chillier, the kids are back in school and the road is covered in cow manure from the fall cattle drives.  That last one might not be an indicator for everyone that the seasons are changing but in our neck of the woods, bringing cattle in from the summer range, as evidenced by the covered roadways, is a sure sign of Fall.

Not everyone is as lucky as we are to enjoy sharing the road with cowboys and their charges and might not know that there are some unwritten rules when coming upon a cattle drive.  The rural traffic jam that happens when cars meet cows can be simple and easy, but also frustrating and lengthy.  Like any traffic congestion, there are a few strong suggestions of courtesy that will make going a little easier and just might make this country road tie-up a little fun.  Here are a handful of cattle drive courtesy tips for when you come across a herd moving down the road this fall.

If you find yourself coming up behind a cattle drive, you don’t have to worry about trailing the herd until you part ways.  Just go ahead and drive up through the cattle.  You may be wary that the cattle won’t move, but they will.  You may need to wind your way across the road, taking advantage of the open spaces on both sides of the road. If you feel uneasy about going through by yourself, a rider can help take you through the cows.  Keep up close to the cowboy or those cows will get between you and the rider and you will be back to being stuck behind the herd.  Just remember, so long as you keep moving ahead, the cows will move out of
the way.  

If you find yourself coming head on to a cattle drive, do your best to slowly meander your way against the cattle.  I say “slowly” because it’s important to recognize that if you are going too fast, you might turn the cattle around and cause a lot of unnecessary chaos for yourself and the riders moving the cattle.  Once again, taking advantage of the open spaces and following the cues from the cowboys will help you get through the herd in the quickest ways.

As you move through the herd, in whichever direction you are moving, remember to be patient.  You aren’t going to save anytime if you try to bust your way through the cattle.  Your efforts to speed up will be fleeting and followed by some swift stomping on your breaks. (The other option being running into the cows...)  Yes, you may need to be somewhat aggressive to keep moving ahead, but even then, be patient with the cattle and the cowboys that are doing their very best to keep everyone on the move.

Despite any good intentions, you should never, in any circumstances, honk your horn.  If you want to catch the attention of riders, roll your window down and have a quick conversation.  If you want the cattle to move out of the way, just keep rolling forward.  Even if you think that it will help move the herd along, honking your horn might cause more harm than good as it could scatter the cattle, push calves through the fences or make them turn back.  We try to keep things as calm and easy as we can as we move down the road and adding a honking horn to the mix certainly won’t aid in either of those pursuits. 

Unfortunately, there may be times that you will simply have to wait for the cattle drive before you can be on your way.  In times where the cattle are moving into a gate or turning off the road, driving into the herd might just cut off the cows from making that turn or heading through the gate.  In those cases where you can see that they aren’t just moving down the road, pause before you go on to make sure you don’t botch things.  Usually there will be a cowboy there to turn the cattle and can help you to know whether you can stay or go.  

We understand your time is precious, but that’s not the only thing of value on the road that day.  Our cattle are at the center of our livelihood and without their health and safety, we really have little to show at the end of the day.  Of even greater value than the cattle are the cowboys and cowgirls moving the cattle.  Some may be well experienced in taking the herd down the road and sharing it with the rural traffic, but others are still young and learning.  You are of value too and we want to be sure that we all safely enjoy the drive down the road.  

These few tips of cattle drive courtesy will help you not only navigate the roaming herds that will share your roadways over the next few months, but actually help make it a much less stressful situation for you and the cowboys behind the drive.  In fact, coming across a cattle drive is a great opportunity for you to soak up the heritage that this great west was built on.  Take the chance to pause, snap a picture or two and tip your hat to the great cattlemen and women that work to feed this great country.