March 27, 2008
US Forest Service to Hunt Down Wild Cows

By Dave Maxwell, Staff Writer

Commissioner Wade Poulsen believes it is the intention of the U.S. Forest Service to hire outside contractors to come into the areas of Cherry Creek, Pine Creek, Quinn Canyon and Cottonwood forest allotments and kill off wild cows. Known as “feral cows,” not belonging to anyone’s herd with no brands or markings, they do roam loose among the hills and mountains in the remote areas.

Patricia Irwin, District Ranger of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, said most of the work will be done in the Grant Range/Quinn Canyon area of Nye County. Ms. Irwin said in 2006, the Forest Service went in and removed 60 live wild cows, “but there were cows and bulls that we could not get out that were in deep canyons.” That wild population has grown some since then. Starting sometime in April, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, (APHIS) part of the USDA, will go in on horseback for a few weeks and attempt to locate and shoot as many of the feral cows as they can find. The carcasses will be left in the open for the scavenger animals. Ms. Irwin estimated there are about 100-120 cows roaming in the hills and canyons of the search areas.

The hunters will be on horseback and will be able to get fairly close to the cows Ms. Irwin said. A brand inspector will be along with the hunters and will check to see if any of the cows killed have a brand. Mistakes are bound to happen Ms. Irwin admitted, and when that happens, “the grazing permittee can make a claim,” she said.

Asked the reasons for this drastic action, Ms. Irwin said, “They are damaging the resources. They are grazing year round, trampling the meadows and reducing the forage for the existing permittees.”

Poulsen, strongly opposed to the idea, suggested that, “…anyone with a mind write a letter to the USDA expressing their complete disagreement with the assessment of the whole thing.” He said people should make calls to Nevada’s State and Congressional Officials.

Owners who run cattle in the areas are often trying to round up as many of their own “lost cows” as they can find. But the country is rough and it’s not easy to round up stray cows. Commissioner Poulsen questioned who is going to say at 50 yards the cow is a wild one or it has a tag in its ear, and then take a shot at it. “When they’re running through the trees, you can’t see that quick.” Commissioner Tommy Rowe said such a program would never be allowed for wild mustangs and Poulsen said this idea is just as unacceptable.

Ms. Irwin said the feral cow hunt might last a couple of years. “If we can get them all this time, that would be great, but we’re thinking it might take two springs.”