1. Livestock and the open range 1850-1887
Chapter 8
Livestock and the open range

2. How it all began… Bison were few, cattle moved in
Indians put on small reservations, leaving over 40 million acres of rich grazing land
Cattlemen began moving in and using the land to raise and sell cattle

3. Grassland Montana became known for it’s superior grassland
The grasslands of Montana provided wonderful forage for the cattle
Montana grassland was valued so highly because:
The native species were nutritious
They were free and plentiful
There were plenty of streams for water

4. Free Land!
Land could not be sold until it was measured and mapped (surveyed)
So cattlemen became claiming it as their own
Open Range: land that had not yet been surveyed for sale to the homesteaders.
This open range was so important to grazing cattle because it was so dry that the cattle need a lot of range to survive.

5. First cattle, then gold Cattle came to Montana in the 1830’s
Gold rush came to Montana soon after
The gold rush contributed to the expansion of the ranching industry because the population boomed and local wild game decreased
Demand for meat turned to beef

6. The Government takes more land
As ranching and settling expanded, many stockman demanded more land
The government took away reservation land from the Indians because they believed ranchers would make better use of it
Ranching was also important to reservation economies because:
It allowed the Indians to maintain traditional cultures
It allowed the Indians to gain independence from the Government
The Indians could develop a new way to make a living

7. Different types of cattle
Hereford and Angus cattle were run by most Montana outfits (ranching operations)
Texas longhorns – the first drive was in 1866 from Texas to Montana
This was the start of the great Texas cattle drives

8. Hereford
Angus

9. Roundup
Because free-range cattle drifted around the open range, ranch hands in each grazing district joined together for a roundup
Roundup: a cooperative process in which cattle were gathered for branding and sorting
Roundups were so important on the open range because cattle strayed and got mixed up with other herds.
When mavericks were lost and unidentified, they became the property of whoever found them

10. Cattlemen
Greenhorns – beginners. Older cowboys frequently played jokes on them.
Though it was tough work, many young men wanted to come west to be cowboys because they got relatively good wages and adventure.
Many were just teenagers

11. Cattlewomen Women on ranches worked just as hard as the men
Washing clothes, service as doctors and pharmacists, kept records, farmed, cooked, helped with branding and haying, raised children.

12. Sheep and Cattle Sheep came to Montana around the same time as cattle
Now there were cattlemen and sheepherders, who got along pretty well!
They got along so well because many ranchers raised both sheep and cattle, so they could relate to one another

13. Sheepherder vs Cattlemen
Their jobs were different because the sheepherder generally worked along with a dog while cattlemen worked in large groups of people

14. Problems on the Open Range
Problems connected with the open range:
Rustling (rounding up horses or cattle to steal)
Overgrazing (too many animals for the amount of grass in Montana)
Predatory animals (wolves, coyotes)

15. Solving the problems
The Board of Stock Commissioners was formed – a group formed to enforces laws of the open range
The cattlemen dealt with these problems by:
Banding together to create vigilante groups
Hiring stock detectives
Organizing associations to lobby the legislature

16. Other concerns Concerns shared by both modern and open range ranchers:
Unpredictable weather
Changing market prices
Land and animal conservation

17. The Hard Winter of 1886-87 Before (preceded) the winter :
Months of range fires and little rain
An especially hot, dry summer
A great increase in the number of cattle

18. During those months…
Heavy snows, fierce winds made the snow hard as cement
Cattle could not get to the grass below
Tens of thousands of cattle froze or starved to death
60% of Montana’s herds were lost

19. Changes afterwards Changes made after the Hard Winter of 1886:
Smaller herds and planting food for winter feed
Installing fences and corrals so cattle couldn’t stray
The addition of sheep and cropland to cattle ranches

20. Famous People from the era
Charlie Russell
Famous artist that was known for good storytelling and drawing
Came out to Montana as a teen to be a cattleman

21. Charlie’s Paintings

22. Evelyn Cameron
British-born immigrant to Montana who photographed ranching life

23. Evelyn’s Pictures