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Round-up time in the Chilcotin

Ranchers are approaching their busiest time of the year, rounding up cattle from the summer ranges.
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Cowboys from three ranches gather their cattle at Riske Creek in preparation for moving their herds from the Raven Lake Range across Highway 20 to Harper Meadow Range.

Ranchers are approaching their busiest time of the year, rounding up cattle from the summer ranges.

At Riske Creek the first round-up of the season involved moving cattle from the Raven Lake range across Harper Meadow, then to the Bald Mountain range for about a month.

The Douglas Lake Cotton Division Ranch, River Ranch and Wineglass Ranch all took part in this round up.

They gathered and pushed cattle, crossing Highway 20 into Harper Meadow and on up to the back of Bald Mountain where the cattle stayed for a couple weeks or so.

The riders spent quite a few days searching for the elusive cattle in a fairly large range, coaxing cows to head home.

Most cows high tail it as fast as they can to get to a different pasture, but there is always a batch that are pretty cagey at hiding on the riders.

Still, their awesome cow dogs manage to find them and push them out.

A bit of time was spent around campfires where riders cozy up to the warm fire while waiting for others to arrive pushing their cows into the holding grounds.

Cowboys enjoy this time as they catch up on gossip, swap stories, perhaps swap some gear, and share tips on working a horse or a dog.