Distinctly Montana Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.distinctlymontana.com/i/1457328
D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 16 rals in the middle of the prairie. Instead of bringing the cattle many miles to the corral like they used to do, the now bring the corral to the cattle. Each panel connects to an adjacent panel like a child's set of building blocks. The panels are then pivoted and formed into whatever shape and size they want to best corral the herd. Cows and their calves are then gathered far and wide and driven into the corral. Many years ago, cowboys drove cattle into a fence corner and then circled the herd on horseback to keep them in an orderly pod. From there they would re- move the mamma cows from their calves. It is a task easier described today than the way it was actually done, to be sure. It took great skill to keep the cattle huddled together to pre- vent one or more from making a run for it. Branding irons are the one tool that hasn't changed, al- though years ago, the brands were heated in a large fire, usually made of wood. Nowadays, propane tanks are hauled into the field and hooked up to "pots," which are long troughs connected to gas like a charcoal grill. These make it easier to heat the ends of the branding irons and prevent a small amount of fog or sprinkles from postponing the branding day. Cowboys and cowgirls still rope cattle like they always did, but this too is becoming rarer. Chutes and fancy gadgets called branding tables are replacing humans who instead wrestle and hold a calf to the ground the old-fashioned way: with their muscles. And all-terrain vehicles, otherwise known as Japanese quarter horses by many, are replacing the horse as the preferred mode of transportation. Roping a calf takes great practice to master, but the goal is simple. Throw a loop at the rear legs, wrap it round the hind hocks, and hope the calf walks through the opening. When a calf does, it is like setting a hook when fishing. The cowboy or cowgirl quickly pulls the rope to snatch the calf. If they did ROPING A CALF TAKES GREAT PRACTICE TO MASTER, BUT THE GOAL IS SIMPLE. THROW A LOOP AT THE REAR LEGS, WRAP IT ROUND THE HIND HOCKS, AND HOPE THE CALF WALKS THROUGH THE OPENING.