January 2023 - Note from the Saddle Bench

 Photo Courtesy of Mattie Sargent

Happy New Year!

Hope you have had a good start to 2023. We have had some great weather here in Alpine since the start of the new year. 

My son-in-law Clayton and I got to go cow elk hunting over by Marathon last weekend. Thought we would have a hard time since it was just after the bull elk hunt and they had been around shooting. It was 78 degrees, a full moon, and the wind was supposed to blow. It didn't make a bit of difference. We saw lots of elk and put a short stalk on them Friday evening and got one. Then Saturday morning we saw some right  away and put a short stalk on them, shooting one at about 75 yards. Both were really nice big cows with loads of fat on them. Those August and September rains work wonders on a critter's condition.  The elk seem to be increasing in population enough that several ranches are culling cow elk now.

I went last Friday with Monte Cluck II to net cow elk from a helicopter on one of the bigger ranches in this part of the country. Monte has a wildlife service he operates out of the Boerne area. He buys and captures lots of aoudad rams out of this country. 

We had some green grass around the country right up until the hard freeze at Christmas. The cows really look good and the calves are hitting the ground. I think the Christmas cold snap sped up the process. 

We are leaving on Monday, January 16th going to Queen Creek, Arizona to the "Art of the Cowgirl", a ranch rodeo and super Pachanga. If you are not familiar with it, you should Google it and take a look. Tons of things will be going on. A 50 team all girls ranch rodeo, girl's breakaway roping, cutting, reining, stock dogs, World's Greatest Horsewoman competition, trade show, lots of clinics, and a fancy loop roping. If that's not enough, just across town at Mesa, Arizona Brian Lebel has his annual Old West Trade Show and Auction. From old guns to turquoise jewelry, Navajo blankets, Roy Rogers' personal gear to items from the Tom Mix Circus. (I didn't even know Tom Mix had a circus until I read it in Brian's catalog) The Art of the Cowgirl starts Wednesday, January 18th and the Out West Show and Auction starts Friday the 20th.

Hope everyone is doing well and may the Good Lord bless us all in our endeavors in 2023.

Adios for now!

Gary Dunshee