Going up to get a start on the meadows tomorrow.
Burning ditches to clear them, dragging meadows to spread manure and taking care of some problem beavers in the creek.
I'll probably get my 1st tractor driving lesson this year, been putting that off.
Owner has a Ford 7740, 4 WD, and an older IH Hydro 84 on the ranch.

I'll post some pics as we get going.
We'll be doing the irrigating for hay this summer, again.
Going to try and get a food plot or 2 in the ground, we'll see how that goes.

For those that don't know we do side work, our weekend gig, for a rancher up here.
He lives in Colorado and we've been handling his access, wildlife management and hay irrigation for several years now.
Hunting is only for family and close friends now, no paying hunters but we have permission to take friends up for cow elk.

We went up yesterday to do a few things and snow limited us to clearing downed branches and a dead tree.
These mule deer were above the meadows on the south facing side so not as much snow.

Our part of the state has been quite good this winter, almost too good. The ranch has had good snows but not a huge dumping at once. Several 10+ " snows though.
Animals seem to have wintered well but we have not been up in the upper pastures yet where most do their wintering.
Almost shed hunting time for us.

Nope, No way could I live in place like that, too cold and not enough summer heat

Elevation on the hay meadows and at the house is about 6,200 ft.
It does get hot in summer there, into upper 90's and above on occasion.
The old house is well insulated and tight I guess because it stays cool in summer with no a/c, nights are always nice and cool.

They have an older bunkhouse the family hunters stay in when visiting and hunting.

I would love it.

X2

X's 3!

Just compare the commute much of you fellas have to deal with vs....

Where in Wyoming is it? I know you've said before, I just don't remember.

The ranch is in Sybille Canyon are South of Laramie Peak, about 45 miles NE of Laramie where we live.

Burned off some noxious weeds and got the meadows ready for water.
While I was dragging meadows and spreading the manure spouse decided to burn some ditches.
I finished the far meadows and started back to cross the creek and drag the other meadows and found a wall of smoke and the spouse battling fire in the creek bottom.
Ditch burn got away a bit and burned back into the wind towards the creek and south ridges.
Spouse got it out, had heat exhaustion and dehydration.

After a shower and a rest he was ok but feeling weak and nauseous. Hot spots are out and cold.
Meadow should like the burn though.

Rain and snow showers for the weekend and later next week.

Getting some nice wet snow here in town and looks like the ranch is getting some too.
We have about 3 or so inches at our house and the WYDOT cam just a ridge over from the ranch is showing some snow too.
We'll go up tomorrow and move water and take care of some more ditch work.

Is your wife from wyoming

Husband and I are both from Texas.

Snow melted , going up today to get some things done we hope.

Would love it five months out of the year. After a short time the cold would wear on me. Spring would not come quick enough.

Well, irrigated for hay all summer so far and now the water is off. Cutting and baling starts Monday , weather permitting.
We have more free time now to cut our firewood and check on our lot up in the mountains.

Guy putting the hay hopes to get 500 small square bales. He was the ranch hand back years ago and does it on a share basis. LO gets 150 bales and he gets the rest and uses the ranch tractors and fuel.

Nice pics!

Our hay season is over. Cut and baled this week and we went up and helped load 200 bales for the LO.
Ended up with about 1,000-1,200 square bales off the meadows.
Guy that cut it really liked the quality this year, big thanks to Mother nature for that !!!
Spouse probably loaded 200 bales yesterday, between the LO's share and the cutters trailer. He's getting too old for that, lol !
LO hauled his share down the interstate to Kersey, CO.

He also told us no family to hunt deer this year so the ranch is ours for deer season, first chance at 2 trophy bucks in a few years now. Can't wait til that last week in Oct now.

Those pictures bring back memories

A few more meadow pics.
He picked up that baler from a local rancher that retired this year, paid $1,100 for it and sold his 2 old balers for parts and made money on the deal.
Only issues he said this year was a novice friend running the rake for him one day, he left some lying in the field because of it but not too much. No equipment issues with the old tractors or his new/old haying equip.

A nice little whitetail buck was seen many times while he was cutting. and baling.
I do have an additional WT tag so hopeful at least of the bucks around now stays til Oct, I will bow hunt a little time permitting in Sept.

High of 80* with 20% humidity expected there today… can I come play!?

68 with a whisper of a North breeze right now here in Laramie.
Supposed to hit 91 on Monday, we'll all think we're dying, lol.

Going to get some water on part of the meadows when the bales are gone, next weekend.
We over seeded with red clover last year and have some nice new growth after he cut the grass.
Deer and elk have been using the meadows at night and the clover will give them some nutrition for the rest of the summer.

Congrats on deer season this year! Y'all earned it! So happy for you and can't wait to see pics of what y'all put on the ground!

You're just torturing us.
I'm glad the humidity has dropped though.

No smoke from Canada?